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Opening day in northern New Mexico had a persistent wet snow falling above 9000 feet. But finally getting back to my elk hunt after a two year hiatus, I didn't care as I still hunted through my normal haunts. But everything was holed up - even the crows and ravens were silent. The second day had the weather system move out as it was partly cloudy with minimal wind. I traversed my same areas still not seeing any tracks in the inch snow that still remained. Moving up slowly into a semi-open aspen grove, I saw legs moving ahead at about 100 yards with definite racks already visible. At least two bulls were slowly feeding on the still remaining green grass. The Geovid confirmed the bulls at 110 yards. I continued to glass the area to make sure I saw what was present and to prevent any "pass thru" mistakes with obscured animals. Once confirmed, I selected the bull in a better position as this was going to be an exercise in threading a bullet through the trees. Now using a big aspen for a steady rest, I waited. A few steps exposed the heart/lung area through a ten inch opening. The Kimber Montana bucked a bit and the bull made a short 40 foot run and looked back in my direction, he attempted to walk away and was already swaying a bit. After another 20 feet, he slumped backwards and fell over. The second bull now bolted thru the trees and ran up the mountain. Well, that was exciting! As I approached I could already see a bulge in the hide and sure enough I could feel a hard lump under the skin. The Havalon made short work of the recovery. This was a 140 gr. Norma factory load which now weighed 104 gr. giving me a 75% weight retention. Virtually no blood outside but there was plenty inside with the double lung hit. This was a particularly satisfying solo hunt as I had a two year hiatus with the declining health of my Mother, political obligations, covid concerns at the ranch. Field dressing using the gutless method was accomplished and this big boy gave me a workout. Without nearby trees to tie off a leg, it was a "wrestling match"! Five trips back to camp and the long day was over. A bonus was no black bear incidents overnight this year! For those keeping score, the Kimber Montana (5# 2oz.) with a 2.5-8x36 Leupold. LW Talleys weighed in at 5#15 oz.. The Barneys Hunter pack did its job as always. Here are a few photos. This was my third big game animal with the 6.5 CM - the other two were a cow elk and a caribou from the Talkeetna Mts.. I too have gone thru the magnum class of calibers from the 338WM, 325WSM, down thru the 300WM's, 300WSM's, and even used the lowly 30-06 and 270Win, and the 308 Win.. This is my 21st consecutive elk and what this has proven again is something we all know - that proper placement trumps all else. It is gratifying to once again have elk meat in the freezer. ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/yWty59Fc/IMG-4161.jpg) ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/wRMHsZWy/IMG-4162.jpg) ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/MMWzzvVY/IMG-4186.jpg) ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/nsKH8vjz/IMG-4187.jpg)
Last edited by bigwhoop; 10/08/21.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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Well done sir! Congrats on a nice bull!
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Grats dude. Appreciate the write up. Well done.
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Campfire Ranger
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Indeed a good write up. Appreciate the story/pics and congrats on the success!
Now with even more aplomb
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Bigwhoop Congratulations on your bull ! A very nice write up... and photos ! HH
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Congrats on a very successful hunt!
Enjoyed the Story, and Rifle/cartridge experienced info.
Correct on shot placement!!!
I Learned a long time ago to Separate My Want's from My Needs!
A man's Gotta Do What a Man's Gotta Do!
Know Thy Self!
TRUMP DID WIN!!!
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Fantastic bull Joe, thanks for the story and pictures .....another year of you getting it done, those things are a lot of work packing out but always worth it in the end!
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That is how to do business-good for you.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime
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Nice looking critter. I've seen very few lately and instead see bears and cats.
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Good bull and good work there.
1Minute
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Bigwhoop fabulous Elk and great shooting.
A Dream is to get over there and whack one!
Great 6.5 performance too!
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Great write up! Thanks and congrats!
Ron
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
Orwell
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Bigwhoop: Congratulations on that fine trophy Bull and a clean and humane kill.
