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Not my biggest bull ever, but one of the most satisfying hunts I've ever had. I was in Northern New Mexico opening week and was on an outparcel of a much larger ranch in the vicinity. The area is not blessed with an outlandish population, nor is it loaded with monster bulls. That being said, the scenery was drop dead gorgeous and I was into elk every hunt, so that ain't bad at all! Temperatures were in the high 20's each morning, getting up to the mid to high 50's each afternoon. Wind was a nasty 25 or so MPH for much of the hunt due to a front blowing out. Rutting action was very so-so, as the bulls were pulling of the cows, hanging just close enough to catch any cow coming in late. I had only been on this ranch for one other time a few years ago and now would have to learn it all on my own. Still hunts were on the easy side, relatively speaking, as the wind pretty much blew constantly out of the North the whole time with very few exceptions. I took my time and over the course of a few hunts got the jump on a few groups of cows and bulls here and there. After a few days, I caught this bull meandering along @ 120 yards away, only seeing a tan butt at first. He had no idea I was close by, and I looked him over with my binocs after stopping him with a very faint cow call....6 by on one side....other side similar, not broken....I stopped him again with the cow call and got into a shooting position that got me a clear shot. He was quartering away now at 110 yards and one final call allowed me to put the shot quartering into his right side at the last rib. The bullet blew through the vitals, lodging under the hide on the off side shoulder. Perfect shot! He was down, but coughing up blood, etc by the time I got to him and I placed a finisher in him, mostly to end it as quickly as I could for the bull. He ended up being a pretty 6x5, with the nicest set of ivories I have ever taken. During skinning I caught the bullet under the hide of the left shoulder and was amazed at the the terminal performance of the Nosler Partition...338, 210 grains. In the past, most of the Partitions I've recovered have been in the 60% range, weight wise. This one weighed 184 grains after penetrating the elk and busting up ribs on entry and a shoulder trying to exit. That is 87.6% retention! Sorry so wordy, but the experience of doing it myself from start to finish...sink or swim...all on me...that gave this hunt a special meaning. That I just had thyroid surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago was another thing to deal with...couldn't let that slow me down though. Hope you enjoy the pictures and hope everyone has a blast this fall. Part of the ranch: North end of ranch where I hunted: Love my Partitions:
Last edited by Godogs57; 10/08/14.
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Joined: Apr 2011
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Great bull! Congrats on the bullet recovery
Semper Fi
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Campfire Tracker
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Great bull! Congrats on the bullet recovery +1 on that! Thanks for the great post!
Golden............
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Congrats Godogs, that is a very good bull and for a diy, so much the better. That weather front that blew thru overnight in northern NM proved to be beneficial for both of us. Thanks for the story!
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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100% Public land DIY!
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Campfire Regular
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Nothing better then a DIY hunt that is successful!!! Congrats on a great bull!!!
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. - Dale Carnegie
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Congrats on the bull, your recovery from surgery and a great DIY hunt. I expect this one will stand out in your memories.
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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Great bull and hunt. Looks like a beautiful place.
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Pretty terrific, Godog
What a fantastic place, and bull.
Way to go.
Trump HAD the World, ", Trump saw our children, " Trump saw a way to make a brighter day so he started giving There was a choice he was making, he was saving our own lives Its true he made a brighter day for you and me. --Trump WINS 2016
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Great looking bull! Congratulations. I have some 210 Partitions loaded up and fly out to CO today. Hope to have the same result!
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Freezer full of elk meat! Congrats
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Way to go. Great job and good bullet performance!
I still like my Barnes though..210 ttsx/338-06 1200 pound bull moose, 125ish steps, broke neck and shoulder, under skin on off side... 210.7 grains.
But when you don't have time to think about things or worry about bullet choice, a partition will work all the time too. Even if they loose a bit of weight.
Congrats again, beautiful country, especially in the fall. And a nice elk to boot.
Got a pic of the ivories?
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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OP
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Way to go. Great job and good bullet performance!
I still like my Barnes though..210 ttsx/338-06 1200 pound bull moose, 125ish steps, broke neck and shoulder, under skin on off side... 210.7 grains.
But when you don't have time to think about things or worry about bullet choice, a partition will work all the time too. Even if they loose a bit of weight.
Congrats again, beautiful country, especially in the fall. And a nice elk to boot.
Got a pic of the ivories? Will get a pic of them tomorrow and post em.
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
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Godogs nice bull and sounds like a great hunt! The 338 worked well!
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Nice bull and great pics!
"Blessed is the man whose wife is his best friend - especially if she likes to HUNT!"
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
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Congratulations on a nice bull! Thanks for sharing your pictures and story.
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Congratulations on a great hunt.
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