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Thread: Finally filled that elk tag

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy ErnieBishop's Avatar
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    Finally filled that elk tag

    Sometimes what you think is going to be a relatively easy and quick hunt, turns into a longer process. This has been the case, to fill my cow/calf elk tag this year. I thought I might be having tag soup this year. The number of bulls I could've killed, at relatively short range was beyond me. A number of these were mature bulls, more in the average range, and there just seemed to be a lot more spikes than normal. With my schedule, Friday was going to be the last full day that I would be able to hunt. There was a chance that I could go out Sunday after lunch. The morning started off not seeing any elk at all, then around 8:30 AM we saw a lone cow, but she went over the top. She was not running away from us, but just moved over the top of the ridge away from us. I was determined that I was not going to let any opportunity bypass me, so I geared up to go after her. I never saw her again, but I did quite a bit of climbing, and the only path I could find down was quite steep with a lot of loose rock. Almost had some "pucker" moments.


    We continued working our way south, checking north facing ridges, and we spotted a group of about 15 elk. At first, we didn't realize there were that many there. I left Mike and Bruce in the truck, and headed out again to what would be the longest stalk of my life in terms of time. I spent over two hours with five different stalks/approaches. Each stalk ended with me completely running out of cover, with the distance being further than I wanted to shoot. Hills and steep canyons combined with high winds meant I wanted to be under 400 yards.


    On the next to last attempt, I decided to go around the ridge on the south side, then I planned to come over the top to make the shot as the ridge curved to the left where they were, but I could never really start it, because as soon as I got around the tip of the south side, I had about 150 head of elk from 800 to 1500 yards to the south. This is one of the few times where finding elk was a disadvantage.


    I am on the same north facing slope that the elk are on, heading generally east, and my last option about 2/3 of the way down the ridge taking advantage of a few cedar trees and dead trees. I did a lot of crouch walking, making sure that I kept the trees between the cows and myself most of the time. There were more than several times to where I was in the open. If they were really looking at my direction or knew that I was there, I would have been busted. I just hoped that if I did blow them out, they would head north or east, and not go south and take out that huge group of elk with them. Patience paid off, as I found myself under a tree with pine needles and pine cones everywhere. I was a little surprised when I ranged them, that I was in the 350ish yard range…Finally!


    I couldn't see as many of the elk from this vantage point, but the closest elk was a cow, actually a calf, but I wasn't turning down anything at this point. There was a narrow shooting window between rocks and trees, and my rangefinder although one of the better ones, was giving me different distances. 1 ¾ inches of vertical difference, wasn't going to make much of a difference so I picked the middle distance between the shortest and the furthest and dialed 4.5 minutes (350 yards). At the shot the whole area erupted with elk. There were more there than I thought. My calf (tender vittles) went down at the shot, but I briefly lost her at the shot. I immediately got my sight picture back and was reloading, when I saw her try to get up, and even though I knew she was probably already dead, I sent another one for insurance, and I saw her go down through my scope. Wouldn't you know it, about four maybe five cows ran off about 50 yards to my left and just stood at the top of the ridge looking around. They had no idea where I was. It is fun using different guns when hunting.

    Earlier this week I decided to take my center-grip 6.5 PRC XP-100 that Tim King/King Custom Arms put together for me, which runs the factory Hornady 143 grain ELD-X at 2858 fps. Since I was also on the north facing slope with the elk and there was a slight curve to the slope, the elk and I were out of the wind for all practical purposes. Because of that I didn't hold for wind.

    There can be a lot of frustration, when hunting doesn't work out the way that you expect it. But the memories and the reward are always greater, when you have to work for it. Bruce filled his cow tag earlier in the season. It has been fun hunting with him. Friday was a bonus as another good friend, Mike, was able to be with us.

    https://youtu.be/eQf_l6gqrY8

    https://youtu.be/MY6j_EWhsRQ
    Ernie "The Untactical"

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Great story, we could have been right by each other. I spent all last week in area 37. The only tracks I found on national forest was very old. I did find some elk on a ranch at the base of the mountains, but did not get permission to hunt. I finally had enough, and I'll mix that tag in with the deer meat.

