Litch
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2001
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We just got back from Wyoming on the best Elk hunt I have ever been on. Went with a guide for the first time and it was incredible. The hunt we went on was a migration hunt and it was only a 17% success rate last year. 5 of us scored 3 Bulls for a 60% success rate, we beat the odds.
We got there for the last week of the hunt as we were waiting for weather and we hit it just right. It was snowing in Jackson and coming down even harder up in Yellowstone where our Elk would be coming from. First morning had us meeting the guide at 5:00 AM for an hour drive through Teton National Park where we would mount up on horses for our hunt. We were not out for more than 15 minutes when we were on a very hot trail of Bulls. Soon we found 3 nice Bulls in the trees watching us come up a draw. The guides had instructed us how they wanted us to unsheath our rifles and dismount from the horse hitting the ground and jacking a round in the chamber. They had also told us to take our scope covers and slings off the rifles as they only get hung up in the scabbard. Great, a whole new way to hunt and no time to get used to it.
Well here we were only about 20 minutes into this hunt and the guide was motioning me to dismount and jack a round in. I guess i took to long as he gave me an earful, next time I would get it right. We got on these Elk again about 15 minutes later and when I got the signal it was like someone had greased up the saddle, couldn't believe I got off the horse that fast with rifle in hand. Now the fun began as 3 Elk were in a full run at about 150yds. With no sling to lock into, I took a knee and locked on to the 2nd Bull in line and squeezed. The "thwack" was unmistakeable and this Bull never broke stride. Jacked another round and a miss, jacked another and another "thwack" was heard. Reloaded and mounted back on the horse to go look for blood. Got about 50 yds when here comes one of the other Bulls out of a tree line 100yds away, my buddy repeated what I did and let the air out of him. Started walking down the draw to see his Bull piled up, 1 down for sure. Got farther down the draw to find trail and any sign of blood when we spotted only 2 trails coming out of the trees my Bull ran into. He must not of made it through, a good sign. As soon as we turned into the trees, there he was, but still trying to raise his head, 1 more round in the neck and it was over. 2 very nice Bulls down by 7:15 the first morning! All of this preperation and we were done that quick, couldn't believe it.
The other 3 of us hunted the rest of the week with several chances for Cows, but we were Bull hunting even though our tags were good for both. Day 6 another score on a decent Bull. I got to go back out to tag along on day 5 & 6 and the scenery was incredible. We were hunting the backcountry of Teton National Park so you can imagine what we saw. Bison, Moose, a pack of 9 wolves trailing a bison they had hamstringed and Grizz tracks were some of the wildlife highlights. The views of the Tetons and surounding mountains wa snothing short of awe inspiring.
What we witnessed with this Wolf re-introduction was eye opening. Anybody that thinks it is a great thing, maybe take another look at it. These Wolves are single handedly taking out the Elk herd. When the reitroduction took place, there were 13,000 Elk wintering on the refuge in Jackson, they barely got 6000 last year and this year were expecting even less. Wolf proponents talk about a balance between Predator and Prey, where wil that balance be after the eat all of the Elk? It seems like the matter should be re-thought out.
All in all a great trip to a great part of our country, would do it again in a heartbeat. Pics to follow when i figure out how to do it.
We got there for the last week of the hunt as we were waiting for weather and we hit it just right. It was snowing in Jackson and coming down even harder up in Yellowstone where our Elk would be coming from. First morning had us meeting the guide at 5:00 AM for an hour drive through Teton National Park where we would mount up on horses for our hunt. We were not out for more than 15 minutes when we were on a very hot trail of Bulls. Soon we found 3 nice Bulls in the trees watching us come up a draw. The guides had instructed us how they wanted us to unsheath our rifles and dismount from the horse hitting the ground and jacking a round in the chamber. They had also told us to take our scope covers and slings off the rifles as they only get hung up in the scabbard. Great, a whole new way to hunt and no time to get used to it.
Well here we were only about 20 minutes into this hunt and the guide was motioning me to dismount and jack a round in. I guess i took to long as he gave me an earful, next time I would get it right. We got on these Elk again about 15 minutes later and when I got the signal it was like someone had greased up the saddle, couldn't believe I got off the horse that fast with rifle in hand. Now the fun began as 3 Elk were in a full run at about 150yds. With no sling to lock into, I took a knee and locked on to the 2nd Bull in line and squeezed. The "thwack" was unmistakeable and this Bull never broke stride. Jacked another round and a miss, jacked another and another "thwack" was heard. Reloaded and mounted back on the horse to go look for blood. Got about 50 yds when here comes one of the other Bulls out of a tree line 100yds away, my buddy repeated what I did and let the air out of him. Started walking down the draw to see his Bull piled up, 1 down for sure. Got farther down the draw to find trail and any sign of blood when we spotted only 2 trails coming out of the trees my Bull ran into. He must not of made it through, a good sign. As soon as we turned into the trees, there he was, but still trying to raise his head, 1 more round in the neck and it was over. 2 very nice Bulls down by 7:15 the first morning! All of this preperation and we were done that quick, couldn't believe it.
The other 3 of us hunted the rest of the week with several chances for Cows, but we were Bull hunting even though our tags were good for both. Day 6 another score on a decent Bull. I got to go back out to tag along on day 5 & 6 and the scenery was incredible. We were hunting the backcountry of Teton National Park so you can imagine what we saw. Bison, Moose, a pack of 9 wolves trailing a bison they had hamstringed and Grizz tracks were some of the wildlife highlights. The views of the Tetons and surounding mountains wa snothing short of awe inspiring.
What we witnessed with this Wolf re-introduction was eye opening. Anybody that thinks it is a great thing, maybe take another look at it. These Wolves are single handedly taking out the Elk herd. When the reitroduction took place, there were 13,000 Elk wintering on the refuge in Jackson, they barely got 6000 last year and this year were expecting even less. Wolf proponents talk about a balance between Predator and Prey, where wil that balance be after the eat all of the Elk? It seems like the matter should be re-thought out.
All in all a great trip to a great part of our country, would do it again in a heartbeat. Pics to follow when i figure out how to do it.
. The guide put the halter on to drag the Elk, very slick way to move a big animal instead of quartering it. I have some better pictures that I sent to Speck as well and I am going to try and post those if I can figure it out.
