First Rifle Elk Colorado....& other states

[noharleyyet]

It has been in the mid to high nineties all week but the awesome elk adventure shares & pics recently have me and Jr. counting days. Who's ready..where ya going...what are you taking/shooting...who's going with ya? Gear pile pics welcome.

...man, I love this time of year.

 

[Muley_Stalker]

Good luck. You won't have to worry about 90's here. It was in the 30's and snowing the first week of bow season (Aug) here.

 

[Oak]

I have a 1st rifle tag in my pocket....gonna get exchanged for a 4th, I think. Will be taking the green machine from Weaver...4 one shot kills to its credit now.

 

[noharleyyet]

I have a 1st rifle tag in my pocket....gonna get exchanged for a 4th, I think. Will be taking the green machine from Weaver...4 one shot kills to its credit now.

30 short Weaver's going with me also....Sako Finnlite 270WSM for Jr.'s young eyes.

 

[ElkHunter11]

I too have a 1st rifle tag for CO. I will be heading out exactly 3 weeks from today and am more than ready to get out there. I will be going with my Dad and several others. Will be shooting a .300 win mag mounted with a Vortex Viper HST 4-16x44 and shooting the 180 grain federal trophy bonded tip. Got all my gear out yesterday afternoon to start the packing process and see if I'm missing anything. The picture below will end up being one large bag, a backpack and my rifle case. I think it's safe to say that these next 3 weeks will not be extremely productive work days...

 

[Khunter]

have a 1st rifle tag in pocket, a rarety for me. Wife has one too. We won't hit it too hard but enjoy each others company in the elk woods for 2-3 days. If I get to jonesing after some big bull we see that is still running around after the opener I will hunt the last day or two solo perhaps.

270 win short mag featherlite or whatever they call the lighter version for wife.

300 win mag supergrade for me. Not exactly a lightweight weapon. I carry the 270 when we are hunting together versus lugging the 300.

 

[Muley_Stalker]

My elk hunting is done this year, but next year i'm thinking of trying 1st rifle season instead of muzzy season. I'll use my muzzleloader for the 1st rifle hunt. It's all I need in the timber.

 

[Eyeguy]

1st rifle. Southern Colorado. Been archery hunting 3 years in a row and too many close calls to mention. Now the .338 is ready to breath straight fire. Not going to be choosy...first legal, decent bull is going to catch a 200 grain superformance. We are packing in 6 miles on our backs and hunting out from there. My partners first elk hunt....and trip to the high country. He has been preparing well. CANT WAIT.

 

[nrpate05]

I'll be accompanying a friend on a 1st rifle bull hunt near Gunnison, CO as I didn't draw a tag for 1st rifle. I'll then be heading out for a 2nd rifle cow tag (probably pick up an OTC bull ticket as well). After a quick vacation to Mexico with the girlfriend, I will have a weekend to fill my 3rd season buck tag near Vail, CO. Hopefully something will come through this year as the freezer is dangerously low!

 

[el unit]

Meeting a friend in western CO for a first rifle cow elk hunt. It's my friends first elk hunt. Really excited!

 

[7mm08mo]

Saturday will be 21 days until my dad and I leave for Idaho. I will be taking a 300 RUM. Man am I excited been working out for a year an a half, and been shooting lots. Counting the days!!! My pile of stuff. It will get condensed into a backpack and travel bag and one gun. Dad will have one so we are eachothers spares. Sorry for bad I pad pic.

 

[JohnCushman]

1st season e/s for me also in southern Colorado. As much as I want my first bull to be with my bow, I don't think I have the self control to hold off on a legal bull. I'm filling the freezer this year, so whatever comes in front of me first gets popped. I'm using my Savage .300 win mag topped with a Leupold VX2, with my Ruger American 30-06 with a Redfield Revolution on top of it as a backup. The .300 win mag shoots 180 grain Federal blue box soft points and the 30-06 shoots 165 grain Federal Fusions. This is my first 1st season tag, and in a new unit as well, so I'm not sure what to expect. I've gotten some good pointers in PM and places to start, and I am deeply grateful for that.

 

[recon6036]

Colorado 1st rifle bull tag. Going with 3 other Michigander friends. Same unit as last 3 yeas but totally different area this time. I really need to start organizing my gear soon. Can't wait. Good luck to all!

 

[Rocky176]

I am taking my son for a third season cow hunt in unit 48, I do not have a tag

So I am the pack mule.

When he leaves I am driving up to the Tetons with my wife for 4 days of camping. I then head to Cody for a late season cow hunt in unit 56. Starting to organize and fill the camper, hand loading and shooting rounds.

 

[Elkhunter24]

Colorado going with my buddy Tom 2nd season. Taking the custom Remington 300 win mag and my 300 RUM. both topped with vortex FFP 6-24 shooting noslers and Hornady's. Excited to wear my new Sitka gear. Just purchased everything a few months ago.

 

[Eyeguy]

Sounds like a lot of first rifle season hunters. What will your strategy(s) be? I plan to try to get between feeding and bedding area on travel routes in a place I can shoot 1-200 yards and try to get it done. Many people have told me that elk will still be bugling (but not as aggresively) and will respond to a location bugle. If you could pin-point one I think you would have a great advantage. Thoughts?

 

[JohnCushman]

I've never hunted 1st season, so I am clueless :W:

 

[deer_shooter]

Six days and counting! Three great trips coming up so I am stoked to get it started. First up is Wyoming antelope. The wife and I will be heading out and giving it hell. We leave next Wednesday afternoon and get back the 23rd.

I started pulling gear into a pile and will be packing the truck on Sunday. We hit the range last week and all systems go. My 7mm and her 308 were both spot on out to 300 and my 25.06 is going as a back up and was right on too.

When we get back we have a relatively quick turnaround and head for Kodiak on November 17 for blacktails. I talked the wife into going along which was no small feat. She has 'bearphobia'. hahaha. After a lot of thought, I am taking my Ruger 30.06 over something bigger as it is lighter, shoots well and is synthetic/stainless. I am really looking forward to this hunt so hoping all goes well. this will be our first time flying with firearms so should be interesting.

I got lucky in the left over game and snagged a late cow tag in Wyoming Unit 7. I will be going solo and leaving here sometime December 30th and hunting the first week of January.

Even found time for a little bench work...

 

[mrjoshw]

Heading to Colorado in two weeks to do second season. This will be my first time elk hunting. I've handloaded Nosler Partition 180-gr's for my .308. Pushing them right at 2700 fps. Figure that's enough energy to put down my first elk. I've been watching countless videos on the gutless method and how to pack these big boys out of the woods. My dreams are laced with elk right now! After spending the money on the tag and all the other gear my wife has pretty much told me not to come home if I don't have an elk! If that means more time in the woods...I might take her up on it.

Wishing everyone the best of luck in their hunting endeavors.

 

[Zach]

Ken, thin sheet ice on my horse troughs this morning, don't worry about the temps.