123,
Congratulations on the tag. How many points did you have?
As far as the hunt goes, some folks shoot the first hour of daylight, others hunt for days and never see a bull bison. As was mentioned earlier, they can be at very different elevations, and in varied terrain. Once they get shot at, different game. Many of these old buffalo have seen a hunt or two, and they know where they are the safest. They are smart, not easy to put down, and can run into the next zip code in no time at all. Take enough gun....I saw a guy one time, had tried an old muzzleloader and about 4 shots (hits) later, he was playing ring around the cedar tree with a wounded, contrary old bull. Hit 'em good or you may never see them again. I have found a couple buffs the next year that were not recovered by the hunter.
Once you get one on the ground, it will amaze you how big they are and how much they weigh. A large mature bull skull and cape is a lot of pounds..Try to be near a road, and have some help with you too. It is a big job to take care of a large bull by yourself. There was an Albrecht guy that lived in Hanksville that used to be available to help guide/pack..you may want to check into that depending upon your situation..
One of the most successful (not the easiest) ways to kill a good bull, is to find a track, and follow it until you catch up. You need to be very careful that you don't get on some of the private property (Sandy Ranch, King Ranch etc..) and be even more careful that you don't end up on Capital Reef. Kill a buffalo on Capital Reef and it ain't funny..
Hunt smart, hunt hard, and don't underestimate the old bulls and you should do just fine. Invite some good help, and do your best to get along with other hunters you see down there. I have seen many times, one hunter help another (done it ourselves a lot!)..so keep that in mind as you interact with fellow hunters. We stopped hunting once to help some folks who had no idea what they were doing, and it comes back around most times..
Have Fun, take a lot of pictures, and be safe..Let us know how you do.. KattKrapp