BuzzH
Well-known member
Just rolled in late last night from an elk hunt with my Dad and Brother.
Had a very successful and fun hunt.
The first day of hunting was really more of a scouting trip, and we soon found some promising areas.
The first real day of hunting, we located a nice herd of maybe 75 elk on some public ground. We put a great stalk on them, but they were slowing filtering onto private. There was one nice 6 point in them, but never offered Matt a shot. So, with only a few cows remaining, Dad shot a cow with my 7-08 at around 150 yards:
We got the cow to the truck in a couple hours and continued to look around. I happened to spot 2 cows in the bottom of a deep draw about an hour or so before dark. Since I had an elk b-tag I wanted to shoot one with my Dads pre-64 30/06. After a short stalk, Matt and I were looking over 20 elk. There was only 1 bull in the bunch, a one antlered 4 point so I decided to shoot a cow. I picked out a 1.5 year old cow and shot it at 120 yards. At the shot, a bunch more elk off to our right, that we hadnt seen started moving down the deep draw. They didnt go far and soon went to feeding. There were several bulls and I picked out the biggest 6 point. Matt was packing my 7-08 and got set up on them. I ranged the bull at 486 and Matt got a solid rest, prone, across his pack. I dialed in the adjustment on the M-1 and Matt gently squeezed the trigger. I heard a distinct "thump" and the bull slowly turned and walked over a small ridge. We watched as all the elk, except the bull he shot at, made there way over the next ridge...most of them feeding as they went.
We then walked over to my cow to make sure she was down...and she was. Then we hiked over to where Matts bull was standing and peaked into the draw he walked into. Matt said, "Theres a bull!"...and he was right, there was his bull laying there, very dead 50 yards from where he hit him.
Matt had made a perfect shot, slightly quartering away. We found the 140 grain accubond just under the hide about 1/2 inch behind the off-shoulder.
Matt had his first bull:
Another look:
Dad called last night and said the biologist at the Bonner check station, Jay Kolb, was convinced Matts bull was the oldest bull he's ever seen. He thinks its 14 years old. Matt is going to submit a tooth, at Jays request, to have it aged. The ivories are flat with the gum line and very small.
My cow with Dads pre-64. My goal was to shoot an elk with this rifle...my Grandpa, Dad, and I have all shot elk, deer, and pronghorn with the same rifle in Montana.
Whether or not you believe bison have a place in the Breaks or not...theres no doubting that they do belong there. Saw this guy every day and couldnt help but wonder if Montana will ever allow them to occupy the breaks:
Had a very successful and fun hunt.
The first day of hunting was really more of a scouting trip, and we soon found some promising areas.
The first real day of hunting, we located a nice herd of maybe 75 elk on some public ground. We put a great stalk on them, but they were slowing filtering onto private. There was one nice 6 point in them, but never offered Matt a shot. So, with only a few cows remaining, Dad shot a cow with my 7-08 at around 150 yards:
We got the cow to the truck in a couple hours and continued to look around. I happened to spot 2 cows in the bottom of a deep draw about an hour or so before dark. Since I had an elk b-tag I wanted to shoot one with my Dads pre-64 30/06. After a short stalk, Matt and I were looking over 20 elk. There was only 1 bull in the bunch, a one antlered 4 point so I decided to shoot a cow. I picked out a 1.5 year old cow and shot it at 120 yards. At the shot, a bunch more elk off to our right, that we hadnt seen started moving down the deep draw. They didnt go far and soon went to feeding. There were several bulls and I picked out the biggest 6 point. Matt was packing my 7-08 and got set up on them. I ranged the bull at 486 and Matt got a solid rest, prone, across his pack. I dialed in the adjustment on the M-1 and Matt gently squeezed the trigger. I heard a distinct "thump" and the bull slowly turned and walked over a small ridge. We watched as all the elk, except the bull he shot at, made there way over the next ridge...most of them feeding as they went.
We then walked over to my cow to make sure she was down...and she was. Then we hiked over to where Matts bull was standing and peaked into the draw he walked into. Matt said, "Theres a bull!"...and he was right, there was his bull laying there, very dead 50 yards from where he hit him.
Matt had made a perfect shot, slightly quartering away. We found the 140 grain accubond just under the hide about 1/2 inch behind the off-shoulder.
Matt had his first bull:
Another look:
Dad called last night and said the biologist at the Bonner check station, Jay Kolb, was convinced Matts bull was the oldest bull he's ever seen. He thinks its 14 years old. Matt is going to submit a tooth, at Jays request, to have it aged. The ivories are flat with the gum line and very small.
My cow with Dads pre-64. My goal was to shoot an elk with this rifle...my Grandpa, Dad, and I have all shot elk, deer, and pronghorn with the same rifle in Montana.
Whether or not you believe bison have a place in the Breaks or not...theres no doubting that they do belong there. Saw this guy every day and couldnt help but wonder if Montana will ever allow them to occupy the breaks:
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