New Mexico Elk Success - 10/13/19
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.
![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/9FTzxpCN/2019-VPR-Bull.jpg)
![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/Yq1qNCz5/20191004-071043.jpg)
![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/RVzv0zxX/Ash-Little-Costilla.jpg)
![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/CKtgT34C/Vermejo-Sunset.jpg)
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.