2003 Youth Desert Bull

by Reed Bailey

Thanks to the few in the state of Utah with enough foresight to see a powerful influence for the future of hunting, (OUR YOUTH).

It seemed useless to continue scouting any further. My son Andy and I, had gone on the word of several friends and chose to hunt the driest unit in Utah's brand new youth, Any Bull Elk hunt. We spent countless days scouting for the elusive Desert Wapiti, coming up empty at every spot we tried. We saw a few tracks now and then and we listened to advice from a multitude of supporters, eager to see a youth hunter do well on a hunt. Hunting hot spots are a prized possession, and yet, every person I talked to was more than willing to give it up to a youth hunter. My hat goes off to every person who helped a youth hunter fulfill our dream, (The future of our sport).

Opening weekend was very hot, Andy missed a big six and a rag horn bull, and we went home empty handed but not yet beaten. We were on the right track, our only obstacle now, how to contain bull fever.

Second weekend starts out with a big six point eluding two young hunters on Friday night. The following day, we decided to try another spot, one of those prized secrets places that someone so generously gave up in the name of our youth hunters, thanks Jason. We started seeing Elk the minute we entered the canyon. I witnessed my 14-year old boy turn down an easy shot at a spike; he must have known what was in store for him.

We sat on a hillside, glassing for elk, I spotted some cows across from us and behind them came a beautiful six point. The bull skyline and gave us a good look at his tremendous rack. He was way too far for a shot. Just then, two hunters topped out on the ridge just above the elk. The elk spooked and made a beeline straight for us. All we could do was to hope the elk would choose our little finger canyon as their escape route. Andy and I sat impatiently, waiting for the elk to emerge from the thick junipers below. Moments later, the silence was broken by the sharp shrill of the bull bulging just below us. First a cow stepped into the open. I told Andy to get ready; the bull would be next. The bull stepped into the opening, take him, I said, and the rest is history.

I can't say enough about the importance of getting our youth more involved in the hunting sports. The first Wildlife conservationists were hunters and so shall it be for the last.

A great big thanks to Grandpa Ray, Uncle Greg, Shane, Sherm and Jeff.