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Joined: Feb 2007
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2007
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Wow.....mentally, a tough hunt. The bulls had pulled off the cows two weeks ago after a super intense rut. The bulls had all gone underground, disappearing into the deepest, darkest places nasty places to recuperate. Had this been what I call a "trickle" rut, we might have had a little action here and there but that was not the case. There was literally no bugling and zero response to bugles or cow calls. But that was the cards we were dealt so we had to stick with the mindset to keep chopping wood and do your best not to become discouraged. The first two days of the hunt were mixed with light rain and pouring rain. I've killed bulls in the rain before and it appeared this would be one of those type hunts. Days later it cleared and I got a glimpse that morning of a nice bull 350 or so yards up a steep hillside. I eyeballed him through the binocs and got awfully excited but he turned tail and was out of Dodge before quick. Nice whale tails, good swords....he was pretty and all I could do was hope for a rematch. Keep chopping wood..... I hunted that general area that afternoon and didn't see a single elk until last light. I called it a day and turned around to look one last glance around. To my astonishment that morning's bull stepped out of the timber, 50 yards from the Colorado state line! 310 yards away. I had about ten minutes of legal shooting light left. I got a good rest and took my shot. I was shooting my 1968 Sako338 with 225 grain North Forks. It had killed seven bulls prior with this rifle and load and not a single bull moved out of his tracks. The first shot hit home and he hunched up like it was a gut shot (I was wrong).....just stood there. Round two hit him with the same effect....took it and just stood there. Shoot again! The third shot hit solid and he finally fell, but was thrashing around. It turned out my first three shots had landed dead on his lungs, all shots within 5-6" of each other. He was still breathing when I got to him and round 4 through his heart did the job. I was astounded. I've always known elk to be tough but this one had another degree of toughness I hadn't personally experienced. Glad I had a 338!That last pic shows three shots just above the "elbow", Unreal...but that's hunting I suppose. Thanks for looking. ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/YCy3X5z0/Hero-Shot.jpg) ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/Ls213vr5/IMG-4342.jpg) ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/m298rLCs/IMG-4352.jpg)
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,387
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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"Successful is leaving something in better shape than you inherited it in. Keep that in mind, son." Dad
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,996
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,996 |
Nice bull. Hard work paid off.
~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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Joined: Sep 2005
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Beautiful bull, congrats and thanks for the story.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,640
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
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Nice bull, Hank! Congrats!
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/X0n16mr.png) WWP53D
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Joined: Apr 2017
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Campfire Regular
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congrats , you stuck with it I see
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2005
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Would love a bull like that one day. Very nice. And great shooting.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,016
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2010
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Great bull! Congrats on the success.
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,140 |
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: Aug 2017
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Great bull. I had one broadside at 320 yards take three in the boiler room, 2.5 inches apart and still ran into the adjacent timber. He had a new (that season) arrow shaft just underneath his spine. Tough bull.
Anyway, congrats. I'll be tickled if I ever get one that size in the ground!
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Joined: Dec 2009
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Nice bull and put another notch on that Sako.
You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Congrats, great bull... and thank you for the description of the hunt!
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. Ronald Reagan
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Nice Bull and excellent shooting, congratulations.
If your a leftist, whatever Donald Trump says or does, that pisses you off rest assured, I am a Happy Camper!
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Heckuva bull, and a hearty congrats!
It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Dandy bull, congrats and thanks for sharing.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2012
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Excellent!
Last edited by SockPuppet; 10/12/21.
Mercy ceases to be a virtue when it enables further injustice. -Brent Weeks
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2018
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Good looking Bull, Hank !
Congratulations 🍾
🦫
Curiosity Killed the Cat & The Prairie Dog
“Molon Labe”
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