Ready for elk

[gerry]

Hopefully I'm ready on Saturday or most likely Sunday my friend and I will be making the ~12 hour trip to the Peace country to hunt antlerless elk, our tags are good until the end of this month. We are looking forward to getting out and giving it our best effort and see what happens. The days are getting noticeably longer which means we can hunt for more hours in a day than around Christmas time when we were thinking of going. In January I practiced with the 35 Whelen out to 300 yards, I hiked in about 1 km off the highway up a logging road where I could shoot out a ways. Saw lots of moose tracks but never saw them on the way in it's been a tough winter on them this year with lots of snow.

My target is close to the end where the road turns.

I shot at 100 yards and was hitting a bit to the right then 200 farther right yet you can see the bullet holes on the right of the paper, made the proper adjustment and lined up the Ballistic Plex for 300 yards and fired the pair of shots at the center of the bullseye so I feel good about the gun being on. This is using my favorite load of 60 gr Varget with the 225 gr AccuBond scope is a Burris FF II 2-7x35.

My Sako and trusty Mystery Ranch pack.

A Marten trying to decide if I was worthy of being supper

 

[35 Whelen]

The 35 Whelen is good for small Marten but a big one may get away from ya!!! Good luck with the elk hunt that sounds like fun and you have one of the best elk guns you could carry so its up to you now! :wink:

 

[tecumseh]

Good luck on the hunt!

 

[DrMike]

Hey, there are no elk over here. You had as well stay where you are. :mrgreen: Man, we certainly don't have as much snow as you do. The game is in great shape, however. Moose are plentiful and beautiful dark. The odd one is ticky, but most are in great shape. Elk seem to have thrived in this mild winter; they seem well fed, unlike some winters. You should do well.

 

[Guy Miner]

A pine marten is a very cool animal. I don't see them often, but dang, I like watching them. Funny thing, they are curious as all get out and will watch a hunter closely. I too have wondered if they're trying to figure out if they're tough enough to take me! :mrgreen:

I haven't got any decent photos of one. Tried with one up in a tree, but the exposure wasn't so good. He didn't exactly stay still very long either!

Thanks for sharing the photos!

 

[SJB358]

Gerry, I'm pulling for ya buddy! I hope your Whelen gets it done

Did a little load work with RL15 and the 225 AB and it looks very good so far

 

[Mooswa]

Good luck on your hunt. The lack of snow in that area this winter should make getting around a little easier. Looking forward to seeing some pictures of the Peace country and a dead elk. Have not hunted in that area for a few years.

 

[Elkman]

jerry

good luck on your hunt can't wait to see some more pictures.

 

[Elkman]

A few years ago up in the Idaho Sawtooths, I had a young Pine Martin follow me around for a couple of hours. I tried to get a picture of him and my boot at the same time but was unable to. He was very curious of me. !

 

[SJB358]

jerry

good luck on your hunt can't wait to see some more pictures.

Man, I would love to be hunting elk right now instead of CHATTING about it! Your a lucky man Gerry!

 

[widgeon]

Looks like you have developed a solid elk cartridge there.

Good luck with the hunt.

 

[gerry]

Thanks guys we are looking forward to going out and hunting again it's been 3 months since my last hunt :x Mike, I'm glad to hear the animals are doing so well this year. I was attacked by a marten once, it was a weird experience that ended in me letting him have a 225 gr Trophy Bonded when he went to bite the end of my muzzle. I was 30 feet up in a tree stand and the marten kept trying to go for my throat from all different angles I kept swatting at him but he wouldn't give up so after several minutes of this I let him have it. At the shot he dissapeared and there was the smell of burnt fur :lol: So there you go some people have been attacked by cool animals like bears or cougars but yours truly has been attacked by a marten and when I was a kid, a beaver :shock:

 

[JD338]

gerry,

Best of luck on your elk hunt. Your 35 Whelen is more than up to the task.
Looking forward to the story and some pictures.

JD338

 

[Guest]

Gerry,
Good luck buddy, be safe out there in all the snow.

Don

 

[gerry]

Thanks, we are leaving in 25 minutes, have my camera and will post up a story when I get back.

 

[DrMike]

Coffee's on, Gerry.

 

[Rem Jim]

Good LUCK with the hunt gerry ! - sorry i missed ya this morning ! RJ :grin:

 

[gerry]

In Fort St John, we have a place to hunt in the morning will see what happens. Not sure when I will be able to check in again.

 

[DrMike]

Hope to see a post with pictures shortly, Gerry.

 

[LD375]

Good luck on your hunt!..looking forward to some pics :grin: ....Lou