dennishoddy
Moderator
Just got back from an elk hunting trip in NM on private ground. Its a landowner tag deprivation hunt, cow only.
Started Saturday morning with 5 of us holding tags. We spotted a small herd of 15 on a mountain clearing, so the stalk began. We started at 8500' altitude, and two hours later we were at 10,200 after traversing a wooded ravine for cover, and finally finding a finger of trees that led to a ridge that overlooked the saddle they were feeding in. When we got in sight of them, they were at 455 yards on the range finder. Belly crawled to 350 yards, and at one of the guys command, we were to open fire.
I settled on the one I wanted, and at the count of three, the other two guys shot, and I just about jerked my trigger in half, forgetting to take it off safety.
Finally figuring out what happened, took a running shot, and was a little high with the dirt kicking up just over its back, then they stopped for a second and took off again, and the second shot went off. Hit the neck/spine ahead of the front legs, and she went end over end three times, finally wedging in a rock. The range finder had the shot at 455 yds.
Now the real work begins. 400 lb+ animal at sub zero temps is tough to field dress.
Easy getting down the mountain though. One kick and pick it up at the bottom. LOL...
Over the next three days we all filled our tags.
Lots of fine eating ahead.
Started Saturday morning with 5 of us holding tags. We spotted a small herd of 15 on a mountain clearing, so the stalk began. We started at 8500' altitude, and two hours later we were at 10,200 after traversing a wooded ravine for cover, and finally finding a finger of trees that led to a ridge that overlooked the saddle they were feeding in. When we got in sight of them, they were at 455 yards on the range finder. Belly crawled to 350 yards, and at one of the guys command, we were to open fire.
I settled on the one I wanted, and at the count of three, the other two guys shot, and I just about jerked my trigger in half, forgetting to take it off safety.
Finally figuring out what happened, took a running shot, and was a little high with the dirt kicking up just over its back, then they stopped for a second and took off again, and the second shot went off. Hit the neck/spine ahead of the front legs, and she went end over end three times, finally wedging in a rock. The range finder had the shot at 455 yds.
Now the real work begins. 400 lb+ animal at sub zero temps is tough to field dress.
Easy getting down the mountain though. One kick and pick it up at the bottom. LOL...
Over the next three days we all filled our tags.
Lots of fine eating ahead.
