W
whojr
Guest
It is spike only for the entire eastern half of our state. So, before anyone chuckles at my first post of my 2004 monster spike (w/eyeguards don't forget), this is as good as it gets where we hunt unless you draw a hard to get permit. And besides, I too will be chuckling all the way to the freezer all winter long. So, here's my pic and story:
I Spent first light on opening day looking over the same canyon I had spent opening day last year. Met up with a hunting partner on one side of a ridge about 8 a.m. After 10 minutes, I topped the ridge and headed down the other side. Hit the bottom of the draw and back up the other side. I was just about to the top of that side in a stand of trees, about to go down the other side of that ridge when I hear one shot followed by another a few seconds later and I thought it had to be my partner. I look back toward where I just came from, and about 30 seconds later I see elk running through the trees that I'm standing in. At that point, my head is going 100 mph as I know there is a hunter on a stump about 400 yards up from me and the elk are heading right for him on an open ridge. I know it is now or never. I look ahead of the elk for an opening in the trees that I'm standing in, I find one, and scope it hoping elk will appear. Sure enough, here they come across the ridge but in my scope: cow 1, 2, 3, calf 4, cow 5, 6, spike 7 BOOM. ELK DOWN one shot. At that point, the work began. Later, back at elk camp, and around a great fire, cigars and toasts were had by all. It turns out my partner missed twice, but I didn't. Should get the meat back from my butcher next week; so my winter steelhead pack should be stocked with jerky, pepperoni, and sausage. The same kind of thing happened two years ago when the other partner in the picture missed twice and chased a 3 point blacktail into me which I didn't miss. That's ok if they want to keep chasing animals into me.
I Spent first light on opening day looking over the same canyon I had spent opening day last year. Met up with a hunting partner on one side of a ridge about 8 a.m. After 10 minutes, I topped the ridge and headed down the other side. Hit the bottom of the draw and back up the other side. I was just about to the top of that side in a stand of trees, about to go down the other side of that ridge when I hear one shot followed by another a few seconds later and I thought it had to be my partner. I look back toward where I just came from, and about 30 seconds later I see elk running through the trees that I'm standing in. At that point, my head is going 100 mph as I know there is a hunter on a stump about 400 yards up from me and the elk are heading right for him on an open ridge. I know it is now or never. I look ahead of the elk for an opening in the trees that I'm standing in, I find one, and scope it hoping elk will appear. Sure enough, here they come across the ridge but in my scope: cow 1, 2, 3, calf 4, cow 5, 6, spike 7 BOOM. ELK DOWN one shot. At that point, the work began. Later, back at elk camp, and around a great fire, cigars and toasts were had by all. It turns out my partner missed twice, but I didn't. Should get the meat back from my butcher next week; so my winter steelhead pack should be stocked with jerky, pepperoni, and sausage. The same kind of thing happened two years ago when the other partner in the picture missed twice and chased a 3 point blacktail into me which I didn't miss. That's ok if they want to keep chasing animals into me.
