Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Gumby in Colo. and first elk

The shot was in the base of the neck foward of the shoulder-it shttered the spine and left a fist sized hole on the entrance (right) side. I found no remnant of the bullet and there was not an exit wound-I don't know if the bullet skipped out or up through the entrance wound, enlarging it. I didn't get into a full blown exam, we had four elk down (one 5x5 bull, two cows and a calf), it was warm and there was a lot to do. Two of us gutted, skinned and quartered the four elk and then I boned my cow. I did cut that section of the neck out and look at the damage to the area trying to salvage what meat I could.

It was a San Luis Valley depredation tag. The sand with all the elk prints used to be alfalfa, hence the tags. The Colorado DOW wants the elk population in the valley to be zero (the herd is about 3000 strong now) since they have to compensate the farmers for crop loss. These elk live in the tall sage and chico brush and don't really go back and forth from the mountains as you'd think. A lot of spot and stalk-watching them bed down, letting them settle in then work a stalk. I boned this cow and there was a suprising amount of meat and it is very good. So, I got to shoot an elk, got some ivory and great meat, and spent time in a very pretty place. I'd go again.

The sand gave it away.......



Casey