You shot one where?

[Murphdog]

Scotty,

I have found out the hard way that in timber your first chance to take the shot is normally your best. Big bulls do not get big by being dumb; you may never have had another chance. I have been fooled more times then I care to admit by the big ones. To this day my biggest elk was a nice five point, been had by a couple of bulls that were well into the 300 class.

The shot didn't work out perfact but you stuck with him and put meat in the freezer.

 

[FOTIS]

Some kick buttocks stories and stories here.
On a personal note I use to love hiking into "Hell's Canyon" looking for stuff to kill.
Unfortunately having a bad lower back disability (Thank you USAF) at 44 years old I am limited to close to the roads or to huge camps where everybody (including me----always no matter the level of pain) helps.

It sux!

 

[6mm Remington]

So, I grabbed a piece of shale and chipped it sharp, and cleaned him with that (not any fun at all!). It took me the rest of the day to try to drag him down to some shade, and started to hike back out. by the time I got back to my pack, food, and water it was almost dark. I was so weak that I couldn't hardly walk 50 yards without having to stop and rest. Never again will I leave my pack, knife, food, and water sitting anywear! We spent the night on the ridge then headed out to the trucks in the morning. We drove around to the bottom of the trail and hiked in and packed him out. He was shot at about 8:30 AM and we didn't get him all the way out till 2:00 the next afternoon.

It was the hardest hunt I have been on, but I will never forget it, or the lessons learned from it.

Jmad-81,
I have to tell you I was impressed alone with how you dressed that big bull out! It's hard enough doing it by yourself, let alone doing it cave-man style! I bet you were a mess by the time it was all over with! :lol: Jmad_81 I carry a pocket knife in my pocket of my pants every day, all day. Nothing fancy, just a nice lock-blade Gerber knife. I also carry it in my hunting pants every day all day even though my pack has two knives in it not including the blade on my Leatherman tool. My friend I don't think I have to tell you that steel beats stone every time! :mrgreen: I whole-heartedly agree in your comment too that you will never forget it! Not just the lessons learned, but the story. That's what makes it so neat and so memorable. Great job on your bull!! :!:

 

[6mm Remington]

Pop,
Sorry to hear you have a disability that makes it hard, and from the sounds of it A LOT HARDER for you to enjoy yourself out there hunting, and to even be doing it for that matter. As someone said in another post, we all have some disabilities of some kind or another. We just need to be good to each other and help each other when we can. I don't know Pop if you saw the picture with my dads CRITTER CARTS that he builds by hand himself, but he does a really nice job on them (very anal) and they work so amazingly well. They are made for two people Pop but on an antelope of deer hunt out in the prairie, a deer or an antelope feels like nothing on it. You don't even carry your pack, just strap it with a bungee on top of the animal and off you go. Come to a fence and use the handles on one side to hold the fence down for your friend while he steps over. Then the two of you just lift the cart up and over the fence just as you would a log in the hills someplace if you couldn't go around it. Really simple and easy. If by yourself of course you would have to find a gate or just off the animal from the cart and slide him under the fence and then load him again. A deer or antelope I can load by myself. It's not real tough.
Pop I happen to have a CRITTER CART my dad just built sitting in my garage. He wants $350.00 for it and it's worth every penny. I know you would be pleased, and I personally would be tickled if something like this made it easier for you to continue ENJOYING doing this thing that we call RADD. You can walk with your pals on the recovery and have your kids, friends, grandchildren push the cart. I really cannot come down on the price Pop as it's my dad's and He puts an awful lot of time into these things and has to buy the steel, the tire and rim, the cables and brake handle and all that, and then assemble it after getting everything cut to length. I've had mine for years now and have used it so many times and I love it. Once in a while I take a couple cans of brown, green, black, and gray spraypaint and do a touch-up job on it, and that's it. Pop I cannot come down on the price, but this one is for sale if it would help you. I think it could be shipped UPS and I WILL PAY FOR THAT OUT OF MY POCKET if you decide you would like it or want to get it. Just send me a PM and we will talk. I won't tell "MY" POP about the shipping and I'll just let him think it was part fo the package or he'll give me some good natured grief over it. Just call it a random act kindness!
David

 

[Guy Miner]

Terrific elk stories here!

