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The rest of the story from Charlie. Here’s the story of my elk hunt. This elk hunt began 2 years ago with a friend while scouting for a Coues deer hunt. We were scouting for our Coues deer hunt and glassed up this bull I harvested this year. He was about a 370 class bull 2 years ago with great bottoms but not quite as good of tops. We were somewhat amazed to see elk where we were. Then about 1000 in the morning we glassed up an amazing bull. This bull will gross way over 400 as a straight six. He didn’t even look real. He’s got 60 inch plus beams with 4th’s and 5th’s both being over 20 inches. An incredible sight. That spring me and my friend went looking for his sheds. We actually saw him on March 15 and he with 4 other bulls were already growing about 2 feet on each horn. After a 3 hour hike we made it to them and never found their sheds. Luckily enough that next season (last year) my friend drew the late hunt for that unit. After several scouting trips and the hunt we could not locate him. He passed up a beautiful 350 bull on the third day of the hunt in hopes of finding the monster. A real tough bull to pass anytime, but especially on the late hunt. Luckily enough this year I drew the hunt. Didn’t have a lot of scouting time but, did find the bull he passed last year and he put on about 20 inches this year. So he was about 370. I may have seen the monster while glassing, but the heat waves and sun were horrible, but I believe it was him. He was on the same ridge about 100 yards from where he was 2 years ago. Well the night before the hunt we found this other bull that I ended up harvesting. Same bull from 2 years ago that was 370. He wasn’t 5 yards from where we seen him 2 years ago. I chose to go after this bull on opening morning. After a 2 and ½ hour heck hike I was where I needed to be, but he was already bedded, especially with that very bright moon this weekend. So we found another bull that was a 6 x 7 about 360-370 type bull. I chose to go after him. We bedded him then re-crossed the big canyon got up to where he had been and he was gone. Should of left a spotter up there, but I didn’t. After 8.2 mile in very unforgiving country, I was done for the first day and needed to get to camp and have a few beers. Saturday morning came and we were up glassing and I luckily found the big bull with great bottoms at about a mile. He was bedded in some brush and I just luckily seen his ivory tips. He was in a very rough spot, but this bull hadn’t moved from where he was 2 years ago. After a long hike I was able to close the gap to 359 yards and he was still bedded. No getting closer so I was able to harvest him from there. Once we got over to him we found that he had a split g2 that was really neat. He grossed 379, and had 55 inch beams. Very old bull, only had 1 ivory, his cape was missing hair everywhere, and appeared it had been through a meat grinder. Sorry for the long winded story. Hope it makes sense, cause I’m in a hurry trying to get out the door. Thanks again to Mike, Greg, and Darren and Dad for all your help scouting, packing, cleaning, cooking, and putting up with me calling you every ten minutes for the last 2 years. Couldn't have done it without you. - Charlie

My son has a youth Ruger in .243 that works fine, and I like the model 7 youth. A friend of mine bought the new Rossi that comes with 3 interchangable barrels, .243, .22LR, and 20 guage. The 3 barrels allows some flexibility for hunting all types of game without having to buy multiple guns. However, you are stuck with a single-shot with all three. Good luck with you search and purchase.

Casey, I don't see any spike horns on that box!? LOL!

Just got back from the archery elk hunt. We had 3 tags, including myself. It was a hard hunt; we went 1/3. Here is a picture of my friend, Brian, and his palmated bull. I had trailcam pictures from the summer of his bull. Enjoy.

Mark and Family, Very cool! Congrats to all!

Greetings, I am posting a picture of my brother-in-law's deer. He was only able to hunt opening morning...the big one got away. Enjoy.

