So the Utah elk hunt started on Saturday the 9th, I was very excited because my brother in law and I had both drawn cow tags in one of our favorite areas. My other brothers and friends had neglected to follow my counsel on purchasing spike bull tags until it was too late, so when they did go, they were all sold out. So it was up to me and my BIL. I KNEW going in that since this was the first time we had ever gone up there without a spike tag, that we would for sure see a spike, and of course thats how it went down.
Opening morning, the first two elk we spotted were nice spikes, another gentleman and his son were quick to dispatch the larger of the two so as not to bother the rest of us. The elk were about 725 yds away. He was shooting a remington 700 7mag, shooting the 162 Amax under a Huskemaw scope
. I called the shots for him as he fired. On the third shot he connected with the bull, with a perfect shot through the heart, he took only a few steps and tumbled over.
We had more than enough opportunities to shoot our two cows, with shots varying between 400 and 950 yds. I would have taken a shot, but the elk were staying in the bottom of one of natures most devilish canyons, and I have pulled one out of there and intend on never doing again. It was still a great time, I had four days off work, and I could spend them all up here,
We saw plenty of big bulls as well, but this was one of Utahs spike only units, allegedly to raise a larger population of big bulls, like this fella, a fine 5x5 that herded his cows out of our sight in the early morning hours,
After a day of feeling out the herds of elk, and their habits, my BIL and I decided to make a push on a herd that had not moved more than a 200 hundred yards in the last couple days. So my BIL setup ontop of the ridgeline with his Rem700 300wm shooting the finest 180gr BTSP from our friends at Hornady. While he made his way to the ridgeline, I snuck down under them, quietly making my way through the thick pines soft and covered with moss from the constant moisture and lack of sunlight. My plan was to get close enough for them to smell me, but not see me. in the hopes that they would slowly sneak out of the top of the pines to an unlikely escape across the ridgeline cunningly guarded by my brother in law.
Well, I love it when a plan comes together; the elk followed my strict directions and made their way up and out of the pines, they couldn't have come over the ridge at a better place. But they paid no attention to my comment about SLOWLY. So when they came running over the ridge top, he had to shoot fast. He got this cow, right about 200 yds, she ran just a bit, and crumpled into the trees.
After we got her gutted and taken care of, we went down another ridge and my BIL pushed to me, he first spooked some that were too far away( with the wind anyways) so I didn't shoot.
Then a nice cow and her calf came out, I shot but I didn't see the hit. The guy that was near me said, he was pretty sure I had hit her, as she disappeared into the trees. I saw the calf wandering around so I figured she had gone down. So I snuck in there looking for her, and she started making noise, trying to get back up I figured, i spotted her through the thick trees, and gave her one more 175 smk right under they eye.
We packed em in, and set back to camp for a celebretory bonfire and a trophy of a dinner.
Best kind of memories
Opening morning, the first two elk we spotted were nice spikes, another gentleman and his son were quick to dispatch the larger of the two so as not to bother the rest of us. The elk were about 725 yds away. He was shooting a remington 700 7mag, shooting the 162 Amax under a Huskemaw scope
We had more than enough opportunities to shoot our two cows, with shots varying between 400 and 950 yds. I would have taken a shot, but the elk were staying in the bottom of one of natures most devilish canyons, and I have pulled one out of there and intend on never doing again. It was still a great time, I had four days off work, and I could spend them all up here,
We saw plenty of big bulls as well, but this was one of Utahs spike only units, allegedly to raise a larger population of big bulls, like this fella, a fine 5x5 that herded his cows out of our sight in the early morning hours,
After a day of feeling out the herds of elk, and their habits, my BIL and I decided to make a push on a herd that had not moved more than a 200 hundred yards in the last couple days. So my BIL setup ontop of the ridgeline with his Rem700 300wm shooting the finest 180gr BTSP from our friends at Hornady. While he made his way to the ridgeline, I snuck down under them, quietly making my way through the thick pines soft and covered with moss from the constant moisture and lack of sunlight. My plan was to get close enough for them to smell me, but not see me. in the hopes that they would slowly sneak out of the top of the pines to an unlikely escape across the ridgeline cunningly guarded by my brother in law.
Well, I love it when a plan comes together; the elk followed my strict directions and made their way up and out of the pines, they couldn't have come over the ridge at a better place. But they paid no attention to my comment about SLOWLY. So when they came running over the ridge top, he had to shoot fast. He got this cow, right about 200 yds, she ran just a bit, and crumpled into the trees.
After we got her gutted and taken care of, we went down another ridge and my BIL pushed to me, he first spooked some that were too far away( with the wind anyways) so I didn't shoot.
Then a nice cow and her calf came out, I shot but I didn't see the hit. The guy that was near me said, he was pretty sure I had hit her, as she disappeared into the trees. I saw the calf wandering around so I figured she had gone down. So I snuck in there looking for her, and she started making noise, trying to get back up I figured, i spotted her through the thick trees, and gave her one more 175 smk right under they eye.
We packed em in, and set back to camp for a celebretory bonfire and a trophy of a dinner.
Best kind of memories
