2010 Colorado Bull

[jerryt]

I shot this bull in Colorado's unit #11 during the second Rifle season on opening morning at sunrise. I spotted a group of elk from about 900 yards about 20 minutes before legal shooting light and closed the distance to 500 yards. I was on a bluff looking across a valley and could only see a spike and 4 cows. I kept looking and looking but could not spot a legal bull. Finally after about a half hour I could see horns in the thick willows and could make a legal bull. Put the range finder on him and it read 506 yards. Allowed for the drop in the bullet at that range and sent one his way. I could hear the whack of the bullet but the bull only flinched slightly. Sent a couple more shots his way but I could hear them hitting the brush. Decided he wasn't going anywhere took my time and took a deep breath. Put my cross hairs to where I felt 30" over his back was and let it go. Heard the thump and saw him drop like a sack of potatoes. Stood there for a bout 20 minutes and then all the sudden what I thought was just a few elk turned out to be 20 elk in the group. Out came four spikes and 15 cows. Went down to see what I had after that. I played guide the rest of the week and we killed one other bull with multiple opportunities at others but they could not connect with one of them. I will post the other bull when I get some pictures on another thread. I had them take about 10 pictures with my camera but they did not follow instructions very well, so I have to see if the other guys have better pictures.

 

[goindeep]

Thats a great Colorado bull! congrats.

 

[myfriendis410]

Nice bull. My hunting partner got drawn for an either sex hunt outside of Craig on the 17th and we're heading up there. Hopefully we'll get a try at something as nice.

 

[k_rad]

Very nice ! That will be good eating !! Congrats!

 

[SoJo]

Nice friggin bull!

 

[Shmave23]

Way to go Jerry!!!!!! Great Bull!!!!!!!!!!

-Dave

 

[fireman1210]

506 yards? Flinched slightly, I'm just curious why you would take such a far shot? Don't get me wrong a great second and third shot but 506 yards is just a little far. It's a good thing that nice bull didn't pop over another ridge wounded to set up a die somewhere without find it. Great bull though and thanks for sharing.

 

[jerryt]

506 yards? Flinched slightly, I'm just curious why you would take such a far shot? Don't get me wrong a great second and third shot but 506 yards is just a little far. It's a good thing that nice bull didn't pop over another ridge wounded to set up a die somewhere without find it. Great bull though and thanks for sharing.

A 500 yard shot is not a far shot at all for a rifle if you know how to shoot it. My two missed shots were the first shots I have ever missed an elk with and I have only shot one less than 450 yards in the last 5 years and that was a 20 yard shot. My rifle is shot nearly year around. This guy won't make my wall though because the one I shot 3 years ago was bigger and it was killed about 700 yards from this years bull.

 

[COHunter]

Thats a great Bull, especially for GMU 11 :toast-yellow:

 

[AZ Jim]

Great Bull !

Congrats !


AZ Jim

 

[weekender21]

Damn nice CO bull!

 

[huntnfool13]

Very nice bull! Congrats :thumbs up2:

 

[SoJo]

A 500 yard shot is not a far shot at all for a rifle if you know how to shoot it. My two missed shots were the first shots I have ever missed an elk with and I have only shot one less than 450 yards in the last 5 years and that was a 20 yard shot. My rifle is shot nearly year around. This guy won't make my wall though because the one I shot 3 years ago was bigger and it was killed about 700 yards from this years bull.

Jerry, I agree. Avg shot distance the Wyoming guides i hunt with say 300yds, but said some can be further. I've been lucky to have them come right in on my last two - <100yds - but my brother group took two in Idaho at 500yds. If you know your rifle, ammo, etc and are confident, then I say "shoot".

 

[wmidbrook]

Way to get 'er done! That is a very nice bull for sure. Were you on a ranch or public? If that is a public bull, you sure found yourself quite a honey hole given most bulls harvested in unit 11 are 2 or 3 year olds and the old ones few 'n far between. Regardless, looks like you had a blast and have a great hunt going on there....nothin' like those favorite spots.

 

[jerryt]

Way to get 'er done! That is a very nice bull for sure. Were you on a ranch or public? If that is a public bull, you sure found yourself quite a honey hole given most bulls harvested in unit 11 are 2 or 3 year olds and the old ones few 'n far between. Regardless, looks like you had a blast and have a great hunt going on there....nothin' like those favorite spots.

I'm actually on both. I pay a small trespassing fee that gives me easy access to public land but most importantly a trailer to stay in with a heater and running water. The public land is accessible without much trouble pending the weather. This bull was shot in the river bottom on the private property but it is the first bull in my five years in the area that I did not kill on the public land. The bull I killed last year was 100 yards under a guys camp on the public land and two years before that I shot my big one about 500 yards from the same guys camp. I could have shot two other 6 points on Sunday and Monday of the trip had I been carrying a gun and not scouting for the other guys in the group and they were both on the public land near the camps. Attached are a couple pictures of my previous years and another 6x6 we killed last year.

 

[jd1]

jerryt,
Congrats on the nice bull!!!!We hunted in GMU 24, but could not put the crosshairs on them. Did you guys get a lot of snow in GMU11? What was the altitude were you were hunting?

 

[jerryt]

jerryt,
Congrats on the nice bull!!!!We hunted in GMU 24, but could not put the crosshairs on them. Did you guys get a lot of snow in GMU11? What was the altitude were you were hunting?

We hunt from a range of about 6000' to 7500'. We got about three inches the third day. I am now going to post Dad's bull on a new link.

 

[kodiakoutdoors]

Great elk! Congrats!

 

[smithstation]

Great elk!! You have put in the time and have done well!! I agree with the long shots as well, know your gun, loads, and drop, then shoot!! I am building a 300 RUM that I plan to shoot steel at 1000 yds and when confident I will shoot game at the 500+ yard mark. I also bow hunt and am confident to 80 yard. Its all in the time you put in, practice, confidence, and know your weapon. Congrats again!! Well done!!

 

[21Beandog]

Nice mature bull

:thumbs up2: