Ryan Wood
The Burris Fullfield riflescope strikes again!
The Burris Fullfield riflescope worked so well on my varmint rifle, I decided to mount it on my big game rifle for the fall 2006 Wyoming elk hunt. Anyone who is familiar with me, knows hunting season is like Christmas, it comes only once a year and never lasts long enough. I was really looking forward to the fall of 2006 to get out in the field with my little brother, who was anxious to harvest his first elk. My goal was to make sure he filled his elk tag and overall our hunt was going well. Once again the pre-season scouting had paid off, and we were working some areas that were full of elk. We had glassed several elk from a distance, but failed to get close enough for a shot.
During an evening hunt, in one of my favorite hunting stands, my little brother and I were anxiously surveying some large sagebrush clearings. As dusk was settling and I could feel a slight breeze coming down the ridge, signifying the end of another day. After several minutes, I finally caught a glimpse of movement in the trees across the canyon. I couldn’t make out the silhouettes, but I told my brother to be ready, in case they were elk. After waiting a few more minutes, the ghostly figures took the shape of elk as they emerged into the clearing and began to feed. All we could see were cows and calves, but we patiently awaited the herd bull. My brother really wanted to harvest a bull, but he also knew that we were getting later into the hunt and the elk were getting spookier. He decided to set-up for a shot on a lone cow, which offered a nice broadside opportunity. As he steadied his rifle, a bugle, from a bull high on the ridgeline, interrupted our excitement. With daylight dwindling, I told him to wait, in case the bull presented himself. After a few minutes, which seemed like hours, the bull proudly entered the clearing. This was it, and there probably wouldn’t be another chance at a bull this big. As I started to say, “There he is!” he quickly fired a shot at the bull. He missed, but the bull couldn’t zero in on the source of the commotion and he ran out further to join the rest of the herd. With the sun fading fast in the West, and the bull being more than 400 yards, I handed him my gun, which is topped with a Burris Fulfield 3x9 with the ballistic-plex-reticle. At 400 yards, there’s no substitute for precision and accuracy, and I knew my gun had both. I told him to calm down and hold the second crosshair on the bull’s vitals. He momentarily rested the gun, took a shot, and by the sound, I knew he connected. He jacked another shell into the rifle as I watched the bull collapse to the ground. This was his first elk, and as you can imagine he was pretty excited. I was glad to be a spectator, but even more happy that I had the confidence in my rifle and scope to finish the job. Since the hunt, my brother has become a hunting “addict”, and he’s been saving his money so he can purchase his own Burris Fullfield riflescope. Thanks again SWFA, and it looks like you gained another customer!
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