Powerstroke
Handloader
- Feb 24, 2006
- 1,800
- 71
Well - I'm disappointed to somewhat say this years season has been a rough one. I drew this elk tag actaully as a
third choice, so it didn't take any of my points etc. I knew going into it, this would be a gamble due to the high country and snow issue. ( Still a great excuse to get out of the house and go hunting :grin: )
I had actually been going with a friend to this same area the season before attempting to help him get is first elk. He had drawn a cow tag this year. The first opening weekend was terrible weather - Big wind and a lot of snow on both days, as this pretty well put the elk on the move. They had reported 24 to 30 inches in the area.
Needless to say, there wasn't much hunting done that weekend.
We did manage to see a group of about 30 w/ 14 or so bulls in the bunch and another smaller bunch of about 12 cows.
Forward to the next weekend - Going back up WOW did it put some snow down :evil:
The ATV's stayed at home that trip and I was able to break trail to the head of the basin where I like to do a lot of glassing.
It was everything the 37in Goodyears could do -
Again - no luck as we were about 3 days late. There were practially highways in the snow where the elk had moved through a few days before headed for lower country. Our ventures never cut a fresh track in the snow.
Normal elk hunting however - you find them where you find them - As we're setting out on a small point glassing and just about ready to go, well-well, two yearlings appear about 450yds away.
After 8 to 10 shots and nothing but air, my buddy decided we needed to get closer
With all the fresh snow, the shots were very muffled and they had no idea where they were coming from, and never spooked.
Fowrard to "closer" now @ 300yds and two shots later - nothing but air 8) It happens to all of us, especially our first one.
No meat in the freezer or him.
Opening day 3rd season for me and I couldn't have asked for better weather! Beautiful sky, little wind, no snow in the forcast - game on!
Should have said - Game where ??
I did see a a few here and there, 5 cows, one bull, half a dozen cows, one spike etc. I watched the 5 cows and bull from across the canyon bed on Saturday morning and made a plan to be waiting for them above temberline that evening when they came out to feed.
That plan worked "perfectly" as they came out just slightly lower down the valley than I expected, but still very easy to get upon. I snuck to a small rock outcropping and watched as the 5 cows all came out and began feeding. They worked their way to within 100yds of me, and the whole time the heart rate starting to rise. Where's the bull ? He was with these 5 cows this a.m. If he comes out in the same place, it'll still be a slam dunk @ under 300yds.
Well - after 30min of sitting there and no bull, it was after shooting light. I spent Sunday in the same area only to spot a cow here and there. I've chaulked it up to the amount of snow and pushing them out.
I did manage to move yesterday and look into a draw that my hunting buddy sugested from sheep hunting in last year.
:shock: Should have realized it when he said "sheep". Another beautiful day yesterday, with a little sign on the ground, but no elk spotted.
Actually not entirely true - After 3 blisters yesterday and getting back to the truck :evil: Directly across "I-70" not more than 300yds away stand a beautiful 6pt bull every bit of a 300. Yep - One little 99.9 acre private spot and he's standing in the middle of it. ( YEP - he got the e-mail )
At the moment, I'm tellin myself I'm done - still have through Sunday before the season is over, but more big snow is hitting the Mtns right now.
My Wife has a cow tag for the weeeknd after T-giving, so I'll put it all on her shoulders this year :grin:
Pics of the trip- will have to figure out how to resize the others.
View attachment November 2010 3rd Rifle Elk 003.jpgView attachment November 2010 3rd Rifle Elk 005.jpg
third choice, so it didn't take any of my points etc. I knew going into it, this would be a gamble due to the high country and snow issue. ( Still a great excuse to get out of the house and go hunting :grin: )
I had actually been going with a friend to this same area the season before attempting to help him get is first elk. He had drawn a cow tag this year. The first opening weekend was terrible weather - Big wind and a lot of snow on both days, as this pretty well put the elk on the move. They had reported 24 to 30 inches in the area.
Needless to say, there wasn't much hunting done that weekend.
We did manage to see a group of about 30 w/ 14 or so bulls in the bunch and another smaller bunch of about 12 cows.
Forward to the next weekend - Going back up WOW did it put some snow down :evil:
The ATV's stayed at home that trip and I was able to break trail to the head of the basin where I like to do a lot of glassing.
It was everything the 37in Goodyears could do -
Again - no luck as we were about 3 days late. There were practially highways in the snow where the elk had moved through a few days before headed for lower country. Our ventures never cut a fresh track in the snow.
Normal elk hunting however - you find them where you find them - As we're setting out on a small point glassing and just about ready to go, well-well, two yearlings appear about 450yds away.
After 8 to 10 shots and nothing but air, my buddy decided we needed to get closer
With all the fresh snow, the shots were very muffled and they had no idea where they were coming from, and never spooked.Fowrard to "closer" now @ 300yds and two shots later - nothing but air 8) It happens to all of us, especially our first one.
No meat in the freezer or him.
Opening day 3rd season for me and I couldn't have asked for better weather! Beautiful sky, little wind, no snow in the forcast - game on!
Should have said - Game where ??
I did see a a few here and there, 5 cows, one bull, half a dozen cows, one spike etc. I watched the 5 cows and bull from across the canyon bed on Saturday morning and made a plan to be waiting for them above temberline that evening when they came out to feed.
That plan worked "perfectly" as they came out just slightly lower down the valley than I expected, but still very easy to get upon. I snuck to a small rock outcropping and watched as the 5 cows all came out and began feeding. They worked their way to within 100yds of me, and the whole time the heart rate starting to rise. Where's the bull ? He was with these 5 cows this a.m. If he comes out in the same place, it'll still be a slam dunk @ under 300yds.
Well - after 30min of sitting there and no bull, it was after shooting light. I spent Sunday in the same area only to spot a cow here and there. I've chaulked it up to the amount of snow and pushing them out.
I did manage to move yesterday and look into a draw that my hunting buddy sugested from sheep hunting in last year.
:shock: Should have realized it when he said "sheep". Another beautiful day yesterday, with a little sign on the ground, but no elk spotted.
Actually not entirely true - After 3 blisters yesterday and getting back to the truck :evil: Directly across "I-70" not more than 300yds away stand a beautiful 6pt bull every bit of a 300. Yep - One little 99.9 acre private spot and he's standing in the middle of it. ( YEP - he got the e-mail )
At the moment, I'm tellin myself I'm done - still have through Sunday before the season is over, but more big snow is hitting the Mtns right now.
My Wife has a cow tag for the weeeknd after T-giving, so I'll put it all on her shoulders this year :grin:
Pics of the trip- will have to figure out how to resize the others.
View attachment November 2010 3rd Rifle Elk 003.jpgView attachment November 2010 3rd Rifle Elk 005.jpg
