Gunload Master
11-02-2006, 11:03 PM
Well, I thought I would tell my story of the past week elk hunting.
Opening day was Oct. 25th. The very early morning (before sunrise) was pretty chilly. I'd say around 20-25 degrees. We started up the hill and just as it started getting light enough to see without a flashlight, a big snow storm came in through the valley. Most beautiful sight you could see on opening day.
So as we are heading up, we hear two different elk calling back and forth and we new we were in the right direction.
We ended up forcing them over the hill into some thick pines, which was ideal for us. We got on top of the ridge, hurried down around the pines on the other side of the valley facing the pines, tied up the horses and got into position. From where we were, we could see anything that would come out of those pines from east to west, north or south. It was perfect.
From within those pines you could hear two elk calling back and forth, makes your hair stand up on the back of your neck. I had the range finder and ranged three positions up the hill so I would know a rough guess of where they might be once they poke their heads out.
Sure enough, out comes three cows from the pines, in no big rush. I scoped them out, ranged them from 240 Meters and watched...
Moments later, out walks a 5 x 5 (which later measured 32 wide 31 high [smilie=1: ). So I took up aim, and fired. He ran behind a tree for a few moments.. Slowly walked out and I knew I had hit him. About 12 cow elk darted all over the place and he stayed right there, I shot "a few" more times because the guy would not go down!
He then slowly walked behind a tree out of view. We gave it a few minutes, walked up there and he was their laying down. Ohh what a thrill. We approached with some caution and within about 10 feet, he jumped up got about 10 feet where my brother finished him right in the neck. Oh what a thrill! Opening day and there he is! He may not be the biggest elk in the hills, but he's a keeper.
First picture is me with the elk, second picture is me my brother and our horses. He's got the elk on his quarter horse as you can see. Enjoy!
Opening day was Oct. 25th. The very early morning (before sunrise) was pretty chilly. I'd say around 20-25 degrees. We started up the hill and just as it started getting light enough to see without a flashlight, a big snow storm came in through the valley. Most beautiful sight you could see on opening day.
So as we are heading up, we hear two different elk calling back and forth and we new we were in the right direction.
We ended up forcing them over the hill into some thick pines, which was ideal for us. We got on top of the ridge, hurried down around the pines on the other side of the valley facing the pines, tied up the horses and got into position. From where we were, we could see anything that would come out of those pines from east to west, north or south. It was perfect.
From within those pines you could hear two elk calling back and forth, makes your hair stand up on the back of your neck. I had the range finder and ranged three positions up the hill so I would know a rough guess of where they might be once they poke their heads out.
Sure enough, out comes three cows from the pines, in no big rush. I scoped them out, ranged them from 240 Meters and watched...
Moments later, out walks a 5 x 5 (which later measured 32 wide 31 high [smilie=1: ). So I took up aim, and fired. He ran behind a tree for a few moments.. Slowly walked out and I knew I had hit him. About 12 cow elk darted all over the place and he stayed right there, I shot "a few" more times because the guy would not go down!
He then slowly walked behind a tree out of view. We gave it a few minutes, walked up there and he was their laying down. Ohh what a thrill. We approached with some caution and within about 10 feet, he jumped up got about 10 feet where my brother finished him right in the neck. Oh what a thrill! Opening day and there he is! He may not be the biggest elk in the hills, but he's a keeper.
First picture is me with the elk, second picture is me my brother and our horses. He's got the elk on his quarter horse as you can see. Enjoy!