    Other than that, I think you posted this in the wrong area (this is the handgun section). Being you used an ELD-X, you may have even posted this on the wrong forum (cast bullets forum) all together.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy memtb's Avatar
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    Congrats Ernie!

    Still haven’t taken mine yet......of course leaving the house may increase the odds!

    As for you choice of weaponry.....when are you going to leave that “primitive stuff” behind and start shooting cast boolits! Congrats Again! memtb
    You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel

    “LETS GO BRANDON”

  4. #4
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    contender1's Avatar
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    Kudos on getting your elk. I haven't been on an elk hunt since 2019,, and I'm looking to plan another one for 2022,, and maybe 2023.

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy ErnieBishop's Avatar
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    Thanks guys!
    Ernie "The Untactical"

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master FergusonTO35's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by megasupermagnum View Post
    Other than that, I think you posted this in the wrong area (this is the handgun section). Being you used an ELD-X, you may have even posted this on the wrong forum (cast bullets forum) all together.
    XP-100 is a handgun.
    Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by FergusonTO35 View Post
    XP-100 is a handgun.
    Hey, whatever floats your boat. Very few people are going to consider that in the video a handgun. I guess I never noticed that this section also includes "hand cannons", so I guess that counts.

  8. #8
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    contender1's Avatar
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    An XP-100 is a handgun,, that got it's life's start back in the 1960's or early 1970's if I recall correctly. Not much different than a T/C Contender or Encore. And while a bit more accurate than most shell shuckers,, or wheelies,, it's still a handgun.
    No reason to pee on a successful hunters story.

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by contender1 View Post
    An XP-100 is a handgun,, that got it's life's start back in the 1960's or early 1970's if I recall correctly. Not much different than a T/C Contender or Encore. And while a bit more accurate than most shell shuckers,, or wheelies,, it's still a handgun.
    No reason to pee on a successful hunters story.
    I congratulated him!

    No, I don't think a bolt action, 20" barrel (guessing) 6.5 PRC rifle is a handgun, just because you cut the stock off.

    That's MY opinion, and the only reason I brought it up is because I incorrectly assumed he had posted this in the wrong area. It was my mistake.

  10. #10
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    Good job on the hunt. Great job on the write-up! Very cool!
    "Time and money don't do you a bit of good until you spend them." - My Dad

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy ErnieBishop's Avatar
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    To the guys who have responded about my XP-100, and made explanations - Thanks.
    Please note that, MSM was the first to congratulate my elk kill, and I believe it was completely sincere, as he knows the frustrations and time you can put in and still come up empty-handed.

    MSM,
    It seems I have somehow stretched or offended your definition of a pistol.
    Everyone has their opinions, but the definitions I go by, is what our country designates them to be. Different countries have different definitions.
    The XP's came out in the early 60's...eXperimental Pistol number 100. It has always been a far cry from traditional pistol.
    The stock has never been cut-off (it is and always has been a pistol stock), and the action has always been designated a handgun by Remington and the BATF. The Remington 600 and 660's came to being after the XP-100, not before.
    the 6.5 PRC is a long barrel for a XP, but you need to take off several inches.
    I shoot 14-15 inch barrels in some of my specialty pistols and XP-100's and have shot them on steel from 1000 yards to past a mile, so a couple of extra inches of barrel are not going to make much difference one way or the other.
    There is not a limit on barrel length with a handgun like there is with a rifle.
    I shoot some revolvers that have pretty long barrels as well, and will shoot them on steel further than most people think is possible and still have good accuracy. I am not talking about hitting a target but shooting a group. That is with the measly 357 magnum.
    Colt made some pretty long ones back in the day (9-16 inch) a number of makers do 10" and longer today as well.

    Picked my elk meat yesterday in Buffalo, and picked up deer meat from Gillette as well so the freezer is full.
    Shot the deer with the 1911 frame Pachmayr Dominator (6.5 Creed), both were under 50 yards from a double kneeling position while doing some still hunting...the very slow sneaky sneak. I can hunt up close and personal to far away-I like diversity.
    Planned to fill my second tag with the 25 Creed Dominator.
    These are 1911 frames with the Dominator top (15" and 14" barrels respectively). They both shoot good too.
    I considered using the 25 Creed for my cow/calf tag.

