Co Elk Hunt

[huntinkev]

I’ve finally gotten time to post. We had a great time. It was 4th rifle season and we went with an outfitter on private land near Craig, Co. The weather didn’t cooperate to good, we had a little snow on Wednesday opening morning, maybe half an inch that came down over night and that morning. The rest of the week temps were in 40’s for a high, lows were in upper teens low 20’s most mornings. Wednesday morning we went out and got setup started glassing and within 10 minutes the guide spotted some cows. He had me and my dad get down in prone position and rest gun on backpacks. My Dad couldn’t do this very long and finally told him he was going to have to get up and kneel. We didn’t spot any bulls and they disapppeared in the oak brush. We spotted another group farther away that had a couple nice bulls on it. He grabbed me and told me to come on, my dad was having a hard time breathing and walking and wouldn’t be able to make it. So me and the guide take off to try and get closer. We couldn’t get close enough to the group we were after. Then all of a sudden 2 bulls pop up at 480 yards. So I get down into prone and rest on backpack. I just couldn’t get a shot. I had a hard time locating them in scope at first with the oak brush and then they were walking away and wouldn’t present a shot. They disappeared, then a 3rd bill came in their path. I tried and tried to get a shot but just couldn’t. I stayed on him, had to lift up a few times and pack more jackets and stuff under my gun to get it up high enough, the bull kept climbing. I had a dope taped to inside of my scope cap that went to 550. The guide ranges it at 600 but didn’t have a shot. It stayed in opening but wouldn’t stop with a shot. He ranged it at 700, we guessed at my MOA for 700 and I dialed it up, 11.2 MOA. He finally stopped and starting turning broadside. He ranged it one more time and called out “718”. I said “do I shoot?” He said “shoot if you have a shot.” It turned a little more broadside and stoppped and just looked over the mountain toward us with his head held high. I squeezed a shot off and started racking another round, he says “he’s hit get another round ready”. Before I got racked another round in my bolt he says “ he’s down, he’s down”. I couldn’t find it in my scope at this point but he’s watching with his Binos. He’s says he’s dead, SWEET shot. He suspected a heart shot, said he just wobbled a little and fell over. We talk a little bit and headed back toward my dad and daughter and tell them. It was a 5x4. I know it wasn’t the biggest but it is my first and I was thrilled. 2 guides and myself ended up going over and quartering it up and packing it out. This was rough, we came in from the top and packed it back up the mountain. We all 3 were huffing pretty hard and my legs were like jelly by the time we got to SxS, after multiple breaks on way up. I’m thankful and grateful we were able to go. My dad ended up not even getting a shot off. He hunted hard rest of week just couldn’t get close enough to any bulls. I am thankful my daughter could go with us and this is a trip none of us will ever forget.

I was shooting a Browning xbolt 7mm Mag with Tract Toric 3x15 scope and 160gr accubonds.

[WG Taxidermist]

Man what an awesome trip and to have your daughter and dad with you is the icing on the cake! Congrats on a fine bull!! Thanks for sharing all the pictures. It's beautiful out west! That is definitely on my bucket list.

[MUP]

OutSTANDING shot buddy!! That is freaking awesome! 718 yards?!?!?! WoooooHOOOOOO!!!!! Congrats on a fine bull, and a fantastic shot! I was getting excited for you as I read on thru your story buddy! Awesome!! And those are some beautiful pics too! Thanks for sharing buddy!

[Smokyrider]

Looks like you had a great time and congratulations on a nice bull and making a great shot!

[caretaker]

Wow!!!! That is awesome. So glad your Dad and your daughter were along on this hunting trip. Each of you will have memories to cherish. Hard to say whether connecting on the elk of having them along was the highlite of the trip. Congrats on a totally awesome hunt.

[huntinkev]

Wow!!!! That is awesome. So glad your Dad and your daughter were along on this hunting trip. Each of you will have memories to cherish. Hard to say whether connecting on the elk of having them along was the highlite of the trip. Congrats on a totally awesome hunt.

No question, having them along was the highlight!

Me and my daughter have had a rough 5 months. This was needed and at the right time, over thanksgiving. My daughter made a comment to me on thanksgiving when the other 5 hunters in camp and outfitter was sitting around talking about how it’s different for thanksgiving with us and their family came to have meal with us. My daughter said to me I’m so glad we are here, our thanksgiving was going to be different anyway, this made it much easier.

[Tngrizzly_]

Congratulations and great picture and memories

[Rob R.]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing and am happy y’all had a great and successful trip!!