I was fortunate to hunt with my friend CFVA this year, he drove out for the muzzleloader season. It was a fun hunt and it was great to have him in camp but I do have to tell a story on him.

Opening morning we climbed up to a spot where I'd had some luck in the past. He had a cow tag and I had an either sex tag. We were't hearing any bugles and the forecast was for rain the next several days. Plus my freezer had no elk meat since I didn't hunt elk last year. So I'd made up my mind that if I got an easy shot on a cow I'd take it; I love elk meat.

It was around 8:30 and we'd been walking since dawn so we stopped to eat a snack and take a break. After a few minutes, he got up to take a leak, and walked about 20 yards away from where we'd been sitting. Next thing I know he's got his binoculars up and mouthing the word "elk;" a small herd was milling around a bit over a hundred yards away in some timber, getting ready to bed down.

They were on a rise and the area between us was open so we couldn't sneak in. We waited to see if they'd move and offer a better shot but they stayed put. So he got set up prone behind a log and used it for a rest, he had a long-ish shot for an open sighted muzzleloader, well over a hundred yards.

I couldn't see elk from where I was but I got ready in case his shot flushed them out where I could see them. At the shot a big cow ran straight at us; later he said he thought she might run him over. She pulled up about 25 yards short and turned broadside, so I had my easy shot. His elk dropped on the spot and mine ran about 75 yards. Our hunt was over by 8:45 and we got to work on the elk. Both were nice big fat cows, and mine was the biggest cow I'd seen killed.

We were talking later and realized that if he hadn't gotten up and walked a few yards to take a leak, we may have moved on and never seen those elk. So here's the whole point of this story: sometimes, it pays to stand around with your d*ck in your hand.

Backstrap:

Congrats! I need to get me a muzzleloader again!

I need to stand around in the forest with my dick in my hand. Next year, injured this year.

congrats! a colorado double ... leads to delicious backstrap.

Good deal, I'll take a cow over a ruttin bull any day.

how far did you guys have hump them out? I asked him if he was sore and he said not bad. I didn't notice him having his dick in his hand when we was whomping prairie dogs. Must be a biggame thing....

I didn't do any humping on this trip Don, it was just me and him, it wouldn't have been appropriate.

Sounds like it was all in a days work, gotta like it when that happens!

You guys shooting the lead powerbelts by chance?

Congrats!



I'm hoping to get back to CO one of these days during muzzleloader season myself and am also curious about your bullet of choice.

Congrats I hope I have some look in OCT.

Nice!
Now you have a full freezer and the whole season ahead for other hunts.

Excellent story! Well done!!!!

We were both shooting 348 grain copper coated Aerotips. I shot mine in the shoulder and got a pass through, at least part of the bullet. He recovered his bullet under the offside hide, it passed through one scapula.

I think that the Co mz hunt is one of the best in the west. I have always gone center-fire, but I really appreciate the fact that Co has kept it at least somewhat primitive.

Good going! Not often you get two piled up like that.

It should happen to me, as I am very good at standing around with it in my hand!!

Sweet success........

Thanks. my tag is for Idaho so I have to use the lead ones..Dont know why the coated ones are illegal, but thems the rules.

Ive had bad experiences with the lighter powerbelts. Taking saddlesores advice and slowing them way down (you may have suggested that as well). They are shooting great out of the old Knight.. scoped rifle type good. Going to use them in a few weeks on a bull.I'm using only 75gr or T7, its been lighting off reliably with CCI #11 mags.

Whats your powder/charge?

Planned on using my Renegade but it is giving me ignition fits.

I use 80 grains of BH209, and CFVA was using 90. He just got the rifle (T/C Triumph), and he said that was the first load he tried and it shot really well. He made a good shot too.

Nicely done.

Roscoe, what's the deal w/having to slow the bullets down? powdr

Congrats! Sounds like a great time.

They're relatively soft. I've always used the 348's with 80-90 grains of powder and never had a problem though.

Good job Smoke.

Thanks Brad but I have to give credit to CFVA. He's the one who spotted the elk, made a tough shot, flushed them out to give me an easy shot, and hauled out a monster load that allowed us to snag our camp gear on the last trip. A great hunting pard, even though he has a tendency to stand around with his d*ck in his hand.

HaHa! Got a kick out of that. Congrats!

Maybe a porn mag should be part of your gear when hunting with him. Hand it to him and sit back and wait for the elk to come running! Great story,definitely different

smokepole,

I'm trying to ask a sensitive question in an insensitive way...... but are you missing a leg there hoss?

if so, that makes your mountain-hunting success all the more impressive.

again, not wanting to be mean..... just asking???

Sounds like a great hunt no matter what. To be tagged out before 9a on day 1 would be AWESOME!

shane

he lets cfva hold his protruberance, err, prosthesis sometimes.....

LOL. I had to look at the photo to see what you were talking about. Looks like it, but I'm not missing any limbs.

Although I did once know a gal who asked me why my third leg was a little shorter than the other two....

smoke is just being modest. We would have been completely at a loss without his mad bugling skills.

Right on both counts, especially about me being modest.

I just read this after posting my own thread about a successful elk hunt yesterday . I also paused to leak and shot my bow Unzipped!!!!!!!!
Must be a new trend in early season elk hunting!!!!!!

CFVA says it is----a bugle in one hand and a **** in the other!

Outstanding double!

I need to straighten out my priorities and spend more time hunting...

Thanks Geno. I think we all do.

And we won't even talk about fishing....

Way to go Guys!!! Thanks for sharing your experience, hope 1st rifle does us a good turn.

Nice ones. And maybe not too far up the hill so even better.

Yep, most of the complaints that you hear about PB's coming part is because people try to push them too fast.
I will try to post of photo tommorrow of the 348 gr I killed my elk with using 100gr of BH209.
Found under the hide on the far side .It hit a rib square on going in,but still traversed clear thru,and took the heart out.I might go back t90.but100 shot really well.

Plan to use 295gr PB's on a deerhunt coming up.

[quote=30338]Nice ones. And maybe not too far up the hill so even better. [/quote22nd.]

Just about as far as I care to haul one out.

Well that is probably about a mile farther than I care to. Got reinforcements coming this October for my elk hunt so hoping to have your luck.

Well, that was a rather productive morning.

Middle 300-ish bullet weight range, slowed down, does wonders on elk. Just like with a centerfire, you don't need to be cranking up near the redline to kill an elk. My bull last year fell just fine to 95gr BH209 and a Hornady GP 385. Load shoots great in the TC Encore. In the Triumph its a bit heavy on recoil, same with the new Federal Trophy 350.

Not familiar with that one, my have to check it out.

The 350 grain Hornady bullets shot to the same POI as the Powerbelts in my rifle, but I stuck with the latter. I'll have to dig the bullet out and post a picture of it.

I had a great time in camp with smokepole, but couldn't keep him out of my Natural Light...

I just figured out what it was that made me fart so much. I was almost farting as much as you were, had to be the Natural Light.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/35...-bullets-50-caliber-350-grain-pack-of-15


I haven't played with the lead too much yet, going to try and work em out in the Encore now that the season is over and I can change my sights. The Trophy Copper 270gr worked pretty well in the Triumph, but I still have to play with charges more.

Now I really wish I'd have stashed a six pack in your pack. Might have slowed you down enough for me to catch my breath!