Some picks of Ryan Steadman's Utah bull elk!!!

[Burnsie]

Looks like he ws playing in the mud.

[kadbow]

Way to go Ryan!

congratts!  

[Tim]

Agreed....couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!  Congrats Buddy!

So Cool....  

[KyStickbow]

Very nice..congrats!!

[steadman]

Thanks guys! I apologize for not being on here much but with a new job and school and family, just not enough time.

This started in February when my little girl and I went to the expo in slc for thr chance in you know where to draw a tag. I drew a limited entry tag a couple years ago, and this is the only chance I would have to hunt bull elk here. I beat incredible odds and drew a tag back in the unit where I grew up hunting elk.

Scouting was rough this summer, but I knew from experience that the last week was the best. A friend helped me out by pointing out a great spot. Only accessible by foot and 1800 ft drop in quarter to half mile, steep!!

[steadman]

I really started hunting hard last Monday and saw a few bulls, a couple real studs. And they were starting to bugle.

I went back up Sunday night, saw a small bull and made a plan for the morning. The morning was slow until about 10. Then a couple bulls started talking. With nothing to lose I went after them. I ended bugling a spike into 30yards and a 2 point bull into 15yards, but couldn't shoot, it was too early.

[steadman]

I heade back in that evening to the sound of bugling bulls. I hustled down and got the wind right. I got within a couple hundred yards of the bulls and started bugling and raking trees. This fired up a bull to my right and by the sounds of his bugle, he was getting closer. I set up just as the 5x6 came into view. At 35 yards he let out a great bugle! Worth the trip right there. He was dripping with mud and started my way. At 25 yards I came to full draw, lined up my shot, expanded and followed through. A perfect shot flew right under the bulls armpit!

I couldn't be upset. Look at my tag line. I finally made a great controled shot, just he was 30 not 25! I headed out of there with several bulls bugling. I knew where I was headed inn the morning.

[steadman]

The next morning I headed back to the same area with bulls screaming in the cool morning air. They were bugling from the same area.

I went right back to the same area. I kid you not, I was 115 ft from where I'd missed a bull only 12 hrs earlier, I bugled my loudest, meanest bugle only to have 2 bulls fire back from less than a hundred yards. I screamed back and again the bull to my right got closer. I bugled one more time and got ready. The big 6 by stepped out 5 yards closer thaan the bull the night before dripping in black mud. Again, I drew to anchor, lined up my shot, expanded only this time to watch a perfect arrow appear in his armpit.

The bull spun, I saw my arrow flip out. I bugled at the crashing bull to hear him stop. 10 seconds latter a loud crash followed by labored breathing.

After 26 years of hunting these awesome animals, I'd finally done it!

I was shooting a stalker stickbow with static limbs 55#@29". A ce heritage (sorry surewood) tipped with a cutthroat bh. The bull only went 60 yards. Unbelievable....

[Montanawidower]

Yeah Ryan....  well done.   Elk are a special animal, and a special trophy.   Congrats!  

PS  your hoodie is a mainstay around my house.  Thanks again.

[J-dog]

Congrats! That is really cool !

[ESP]

Well done

[kennym]

Great job Ryan!!!

[maineac]

Fantastic!!!  Congrats, hopefully the wait and the miss only made it sweeter!!!!!

[Producer]

Wow!

[FerretWYO]

I tell you what this made my day. I don't even care if I get back out in the hills this year.

So glad you got it done buddy.

[Mud_Slide_Slim]

 outstanding!

[cacciatore]

Well deserved,you have worked hard for too many hunting days,so close many times......congrats, Ryan.

[knobby]

Congratulations, and thanks for the story and pics.

[TooManyHobbies]

Awesome specimen. Congrats.