If you'd shoot him on the last day........

[bushog]

You better shoot him on the third day!

That's not exactly how it goes but that's how it went Monday morning.

Shot this 5x4 bull at about 20 yds (with a rifle) after spooking a beautiful 6X6 that saw me before I saw him. Went down the hill to take a look for this one's Daddy when this little fella came walking up on a small hill beside me. Wind was in my favor and he never saw me. As of this year I'm 5 for 8 over the past 8 years for killing a bull since I really began hunting these beautiful and tasty creatures. Good news is he'll taste better than the one with bigger antlers.

Killed him in the Jemez Mountains about 1/2 hour from my home in Northern NM.
Area I was hunting was burned in the Las Conchas fire about 3 years ago. Its green,green, green now though. Won't be worth a darn to hunt in once all those trees fall. It's hard enough getting one out of the forest as is.

[Fowler]

Good for you, the only way I will kill a big old bull is if one steps out before me before a raghorn does. Fine bull in any book...

[kings6]

Good job Bushog! Fine eating and if he was silly enough to walk up to you then he needed to come out of the gene pool! Jemez Mountains look like they are not that far from where my daughter in law is currently stationed in Albuquerque. Guess I should have applied for and out of state tag and came down to visit her this fall! I'd even pack meat for you if you'd show me around!

[bushog]

Oh no! He just happened upon the stealthy Bushog.

I truly believe that the great Spirit presents us with these gifts. I've unted my ass off and not seen a one and other times they just appear like this guy.

In fact she is not that far away!

Must be at Kirkland. I do some work down there.

Where I hunt is about 1/3 of the way to Albuquerque if you go the scenic route. Either way it's about an hour and a half to Albuquerque.

Draw deadline is in April. If you're serious we should talk.

You'd be welcome!

[boxhead]

Agree. This one went down on the last day of the five day Colorado first season where I was getting ballsy enough to go deeper away into the mountains. Though taken at 10:00 AM the rest of the day was not pleasant, not pleasant at all.

[blacktailslayer]

Concrat's on the bull! Any elk is a good elk in my book.


Don D.

[Markbo]

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Oct 22, 2014 7:41:43 GMT -5 boxhead said:

Agree. This one went down on the last day of the five day Colorado first season where I was getting ballsy enough to go deeper away into the mountains. Though taken at 10:00 AM the rest of the day was not pleasant, not pleasant at all.

That is funny. Anyone who's back was aching and knees screaming Uncle knows just what you mean.

[schunter]

Congratulations Bushog! What rifle did you use on this one?

[bushog]

Mark Bansner .300 Win built on a Dakota 76 action.

[magnumwheelman]

nice bulls guys... I outfitted my own hunt once in Colorado, to an area my cousin had been going to ( successfully ) for several years before... no elk for us, I learned about 1/2 way through the season, that they had a big kill off due to heavy snow the year before... we still had a great time... there were several outfitters in the area, & none of their paying customers had gotten an elk the year we were out there either, so I don't think we did anything wrong... enjoyed the mountains a lot, since I'm a flatlander... we base camped at close to tree line, had MRS & a couple of her girl friends with us, that watched camp during the day, when my buddy & I were off hunting... we camped pretty close to the tree line... had to build in a few amenities ( like a real latrine ) since we had more ladies than men...

I'd love to go again, but seems the cost of out of state licenses has gone up dramatically since the late 90's when we were out there last...

[Fowler]

Yea nonresident tag in Colorado have certainly jumped from ten years ago but so has the rest if the west. You certainly need to do your home work and check for things such as winter kill before you go, unfortunately you normally have to apply before these details are known but Colorado still has mostly over the counter elk tags so that is less of an issue in most areas. In the big picture the tag is not the largest expense of a hunt when compared to equipment, gas, food, vehicles and so forth. You just have to decide to go and save up a bit, nonresident hunting isn't cheap anywhere.

I leave Thursday for a trophy deer hunt here in Colorado and am getting pretty excited about it.

[magnumwheelman]

good luck sir... we did see a few mulies the year were we out there ( we bought combo licenses added to our cost ) didn't get a shot at a mule but at least saw a couple... we were a ways out side Gunnison... my cousin had been going there for many years & getting elk...

my next out of state license will likely be in Alaska... though we still love Colorado

[boxhead]

Oct 27, 2014 8:57:50 GMT -5 Fowler said:

Yea nonresident tag in Colorado have certainly jumped from ten years ago but so has the rest if the west. You certainly need to do your home work and check for things such as winter kill before you go, unfortunately you normally have to apply before these details are known but Colorado still has mostly over the counter elk tags so that is less of an issue in most areas. In the big picture the tag is not the largest expense of a hunt when compared to equipment, gas, food, vehicles and so forth. You just have to decide to go and save up a bit, nonresident hunting isn't cheap anywhere.

I leave Thursday for a trophy deer hunt here in Colorado and am getting pretty excited about it.

Good luck. Short of a trip outside Craig for mule deer when I was in high school 35 years ago all of my Colorado hunting has been in area 49. I have taken a handful of nice bulls and a few deer there over the years and sit with enough elk points to go when I want. I will retire early next year and am thinking of heading back up there to try and fill my tag once more.