joelkdouglas
Handloader
- Jun 5, 2011
- 1,310
- 3
I departed Saturday, early morning, flying from Reagan National to Salt Lake City. I had no problems at all with luggage. Delta accepted my rifle (packed in a Pelican 1750 hardcase with 2 padlocks) without concern, and the rifle arrived in SLC without incident. I took a shuttle to the Doubletree Hotel near the airport and stayed the night, as the outfitter would pick me up the next day at midday. They picked me up when they said they would, and I rode to the ranch with one of the guides. I won’t mention anyone’s names as I didn’t ask about their privacy concerns, and I’m sure you understand.
When we arrived the outfitter briefly held an orientation meeting and then we went out and made sure our rifles were still sighted in. My rifle was 3.5 inches high at 100 yards, so I dialed it down an inch. I’m guessing that was the difference between sighting in at 200 yards at sea level and shooting at 100 yards at 8500 ft.
The ranch hosted 8 hunters for the week. I had my 30-06, 1 hunter had a 7 mag, 5 carried a 300 mag of some sort (mix of 300 WM, 300 WSM, 300 H&H, 300 Weatherby), and 1 hunter had a 340 Weatherby. Most of the 300 mags and the 340 Bee had a muzzle brake.
Then we went out hunting for the first evening. My guide and I (I was on a 1x1 hunt) were still unfamiliar with each other, but we saw elk nonetheless. I think this first evening we saw 6 branch antlered bulls and a spike, and several cows. The best elk we saw was probably a 280 class 6x5, a good bull, but I didn’t have a shot opportunity. We also didn’t push too hard to try for a shot, as it was the first evening. This bull had several cows with him and raked the ground, bugling some also. In general there was some bugling, but not as much as there would be starting Monday night. After the evening hunt we came back and had supper.
The lodge and food were both excellent. I shared a room with one other hunter, and we shared a bathroom with 3 others as well. However, the bathroom had a washer/dryer we could use, a shower, sink, and toilet. The lodge was nicer than any home I’ve lived in, with wood floors on the main floor, leather sofas, satellite TV, granite countertops, etc. The cook produced very good food. However, the lodge was only icing on the cake. I could have been in a tent with a campfire and I would have been just as happy (I actually missed not having a fire). But a shower was nice.
The next morning we ate some banana bread and had some coffee and went out for the first morning hunt. We only saw 2 branch antlered bulls, a 300-inch class bull from about 40 yards that had no idea we were there, and a larger bull. The larger bull had cows with him, and he was probably 400 yards away, moving. We hustled across a small valley/meadow to try to close distance for a shot opportunity, but it never materialized.
When we returned from each morning hunt we had a big breakfast about 1030 or 1100. Days varied, but always eggs and meat, something with bread (French toast, waffles, biscuits/gravy), and some fruit. Coffee, juice, milk, etc. Just like me cooking for myself on a weekend.
An image of my guide:
He was quite a good elk guide/hunter. Constantly checking the wind, anticipating where the elk would go. If we had good wind and spotted elk we would close distance fast. When we were spotted (i.e. by cows) we would freeze. I learned a lot about elk hunting this trip!
When we arrived the outfitter briefly held an orientation meeting and then we went out and made sure our rifles were still sighted in. My rifle was 3.5 inches high at 100 yards, so I dialed it down an inch. I’m guessing that was the difference between sighting in at 200 yards at sea level and shooting at 100 yards at 8500 ft.
The ranch hosted 8 hunters for the week. I had my 30-06, 1 hunter had a 7 mag, 5 carried a 300 mag of some sort (mix of 300 WM, 300 WSM, 300 H&H, 300 Weatherby), and 1 hunter had a 340 Weatherby. Most of the 300 mags and the 340 Bee had a muzzle brake.
Then we went out hunting for the first evening. My guide and I (I was on a 1x1 hunt) were still unfamiliar with each other, but we saw elk nonetheless. I think this first evening we saw 6 branch antlered bulls and a spike, and several cows. The best elk we saw was probably a 280 class 6x5, a good bull, but I didn’t have a shot opportunity. We also didn’t push too hard to try for a shot, as it was the first evening. This bull had several cows with him and raked the ground, bugling some also. In general there was some bugling, but not as much as there would be starting Monday night. After the evening hunt we came back and had supper.
The lodge and food were both excellent. I shared a room with one other hunter, and we shared a bathroom with 3 others as well. However, the bathroom had a washer/dryer we could use, a shower, sink, and toilet. The lodge was nicer than any home I’ve lived in, with wood floors on the main floor, leather sofas, satellite TV, granite countertops, etc. The cook produced very good food. However, the lodge was only icing on the cake. I could have been in a tent with a campfire and I would have been just as happy (I actually missed not having a fire). But a shower was nice.
The next morning we ate some banana bread and had some coffee and went out for the first morning hunt. We only saw 2 branch antlered bulls, a 300-inch class bull from about 40 yards that had no idea we were there, and a larger bull. The larger bull had cows with him, and he was probably 400 yards away, moving. We hustled across a small valley/meadow to try to close distance for a shot opportunity, but it never materialized.
When we returned from each morning hunt we had a big breakfast about 1030 or 1100. Days varied, but always eggs and meat, something with bread (French toast, waffles, biscuits/gravy), and some fruit. Coffee, juice, milk, etc. Just like me cooking for myself on a weekend.
An image of my guide:
He was quite a good elk guide/hunter. Constantly checking the wind, anticipating where the elk would go. If we had good wind and spotted elk we would close distance fast. When we were spotted (i.e. by cows) we would freeze. I learned a lot about elk hunting this trip!
