Wifes first Elk

[gbocardo]

Well after a hot unsuccessful Mule Deer Hunt, my wife was lucky enough to get drawn for Cow Elk. My buddy Mike was gracious enough to let us use his cabin and his extra eyes for glassing.

 

On day one as you would suspect I glassed up a nice 4x4 Mule deer and watched him graze for about 30 minutes. No elk to be seen. Later that evening we went to another location and picked up a Cow and her calf only 100 yards away but passed on the chance.

 

Next morning went to the same location where we picked up the mule deer as it has been a good area in the past for seeing elk. Just before day light I picked up some cows and made our way down to the flats, well what looked like flats and was able to get within 50 yards of two cows. While the wife was getting ready to take her shot we heard a shot in the far distance but it was enough to spook the cows preventing my wife from getting shot. So, we decided to slowly make our way towards the direction they ran. In the distance I picked up a small 5x5 Bull but no cows.

 

We eventually made it back up the hill and continued glassing when my buddy Mike picked up a nice herd of about 40 elk making their way to water. Unfortunately due to too many two tracks hunters had surrounded the flats and obviously picked up on the same herd. So, we decided to stay high and watch for a wihile and sure enough we just watched these elk get pushed from one area to the next until they started going to high ground. The wife and I took a guess that the road hunters were not going to chase these elk up hill so we made way and picked them up approximately 250 yards on the opposite side of a canyon and walking towards us.

 

The elk continued in our direction into a small valley when at 200 yards my wife decided she had the lead cow in her cross hairs and was ready to take a shot. I quickly stopped her as a Bull pulled up next to the cow. Ready again my wife said "I'm taking her" when I heard her shoot. Unfortunately no hit, just as my wife pulled the trigger her shooting sticks slid down as they were not tightened. Lucky for her the Herd continued in our direction. I believe they were just so tired and confused they did not know what to do. Again, she had the lead cow in her sights at 125 yards and took a moving shot as i watched the compression of the impact. It was a little high above the front shoulder and below the neck. Fortunately the Cow did not run and good thing for us as the entrance wound did not show any blood. The cow then turned to walk up hill and the wife took a second shot dropping her where she stood. It was a shot to the spine but was obviously enough to end it with a final shot.

 

I will say I made her panic a little as I told her she shot a Spike. I was joking of course but the look on her face was priceless. I was so excited for her and a proud husband and finally some elk meat as I have not been drawn since 2007.

 

But of course my buddy Mike and I did the quartering. However, as I packed a hind quarter in Mike's pack he picked up a front quarter and headed down hill. I quickly stopped him and said "oh No" the wife needs to get the full experience and carry some meat out. She called me a few names but took it like a champ and carried a front quarter while I carried a front and hind quarter. After about a 1/2 mile hump we made it back to the Ranger. The wife was a little gassed but said she would do it all over agian and now she understands when I try to explain to her how hard hunting can be sometimes.

 

What a great time and thanks Mike for the Cabin the help and friendship.

[6ANut]

Nice job Congrats on filling the freezer. Got make them take out a quarter.

[Pine Donkey]

That elk should eat well. Congratulations to both of you! Thanks for posting the story.

[RAM]

Great job Geno and Kelly!!!! Congrats. - Ryan

[Will K]

Nice job.

[tjhunt2]

Good story! Made me feel like I was there. Congratulations to your wife. Kudos for you and Mike on making it all come together. Great looking pictures.

 

TJ

[echo co.]

Congratulations...