LAST EDITED ON Oct-14-11 AT 07:03PM (MST)[p]I was amazed when I knew I drew a muzzleloader elk tag this year. I have been looking forward to this hunt since June when I found out I drew this tag. I have been on this hunt in the past years with my dad behind the muzzy and another year when my uncle was behind the muzzy. They both got bulls on this hunt. NOW IT?S MY TURN!!!!
Our adventures on this hunt first started with previous scouting trips to this unit and practicing with the muzzy. We saw a few good elk that I would be more than happy to harvest on my hunt. I have been getting in shape for this hunt in my weight lifting and conditioning class at high school a month and a half before the hunt. I could not wait one more minute for this hunt and I still had a week to go before opening day. Talk about the longest week of my life.
We found our selves a week later heading up with the camper trailer for the weekend. It was a 3 day weekend for us. We had Monday off from school and work. We decided to invite my uncle (hunter3380) and my cousin from Albuquerque to tag along with us on this hunt. My brother could not make the first day of the hunt due to his commitment to a football game. Some good hunting weather was coming in that night.
After a sleepless night we woke up to 4 inches of fresh snow. Great for fresh tracking. Before we left the camp I made absolutely sure I hade everything I needed. We left camp and I had the most serious look on my face the whole way up. I don't think I even said a word. We got to our spot and waited with the windows crack listening for bugles while it was breaking light. We began walking barley able to see and it was still snowing. We put tape over the muzzleloader barrel in order to keep the moisture out.
As we were walking with the occasional glassing we stopped to throw a bugle? NOTHING. We kept on walking up the canyon when we came across some fresh tracks. We were debating to follow them because they looked like bull tracks. We decided to keep walking up the canyon hoping to run into a bull. About 2 miles from the truck my dad decided to change directions and go on the top of this ridge to some saddles that are found in between the canyons in this area in hopes to glass up a bull to put the stalk on.
About half the way up the ridge my cousin sees a cow elk about 75 yards below us and tells my dad. I was above everyone about 20 to 30 yards when my dad tells me to get down to their level. I get down there and see a few cows passing below. Right behind the cows a bull pops out. I pulled the hammer back on the T/C Encore and put crosshairs right behind the shoulder of the bull and squeeze off an off hand shot. The bull along with his cows runs off in the same direction where they came from. He did not act like he was hit. As I loaded up, my dad went to where the bull was standing. NO BLOOD. At this point I'm thinking, how I could have missed him at 75 yards while he stood there perfectly broadside. We followed the tracks and finally saw some little specks of blood. I thought oh no, I wounded him. We followed the tracks and the group of elk seemed to go into an open valley. As we got closer to the valley, my dad saw the bull piled up stone dead. He only made it about 100 yards. The shot was a complete pass through in the lungs with a 290 grain Barnes T-EZ. A big WOO HOO!!!!!! I shot him Jim Shockey style with tape over the barrel.
Everyone says ?now the work begins? I don't think so, I believe its part of the hunt. My cousin and I left back 2 miles to the truck to get the single wheel game cart as my dad and uncle stayed behind at the kill site to field dress the elk. When my cousin and I arrive back with the game cart, I notice that the elk is still in one piece. My eyes just about popped out of my head due to the news that we were going to cart him out 2 miles whole. Well we did it. It took all of us to get that elk out whole. That game cart is great. I don't know what we would have done with out it. My cousin and I ended walking about 8 miles that morning back and forth and the last 2 were the hardest.
I know how you guys like tons of pics so here you go!
It was a great weekend/hunt. Spending time with friends and family is what it's all about. I am very proud of my bull and can't wait till next time.
PS. thanks guys for all who posted on the Barnes T-ez post.
Those bullets are great. Sorry I did not get a bullet recovery.
Our adventures on this hunt first started with previous scouting trips to this unit and practicing with the muzzy. We saw a few good elk that I would be more than happy to harvest on my hunt. I have been getting in shape for this hunt in my weight lifting and conditioning class at high school a month and a half before the hunt. I could not wait one more minute for this hunt and I still had a week to go before opening day. Talk about the longest week of my life.
We found our selves a week later heading up with the camper trailer for the weekend. It was a 3 day weekend for us. We had Monday off from school and work. We decided to invite my uncle (hunter3380) and my cousin from Albuquerque to tag along with us on this hunt. My brother could not make the first day of the hunt due to his commitment to a football game. Some good hunting weather was coming in that night.
After a sleepless night we woke up to 4 inches of fresh snow. Great for fresh tracking. Before we left the camp I made absolutely sure I hade everything I needed. We left camp and I had the most serious look on my face the whole way up. I don't think I even said a word. We got to our spot and waited with the windows crack listening for bugles while it was breaking light. We began walking barley able to see and it was still snowing. We put tape over the muzzleloader barrel in order to keep the moisture out.
As we were walking with the occasional glassing we stopped to throw a bugle? NOTHING. We kept on walking up the canyon when we came across some fresh tracks. We were debating to follow them because they looked like bull tracks. We decided to keep walking up the canyon hoping to run into a bull. About 2 miles from the truck my dad decided to change directions and go on the top of this ridge to some saddles that are found in between the canyons in this area in hopes to glass up a bull to put the stalk on.
About half the way up the ridge my cousin sees a cow elk about 75 yards below us and tells my dad. I was above everyone about 20 to 30 yards when my dad tells me to get down to their level. I get down there and see a few cows passing below. Right behind the cows a bull pops out. I pulled the hammer back on the T/C Encore and put crosshairs right behind the shoulder of the bull and squeeze off an off hand shot. The bull along with his cows runs off in the same direction where they came from. He did not act like he was hit. As I loaded up, my dad went to where the bull was standing. NO BLOOD. At this point I'm thinking, how I could have missed him at 75 yards while he stood there perfectly broadside. We followed the tracks and finally saw some little specks of blood. I thought oh no, I wounded him. We followed the tracks and the group of elk seemed to go into an open valley. As we got closer to the valley, my dad saw the bull piled up stone dead. He only made it about 100 yards. The shot was a complete pass through in the lungs with a 290 grain Barnes T-EZ. A big WOO HOO!!!!!! I shot him Jim Shockey style with tape over the barrel.
Everyone says ?now the work begins? I don't think so, I believe its part of the hunt. My cousin and I left back 2 miles to the truck to get the single wheel game cart as my dad and uncle stayed behind at the kill site to field dress the elk. When my cousin and I arrive back with the game cart, I notice that the elk is still in one piece. My eyes just about popped out of my head due to the news that we were going to cart him out 2 miles whole. Well we did it. It took all of us to get that elk out whole. That game cart is great. I don't know what we would have done with out it. My cousin and I ended walking about 8 miles that morning back and forth and the last 2 were the hardest.
I know how you guys like tons of pics so here you go!
It was a great weekend/hunt. Spending time with friends and family is what it's all about. I am very proud of my bull and can't wait till next time.
PS. thanks guys for all who posted on the Barnes T-ez post.
Those bullets are great. Sorry I did not get a bullet recovery.
Meat in the freezer
