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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
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Lord what a tough hunt. Hunted an out-parcel of a big ranch this year in Northern NM. Gorgeous weather, scenery, etc, but no one was seeing any elk on this ranch...none (relatively small 4,500 acre ranch). We hardly saw any fresh elk sign at all, but that's how it goes sometimes. As one of my elk hunting buddies says, you just gotta keep chopping wood! I was the only one of our party to even see elk, much less score. It just happens this way from time to time I reckon. Hunting my legs off, I never heard the first bugle, nor saw an elk until I ran into this guy. Murphy's Law was in full force for me and my two buddies! I finally saw a spike and two 5x5's one evening and took the larger of the two with my 338 loaded with 225 grain North Forks. Brought em in closer with a few cow calls and I caught him broadside at 227 yards and took him down with the first shot. He tried to get back up and I anchored him for good with a shot angling in from the last rib on his right side, with that bullet stopping in his neck. It weighed 197.1 grains. I have been very impressed with North Forks these past few years! The first shot was a little high and the exit hole, I could stick my fist through. Wow. All in all, I felt very blessed and fortunate (lucky?) to get this bull. Not all hunts end with them jumping into the back of your truck do they? Life is good. Thanks for looking. My bull: Beautiful scenery: Recovered bullet: Exit hole: Elk backstrap fajitas when I got home at our favorite Mexican Restaurant!
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard
Ken
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Posts: 31,559
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
WS
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Very nice!
I agree with your statement sometimes you gotta keep cutting wood. Sometimes you make your own luck.
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Persistence pays,alot of folks give up to early, congrats
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Congrats...nice bull and beautiful scenery.
You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I've always been different with one foot over the line.....
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Deer Camp! about as good as it gets!
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
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Godogs congrats! That NF looks pretty good. Impressive exit.
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Ed
A person who asks a question is a fool for 5 minutes the person who never asks is a fool forever.
The worst slaves are those that put the chains on themselves.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Way to go. Nice lookin' bull.
NRA Life,Endowment,Patron or Benefactor since '72.
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Congratulations on a nice bull!
"Kids don't remember their best day of television."
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Excellent job! Very nice bull.
Regards,
Tom
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego. Suckin' on my titties like you wanted me.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Good going! Thanks for the post and pics, nice looking bull.
Golden............
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
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Comments much appreciated. Thanks!
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I probably hit more elk with a pickup than you have with a rifle. I have yet to see anyone claim Leupold has never had to fix an optic. I know I have sent a few back. 2 MK 6s, a VX-6, and 3 VX-111s.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Congrats, that's a very nice elk! Love that exit hole!
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Congrats, that's a very nice elk! Love that exit hole! ^^^^^This^^^^^
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Campfire Ranger
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Have Dog
Will Travel
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Congrats on a successful hunt!
Love your choice of bullet, too, although I've been taken to task for using North Fork bullets for various reasons including the following:
1. They are 'too expensive'. 2. They are a 'boutique' bullet. 3. They have a relatively low B.C.
None of which I give a crap about. They work great and that's all that matters. That and they have been very accurate in every rifle I've tried them in.
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
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Congrats on a successful hunt!
Love your choice of bullet, too, although I've been taken to task for using North Fork bullets for various reasons including the following:
1. They are 'too expensive'. 2. They are a 'boutique' bullet. 3. They have a relatively low B.C.
None of which I give a crap about. They work great and that's all that matters. That and they have been very accurate in every rifle I've tried them in.
I've used NF's since 2014 when I couldn't find any old style Trophy Bonded Bearclaws for my 338. I bought them for their fantastic terminal performance, but have been nothing short of amazed at their accuracy as well. I know it sounds cliche, but the bullets were the cheapest part of the hunt. Regarding B.C., you know it must be low when the folks at NF cant even tell you what it is!
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900 |
I wouldn't sweat the BC thing.
Not all elk are killed in the next zip code. In fact I bet most are killed at 300 yards or under.
Looks like that 225 NF made a great wound channel...exactly what a medium bore cartridge is all about on heavy game.
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Shooting ability and practice trump BC every time.
Bit to much damage on the exit for my tastes, but thats personal.
Great elk, great job, grand fajitas, congrats!!!
Jeff
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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BC does not kill,expanding,penetrating and putting a hole in the vital organs does.
Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard
Ken
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Well done, Congratulations!
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Molon Labe
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