BFR
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 29, 2008
- Messages
- 344
- Reaction score
- 8
Mon the 18th was start of late season cow season for the Fishlake east cow elk hunt. Got in late Sun nite, Mon weather was warm, nites in high 20/low 30s, days in the mid to high 40s, bright moon at nite, same Tues, little sign no elk. Weds a little change, cooler, a little snow, a few tracks and a small herd at 800yds running full out. Checked out a canyon, no tracks no nothing. Headed back toward camp from the end of the road, about 5:10 pm spotted a herd about 75 yds coming out of the Aspens, dropped the biggest one, wife missed hers. Probably best, all we had was a luggage rack on the back of my Jeep. Got the cow dresssed and loaded by 8, and back in camp by 8:30. Thurs was a quick trip to town to the meat locker and back for the evening hunt. No luck there. Fri dawned windy and cooler but didn't see anything till about 5:20 pm, broadside, 90 or so yds, wife got ready, fumbled around loading a round in her Browning X Bolt, put the safety on, took it off and aimed. Now the elk were walking, still under a 100yds, shoots over the cow, puts safety on, can't rack a round, elk decide they've had enough laughs and take off. By this time it's getting dark so, like a good hubby I take the flashlight and double check for blood in the snow, after a 100yds or so found none and headed to camp. Sat and Sun morning the wind was blowing hard and gusting to 50mph. We stayed hunkerd down till late Sun afternoon and tried an evening hunt Sun. Had to stay on the blacktop, 3 foot snowdrifts are a little too much. Did try, had to winch myself out. Mon morning, clear sky, no wind, 10 degrees, fantastic start. Headed out, still had to stay on the blacktop, 6:55am, spotted a calf running along the shoulder of the road, wife said she didn't travel from Montana for 12 hours to shoot a calf, I've learned to never argue logic. Then, from the trees, a stream of 25 elk start across the road, 25yds in front of us. This time she reacted like she knew what she was doing, picked her cow, racked a round, followed thru and VIOLA! Elk number 2 on the ground. Now how do a fat 65 yr old guy and his disabled wife load a 265 lb dead elk, on a rack 26" above the ground? NOT....thankfully a local guy came by and helped us. Took both of us, his quad ramps and a comealong but we made it. After chatting awhile and giving him what info we had we headed back to pack camp and go to town. Got both elk boned, wrapped and frozen Mon nite and hauled butt home Tues. Now whats for Thanksgiving dinner?
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