First Bull
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First Bull
I went elk hunting in Colorado this year determined to get a bull. My only other elk in four previous hunts was a cow three years ago.
I know where to find them. They live down in a steep deep canyon that few people hunt. They are there but there is a high price to pay! At 62 years old I am nearing the end of my ability to hunt in places like that. I felt like I could still do it this year so I went to that canyon to get my bull.
My elk hunting partner couldn't make it this year so my wife went with me. We set up camp the Thursday before opening and scouted that evening. It was warm, dry and windy. The first elk I saw was a six point Thursday evening. His partner was a nice five point. Friday morning they had a small five point with them. Friday evening we saw the six point and the big five point.
Opening morning they were gone but I spotted a big five point on the next ridge down the canyon in a strip of dead fall-probably the same big five point we saw before. We went around and got across from him and he bedded before I got into position. I could see him with the spotting scope through the pine boughs. While we waited for him to get up I took a close look at how we would get him out. It was ugly with all the dead falls and the steep hill side. There was a strip of rock above him which would have been very tough to get up if you could get up it at all. I decided to leave him. When we got back to the top of the canyon he was up and feeding again-broadside!
Didn't see much of anything til Tuesday noon I spotted a ragged little bull down in the canyon. He had good brow tines so was legal. He had a fork on one side and had broken a point off the other side so he was a 3x2. He was down a ways and I decided I didn't want to work that hard for that bull. It snowed Wednesday.
I spotted the bull I killed Thursday at 11:00 AM. He was in the same area as the little raghorn. We went after him and it started snowing again. He was down a good 1000 vertical feet below the top. It took until 1:30 PM to get in position on him. It looks like the small five point we saw Friday morning. It took an hour and a half to get across the canyon to him. We headed up the hill at 6:30 with the first load of meat. The trip up was lit by a nearly full moon lighting up the snow. We made the top at 8:00 PM and had a 45 minute walk to the truck. We made two more trips down in the next two days to get all the meat.
This is my wife and the bull when we found him.
Me with the rack and the 300 Weatherby at the top after everything was out.
It was quite an adventure for my wife. It was her first elk hunt in Colorado and she loved it. This is a tough place to hunt but the smile says it all. As for me-I need to find an easier place to hunt!
I know where to find them. They live down in a steep deep canyon that few people hunt. They are there but there is a high price to pay! At 62 years old I am nearing the end of my ability to hunt in places like that. I felt like I could still do it this year so I went to that canyon to get my bull.
My elk hunting partner couldn't make it this year so my wife went with me. We set up camp the Thursday before opening and scouted that evening. It was warm, dry and windy. The first elk I saw was a six point Thursday evening. His partner was a nice five point. Friday morning they had a small five point with them. Friday evening we saw the six point and the big five point.
Opening morning they were gone but I spotted a big five point on the next ridge down the canyon in a strip of dead fall-probably the same big five point we saw before. We went around and got across from him and he bedded before I got into position. I could see him with the spotting scope through the pine boughs. While we waited for him to get up I took a close look at how we would get him out. It was ugly with all the dead falls and the steep hill side. There was a strip of rock above him which would have been very tough to get up if you could get up it at all. I decided to leave him. When we got back to the top of the canyon he was up and feeding again-broadside!
Didn't see much of anything til Tuesday noon I spotted a ragged little bull down in the canyon. He had good brow tines so was legal. He had a fork on one side and had broken a point off the other side so he was a 3x2. He was down a ways and I decided I didn't want to work that hard for that bull. It snowed Wednesday.
I spotted the bull I killed Thursday at 11:00 AM. He was in the same area as the little raghorn. We went after him and it started snowing again. He was down a good 1000 vertical feet below the top. It took until 1:30 PM to get in position on him. It looks like the small five point we saw Friday morning. It took an hour and a half to get across the canyon to him. We headed up the hill at 6:30 with the first load of meat. The trip up was lit by a nearly full moon lighting up the snow. We made the top at 8:00 PM and had a 45 minute walk to the truck. We made two more trips down in the next two days to get all the meat.
This is my wife and the bull when we found him.
Me with the rack and the 300 Weatherby at the top after everything was out.
It was quite an adventure for my wife. It was her first elk hunt in Colorado and she loved it. This is a tough place to hunt but the smile says it all. As for me-I need to find an easier place to hunt!
My "HB" (Hunting Buddy) She's a good cook too!
Re: First Bull
Way to GO Marc, good story and nice bag. U won't starve this Winter.
Perry
Perry
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Re: First Bull
Congratulations on a job well done. Thank you for the good story also.
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Re: First Bull
Looks to me like you have a new elk hunting partner. Really enjoyed your post, thanks!!
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Re: First Bull
If it was easy, everyone would do it. Great job and great trophy!
Re: First Bull
Congratulations!
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http://www.TARSPORTING.com
"Worldwide Hunting Adventures"
Professional Hunters Assoc of South Africa
SCI - Life Member
NRA - Life Member
NAHC - Trophy Life Member
DWWC - Member
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Re: First Bull
great job and congratulations on another milestone.
"I'll tell you what living is. You get up when you feel like it. You fry yourself some eggs. You see what kind of a day it is."
Re: First Bull
Nice one, grats.
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Always consult an expert first.
-------------------------------------------------------------
USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
Re: First Bull
CONGRATS ~!
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Re: First Bull
Congratulations, enjoyed the post, you have a great hunting partner, you are very lucky
Pete
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
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Re: First Bull
+ one....Borregos wrote:Congratulations, enjoyed the post, you have a great hunting partner, you are very lucky
Whatever you do always give 100%........... unless you are donating blood.
Re: First Bull
That's a wonderful story
The Rotten Fruit Always Hits The Ground First
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Second Amendment Foundation
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Re: First Bull
Yep...!damienph wrote:Looks to me like you have a new elk hunting partner. Really enjoyed your post, thanks!!
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Re: First Bull
Excellent! Enjoyed those photos.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
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cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
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Re: First Bull
Congratulations on the successful hunt!
Griff,
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There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
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No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
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NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
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Re: First Bull
Great job on a nice bull & sounds like a hard earned one
ollogger
ollogger
Re: First Bull
Good shooting looks like a nice meat bull, taking family makes for good memories. danny
Re: First Bull
CONGRATULATIONS !
oldguy
oldguy
Re: First Bull
Thanks!
I will never be able to go elk hunting again without my wife! We took more pictures but most of them didn't come out good. We have a new camera and one of the settings got changed. It took me a while to figure out what was wrong.
I will never be able to go elk hunting again without my wife! We took more pictures but most of them didn't come out good. We have a new camera and one of the settings got changed. It took me a while to figure out what was wrong.
My "HB" (Hunting Buddy) She's a good cook too!
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Re: First Bull
I admire your patients and determination...Good Hunt!! That hard earned meat should be very tasty indeed !!!
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WIL TERRY
WIL TERRY
Re: First Bull
Great reading Marc. Admire your determination and resolve.
hayabusa
hayabusa
Re: First Bull
Congrats on a great hunt!
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Re: First Bull
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing story and photos. Happy wife, too...that's important!!!