Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
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Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
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- Senior Levergunner
- Posts: 1185
- Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:37 pm
- Location: S. of Jackson, Wyoming
Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
Last month I went on my annual Wyoming elk hunt, except in an area I never sent foot in. Usually I hunt west of Jackson, but due to dropping numbers, did not draw a tag in that area for the first time in 25 years. So I got a leftover cow tag for an area about 75 mi east of Jackson, north of Pinedale. I was with a good friend and my brother. We camped in my 5th wheel on the Green River. Scouting the first day was fun. Beautiful day and lots of area to cover. The next day we woke up to about 10" to a foot of snow. Followed lots of tracks but no luck.
I was warned about grizzlies in this area so for the first time I carried bear spray and a .44 S&W. I had a Rem 700 .308 also. 15 minutes into my hunt I was taking a picture of some nice scenery when I noticed movement about 200 yards away coming out of some trees. At first I thought someone was driving a large ATV. It looked like a VW with legs. It was a grizzly bear running. I froze but it turned directly at me and kept running. Unbelievable how much ground they cover in a couple seconds. It got about 100 yards from me. I took my safety off and held up my rifle and yelled while waving my arms. Thank the lord it worked. The bear skidded to a stop, turned and ran into the timber. I radioed my brother and friend. They told me they just ran across 3 sets of grizzly tracks, possibly a mama and two cubs. I went the long way around and hooked up with them. We hunted a little longer and decided to try another area. After that I hunted with my Marlin 45-70.
Over the next few days we hunted hard but no luck. We saw bald eagles, ran across moose, owls, deer, antelope and some bull elk. We stopped for about a dozen cows crossing the river one day prior to opening day after dark. It was still a nice trip. Here are some photos.
Camp site day one and day two
Area where I encountered a grizzly...and his small footprint according to a local.
Getting my brother's jeep stuck, but got out easy with a winch
Made a couple rifle racks so as not to clutter the trailer
one day too early
Hunting area and Green River Lake
A moose and her calf. Tried to zoom in.
I was warned about grizzlies in this area so for the first time I carried bear spray and a .44 S&W. I had a Rem 700 .308 also. 15 minutes into my hunt I was taking a picture of some nice scenery when I noticed movement about 200 yards away coming out of some trees. At first I thought someone was driving a large ATV. It looked like a VW with legs. It was a grizzly bear running. I froze but it turned directly at me and kept running. Unbelievable how much ground they cover in a couple seconds. It got about 100 yards from me. I took my safety off and held up my rifle and yelled while waving my arms. Thank the lord it worked. The bear skidded to a stop, turned and ran into the timber. I radioed my brother and friend. They told me they just ran across 3 sets of grizzly tracks, possibly a mama and two cubs. I went the long way around and hooked up with them. We hunted a little longer and decided to try another area. After that I hunted with my Marlin 45-70.
Over the next few days we hunted hard but no luck. We saw bald eagles, ran across moose, owls, deer, antelope and some bull elk. We stopped for about a dozen cows crossing the river one day prior to opening day after dark. It was still a nice trip. Here are some photos.
Camp site day one and day two
Area where I encountered a grizzly...and his small footprint according to a local.
Getting my brother's jeep stuck, but got out easy with a winch
Made a couple rifle racks so as not to clutter the trailer
one day too early
Hunting area and Green River Lake
A moose and her calf. Tried to zoom in.
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- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 4738
- Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 5:00 am
- Location: North Coast of America-Ohio
Re: Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
What an awesome Hunt Thank You for the Post.
- Sixgun
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 18776
- Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:17 pm
- Location: S.E. Pa. Where The Finest Winchesters & Colts Reside
Re: Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
Kinda makes life worth living. Nice country, nice buddies, and no liberals.
A Rubicon stuck? Engage those lockers and drop the air pressure. (I've had mine stuck before by hi centering it)------6
A Rubicon stuck? Engage those lockers and drop the air pressure. (I've had mine stuck before by hi centering it)------6
Re: Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
Looks like a good time.
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- Levergunner 3.0
- Posts: 995
- Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:29 pm
- Location: Idaho panhandle/Wyoming
Re: Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
Looks familier.. I killed my Little Bighorn at Slide lake, to the left of Square top in your picture. It sure is rugged country, I was pretty careful hunting on foot alone up there. Glad you enjoyed the hunt.
This is plagiarized from someone else, but I love it!
I was born a gun owner.
It wasn't a choice.
I didn't become one later in life.
I was born this way.
I was born a gun owner.
It wasn't a choice.
I didn't become one later in life.
I was born this way.
- 2ndovc
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 9362
- Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:59 am
- Location: OH, South Shore of Lake Erie
Re: Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
Wow, what a beautiful part of the country! Looks like a great time.
jb
jb
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"
" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
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- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Sun Jan 26, 2014 4:32 pm
Re: Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
That upper Green River country is something isn't it? I was back there about three years ago. It's a place that sticks with you and draws you back.
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- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 4296
- Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2010 12:57 pm
- Location: Vinita, I.T.
Re: Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
Thanks for sharing those photos and glad you were able to scare the bear away. When I hunted Colorado, north of Pagosa, they gave you a couple of bear tags with whatever big game tags you bought. I guess they were for black bears though.
Anyway, beautiful country and a few days there can relieve a years worth of stress.
Anyway, beautiful country and a few days there can relieve a years worth of stress.
M. M. Wright, Sheriff, Green county Arkansas (1860)
Currently living my eternal life.
NRA Life
SASS
ITSASS
Currently living my eternal life.
NRA Life
SASS
ITSASS
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- Senior Levergunner
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:02 pm
- Location: WY
Re: Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
Scenery is even better on top of "Square Top" and looking down. Of course I was a lot younger and tougher back then.
- Griff
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 20877
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:56 pm
- Location: OH MY GAWD they installed a STOP light!!!
Re: Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
Griff,
SASS/CMSA #93
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!
SASS/CMSA #93
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!
- gamekeeper
- Spambot Zapper
- Posts: 17486
- Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 3:32 pm
- Location: Over the pond unfortunately.
Re: Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
I'll add mineGriff wrote:
Whatever you do always give 100%........... unless you are donating blood.
- Borregos
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 4756
- Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:40 am
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Mid October Elk Hunt (picture heavy)
Enjoyed that, thanks.
Glad the bear hoofed it!!
Glad the bear hoofed it!!
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..................