Tough cow hunt,

[DUG]

I had a 7W cow tag this weekend. Got up to our spot Thursday with about an hour of daylight left. We saw nothing which kind of surprised us because we usually see a couple here and there.

Day 1, saw nothing in the morning, very little sign. That afternoon we see 2 elk come out from the trees and feed over the hill. Finally find a small herd with 5 bulls and 3 cows about 700 yards away across a valley. I try to move closer and about then someone starts an electronic predator call and spook the elk.

 

Day 2, we try to catch some out in the flats. Coming back out to a gate we see about 20 elk walking across a hill about 3/4 mile away. They start running so we move ahead to try to cut them off. Luke Duke has a cow standing 40 yards from him and I'm 50 yds away in the trees and can't see it. He doesn't have the tag. We look on the hill and 2 cows are standing at 400 yds. Start to set up and they move off. No shots fired yet but getting closer. That evening find one cow on the same hill as the morning but can't find her after trying to get closer.

 

Day 3 We pack up camp in the dark and and go to glass same hill as Saturday. We catch a 6x6 in the headlights but no cows with him. Saw nothing else so we drove into Flag to get my daughter's deer. We thought about going home but we stopped at Bun Huggers and ate and watched football and made a plan. We went to a totally different area and walked and glassed and saw nothing. It's getting dark and cloudy and rainy so about 3 o'clock Luke Duke suggests going back to the "hill". The one where we kept seeing elk. We get to the spot and within a minute I have 8 spotted up in a cut. It's 4 o'clock and raining and they are about 1 mile in from the road. The elk are just feeding and not really moving so I made my move to get close but not too close for fear of spooking them. Finally I get to within 500 yards and running out of cover. I had the wind in my favor and set up at about 470 yards. Got the 270 WSM on the tripod stix and dialed my scope to about 1 click past 450. I waited until I was able to hold steady and found a cow broadside. I touch off the shot and lost her in recoil. I get her back in the scope to see her run off untouched. I think I shot low. I thought my only chance was gone when a spike and 2 cows came out from the left. I got this cow in the scope and touched off the shot and I heard the familiar "whap" sound of a hit. She dropped instantly and never moved again. This was the 1st kill for the new BAR. Once we got up to her we found out I hit her in the head. We gutted and skinned her and got her in the FJ and headed home. We got home at midnight and got the meat cooled more and took her to the processor this morning. Thanks to my son Luke Duke for all the help and comradarie on this hunt. We had a great time. He has a tag for this unit in December and we hope more elk will be moving in. We talked to a few guys who were having trouble finding the cows. Some suggested the tornadoes up there caused them to change locations. I'm not sure what to think but they were tough to find in the normal spots. Sorry no real pictures this time but the memory of this hunt will last a lifetime.

[azryan]

Nice job! Glad you and luke duke got too spend some time together. Happy Birthday again, see you this week