    25 Creed with 2 shots at 500 yards, after 1 shot at 300 yards. You can't attach a bi-pod or anything like that to the dominator.
    If you watch the video, the wind is getting a little busy, hence the horizontal separation (not too much really) at 500 yards. The vertical is great though.
    https://youtu.be/J7LHdOVNYWY
    You can see the wind blowing the 10" steel target at 300 yards (500 yard target is fixed).
    https://youtu.be/d3zrtvKhxdI
    These types of specialty pistols have been considered handcannons for some time now, but you are correct that I was Not using a cast bullet.
    Ernie "The Untactical"

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    That is some serious hunting. Certain I would not be up for that much physical exertion.

  13. #13
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    Great post and I enjoyed seeing the videos!

    A big "high-five" for the success!
    Maker of Silver Boolits for Werewolf hunting

  14. #14
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    Congratulations and thanks for the story.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master pjames32's Avatar
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    Thanks for a good story. My hunting days are past, but I do plan to go with a friend in another week for his cow tag.
    NRA Benefactor Member

  16. #16
    Boolit Master

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    Great story and nice videos. Sure looks beautiful out there.
    Congratulations!

    By the way that is a handgun or a micro sized artillery piece, it just looks unusual.
    Now a AR with a buffer tube in my way of thinking IS a rifle.

  17. #17
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    Good afternoon and Congratulations !
    Great write-up and those two videos were fun to watch.
    I know how you felt when there was finally a shot at something if only a calf. But that calf is huge and sure will be good eating !
    God has Blessed and I rejoice with you !
    "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
    Male Guanaco out in dry lakebed at 10,800 feet south of Arequipa.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy ErnieBishop's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Plate plinker View Post
    Great story and nice videos. Sure looks beautiful out there.
    Congratulations!

    By the way that is a handgun or a micro sized artillery piece, it just looks unusual.
    Now a AR with a buffer tube in my way of thinking IS a rifle.
    Specialty pistols are an odd duck kind of pistol for sure.
    I have had a AR-15 pistol with two uppers for some time now, before they became popular.
    Glenn Seekins built it. Both have Rock 7T barrels. It does have a buffer tube.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    With the 15.75" barrel I have hit steel beyond 1100 yards with 69 grain SMK's and TAC powder
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Ernie "The Untactical"

  19. #19
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    Excellent write-up!

    I owned a 4 digit XP-100 in .221 Fireball many, many years ago. It came in the old Dupont case. Heck of a shooter for sure. Plus,, I've had a T/C Contender since the early 1980's,, and have taken game at all kinds of distances,, but mostly here in my WNC mountains. My last elk with it was a 156 yd shot. DRT.

    I also shoot a lot of handguns of different flavors,, with my last elk hunting trip,, using an El Dorado revolver in .45 Colt.

    That XP looks like a SWEET shooter,,, that I'd love to try a 1000 yd shot with!

  20. #20
    Boolit Buddy ErnieBishop's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by contender1 View Post
    Excellent write-up!

    I owned a 4 digit XP-100 in .221 Fireball many, many years ago. It came in the old Dupont case. Heck of a shooter for sure. Plus,, I've had a T/C Contender since the early 1980's,, and have taken game at all kinds of distances,, but mostly here in my WNC mountains. My last elk with it was a 156 yd shot. DRT.

    I also shoot a lot of handguns of different flavors,, with my last elk hunting trip,, using an El Dorado revolver in .45 Colt.

    That XP looks like a SWEET shooter,,, that I'd love to try a 1000 yd shot with!
    My friend Matt shot it several years ago for the first time at just over a grand. 3-shots right at 3.5 inches, with factory ammo.
    Come to WY-SHOT and you can shoot some of my specialty pistols from 200-1300 yards.

    Ernie "The Untactical"

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