Attached are the photos of a nice 5x6 bull elk, with a broken tine that I harvested Sunday late afternoon while hunting with Paulie, my guide at Upper Canyon Outfitters out of Alder Montana.
We approached the hunting area with another pair of hunter/guide also from UCO Sunday morning and spotted a herd of elk on the top of a ridge. The other pair decided to pursue the herd and took off up the nearly 45 degree slope. They located a herd of elk, and watched them much of the day, but were unable to get a shot due to terrain, timber and changing winds.
Due to my limited mobility, difficulty with balance on slopes, Paulie and I settled a lower position up the slope and did not see any elk until we were leaving our post, after I had cleared my rifle due to the approaching end of legal shooting time. Part way down the slope Paulie whispered to me "load your rifle" and I asked why, (dumb question) elk were within range. Paulie informed me there was a big bull in the herd of 10 or 12 elk, and not to shoot a cow. Having loaded my rifle, and now crouched on one knee, I looked through my scope and it was filled with elk heads looking at us. As the elk started back up the slope, Paulie kept me informed of cow, "don't shoot" and then "there's the bull shoot". Having the bull's shoulder in my cross hairs I squeezed the trigger of my Rem-Hart 30-06 loaded with Nosler Trophy Grade 180 Accubonds. From an ascending position the bull turned and ran about 100 yards down the slope before piling up on the ground.
Paulie had me stay at my shooting location, watching the area below where the bull was last seen while he went higher on the slope to see if he could spot the bull, which he did. He called me to join him as we approached the bull together. While I was waiting for instructions I also checked the time and we were within legal shooting time.
Without Pauie's excellent eyes and great guiding I would never have had the opportunity to harvest this bull with one shot. It is a blessing to have such a wonderful hunting companion, guide and friend as Paulie Simmons on staff at Upper Canyon Outfitters.
We approached the hunting area with another pair of hunter/guide also from UCO Sunday morning and spotted a herd of elk on the top of a ridge. The other pair decided to pursue the herd and took off up the nearly 45 degree slope. They located a herd of elk, and watched them much of the day, but were unable to get a shot due to terrain, timber and changing winds.
Due to my limited mobility, difficulty with balance on slopes, Paulie and I settled a lower position up the slope and did not see any elk until we were leaving our post, after I had cleared my rifle due to the approaching end of legal shooting time. Part way down the slope Paulie whispered to me "load your rifle" and I asked why, (dumb question) elk were within range. Paulie informed me there was a big bull in the herd of 10 or 12 elk, and not to shoot a cow. Having loaded my rifle, and now crouched on one knee, I looked through my scope and it was filled with elk heads looking at us. As the elk started back up the slope, Paulie kept me informed of cow, "don't shoot" and then "there's the bull shoot". Having the bull's shoulder in my cross hairs I squeezed the trigger of my Rem-Hart 30-06 loaded with Nosler Trophy Grade 180 Accubonds. From an ascending position the bull turned and ran about 100 yards down the slope before piling up on the ground.
Paulie had me stay at my shooting location, watching the area below where the bull was last seen while he went higher on the slope to see if he could spot the bull, which he did. He called me to join him as we approached the bull together. While I was waiting for instructions I also checked the time and we were within legal shooting time.
Without Pauie's excellent eyes and great guiding I would never have had the opportunity to harvest this bull with one shot. It is a blessing to have such a wonderful hunting companion, guide and friend as Paulie Simmons on staff at Upper Canyon Outfitters.