Many happy returns of that Hunt.
By the way there are a few on this site that contend you can't possibly have done what you did using a 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle and a Leupold scope!
I guess this puts an end to that non-sense?
Again good job and enjoy that Elk meat.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
P.S.: Long live Leupold & Stevens Corporation - a fine American company.
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Nice write up and pics 👍. Thanks for sharing!
BT53
"Where do they find young men like this?" Reporter Savidge, Iraq
Elk, it's what's for dinner....
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Very nice! Thanks for sharing.
Just because I am wandering around doesn't mean I am lost.
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Congratulations, thank you for sharing.
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Very nice bull, congrats !
Your mind is your primary weapon. Never let it get rusty.
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Great story. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on a great bull
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same... President Ronald Reagan
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GotterDone Bigwhoop ! ! !
PRESIDENT TRUMP 2024/2028 !!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Bristoe
The people wringing their hands over Trump's rhetoric don't know what time it is in America.
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Well, heck yeah! Congrats!
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/X0n16mr.png) WWP53D
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Well done. Thank you for sharing.
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“There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.”
ALDO LEOPOLD
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Mercy ceases to be a virtue when it enables further injustice. -Brent Weeks
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Curiosity Killed the Cat & The Prairie Dog
“Molon Labe”
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Nicely done, Sir!
Congrats!
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Great writeup and congratulations!
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~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
ISAIAH 41:10
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I too have gone thru the magnum class of calibers from the 338WM, 325WSM, down thru the 300WM's, 300WSM's, and even used the lowly 30-06 and 270Win, and the 308 Win.. This is my 21st consecutive elk and what this has proven again is something we all know - that proper placement trumps all else. Man hold on a second... you mean to tell me you shot a bull like that without dialing your optic to account for the ELR ballistics of a belted magnum caliber? From less than 800 yards away? Highly skeptical. But seriously, sick bull and writeup. Super jealous!
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I too have gone thru the magnum class of calibers from the 338WM, 325WSM, down thru the 300WM's, 300WSM's, and even used the lowly 30-06 and 270Win, and the 308 Win.. This is my 21st consecutive elk and what this has proven again is something we all know - that proper placement trumps all else. Man hold on a second... you mean to tell me you shot a bull like that without dialing your optic to account for the ELR ballistics of a belted magnum caliber? From less than 800 yards away? Highly skeptical. But seriously, sick bull and writeup. Super jealous! Beat me to it and a bore diameter less than .35”. Hard to believe. (Sarcasm)
NRA Patron
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And you can actually see bullet placement and can make a quick follow up shot with a 6.5
great bull
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Outstanding! What a great feeling to do it solo. Thank you for sharing!
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Whoop, there it is! Congrats man!!
“There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.”
ALDO LEOPOLD
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Congrats Sir, way to put the Whoop on him.
"...buzzards gota eat same as worms" Josey Wales
NRA lifer
Hunting is Conservation
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Good times in the elk woods.
Randy
NRA
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Thanks for all the nice comments. These periodic solo hunts have become important to prove that I can still do this alone. But with age comes more caution.
The pack-outs take one more trip to maintain a lower pack weight. We'll see if I do the next one at the next century milestone.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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Nicely done, congratulations. Makes me think my 06 will do 🙂
Bore size is no substitute for shot placement and
Power is no substitute for bullet performance. 458WIN
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Congrats! I shot a good bull two years ago with my wife's 6.5cm at 200 yards. Wouldn't hesitate to use one again within reasonable shooting distance.
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Great! Its funny how the "wife" and "kids" guns are of lesser power and then men need one that uses a magnum primer.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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An ex Gf used my 6.5x55 to shoot a mature cow moose in 2017.
130 grain accubond and shot placement
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Good job. Looks like nice country for packing meat.
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Congrats on a good Bull. Very good write up. I enjoyed reading it.
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Congrats on your bull! That bullet looks nice too.
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