By Howard Dobbs

October 22, 2006 will be a day that I will never forget. I was guiding Rob Schwarzenbach and Mark Campbell on a muzzleloader hunt in New Mexico. It was the second day of our hunt. The first day we hiked 12 long miles and only saw four small bulls. I told Rob and Mark that today would be easy compared to yesterday. We were going to be going up my favorite mountain.

I parked the truck and we began our hike up towards the top of the mountain in the dark. I suddenly stopped 200 yards from the truck. I thought that I had heard a bugle echoing in the canyon below. After a few minutes standing there listening, I heard 3 more bugles in different directions. Mark asked me if they were elk bugling, because he and Rob had never heard a bugle before. I stood there listening and trying to figure out which way they were going to go. I could hear 2 bulls in the bottom and 1 further up the canyon where we were headed. I decided to head back down the ridge towards the bulls bugling in the bottom.

As we moved closer, Mark and Rob were whispering to each other about who would get the first shot. I came around the corner and spotted a cow and calf feeding in the meadow. We still had 10 minutes before it got light enough to shoot. We kept on walking towards the bugles when suddenly I heard elk running up the mountain. We had been busted by some cows and a smaller bull. Right then, I heard the class of antlers. Two bulls were fighting and we still had a chance. I knew exactly where the bulls were if we could just close the gap.

As I came around a pine tree, I could see the bull standing in the meadow looking right at us only 160 yards away. I told Mark to shoot that bull. He got a rest and when the bull turned broadside, Mark fired the shot. The bull hit the ground.

While Mark was reloading in a hurry, I told him "I wonder what the other bull looked like". I heard Rob say "Right there". The other bull was headed right for us from our right side. I told Rob to shoot him. We moved a little to get a clear shot and I cow called to slow the bull down. The bull slowed to a walk and Rob shot. Another bull down. We killed two bulls in two minutes within 200 yards of each other!

We were all in awe of what had just happened. After all the Hi-fives, hugs, and pictures, we got to work on getting the bulls out of there.

Mark's bull grosses 313 and Rob's bull has a gross score of 338. This bull has 21 and 22 inch third points.

In all of my years guiding, this has to be one of the hightlights. It may never happen again. Thanks to Rob and Mark for a wonderful memory.

Species: Elk Location of Hunt: New Mexico Outfitter: New Mexico Professional Big Game Hunting Weapon: Muzzleloader Equipment: Swarovski Binoculars