Here is Charlie's story: Well, here is the story of my hunt. I located a very large buck 2 weeks ago while scouting. I only had opening day to hunt, as it was my son’s 3rd birthday and we were going to ride the polar express train in Williams. I also drew the late bull hunt in the same unit, so the 2nd weekend was going to be primarily a scouting trip. On the way down on Thursday afternoon, we saw mule deer, turkey, a coati cross the road, and then a mountain lion cross (50 yards from a camp), I felt it had already been a great trip. Friday morning came, and I sent my friend out on a point to glass as I stayed to watch the hill I saw the large buck 2 weeks ago. Immediately I saw an 85 inch buck at 250 yards, which I elected to pass. Then I glass 5 more bucks above him. As I put the spotting scope on them I noticed he was there with another 100 inch buck. I ranged them and they were at 380 yards, which I chose to not shoot, as I’m not comfortable shooting that far. I had a knob between me and them and decided to stalk closer. As I got to where I needed to be I peaked around a rock and there he was at 125 yards. I truly thought they would be gone, as they were feeding to the north side into their bedding area. This buck I believe to be well over 115 as he has extremely big bases with trash all over his rack. He’s about a 105 main frame with 2 extra points on each eye guard and I counted 6 points on his right side not counting eye guards. Not a lot of long points for a lot of scoring but a pleasant sight to look at. I needed to sneak around the rock for a shot. As I got into position to shoot I saw a large rack looking at me at 118 yards, I was busted. It was now or never. All I knew is it was one of the big ones, but I truly thought it was the nontypical. I shot and the buck dropped. Then the other 4 bucks came out of the brush as they didn’t know what to do. I put my binos up and there was the nontypical at 125 yards. I thought my buck got up and it was him. I elected to not shoot as I didn’t want to put 2 bucks down. After the long wait, I went up and found this beautiful buck. I am very pleased with him. You can see his G2 and G3 on his left side are starting to split, definitely the same gene pool as the big one. Game and fish aged him at only 3 years old. I can’t imagine him at 6-7 in his prime. Anyways, it’s my sixth buck from this unit, and I was finally able to top the 100 inch mark, so I am very happy. Well, congratulations and good luck to others. Charlie

97 gross Nice buck, Congrats!

Awesome guys; Congrats!

Congrats guys; great buck!

Keven, Congrats, that's awesome!

Troy, I sent you a PM. Thanks.

Thanks, Casey.

Dogman, Very nice! Wranglerman

Thanks Everyone!

Outstanding! Congrats!

Doug, about 2.25 miles.

Thanks, Wade. Doug - Brian shot the bull at 6AM. We weren't sure of the shot so we gave it about 5 hours. We then tracked the bull and got a second shot at 3PM and the finishing shot at 5PM. It was a long journey, but we did not want to leave a wounded bull so we gave it all we had and luckily were able to finally catch-up and make a kill shot. We had 4 guys on the trail and it took everyone's work to get the job done.

Doug, In my opinion the use of trail cameras is completely ethical for several reasons. 1. "Simply defined, fair chase is the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit of free-ranging wild game animals in a manner which does not give the hunter an improper or unfair advantage over the animal. " The placement of a camera strictly for scouting purposes does not "give the hunter an improper advantage over the animal." As one example, I had a camera in an area and it took several pictures of bucks over the course of the summer. However, I have sat that stand for 20+ hours and have yet to see a buck. In fact, I have only seen 2 does to date. Even if the trail camera guaranteed that a buck would be there everyday, it does not supplant our hunting skills. I still have to get into the area without being seen, heard, or smelled; and remain unrecognized in order to even have a shot opportunity. Again, as an example, the 2 does that came in this past Monday recognized immediately that something was wrong and left hurriedly, just as soon as they were there. As an interesting note, they were never in direct line of the camera sensor and the camera did not capture their presence. 2. "By the use of electronic devices for attracting, locating, or pursuing game or guiding the hunter to such game, or by the use of a bow or arrow to which any electronic device is attached." I believe this is in regard to an immediate solution as opposed to a camera that takes pictures long before the taking of an animal. As you mentioned, the radio is an immediate solution for the taking of an animal. In conclusion, I would say that the trail camera as a tool can make a person a better hunter by allowing the individual to become more familiar with their quarry. Unlike the radio, the quad, and the guide, the camera collects data that can be used to learn the habits of the animal, a way to understand the environment that the animal inhabits, and how the animals interact with each other, with other species, and with regard to environmental conditions like the weather, moon phase, and time of day. Furthermore, the hunter that has a camera or several cameras is more likely to spend more hours in the field checking their cameras, than their counterparts. Personally, I have 5 cameras and use them most of the year. To me, capturing an image of a good buck, bull, or other animal is just as rewarding as finding a huge shed antler, or even the harvesting of an animal. My thoughts on the topic, anyway,

I ordered mine in BRIGHT GRONG ORANGE; I think it is a Crayola color now! OH SNAP!

Noel, Did you eat the Black Widow spider?!

Mike, I too prefer the word harvest because I believe it better describes how I want to be perceived as a hunter, not a killer. The word harvest implies that something died, but it also connotes the REASON(s) that it died. To me, the word kill simply does not fully describe the acts of a hunter; rather, it spotlights the death of an animal without illuminating the REASON(s) that animal died. For us that understand, the word kill works fine, but for those that do not, I believe harvest does us more justice. IMO we do not need to use the right words to be politically correct, but we need to use words that better describe the REASON(s) we are hunters. That said, I hope to harvest a big ol' buck this weekend! Good luck to everyone out there.

Lance, Whoa! That is sweet! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Went to check my camera and found these. Enjoy,

Oh Smack!!!! Awesome!