Awesome! Way to start the hunt. I got a scope kiss while sighting in my 30-06 but I was too embarressed to publish a picture of it. One thing is for sure, you'll only do that once, I bet.
So are you going with a euro mount? Head and neck or nothing?
D
"A patriot is mocked, scorned and hated; yet when his cause succeeds, all men will join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
Most impressive scope bite I ever saw on the internet was on another forum. Some poor soul forgot to remove the ramrod from his muzzleloader and subsequenty took the shot. Let's just say that he had quite a gash in his forhead and I believe he also got a broken nose out of it. Kudos to the guy for being brave enoug to publish his mistake.
Accuracy: because white space between bullet holes drives me insane.
Very nice:yikes:. Please tell me you have not seen a single cow so I will feel better about not being there:tissue:
Sako
We have not. I jumped a bull today right near the road but he was long gone before I even realized what was going on, since I was nearly back at the truck and wasn't paying much attention. At least I figured it was a bull, it was alone.
We are moving areas tomorrow, as me and Bud (JB's FIL) really want to get cows. If I can, I want to shoot a calf lol nice and small, easy to pack out!
Hard day today, I went up and down the mountain 4 times, all the way up to probably 11k and some change.
Me and JBOhio got up to 10,100 today, just jumped some Muley's, no elk. We opted to hunt downhill this afternoon and sat on a creek bottom, JB snores:jester:
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn away from their ways and live. Eze 33:11
North side hidden meadows.....between water and bedding.....you know where they are. Where in 54 are you guys at now?
Water is all over. They're spread out real thin I hiked several miles in many directions today and found no new sign, time to move on. We are on the north and eastern border of the unit, a mile or two south of Hwy 12
If we can get over there. That was what I was looking at originally. They are in a weird pattern, those bulls were down low, and together which shouldn't be happening post rut. And we have seen no cows at 8900-9400ft, should be loads of them.
Bachelor herds of Spikes and bulls, happens sometimes....they're always on the move.....means a hard winter and they're fattening up on water and feed....settling in the benches and saddles. Your cows are gonna be in 5-7 groups and spaced out...look lower around 8300-4 ft, tight draws with sharp spurs for overlook for them. It's still hot for them, look for shade and overwatch positions. Remember the bull we spooked!? The area you'e hunting is far steeper than what we're used to, but the basics are the same. Food, water, shelter....think like the elk! What's the weather been like so far?
God show's mercy on drunks and dumb animals.........two outa three ain't a bad score!
Thanks for all the compliments, and other stuff, guys. It was a heck of a day. Jerm's right, I'll have the perma grin for a good while.
Details.
First and foremost. I MISSED with the first shot that gave me the scope bite. I was standing, propped against a tree. I racked the bolt, got my stuff together, and drilled him with blood running down my face. The shot was ~220 yards, at a 22 degree upwards angle, according to my rangefinder.
Rifle is a stock Remington 700, 300 RUM, with a Nikon Monarch 4-12.
Of course, the ammo is my handloads. 95.4gr Retumbo motivating a 200gr Accubond at 3125 fps. It shoots .75"
He was moving right to left, quartering away. I hit him about midship, the bullet through his stomach with 30-40 pounds of grass in it, exploded his liver, up through his chest, across the top of his heart, through the top of a lung, and out the point of his shoulder. It sounds like an impossible shot, but the angle is pretty extreme. He turned 180 after the shot, and fell about 30-40 yards later. Interesting note, he didn't bleed one drop on the ground, other than what ran out of his nose after he fell.
Part of his stomach blew back out his side, and plugged the entry wound, and the blood never made it out of the exit.
I really gotta hand it to MHS, Chiro, and my FIL, Bud. They quit hunting for the day, and helped my get that critter off the top of that mtn. It was only 550 yards to the truck, according to my GPS. But, it was 500 ft ABOVE the truck. The tree you see it leaning against is the only thing that kept it from rolling down a 100 yard long 2:1 slope. The pack out was gruelling, to say the least. It took us well over 6 hrs to get him down, in pieces.
At least now, everytime you look in the mirror, you'll remember your first elk.
That's right. Well worth the price of admission.
FWIW, these handloads have got me 4 times. None of them near that bad.
I never heard the rifle go off, didn't feel the recoil, didn't feel the scope hit me.
I dunno. I'll have a scar, but I'm not deaf. There are brakes in my future, but that rifle is low on the list. It'll be a few years before it's called into service again.
It was only 550 yards to the truck, according to my GPS. But, it was 500 ft ABOVE the truck. The pack out was gruelling, to say the least. It took us well over 6 hrs to get him down, in pieces.
Work aint done yet. Now you have to clean out the freezer when you get home.... Good job!
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." Thomas Jefferson
Can't fit an elk in it after we put all of our crap in it and our butts in it, we have been using my F-150, had to put it in 4 low and first gear to get down some glare snow on the north side. Joe says if you know so much you should come up here and show us how it's done:)
Mosseybuck and JerryBobCo just got here, no elk in their camp yet.
