fishnhunt
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- Joined
- Jul 23, 2006
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It isn't a huge story except this is my first muzzleloader kill. I bought it several years ago when I live in Oregon but never had a chance to use it while I was there because I moved shortly after I bought it.
Any ways...The season opened last Wednesday and my buddy and I went into our "secret spot" where we've been super successful in the past. Last year when I hunted this small patch of trees (about 120 acres surrounded by a large burn) there were three different herds and about 40 head (and several nice bulls) within this area. So headed in we were expecting a ton of animals but upon entering the junipers there was sign but not as much as normal. Plus we expected the bulls to be in full rut mode and bugeling but due to the late summer heat they were not rutting very hard.
Walking through the trees I spot a half dozen head on a slope about 3/4 of a mile away (1 ok bull (315ish), two calves, and three cows). Looking at them I didn't think that we'd be able to sneak close enough to them for a good shot. We sat and watched them for about 15 min and then came up with a plan that I thought would have a low chance of success but might work. Low and behold it worked...We got within 200 yards of them before we got pinned. My buddy stayed behind in the trees and cow called while I sneaked in closer for a shot.
I made it to about 150 yards before I couldn't go any farther. So I picked the huge lead cow (about a third bigger than the rest) and took a shot...Missed...My buddy kept cow calling and they didn't move (but kept barking at us). So I quickly reloaded and took another shot and hit her. Neather of us could see quite where I'd hit her but she looked super sick. They stood there for a few more min before the rest of the herd moved off. The lead cow stayed behind looking super sick and eventually wondered off over a little ridge.
We waited about 15 min and then followed up on her. She made it over the little ridge and then laid down in a little patch of sage. A bullet in the neck and it was all over. I had hit her in the liver and it took her awhile to finish bleeding out. I shot her within 75 yards of where I killed my cow last year and we were taking pictures by 8:30 opening morning (just like last year).
20140917_084244 by fishnhunt13, on Flickr
So we cut her in half and then a 400 yard drag down the hill to the draw at the bottom. I was able to get my truck into the draw using 4 low...It was tight and steep...Loaded her up and away we went.
That evening we went back out to look for more elk...By the end of the day we'd seen over 80 additional head and some really nice bulls. I'm ready to go hunting again next year!
Any ways...The season opened last Wednesday and my buddy and I went into our "secret spot" where we've been super successful in the past. Last year when I hunted this small patch of trees (about 120 acres surrounded by a large burn) there were three different herds and about 40 head (and several nice bulls) within this area. So headed in we were expecting a ton of animals but upon entering the junipers there was sign but not as much as normal. Plus we expected the bulls to be in full rut mode and bugeling but due to the late summer heat they were not rutting very hard.
Walking through the trees I spot a half dozen head on a slope about 3/4 of a mile away (1 ok bull (315ish), two calves, and three cows). Looking at them I didn't think that we'd be able to sneak close enough to them for a good shot. We sat and watched them for about 15 min and then came up with a plan that I thought would have a low chance of success but might work. Low and behold it worked...We got within 200 yards of them before we got pinned. My buddy stayed behind in the trees and cow called while I sneaked in closer for a shot.
I made it to about 150 yards before I couldn't go any farther. So I picked the huge lead cow (about a third bigger than the rest) and took a shot...Missed...My buddy kept cow calling and they didn't move (but kept barking at us). So I quickly reloaded and took another shot and hit her. Neather of us could see quite where I'd hit her but she looked super sick. They stood there for a few more min before the rest of the herd moved off. The lead cow stayed behind looking super sick and eventually wondered off over a little ridge.
We waited about 15 min and then followed up on her. She made it over the little ridge and then laid down in a little patch of sage. A bullet in the neck and it was all over. I had hit her in the liver and it took her awhile to finish bleeding out. I shot her within 75 yards of where I killed my cow last year and we were taking pictures by 8:30 opening morning (just like last year).
20140917_084244 by fishnhunt13, on FlickrSo we cut her in half and then a 400 yard drag down the hill to the draw at the bottom. I was able to get my truck into the draw using 4 low...It was tight and steep...Loaded her up and away we went.
That evening we went back out to look for more elk...By the end of the day we'd seen over 80 additional head and some really nice bulls. I'm ready to go hunting again next year!
