|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,257
Campfire 'Bwana
|
OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,257 |
Hard to believe the season is almost over and it's been a month since I finished my elk hunt. I backpacked-in the Friday afternoon before the Saturday, October 22nd MT opener to a spot high up in the Nat'l Forest. After setting up camp and eating dinner I spotted a 6pt bull in a meadow above my camp at dark. Looking him over with the binoculars I found that his right beam was broken off near the base. Regardless of that, he wasn't quite the mature bull I was hunting for. I hoped he might be in the meadow the following morning with a possibly older bull, but it was not to be. The next morning, slowly hunting my way up the mountain in the early light, I couldn't find any elk at all. So, I continued the climb up to over 8,000' while glassing other likely areas. Around 8:00 I located a single bull in a meadow 1.5 miles distant and, having found no other elk anywhere else, decided to try for him. I hiked back to my camp, ate lunch, formulated a plan and packed for the move across the valley to where I'd spotted the elk. The hike to this spot is pretty tough, the last 3/4 mile gaining 1,000' of vertical gain through a spruce deadfall/blowdown hell. I got to the meadow around 2:00 in the afternoon, being careful of the wind as I approached. I figured the bull had fed into the timber to lay down for the day, and hoped he would feed back out at dark. I stayed well off the meadow, reading a book, and only coming to the meadow every hour to check for the elk. My third trip to check at 4:45 PM yielded what I hoped for... the bull was out and feeding! I shot him at 120 yards with my 308, ending the hunt and starting the real work. I put up my camp well away from the kill, took a few photos, and began taking him apart until after dark. Having that much blood around camp on one's clothes, etc., is always a bit of a concern in grizzly country, so I made sure to bag all my bloody clothes in plastic and put them well away from my tent. I finished the evening with a late dinner and fell soundly asleep. The following morning I finished all the butchering and hiked out (with more trips to follow for more meat!).
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 43,823
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 43,823 |
Brad, uber hunting and bull! (sweet pic)
More pics needed!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,228
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,228 |
Ed T
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 45,993
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 45,993 |
Very nice bull, you made it sound easy!
A wise man is frequently humbled.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 968
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 968 |
Brad, To quote the "A-team" "I love it when a plan comes together".
You sir know how to get it done, CONGRATS !! Very Nice Bull.
I safely assume you used a Montana 308, so my question is which bullet (weight)? BT,AB or PT 165gr?
"...buzzards gota eat same as worms" Josey Wales NRA lifer Hunting is Conservation RMEF Member
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,653
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,653 |
Congrats on a successful hunt.
You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,760
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,760 |
Molon Labe
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,065
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,065 |
Great bull, Brad! Congrats!
"You know why nobody panic buys 30-06 ammo? ... Because men with 30-06's don't panic"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,735
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,735 |
Yes that is a real accomplishment to be up there taking on that challenge with only your shadow as a partner. Its got to be a great feeling to be successful annually testing your skills as a temporary visitor. Well done!
Last edited by bigwhoop; 11/22/16.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,777
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,777 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,085
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,085 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,627
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,627 |
Dangit, Brad - you're a machine!
Congrats on another great bull.
WWP53D
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,314
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,314 |
Nice bull (again this year!).
Just curious, did you see any bears or wolves this year?
I enjoy handguns and I really like shotguns,...but I love rifles!
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,058
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,058 |
Awesome Brad, congrats on a great bull.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,129
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,129 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748 |
Well done, as always! Thanks for sharing!
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,340
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,340 |
Enjoyed your story and pictures, Brad. Congratulations on a fine bull elk.
L.W.
"Always go straight forward, and if you meet the devil, cut him in two and go between the pieces." (William Sturgis, clipper ship captain, 1830s.)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 157
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 157 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,699
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,699 |
Another great bull - thanks for sharing the pics and story! I gotta get to planning my next trip...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,257
Campfire 'Bwana
|
OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,257 |
Thanks guys for the kind words.
Clay, 165 Hdy BTSP. They shoot itty, bitty groups in my rifle.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
|
|
|
|
580 members (12344mag, 10ring1, 10gaugemag, 10gaugeman, 160user, 007FJ, 56 invisible),
2,311
guests, and
1,197
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,190,610
Posts18,454,896
Members73,908
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|