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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,435
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,435 |
Had a fantastic week last week in NM. This was a tough hunt for me and everyone else, as the bulls had pulled off the cows and retreated to the deepest, most inaccessible, canyons you could imagine to recuperate from a long, intense rut. We saw many satellite bulls with cows now that the herd bulls had worn themselves out. Temperatures were very high at 60 degrees opening morning...but by the time day three rolled around it was 19 degrees in the morning. If we saw a big/shooter bull, he would likely be by himself. The first morning a half dozen bulls were called in, nice ones including two 6x6's, but I was holding out for something a little bigger. The second morning's hunt gave me a situation that I never had while hunting. We were going along a "pig trail" that snaked along the New Mexico/Colorado state line. Every hundred yards or so there would be a sign "Entering New Mexico", "Entering Colorado", it changed constantly and I had to make a concerted effort to remember which state I was in at the time going from point A to point B. My first opportunity for a shooter came at that time. a beautiful 6x6 with large whale tails, nice sword points....very nice bull. He was 175 yards away with a dead broadside shot! However, he was in New Mexico while I was standing on Colorado soil moving through the area. I couldn't take that shot without being in violation....I enjoyed the view and kept my rifle on safety as I moved back into NM. My chance came on day four. The morning started out with ice cold temps and for the first time, a drizzly, misty light rain. Just like we love to see here....you just knew there would be movement, and there was. Bugling everywhere, bulls on the move, looking like they were rejuvenated for one more dance, and I spotted a nice, lone, herd bull about a hundred, hundred and twenty five yards away. This is rough country...steep mountains....deep canyons. I spotted him in the flattest woods on the ranch. It was flat as a football field. Never ever killed a bull in a spot this flat, but there he was. I took him cleanly through the shoulder with my 338. He was an old, beautiful 6x7 bull with thick horns, lots of mass. Proud to get this old boy considering how tough the hunt was. Had some fantastic fajitas tonight from the ol boy. Thanks for looking. Please disregard the ugly guy in the first pic.
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,158 Likes: 3
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,158 Likes: 3 |
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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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,254 Likes: 10
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,254 Likes: 10 |
Nice Bull !!!
Phenomenal Sunset Photo!!!
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,085
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,085 |
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,735 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,735 Likes: 1 |
Nice bull. Way to hang in there. Thanks for the pics and story.
NRA LIFE MEMBER GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS ESPECIALLY THE SNIPERS! "Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself." -Mark Twain
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,414
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,414 |
Congratulations on a fine bull!
Come back when you can. Think of the taxidermists who need full employment.
“You must endeavour to enjoy the pleasure of doing good. That is all that makes life valuable.” Robert E. Lee, in a letter to his invalid wife.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 29,649 Likes: 5
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 29,649 Likes: 5 |
Nice bull man good work way to see it through on a tough hunt!
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,381
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,381 |
beautiful post, thanks for sharing and congrats on a great bull!
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,926
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,926 |
Nice bull in beautiful country.
Congrats.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,253 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,253 Likes: 6 |
Outstanding! Congrats on a dandy.
It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,733
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,733 |
Very nice! Congratulations!
"Kids don't remember their best day of television."
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,183
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,183 |
Been waitin Hank, damn nice bull brother!!! Didja skin him with a havalon??? Grin
Ping pong balls for the win. Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable I keep my circle small, I’d rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.
Ain’t easy havin pals.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,183
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,183 |
In case anyone wants to know, ol goddogs57 makes a damn fine knife, getcha some....
Ping pong balls for the win. Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable I keep my circle small, I’d rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.
Ain’t easy havin pals.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 27,692
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 27,692 |
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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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,621
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,621 |
Congratulations on a beautiful bull...
Public landowner...
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,061
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,061 |
Very Nice! Congratulations. Like the dark horns.
Just because I am wandering around doesn't mean I am lost.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,643
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,643 |
Mighty fine bull man! He’ll be great on the table and look awesome on the wall. Congratulations!
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Posts: 307
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 307 |
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,336
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,336 |
Great bull, great write up. Congratulations on the nice trophy.
In case you haven't heard, the dawgs didn't go at all yesterday.
Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,435
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,435 |
Great bull, great write up. Congratulations on the nice trophy.
In case you haven't heard, the dawgs didn't go at all yesterday.
From what I saw, we surely didn’t.
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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