PDA

View Full Version : A proper Christmas tree



megasupermagnum
12-26-2022, 01:03 AM
I hope everyone had a good Christmas, I know I did. Yesterday I drove out to the black hills and got there just before dark. I managed to find an area with a ton of elk tracks, made a general plan, then set up camp. Today on the way out I could hear a ton of elk. At first light I could see them through the trees. Unusual for my nature, I decided on a very aggressive approach. I had the wind strongly in my favor, a good ditch to walk down, and a perfectly placed bunch of trees at the bottom. How often does that happen?

There's not much more to the story. I snuck down to them, got to the end of the trees, then belly crawled to a nice shooting spot. There was a cow broadside at 180 yards. I took a shot with the Henry single shot in 30 hate. She dropped on the spot, and managed to crawl an extra 10-20 yards into a little drainage ditch. I sprinted up to her. She was not breathing, but after a kick I saw a twitch so I put a finisher with the TC scout pistol. So yes, I did shoot it with a cast bullet, it just wasn't the main means of death. All that by about 7:30 am.

I deboned it ready for a mile hike out. I opted for one trip, one bag in the pack, the rest in a sled. I then noticed a trail out which I thought went to the main road. On the way out a nice man driving by offered me a ride back to the truck.

I ended up with the perfect Christmas tree.

https://i.ibb.co/vDPxLSP/IMG-20221225-111248478.jpg (https://ibb.co/vDPxLSP)

https://i.ibb.co/H2zkjxw/Screenshot-20221225-074759.png (https://ibb.co/H2zkjxw)

Unfortunately no real report on the cast ball. From 3 feet away to the side of the head it was lethal. Go figure.

As for the 308, it was a jacketed bullet, but I figure I should post anyway. I hate how most 150gr bullets perform. This is a great contrast. It is the Hornady 180gr soft point Interlock. These are identical results to what I saw on deer. Good sized hole, but nothing crazy. None of the fragments or random brushing or bloodshot you get from most 150gr bullets.

https://i.ibb.co/ySQMS0k/IMG-20221225-091408252.jpg (https://ibb.co/ySQMS0k)

Winger Ed.
12-26-2022, 01:14 AM
Great trip.

I didn't put up a tree anywhere that nice.

We just had a Festivus pole for the rest of us.

CastingFool
12-26-2022, 08:21 AM
Congrats on your elk, great story too.

elk hunter
12-26-2022, 09:48 AM
To me elk are the ultimate game animal in the lower forty-eight. Congratulations on a successful hunt.

megasupermagnum
12-26-2022, 11:05 AM
To me elk are the ultimate game animal in the lower forty-eight. Congratulations on a successful hunt.

Well of course a guy named elk hunter would say that.:p

They are a ton of fun in areas of vast public land. They are the worst animal with a patchwork of private land.

stubshaft
12-26-2022, 03:47 PM
Congrats on your harvest. What a wonderful "tree"!

pworley1
12-26-2022, 04:19 PM
Congratulations, I enjoyed your post.

ChristopherO
12-26-2022, 04:48 PM
A perfect plan that was executed with superb results. Excellent stalk and shot. The best type of hunting there is. Don't forget the ivories.

versa-06
12-26-2022, 06:18 PM
Glad you had a hunt that seemed all going your way. Good Shot, & Thanks for the story.

Milky Duck
12-26-2022, 08:26 PM
the 180grn hornady is a really good basic cup n core projectile,one of my favourites for deer at bush stalking ranges in the .308. it pretty much duplicates the winchester factory 180s except its round nosed instead.
great you got your animal so cleanly.no worries keeping meat cool or the blowfiles away in conditions like that. enjoy your venison.

megasupermagnum
12-26-2022, 09:20 PM
the 180grn hornady is a really good basic cup n core projectile,one of my favourites for deer at bush stalking ranges in the .308. it pretty much duplicates the winchester factory 180s except its round nosed instead.
great you got your animal so cleanly.no worries keeping meat cool or the blowfiles away in conditions like that. enjoy your venison.

I'm sure that one is good too, but I used #3070. It is a spire point, soft point, flat based bullet. After playing with Hot-core and Accubond bullets, neither holds a candle to the accuracy of this Interlock. Really doesn't give up that much to a boat tail for wind drift. Still better than any 165gr BT.

dverna
12-26-2022, 09:24 PM
Nice MSM. Silly to use cast in a .308 IMO.

Silvercreek Farmer
12-26-2022, 10:14 PM
Really like the pic of your hand on the skinned shoulder, lotsa meat on an elk! Maybe someday…

megasupermagnum
12-26-2022, 10:29 PM
Nice MSM. Silly to use cast in a .308 IMO.

You say that now. Next one is probably going to come via either a cast bullet from the same rifle, or a cast ball from a flint lock.

smokeater
12-26-2022, 11:44 PM
Congratulations on your very successful hunt. Enjoy your harvest.

missionary5155
12-30-2022, 03:49 AM
Good morning and Congratulations !
That is great how easy it was to take that cow elk ! Thank you for the write up and photos. Big eating there !
When our son started hunting elk in AZ he asked what to use in his 06. I wrote get something in 180 grains that shot accurate. He did and dropped his 2nd cow this year.

sloughfoot
12-31-2022, 01:29 AM
Can we be friends. Awesome story

Big Goose
12-31-2022, 09:59 AM
Congrats on a nice cow elk, great write up and pics. I love the Christmas tree.
We too really like that 180 grain Hornady spire point interlock. our "go-to' bullet for the 06 and my son's old 300 H&H.
Thanks for sharing