After years of applying to draw, Rusty McDaniels finally pulls a New Mexico muzzleloader elk tag and heads out to hunt with Graham’s Guide Service.

They sight in the muzzleloader, and with some daylight left, Joseph Graham takes him scouting. Bulls are bugling the second they step out of the truck. They count about 70 elk and a few shooter bulls. One of them is the herd bull, a tall and heavy 6X6, and Joseph keeps saying the same thing: that’s a really good bull.
That solidifies Rusty's pick. That's the one.

Before daylight, they ease up a two-track under a big hill with bulls bugling all around them. At 70 yards they see his elk's massive antlers... then his cows and calves spot them. The herd pours off the backside of the hill. Rusty and Joseph hoof it up after them and find the bull standing with 20 to 30 cows. At 150 yards, Rusty fires. The bull takes the hit, but mega-bull elk are tough, and the hunt isn’t over yet.