And the subject line makes me think back to when a college buddy and I talked my dad into going deer hunting high in the Sierras a long time ago. We hiked, and glassed, and hiked, and climbed, and glassed... Finally found three deer, way back from the road. My buddy and I were getting pretty excited about shooting one. Dad said "don't you dare."

Good point... We didn't. Would have made an epic pack-out story though! I think about Dad's advice every time I'm packing out some critter. He wouldn't approve... :mrgreen:

 

[DrMike]

Guy,

Your dad exemplified a couple of excellent points for older hunters. One, always go with some younger fellows so they can do the heavy lifting. Two, don't let them do the foolish things that young hunters are prone to do.

 

[elkeater2]

Last year my son got a pretty good muley buck from his wheelchair blind. His 7mmWSM dropped the deer about 350 yds. from the nearest road. A neighboring landowner came over and offered the use of his one-wheeled game carrier. As it was getting dark quickly, we took him up on it. The design was similar to the one described here - handles on each end, motorcycle knobby tire, hand brake, and platform. The frame was tubular steel. The buck had ended up in the bottom of a little narrow draw, with bitterbrush and mountain mahogany bushes. The very bottom was brush-choked, but there were openings just above that. I lashed the whole thing on the carrier tight, and discovered it was really tough getting that thing upright, and even tougher keeping it balanced and trying to move it. The center of gravity was just ridiculously high off the ground. After a couple grunt and groan wrecks, I cut the carcass in two crosswise and tried again. It wasn't any better. Finally, I grabbed horns and dragged the front half on out. By then it was dark, and I strapped on the old pack frame and headed up for the back half. Well, I mistakenly took a little side fork in the draw and ended up with a little, but steep-sided ridge to cross over to the carcass.
The grass was pretty tall and the short incline steep going down. I stepped on a round rock, and fell and tumbled through the bushes and cactus. After checking for major damage I took a couple more steps and fell through bushes and cactus again! I had been wanting to check out the structural integrity of my two newly resurfaced hips for a while, that proved them out. When we got back to the camper we spent the next hour pulling cactus. It took a couple months for all of them to work their way out. We had the Colorado G&F do the check for CWD, and it came back positive. My son got a nice set of antlers, and the mountain lions at the G&F research station got a couple good meals.... So, yeah, I'm not real wild about that style carrier. I reckon it's fine for smooth terrain and two operators, but it's not a one man unit for the circumstances I had it in. There was too much effort needed just to keep it balanced, and I couldn't do that and push it over a bump or even slightly uphill.
Elkeater2

 

[DrMike]

elkeater2,

Ouch! That doesn't sound like fun. Your son did do a good job, however. Tough that it had CWD.

 

[SJB358]

That is a great buck Elkeater! Scotty

 

[6mm Remington]

So, yeah, I'm not real wild about that style carrier. I reckon it's fine for smooth terrain and two operators, but it's not a one man unit for the circumstances I had it in. There was too much effort needed just to keep it balanced, and I couldn't do that and push it over a bump or even slightly uphill.
Elkeater2

elkeater2 it is made for two people and with two it is simple to balance, but like you said with just one person you need relatively easy terrain or a trail to go on. With two people though it works on ANY TERRAIN, DID YOU NOT SEE THE ELK WHOLE ON THE CART? There was no trail where we took these cows down the mountain and as you can tell by the one picture with my buddy just holding the cart, she was a big girl! They go where no two wheel cart could ever think of being taken, bumped up over logs and rocks, sidehilling, and anything else. IT IS A TWO MAN CART, but with two guys it's a piece of cake.

