Aaronjhanson
Active Member
- Messages
- 177
Hey Guys, I had a fantastic season this year. It went by too fast and it was lots of fun. I learned more stuff about elk hunting. I had a chance to have both my kids out with me during the archery opening weekend. My Daughter is 7 and we had a blast, we actually got to chase some elk during the archery season with a cow tag. Just could not get close enough for a shot. Went out with my 9 year old son, didn't see a thing. It was still great to have the kids with, even though we did not harvest anything.
I went out again in mid to late September; I had a buck tag to fill as well as a cow tag . I found a nice deer to stalk by accident. I originally though he was a forked horned buck, bigger than normal, so I decided to give it a try. Bumped him a few times, then I was able to get within 30 yards and sent an arrow through him, double lung shot.
Now imagine my surprise when I followed the blood trail and I find him dead and he is the largest 4x4 I have shot. I don't know why I thought it was a forkey. I make it a point not to obsess over the horns. I guess I am glad, because it was not nervous,just really relaxed. I had a Frisbee sized window to shoot through and I made it count.
so no archery cow elk. I decided to call my archery season good, and left a week before the season ended.
10-11-2014
First time hunting this season , or using a rifle in Colorado. I trespass hunt on a property that has some massive bulls on it. I was on a big 6x6 bull. I would guess 350 class or more. I was up in the foot hills and he was in the drainage. I had the cross hairs on him at 75 yards. However it was an obstructive view. I had to shoot through pine bows, so I decided to wait for him to move toward a open spot in the trees. I was set up and ready for him to cross the spot, when another hunter ( my father in law )decides he can take a 400 + yard shot at this big bull. I was 2 seconds away from a trophy bull, and I'll leave it at that.
Fast forward to Tuesday afternoon. Have not seen any elk on the property. Our tags are either sex rifle tags. A small calf come running up the prairie in front of us and stops. I needed to leave the next morning so I was going to put some meat in the freezer. As I got ready to shoot, the father in law goes off about me not shooting that calf, that how terrible it would be. So I decide not to shoot it. I was hopping mad; I wanted meat for the freezer. I told him we need to go check another spot before I decide I'm going to shoot this calf.
We get in my truck, father in law was driving. We head about a mile down the trail to the back of the property. There was a small herd of elk with a bull running through the meadow. I got out of the truck and went after them for a shot. I didn't have time to range the bull. I fired the first shot, I thought I had missed. Because he kept on going. Quickly fired a second shot, the rifle was not in my shoulder good ( Tikka T3 lite 300 win mag) the scope smashed me in the face, almost broke my glasses and cut me up a bit. I was seeing stars for a second or two. When I opened my eyes all the elk were gone. I could not believe it. I had missed both shots off shooting sticks. After i regain my composure, I start walking off to where I last thought they were. It was 6:40 PM and we were loosing light fast. I had my eyes closed so I took my eye off the spot I last saw the bull. After some time, to my surprise I found the bull. The ground was not flat, he fell over after the second shot. He was on a swell in the ground and he fell behind it. However I could not tell that from where I was, and that was about 250 to 300 yards away. My first shot was 6? behind the should and about 4 inches up from the bottom of him. He was dead walking. The second shot destroyed his right front shoulder. Wish I would not have done that.He is not the monster I had in my sights opening day However, He is a nice 5x5 best to date. Most memorable too. First time I have ever had that rifle bite me before. I have 201 lbs of quartered meat at the processors .. I'm a happy camper.. I can't wait till next year.
Come follow me on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AaronJHansonCustomKnives
I went out again in mid to late September; I had a buck tag to fill as well as a cow tag . I found a nice deer to stalk by accident. I originally though he was a forked horned buck, bigger than normal, so I decided to give it a try. Bumped him a few times, then I was able to get within 30 yards and sent an arrow through him, double lung shot.
Now imagine my surprise when I followed the blood trail and I find him dead and he is the largest 4x4 I have shot. I don't know why I thought it was a forkey. I make it a point not to obsess over the horns. I guess I am glad, because it was not nervous,just really relaxed. I had a Frisbee sized window to shoot through and I made it count.
so no archery cow elk. I decided to call my archery season good, and left a week before the season ended.
10-11-2014
First time hunting this season , or using a rifle in Colorado. I trespass hunt on a property that has some massive bulls on it. I was on a big 6x6 bull. I would guess 350 class or more. I was up in the foot hills and he was in the drainage. I had the cross hairs on him at 75 yards. However it was an obstructive view. I had to shoot through pine bows, so I decided to wait for him to move toward a open spot in the trees. I was set up and ready for him to cross the spot, when another hunter ( my father in law )decides he can take a 400 + yard shot at this big bull. I was 2 seconds away from a trophy bull, and I'll leave it at that.
Fast forward to Tuesday afternoon. Have not seen any elk on the property. Our tags are either sex rifle tags. A small calf come running up the prairie in front of us and stops. I needed to leave the next morning so I was going to put some meat in the freezer. As I got ready to shoot, the father in law goes off about me not shooting that calf, that how terrible it would be. So I decide not to shoot it. I was hopping mad; I wanted meat for the freezer. I told him we need to go check another spot before I decide I'm going to shoot this calf.
We get in my truck, father in law was driving. We head about a mile down the trail to the back of the property. There was a small herd of elk with a bull running through the meadow. I got out of the truck and went after them for a shot. I didn't have time to range the bull. I fired the first shot, I thought I had missed. Because he kept on going. Quickly fired a second shot, the rifle was not in my shoulder good ( Tikka T3 lite 300 win mag) the scope smashed me in the face, almost broke my glasses and cut me up a bit. I was seeing stars for a second or two. When I opened my eyes all the elk were gone. I could not believe it. I had missed both shots off shooting sticks. After i regain my composure, I start walking off to where I last thought they were. It was 6:40 PM and we were loosing light fast. I had my eyes closed so I took my eye off the spot I last saw the bull. After some time, to my surprise I found the bull. The ground was not flat, he fell over after the second shot. He was on a swell in the ground and he fell behind it. However I could not tell that from where I was, and that was about 250 to 300 yards away. My first shot was 6? behind the should and about 4 inches up from the bottom of him. He was dead walking. The second shot destroyed his right front shoulder. Wish I would not have done that.He is not the monster I had in my sights opening day However, He is a nice 5x5 best to date. Most memorable too. First time I have ever had that rifle bite me before. I have 201 lbs of quartered meat at the processors .. I'm a happy camper.. I can't wait till next year.
Come follow me on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AaronJHansonCustomKnives