Milehighshooter just got back from fishing while we resupplied and caught some browns, no keepers:(.
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn away from their ways and live. Eze 33:11
Believe me, I would love to be with y'all right now! However I just started with this new job a few weeks ago....and pretty grateful they're giving me the time off for my 4th season hunt this year. Y'all don't need me when you've got MHS with ya.....He can hold his own if you can keep him from lighting up a cigarette when he stops for a breather.....lol!
P.S. Tell Joe he just made the 20%......now he's doomed!:tooth:
God show's mercy on drunks and dumb animals.........two outa three ain't a bad score!
We cut some track today. This has to be one of the biggest elk tracks I have ever seen in 20 years of humping around these hills. My guess is this bull will go 800lbs+ on the hoof. BIG animal. That is a 300 Win Mag for ref.
JerryBobCo and MossyBuck are hunting in the next unit over. We pre-arranged to have a nice dinner for all of us, and for the 521 boys to get a nice hot meal and a shower (they're roughing it). It went better then any of us expected, and we all expected a grand time! JB made some FANTASTIC meatloaf, I introduced the guys to sour beers, and we had several hours of BS time and it was just the icing on the cake to an already great season. Even if we all shoot big bulls from here on out, the best part of this years hunt will be the forum dinner.
Replies
:agree:
Yeah that... Congrats on a fine elk.
So are you going with a euro mount? Head and neck or nothing?
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
Sako
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Mike
N454casull
Most impressive scope bite I ever saw on the internet was on another forum. Some poor soul forgot to remove the ramrod from his muzzleloader and subsequenty took the shot. Let's just say that he had quite a gash in his forhead and I believe he also got a broken nose out of it. Kudos to the guy for being brave enoug to publish his mistake.
(Talk about 'blooding the rifle' Looks like the scope got it at both ends!)
Look forward to more details.
We have not. I jumped a bull today right near the road but he was long gone before I even realized what was going on, since I was nearly back at the truck and wasn't paying much attention. At least I figured it was a bull, it was alone.
We are moving areas tomorrow, as me and Bud (JB's FIL) really want to get cows. If I can, I want to shoot a calf lol nice and small, easy to pack out!
Hard day today, I went up and down the mountain 4 times, all the way up to probably 11k and some change.
Water is all over. They're spread out real thin I hiked several miles in many directions today and found no new sign, time to move on. We are on the north and eastern border of the unit, a mile or two south of Hwy 12
Details.
First and foremost. I MISSED with the first shot that gave me the scope bite. I was standing, propped against a tree. I racked the bolt, got my stuff together, and drilled him with blood running down my face. The shot was ~220 yards, at a 22 degree upwards angle, according to my rangefinder.
Rifle is a stock Remington 700, 300 RUM, with a Nikon Monarch 4-12.
Of course, the ammo is my handloads. 95.4gr Retumbo motivating a 200gr Accubond at 3125 fps. It shoots .75"
He was moving right to left, quartering away. I hit him about midship, the bullet through his stomach with 30-40 pounds of grass in it, exploded his liver, up through his chest, across the top of his heart, through the top of a lung, and out the point of his shoulder. It sounds like an impossible shot, but the angle is pretty extreme. He turned 180 after the shot, and fell about 30-40 yards later. Interesting note, he didn't bleed one drop on the ground, other than what ran out of his nose after he fell.
Part of his stomach blew back out his side, and plugged the entry wound, and the blood never made it out of the exit.
I really gotta hand it to MHS, Chiro, and my FIL, Bud. They quit hunting for the day, and helped my get that critter off the top of that mtn. It was only 550 yards to the truck, according to my GPS. But, it was 500 ft ABOVE the truck. The tree you see it leaning against is the only thing that kept it from rolling down a 100 yard long 2:1 slope. The pack out was gruelling, to say the least. It took us well over 6 hrs to get him down, in pieces.
That's right. Well worth the price of admission.
FWIW, these handloads have got me 4 times. None of them near that bad.
I never heard the rifle go off, didn't feel the recoil, didn't feel the scope hit me.
Is there a brake in your future?
"The Un-Tactical"
Work aint done yet. Now you have to clean out the freezer when you get home.... Good job!
That's SOP when it comes to elk hunts with family/friends. :up:
P.S. To MHS.......that new Toyo of yours has 4wd.....get back in there away from the roads already! :tooth:
Mosseybuck and JerryBobCo just got here, no elk in their camp yet.
Milehighshooter just got back from fishing while we resupplied and caught some browns, no keepers:(.
P.S. Tell Joe he just made the 20%......now he's doomed!:tooth:
I officially hate you guys now.
That last shot is my favorite, and it happens to every elk hunter, first time or long in the tooth...."now what?"