 

[6mm Remington]

elkeater2,

Also as far as the "getting the cart upright", you don't lay it down on it's side when you stop to rest with a cart like that, nor do you strap the animal on while it's on the ground on its side. You have the handles side without the brake handle down on the ground. You then just pull the head or rear legs of the animal up on the cart as far as you can and then push down on the side you are holding and hold the handles level. Get a couple straps around the animal when it's centered so that no weight is on either end when the handles are level. I use motorcycle nylon tie-down straps that work great and are simple and don't come loose. I then use three or four bungee cords to hold the legs and head in position and my pack on top so you don't have to carry it. Once the animal is strapped on good, you don't have to worry about it shifting with the heavy MC straps. When you want to take a rest, you just stop and lower the once side handles onto the ground and let the cart sit there at an angle. You DON'T want to lay it on it's side because COMMON SENSE dictates that it will be a big pain in the arse to get it upright from laying on it's side! As this was your first time using a cart like that, I could see that you might make some mistakes, but to say it's not built for rough ground is completely off base. Look at the photo of the whole cow on the hillside. It's steeper than it appears and there is also snow on the ground. You don't see any trails in the picture either.

With a whole cow on the cart it only took 10 MINUTES longer to take her to the truck than it did to walk back to get the next elk with an empty cart. Yes it is for two people, but I personally have pushed several deer and one time had 3 antelope strapped across it sideways and pushed these for 1/2 mile or so across the prairie BY MYSELF without any problems at all. The balance is a little tricky by yourself and you do have to work a little harder, but it's not bad, but LIKE I SAID RIGHT OFF THE BAT IS THAT IT'S DESIGNED FOR TWO PEOPLE.

Two years ago with my 12 year old son we pushed it back into a mountain lake on a closed forest service road for about 2 miles to where we wanted to camp. WE had two large military waterproof gear boxes that were stuffed with sleeping bags, tents, and other stuff, a large cooler with food, two tackle boxes , and fishing poles all strapped to the cart. We did not have any problems and we also had to push it up some hills. When my son was 10 and his buddy on our trip with us was 8, they pushed an antelope by themselves across the prairie in central Montana with an antelope on it. If they can do it anyone can. The guy who let you use his should have given you a few instructions before he set you off on your own with it. It would have made it a lot easier for you guys.

 

[nodak7mm]

Dad said "don't you dare."

OMG!!! does that bring back memories.... Must be a common father to son statement... Did you get the "Look" too?

Thanks for mentioning that one. Guy!!!!

Rod

 

[elkeater2]

elkeater2,

Also as far as the "getting the cart upright", you don't lay it down on it's side when you stop to rest with a cart like that, nor do you strap the animal on while it's on the ground on its side. You have the handles side without the brake handle down on the ground. You then just pull the head or rear legs of the animal up on the cart as far as you can and then push down on the side you are holding and hold the handles level. Get a couple straps around the animal when it's centered so that no weight is on either end when the handles are level. I use motorcycle nylon tie-down straps that work great and are simple and don't come loose. I then use three or four bungee cords to hold the legs and head in position and my pack on top so you don't have to carry it. Once the animal is strapped on good, you don't have to worry about it shifting with the heavy MC straps. When you want to take a rest, you just stop and lower the once side handles onto the ground and let the cart sit there at an angle. You DON'T want to lay it on it's side because COMMON SENSE dictates that it will be a big pain in the arse to get it upright from laying on it's side! As this was your first time using a cart like that, I could see that you might make some mistakes, but to say it's not built for rough ground is completely off base. Look at the photo of the whole cow on the hillside. It's steeper than it appears and there is also snow on the ground. You don't see any trails in the picture either.

With a whole cow on the cart it only took 10 MINUTES longer to take her to the truck than it did to walk back to get the next elk with an empty cart. Yes it is for two people, but I personally have pushed several deer and one time had 3 antelope strapped across it sideways and pushed these for 1/2 mile or so across the prairie BY MYSELF without any problems at all. The balance is a little tricky by yourself and you do have to work a little harder, but it's not bad, but LIKE I SAID RIGHT OFF THE BAT IS THAT IT'S DESIGNED FOR TWO PEOPLE.

