update on this post.
Went in 2 weeks early before the hunt on a DIY to camp, sightsee and scout. Started out on the south end of the unit and saw some sign, and heard a couple bulls in the evening that put a smile on my face.
Never could find them so I started looking around on the north side up near hwy 64. Saw some sign there, but no bulls out in the openings or in the blowdowns where I thought they might be. I watched for a couple days the ends of the canyons where I thought they would come out into, until it got too dark to shoot.
Went east and checked canyons and tanks and was not real happy with what I was seeing.
Before I left on the trip,I was thinking long shots and had my 308 set up with a drop cam from Kenton on my nightforce 2.5-10x32 and a 165gr bullet at 2740 fps. As it was, my shot was taken at 139 yards and on 4x. My backup rifle was a 270 winchester pre 64 featherweight in a mcmillan hunters edge stock and a nightforce 2.5-10x32 with an IHR reticle and exposed turrets. In the 308 I was using a trophy bonded 165 bullet from federal and a 130 grain federal fusion in my 270. Both rifles were zeroed at 200 yards and were sub MOA performers.
In the middle of the week I had found a spot to test both of them to see where they were hitting in relation to my drop tables. 2 targets were selected, one at 310 yards and another at 519 yards. I made the appropriate scope ajustments and did 2- 3 shot groups at range, and used my pack as my rest. Both rifles were perfect, I couldn’t have asked for better equipment or loads.
Anyway, I ended back up where I started, checking out tanks as I backpacked around, 6-9 miles worth of humping daily. Really got this old flatlander back into shape and I was having as blast.
The night before the opener, a hunter showed up where I was planning on hunting in the morning and blew his call for 45 minutes. I guess he scared the heck out the 3 bulls I had seen earler in the week,, as I never heard them call that night or the next 3 nights before I left to head home.
Opening morning comes and I set up on an escape route- didn’t see any thing so after 3 hours of daylight I start moving where I thought the bulls might be holed up. I did manage to jump one out but couldn't get a shot.
I moved to check a couple tanks that were holding water from about 300 yards out from where they would head to in the evening, and after I found a place to overwatch, I saw cows bust out of the cedars and head away from me. I didn’t think it was me as the wind was blowing 20-30 miles an hour, and into my face. I did a bit of investigating and found someone had parked a 4 wheeler about 200 yards from a tank that was being visited after dark. I went back to a spot to see if I could intercept them IF they came back and no dice for the next couple hours. About 6 PM I heard a bull call near another tank, (it was dry),and decided to see if I could get to him before dark. I took off jogging/running through the cedar and juniper bushes that had been cut down. I made the 3/4 mile strait line distance in about 15 minutes through all that mess. Catching my breath I was easing through the blowdowns and cut trees there were 2 cows in the open. As I looked past them, I saw a bull. The cows took off and I shot the bull offhand as he was still standing still. He hit the ground and I jacked another cartridge into my rifle thinking I would give him another one when he stood up. He didn’t and I got to thinking “did I miss”??... SH*T..!
I’m looking around for a blood trail, and happened to look a bit further up the hill and there he was. I was so thankful he never moved and I didn’t miss. What a great feeling. The bullet hit behind his shoulder and went through the lungs.
4 hours later and I had him quartered, bagged and in my camp after retrieving my truck and a coleman lantern. I did notice one thing, it appeared he had broken his neck as he fell, as there was a lot of trauma at the base of his skull and my thought was he had hit his jaw/head on a log when he dropped.
I sure appreciate the PM’s as to where to hunt and what to expect. They were a big help.
Best regards,
Rgrx
Had Some great meals when I had time to cook, and saw a lot of new scenery.
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