MyHuntingForum.com
MHF US Northwest => Hunting Montana => Topic started by: sra61 on Oct 28, 2014, 05:06:17 PM
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(http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee363/sra61/e131c81b-bffa-42a3-b2a7-87a4757185ef.jpg) (http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/sra61/media/e131c81b-bffa-42a3-b2a7-87a4757185ef.jpg.html)
Was looking for a moose last Tuesday and came across some elk. I saw a 5 point raghorn, and bumped some in the timber. Those elk in the timber had a bull that made a lot of noise going through the trees so he had to be decent. So made plans to come back with the horses on Sat, the 25th for the opener to see jf I could get some elk meat. I have been hunting alone all season, my brother, who I always hunt with has been stuck on a project in Yellowstone and he's got a real bad rotator cuff, so I'm on my own. I hunted the same spot where I saw the bull Tues. in the morning but saw nothing but a few muley does. I worked a couple of different areas and found a fresh moose track so hung out there a little longer than I had planned. I wanted to get back to that spot where I had seen the bull elk. When I got back to that road there was only 30 minutes left of legal light, so I tied the horses and walked the rest of the way up the hill. When I got to the right place, I immediately saw a cow across the canyon. I kept watching and another cow and then a calf came out on the road feeding. As I watched one of the cows kept looking back the way they had come, so I looked with the binos really carefully through the brush and pretty soon i saw what looked like a real dark colored tree bobbing around, and I realized it was a big bull. At that point I only had 17 minutes of legal light left. I waited for him to feed out with the cows but instead he turned the other direction away from the opening! With 10 min. left he moved into a small window maybe 2 feet wide where I could see his chest, and decided to take the 180 yd shot, because I didn't think he would show the other way. I was sitting and rested on my knees. At the shot the .300 Ultra rocked me back so I couldn't see what had happened. But right away I heard a lot of what sounded like thrashing and then wheezing. I was pretty sure that was him dieing, but it was across the canyon. With only 10 minutes of legal light left I knew I had to really hurry down and across the hell hole to find blood or him before all light was gone. I had a hard enough time just finding where he was standing, I did finally find a little blood, but it looked like it went uphill, which is usually not a good sign. I could only follow it for about 10 yards before it just petered out. I could swear I could smell him though. So I got where the scent was strongest and went into the wind and within 10 yards there he was stone cold. What a relief! I have killed a few and seen a few killed, but this bull was big! As soon as I found him it started raining. I got him gutted finally and then was able to slowly roll him the 20 yards down to the gated rd. they had been feeding on. Then I had to go back across the hell hole to get to the horses. We were way soaked and the 5 miles back to the truck was uncomfortable. I went back the next day with the horses and had to ride a couple of miles farther to get on the same road the bull was on. I started skinning and boning and was able to get it done and actually got it all loaded on the horses. I really didn't think I would be able to lift them high enough. I always leave the bones in the legs so I have something to get a hold of. That gives me something to tie the rack to to keep it off of the horse. They were right at 100 lbs. ea. and since I didn't have my saw I had to take the whole head, cape and rack out in one piece. That damn thing was a hundred lb. too. My old gelding got 300 lbs. I hated that, but we made it okay. Of course it rained on us all the way out and soaked us again. And to top it all off the heater in my truck crapped out! Every muscle in my body hurts like hell!
(http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee363/sra61/Elk/b9d3e3ad-1c6a-4748-aa84-60bf70b3d565.jpg) (http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/sra61/media/Elk/b9d3e3ad-1c6a-4748-aa84-60bf70b3d565.jpg.html)
(http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee363/sra61/42e35ba1-7547-4885-b520-e6f337083a58.jpg) (http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/sra61/media/42e35ba1-7547-4885-b520-e6f337083a58.jpg.html)
(http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee363/sra61/33c6a5b4-243f-4236-9165-37d8ff14c23b.jpg) (http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/sra61/media/33c6a5b4-243f-4236-9165-37d8ff14c23b.jpg.html)
(http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee363/sra61/PA260007.jpg) (http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/sra61/media/PA260007.jpg.html)
(http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee363/sra61/PA260001.jpg) (http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/sra61/media/PA260001.jpg.html)
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I like plan B! (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/swampstalker/SMILEYS/happy0144.gif)
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Nice. Love it. 8)
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Oh, boy... Great bull... Congratulations.........
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CONGRADS !!! I put my best friend on a 5 pt. yesterday he is so pumped first elk ever . He lives in Florida.
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CONGRADS !!! I put my best friend on a 5 pt. yesterday he is so pumped first elk ever . He lives in Florida.
Tell him congratulations! You know I really want to fill this moose tag, but there's something about elk! To me they are about the ultimate! I've killed a few, but every one is a big deal. I do love them. And anymore any legal bull on public land during rifle season is really a great accomplishment! ;D
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Moose will fill the freezer but Elk taste better... ;D just my opinion.... 8) 8) 8)
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way to go....you are so lucky and priviledged to be able hunt these animals....He is a beauty....and I love Montana......congrats
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Great bull!!!!!! Now, go get that moose. You'll probably need an additional freezer..... but you'll be eating some great meat for the next year.
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SRA61
I told my buddy that this hunting trip is one of a life time. All hunters dream of filling both tags in a season ..let alone in four days.
Im just glad he had a chance to get away and hunt with me. He is a friend that everybody wish they had ...to bad he is 3000 miles away.
Well i put him on the plane at 4:20 this morning . Cant wait till we hunt again.
MT.PERCHMAN
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SRA61
I told my buddy that this hunting trip is one of a life time. All hunters dream of filling both tags in a season ..let alone in four days.
Im just glad he had a chance to get away and hunt with me. He is a friend that everybody wish they had ...to bad he is 3000 miles away.
Well i put him on the plane at 4:20 this morning . Cant wait till we hunt again.
MT.PERCHMAN
Well I tell you it's a great friend that offers up that kind of chance to a buddy. Sometimes the stars align, and everything works out just like you wanted. It happens so rarely, those are the memories that last a lifetime. Somehow it seems a little better when you share it with someone. Congrats! You still have a lot of season left to fill your tag. That's the beauty of living where we live.
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You got one heck of a Bull there I'm willing to come out there for supper hehehe ; Congrads to you on a great Bull
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Well how is the moose hunt going ???
Those special tags i think come with a curse ...lol
Good luck anyway !!!!