Two years ago with my 12 year old son we pushed it back into a mountain lake on a closed forest service road for about 2 miles to where we wanted to camp. WE had two large military waterproof gear boxes that were stuffed with sleeping bags, tents, and other stuff, a large cooler with food, two tackle boxes , and fishing poles all strapped to the cart. We did not have any problems and we also had to push it up some hills. When my son was 10 and his buddy on our trip with us was 8, they pushed an antelope by themselves across the prairie in central Montana with an antelope on it. If they can do it anyone can. The guy who let you use his should have given you a few instructions before he set you off on your own with it. It would have made it a lot easier for you guys.

Sheesh, this is the second post with the shouting!!
OK 6mm, why don't you tell us all how you really feel? I'm sending a PM, as you should have. I don't like being shouted at. I have plenty of common sense. And I never WANTED to lay it on it's side. It had a mind of it's own. This was not your model - 'similar design'. I am really happy for you that yours works so well. No amount of "instruction" would have made any difference in the circumstance, location, terrain, etc. I was in. I said that in my first post " it's not a one man unit for the circumstances I had it in".
Let it go.

 

[nodak7mm]

Sheesh, this is the second post with the shouting!!

Just a thought Elkman, I dont believe that was 6mm's intent. I sincerely think he meant it to come across with emphasis, with no intent of hollering. Know 6mm as I do, I guarantee you he wasnt being a dingleberry towards you in any manner.....

Gotta remember some of the older generation are not quite up to speed on internet/texting ettiquite. When we were learning typing in the ol country school house, all caps meant emphasis, not shouting...And we spell bad too.

Have a great day!!

Rod

 

[6mm Remington]

elkeater2,
Rod is correct sir in that I was not shouting. If it came across in that manner I apologize for that. More guidance from your kind host would have helped, but what you needed most was HIS help as the hole you described the deer ending up in as being a doozy. With just you and your son and this big old buck ( and he is a dandy) he just shot down there in that mess, he knows you needed two people to be on the cart to get him out of there better than anyone! My dad's CRITTER CARTS are great, but for something like that I never would try it BY MYSELF. I too would have train wreck after train wreck doing it alone. Now with tough terrain and two people on it that's a whole new ballgame.

 

[HTDUCK]

1983 NW Colorado.We were hunting a wilderness area.All four of us were in the military,subsequently we had no money for pack animals or even to have an elk packed out.I was 20 years old.
Access road ends at 8500 feet.We got there Wed night and Thursday AM we loaded our backpacks and hiked in scouting as we went.Found a good concentration of elk and pulled out our shelter halves,set up camp on the side of a ridge at about 9500 feet.
When the season opened Sat AM I was watching a saddle in the top of the ridge at about 10,200 feet.
By nine AM I had a spike on the ground.He walked up about thirty yards from me and I shot him in the shoulder with a 165gr 06 load.
He got up and took off,I hit him a second time and he fell and rolled and slid down the ridge about 75 or 80 yards.Only problem was,he was on the opposite side of the ridge from camp.

We were seven miles from the trailhead.
It took until Tuesday to get that elk off the mountain with a packframe.
On the last trip down the mountain with the cape and skull what do I find laying in the trail but a packsaddle and paniers.
Fella had his name whittled in the saddle and a phone number.
When I got off the mountain and back to town I called him.
He came out and met me,gave me an IOU and said he'd haul the next one out for free.
My buddy got to take him up on it in 84.He shot a 5x5 in the same saddle where I had taken the spike.

 

[SJB358]

HTDUCK, GREAT story! This has been one of the best threads in a long time. I have enjoyed the elk/deer stories alot. Makes me feel good I am not suffering alone. Scotty

 

[6mm Remington]

HTDUCK, that is a great story and espcially taking the time to get that guys equipment back to him. I'm sure he was sick over losing it and you made his day. A kind gesture was returned ten-fold later on. Pretty neat on both your parts if you ask me! 8)