Quick story.
We were really pumped about this hunt. To be able to hunt the Valle Caldera on Oct 1st with a Muzzle Loader.... Well it does not get any better than that.
In my opinion the VC is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Looking out over those huge meadows, seeing elk out in the middle of the NHZ in the middle of the day is beyond awesome.
The staff at the VC is also incredible. They are always very helpful and nice.
This is our 4th trip there and I always feel humbled and honored to be able to go there. I hope that the current status of VC never changes. If your not hung up on killing a 400" bull there is not a better place to hunt elk that I am aware of.
I am now familiar with several units. I got some good info that the burned units had elk in there thick as fleas. Thanks for the PMs.
We drew unit 10 which is a central north unit. It is overgrown and we shared the unit with a cow hunter. We agreed that he would have the bottom and west side and we would hunt up in the NE part of the unit. We had activity in the steep thick stuff all day, but, never saw a real good bull. We covered lots of ground and had sever exciting moments.
That night we got in the drawing to change units. We got signed to unit 12. This was also the unit that Ray "montana13" was hunting. They gave us some great intel and we split the huge unit in half, Kim and I taking the South mountain.
We hiked in well before daylight to the tree line and listened to the bugling in ever direction. We decided the most activity was south of us so as the sun came up we worked our way through the burned trees towards the most mature sounding bugles. We got stalled by a 5x5 bull at shooting light but, he moved on. Watched some small bulls out in the meadow, but, nothing worth pursuing.
We then spotted some cows and worked in close. Through the burned trees I spotted the herd bull. I only got a frontal view, but, could see some long tines, decent length and the fact that he was acting like a herd bull was enough to tell Kim to get the bog pod ready. I ranged him through the trees at 162 yards. It could have been longer since it was a narrow lane, but, I knew that he was less than 200 yards. I told her to fire when she had a good shot. The bull was quartering towards us.
Kim fired and when the smoke cleared I found him running in a semi circle and then go down. His head was up so she gave him another one. This shot was only 4" from the first shot right in the boiler room. Very nice bull. We spent the rest of the day taking pics, cutting him up and then hauling him out. A full days work all of that.
Great trip. Hope to go back again. I will continue to donate our $ to buy lottery tickets to hunt there. Great place to support if nothing else.
