By applying in United States Outfitters licensing service hunters across the country have the chance to draw tags in public hunting areas that have unbelievable trophy potential. This is the same service that the realtree team has depended on for years to assure the opportunity to hunt big elk.

Realtree pro-staffer Michael Waddell was one of the lucky individuals who drew an archery tag for the 2000 fall hunting season in the Valle Vidal of New Mexico. The Valle Vidal is national forest land that is made up of 100,000 acres of prime elk hunting real estate. Once a hunter draws this prestigious tag he will never be eligible to draw it again, so this hunt to Michael was no doubt going to be a hunt of lifetime from the get go.

When Michael and cameraman David Hoffart met up with U.S.O. guide Rick Baily in Taos, New Mexico for the ride on to the Valle Vidal hunting area September 12, it didn’t take long for the talk to set in on all the bull elk that were showing up in the meadows just before night fall. Rick explained how the bugling had been slow, primarily because of the extremely hot and dry weather that had been tormenting the southwest. “All of the action is probably going to be early in the morning and late in the afternoon.” Rick explained. “The Bulls have been bugling, but not a lot. I would expect ever day of the hunt to get better as the rut starts to heat up.”

The camp set up to lodge the hunting party was made up of Boy Scout tents that were all clean and cozy. A large tent was set to serve as the mess hall and also a gathering spot for the hunters to tell their hunting stories. After eating the traditional U.S.O. first afternoon meal of bar-b-que brisket the group settled in for the night to rest up for what was expected to be a week long of covering a lot of ground on foot as well as horseback.

The first morning of the hunt Rick guided Michael to the top of a mountain ridge that had been logged. There was a light frost on the ground and the distant bugling of bulls gathering cows could be heard down toward the valleys below. It didn’t take long before the realtree camera started to run tape on elk. After stalking closer to some bugling elk, Michael pointed out two bulls standing on a side ridge lightly sparring with each other, but neither bull were shooters so the hunting party kept moving on. By around two hours after daylight the elk activity had basically diminished and the trio of hunters headed back to the truck which was now around six miles away. Satisfied with encountering plenty of nice bulls included one that would score in the 330’s, Michael anticipated with optimistic thoughts of what a hunt this was going to be.

The next few days were absolutely awesome. There were to many close encounters to even count. Another U.S.O. client showed up in camp who had also drew a Valle Vidal tag. The plan was for Rick to start guiding him and U.S.O. legend Griz Montoya was to start hunting with Michael and Hoffart. The action stayed constant with rutting bulls working to cow calls. One big 5×5 came on a run bugling the whole way across a meadow. The lovesick bull literally came within 6 yards of Michael before he was spooked by a change in the wind before Michael had a chance to draw his bow.

One evening Michael had two different 300 class or better bulls coming to a call, but on both setups the constantly changing wind thermals alerted the elk and ruined any chance for success. “I do not know if I have ever been so frustrated with the wind. It never stayed consistent and the one thing you can not fool on an elk is his nose.” Michael said.

As the hunt rolled on fatigue started to set in. Getting up at 3:45 am every morning, riding 4 to 5 miles on horseback back into the mountains and then walking another 5 to 6 miles were really making the hunters move slowly. But by the 5th day of the hunt, Michael still had very optimistic hopes of filling his tag as he found himself standing on top of a ridge with bulls screaming in all directions. Griz was calling behind him promising the vocal bulls every thing that they wanted to hear, and in no time there were two bulls standing at 20 yards, but neither were what Michael was looking for.

Finally at 8:00 am, Griz’s cow call was cut short by an eager bugle. Quickly Michael got into position and Hoffart started viding his surroundings. Griz intensified his cow calling and it was apparent that the bull was closing ground, getting nearer by the minute.

Michael could hear the pounding of hooves just before the bull appeared coming down an old logging road. Once in, with the realtree camera rolling the 6×6 bellowed out a piercing bugle at a distance of 40 yards. After telling the whole mountain that he was the boss the bull carried on his walk toward the sound of the cow call. When the bull went behind a bush, Michael brought his bow to dull draw. The bull stepped out into a clearing at a distance of 34 yards and Michael squeezed off a perfect double lung hit and the bull traveled only about 70 yards before going down.

“I knew when I drew this tag it was going to be a treat, but I never come close to imagining the experience was going to be this good. Words can not explain how much fun this hunt was. The only sad thing about it is that I will never be able to hunt the Valle Vidal again, but you can bet I will be back to video on it in the future.”

When the hunt was all said and done Waddell’s hunt had been successfully caught on tape for an on going production of Monster Bulls 3 that will be available the summer of 2001, and Michael’s elk assured his family plenty of tasty elk steak for the next year.