elk_slayer Report post Posted March 18, 2014 So I was lucky enough to get a juniors 6a cow tag for October. It all started about 430 am opening morning we got are coffee made and got the jeep all warmed up! We were off to our spot where we saw cows weeks before, my dad and I sat in the car for about 15 mins before we jumped out to where we were going, by this time it was 515. I led the way with my trusty remmington 700 with a vortex scope on my shoulder and my glock 23 on my hip. no more than a hundred yards through the inches of snow on the ground,we stopped next to a tree and looked down at our gps to see where our spot was! After I took no more than 4 steps I heard a loud noise 5 yds from me, it came from behind a tree I fumbled for my pistol and flicked on my flashlight to see that there was two bull elk and four cows standing next to the tree 5yds away where they were once bedded. Sadly it was still 15 mins before shooting time. They darted off and we tracked them the best we could and couldn't end up catching up to them! We left to go meet up with my uncle, we sadly saw that there was a spike laying 50 feet from us in pain from the 4 gunshots to its stomach, we asked what happened come to find out a repeated offender in poaching had his kids shoot the spike and speed off in the car leaving it there! We waited for the game warden to pick up the bull and out it out if his misery! The rest if the day was a bust! The next morning we decided we could sleep in a little after the last incedent so we did till about 5 then we woke up got ready and were out by 520 We got to our same spot as the previous day and hoped for the best once again it was a bust we kind of where wandering if we could see right because we heard shots all around. Finally my dad said we are getting out of the car and hiking that mountain right there so we can glass ! We parked at the base of the mountain and started to hike about 400 yds up the mt my dad spotted 10 elk and 1 bull about 100 yds away I quickly but quietly unbuckled my geigerrig hydration pack and prepared for my shot there was no cover or trees to set up with so I decided to take the shot standing I pulled my rifle up to find a cow that wasn't in the group. I took a deep breath aimed for the lungs and squeezed the trigger "bang" nothing happened they all looked at me( I thought in my head I was dead on) I loaded another I found the elk and shot at it again as I shot, it dropped where it stood! We waited a few minutes and walked over to it, it lay dead with two holes in the lungs I knew I was dead on! Now the fun began gutting it and getting it down the mt! We decided to drive my jeep up the mt with at least a 50 degree incline in some spots (we read you are allowed to drive off trail to recover game ). We got into the jeep and then took it back to camp where we skinned it. It was a great first elk hunt we left the next day for my dads limited hunt in springerville which was a huge bust! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
25-06 Report post Posted March 19, 2014 Right on, Congrats Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wrk2Hnt Report post Posted March 19, 2014 Congrats on your first elk! Hopefully they got the guy poaching later for stealing game from those of us who struggle to get tags and do everything the right way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
capoeirajosh Report post Posted March 19, 2014 Congrats man! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elk_slayer Report post Posted March 19, 2014 />Congrats on your first elk! Hopefully they got the guy poaching later for stealing game from those of us who struggle to get tags and do everything the right way. They did he had a run in with the same game warden a week before for poaching a doe! My uncle was able to get the liscence plate as they drove off. I hate when people do stupid stuff like that , it is hard enough it took me 4 years to get drawn. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wrk2Hnt Report post Posted March 19, 2014 Good, hopefully they can keep track of him and keep him off the dirt roads. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
papa Report post Posted March 19, 2014 Congrats on your first elk! Hats off to your uncle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SwampMafia Report post Posted March 19, 2014 That's a great hunt! Congrats! that's where I killed my cow when I was like 12. Somehow I drew that hunt 3 years in a row and the third years when I sealed the deal. I posted my write up a few months ago. Long time ago though (I'm 16 now) so my memory was a bit cloudy. Good luck in the draw this year! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elk_slayer Report post Posted March 19, 2014 />That's a great hunt! Congrats! that's where I killed my cow when I was like 12. Somehow I drew that hunt 3 years in a row and the third years when I sealed the deal. I posted my write up a few months ago. Long time ago though (I'm 16 now) so my memory was a bit cloudy. Good luck in the draw this year! Yes I've put in since 12 and finally got drawn good luck to you to! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SPOTnSTALKer Report post Posted March 20, 2014 Just Perfect! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
