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Post by bigbrowndog on Nov 7, 2019 21:36:23 GMT -5
I took my first ever elk this week during the Colorado third season, it was a DIY hunt. The hunt area doesn’t allow any motorized vehicles so you either walk, bike or horseback it in. I utilized a bike to get me in the first 4-5 miles and then walked 5-6 miles hunting followed by biking back out the 4-5 miles. I got my bull on the third day with my Merkel K3, 30r Blaser, the rifle is a dream to carry. Once on the ground all the real work began, I never considered how much effort it would take to gut an animal of that size with no help. The hunt was extremely memorable and once all the meat and horns were out, a day of recuperation was most welcome. The Bull was a nice 6x5 that was obviously a fighter as he had two broken tines. The Stalk and shot on the bull was memorable for the assistance I received from the USAF. The herd was moving away from me when a C17 cargo plane did a low altitude fly by through the valley and turned the herd back towards me. At this point I was hidden by a lone Piñon pine tree and looking through the herd for a good bull. There were several smaller 5x5’s, cows, spikes, and one bull that would probably have been spectacular if not for his busted off right side just above his brow tines. I spotted my bull and determined he was a shooter, now I had to locate a low spot in the sagebrush that would allow a shot to something other than just his neck. Going back to the lead animal I followed through the scope until I could see part of its chest. Then once that happened, I had to go back and find my bull, so as to be ready when he came to the opening. The opening was only about 4ft. across so I had to be ready as they were at what I can only figure was a typical elk trot. I found my bull and prepared for the shot, I’d already ranged some of the other elk at that spot and determined it to be 325ish yards. At that distance I should have 5” of drop, and given I could hold right at the top of the brush line, which was about 6-8” below the top of the backs of the other elk, I figured I’d be good. He entered the opening at a trot I put the crosshairs on his shoulder and broke the shot. He moved approximately 12” from shot to impact and was apparently closer than lasered. The bullet severed his spine and he dropped, I never saw him drop due to the height of sagebrush and recoil. I knew the shot was good and I’d heard the bullet impact, the remaining elk split into two groups those in front of my bull ran further away, those behind froze for a second or two, then took off from where they came. Once I reloaded, I looked through the scope to see if my bull was amongst them and could see no one that looked like him. So then I marked the direction I fired and found a prominent bush to use as an aid in locating my bull. As I walked up to the bush I saw him and let a breath of relief escape. Id done it, a solo elk hunt and a good bull down,.........now the hard work started. ill try and get an Image posted, computer is at 3% now...........https://photos.app.goo.gl/hoLPev4gwVZRRdcUA Trapr
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Post by magman on Nov 7, 2019 21:58:56 GMT -5
Nice bull, congrats.
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Post by paul105 on Nov 7, 2019 22:01:21 GMT -5
Nice!
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Post by sixshot on Nov 7, 2019 22:52:00 GMT -5
Trapr, can't pull up your photo but I know you've been planning this hunt for quite a while & you pulled in off the hard way, that's some great stuff buddy, congratulations on a great one man hunt off your back, I tip my hat to you!
Dick
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KRal
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Posts: 1,029
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Post by KRal on Nov 8, 2019 8:17:46 GMT -5
Congrats! Sounds like an exciting hunt.
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Fowler
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Post by Fowler on Nov 8, 2019 8:41:25 GMT -5
Yup I have stood over a few dead bulls here in Colorado thinking what the heck did I just do when the realization of what work was really ahead of me. But it is a very empowering thing when it is all done and the bull is home in the freezer. Solo elk hunting is hit for the front of heart for sure.
But congrats on your first bull, it is hit an easy accomplishment here in the land of the raghorns and over the counter tags making for a lot of pressure. I head out Tuesday for 4th season...
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Post by bula on Nov 8, 2019 8:47:32 GMT -5
Congrats ! Nicely done.
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Post by bushog on Nov 8, 2019 11:05:28 GMT -5
Way 2 go!!!
I know you enjoyed that Merkel on the hike and that 30R Blaser is awesome. My K95 in .300 Win is it's twin.
I'm with Fowler...every time I walk up to one I think.."why again?" We can't use motorized lots of place here either making it a real consideration as to where to hunt. And all those guts...shoulder deep.
You'll never forget this one.
Just looked at the pic...nice bull! I was feeling bad for you until I saw how flat it appears.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Nov 8, 2019 21:03:51 GMT -5
Dick, I can’t pull the photo up either, but appears others can, I just got home from a 13hr drive. I’ll try again in the morning to fix the link.
Bushog, the first 3 miles was soft sand, it made waking terrible. Trapr
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Snyd
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The Last Frontier
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Post by Snyd on Nov 8, 2019 21:31:04 GMT -5
EXCELLENT!
There's nothing like carrying a 100lb + pack full of meat that wants to push you into the ground! Makes for ultimate satisfaction when it's all said and done! Way to go!
Have you ever heard of, or done the "gutless method" of field dressing? It's the only way I do moose. I/we have probably done 20 of them that way.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Nov 9, 2019 9:30:24 GMT -5
I have seen it done a few times with deer, but figured trying to roll a gutless one to get at backstraps would be easier.
Trapr
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Post by whitworth on Nov 9, 2019 10:46:29 GMT -5
Nicely done, Trapr!! You’ve done REALLY well!
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Post by sixshot on Nov 9, 2019 12:09:27 GMT -5
Without horses its a killer if you don't go gutless, boneless or even if you go boneless it's a killer! Five of my grandson's have taken 6 deer so far & we went gutless on all of them. Two other grandson's shot antelope but they could drive right up to them so it wasn't needed. On my deer a while back I did a semi custom job, I floated it across the steam but went "shoe less"!
Trapr, sure want to see your elk. We talked about how much meat you might end up with, any idea now?
Dick
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Post by seminolewind on Nov 9, 2019 12:09:43 GMT -5
Sounds like one heck of a shot. Over 300 yards at a moving elk through a narrow opening! Congratulations on getting it done.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Nov 9, 2019 12:29:30 GMT -5
Dick I still can’t figure out why my pics won’t post for some, but works for others. I may have to send them to someone for advanced help.
I have no idea on weight of meat, the 2 backstraps seemed to weigh 35 pounds or so, the butcher has the meat now I can get a weight from him later today. I quartered it, and lopped off everything about 6-8” above the elbow or knee joints, plus pulled neck meat, tenderloins, backstraps, and anything else that looked like a decent meat for sausage. The meat was put on a child’s plastic sled and pulled across the 3 miles of sandy sage brush to a waiting game cart that was converted to be pulled by bicycle for the remaining 5 miles on improved gravel roads with about a 1/4 mile section of sandy sage brush between roads. The whole trip packing out was simply a “pick a pace you can sustain, and go”. On the walk/ride back in after shooting and gutting it the day before I staged water and food for breaks. The dragging part with the sled was a take a hundred steps, rest, take a hundred steps. The pushing the bike thru the sandy stretch was 20-25 yds at a time and rest. I gotta say I’ve never busted my butt so hard for such a long time, in the military, in the fire academy, at a structure fire or wild land fire, ever!!!! Horses or mules WILL be used if I ever go back, which I would love to, since, last year when I was cow hunting I saw some awesome bulls that would easily make book, it’s a pity handguns are prohibited.
Trapr
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