Words from my dad:
"Bout mid afternoon the snow let off & visibility got better. As Doug glassed a saddle he said "Dad there some right there!" They were about 2 miles away & I reached for my rifle & pack. Doug said "uh, we're going to drive around to the road on the other side of the valley" as he fire up the truck.
With the snow, it took about 30 minutes to get as far as we dare take the truck. We unloaded the 4 wheeler & went until it got stuck. Then it was hoof it time. We walked a side hill to get with 500yds but figured we could use cover to make a better shot.
We closed to within 350yds & found a suitable lump to sit against. 4 of them broke from cover and paused in an opening. I picked what looked like a mid sized cow & settled on the bipod for my shot. Doug was ready for the follow up. I squeezed as the 300yd tick mark centered on the shoulder. She crumpled up and went down. Spine shot, she was immobilized but thrashing a bit. I didn't have a second shot as all I could see was butt.
Just then another cow broke cover & I told Doug to try a shot. Seconds later he fired & spin shot his too. Down she went in a heap. His shot just a fuzz over 300yds.
Now the work was going to start. Doug walked down while I spotted. I heard the coup de gras on his then I started down toward mine. A minute later Doug finished mine.
By now it was nearly 4pm & we had two to quarter. I'm here to tell ya, Doug is wicked fast with one of those surgeon knives. We got all the meat put in one place just as dark was coming. We had about a 1/2 mile walk back to the 4 wheeler...up a steep hill. I carried both rifles while Doug pocketed the inner loins and draped all four back loins over his neck and shoulders.
We'll head into the back country to retrieve the other 8 quarters tomorrow morning with 400' of rope and a couple sleds. Turns out both cows were not medium sized. Both a fully mature and probably 600lbs or more on the hoof. Just the back straps are 50lbs in the sack.
Who whee, the real work will be underway in a few hours.
Now for the pics!
Doug's cow where she dropped. Hit with a 280 Remington.
Mine thrashed and skidded it's way down hill about 10yds. I was using my 300 Win mag Remington 700.
Doug doing what he's really really good at.
Back straps, 3 feet long and 6 inches through.
"
Back to me:
We spent about 7 hours today getting all the quarters and trimming meat back to the truck with our pack frames, sleds, rope, and my four wheeler. This was my dads first elk and this was my second for the season. We will be busy the next couple days cutting, grinding, packaging, and canning elk meat.....sore and tired but worth every minute of it.
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Smoke4320
