MT Elk Down

[TrumpkinTheDwarf]

I'm not feeling very flowery and effusive this evening, so bear with me. I won't say I picked a dumb place to shoot a raghorn, but it was kinda dumb to shoot something 2000' above the trailhead on day two of being at any elevation greater than sea level. Hence the lack of flowery and effusive. I blame @EYJONAS! for saying something like "how eager are ya? It's f*&%#@ steap..." while corresponding about a potential elk spot. I got all fired up, thinking my legs could tackle any mountain God decided to throw at them.

Facts learned since Monday:
1. quad cramps can cut short the most enthusiastic attempt to climb 3400' on day one at elevation. In my case after 1400', I'm afraid to say.
2. raghorns are just as difficult to cut up solo as a 6x6 bull. Especially on a super steep slope.
3. I am not as tough as I think while reading maps, but I'm tougher than my legs tell me after 2k' of elevation gain on day two.
4. Old rifles still kill things, especially if they're a .30 cal sending 168 gr Barnes TTSX. No pretty mushroom pictures on passthroughs.
5. I really need a hunting buddy. Packing half an elk out on your back SUCKS.
6. My grandpa is a badass who will still drop everything to come finish up a packout with me.
7. I dunno where guys keep getting 200+ lbs of meat off elk. Please send coordinates. We brought out 135 lbs of boned out meat.
8. Thanks to @Greenhorn and @Eyjonas for assuring me my scouting and hunt plans were indeed sane and worthy of executing.

Pictures:

 

[cahunter805]

Congrats on a well earned bull!!

 

[Threedognight]

Congrats, there are no easy elk.

 

[rtraverdavis]

Congratulations! Sounds like you earned it. Did you use your Bugout to cut up that bull? I have one in my pocket at all times and love it, but it seems like it’d be pretty light for that kind of job.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

Nice, good for you man.

 

[Ben Lamb]

This is a poem of questionable decisions and delicious rifles. You get the stars of the Ming Quadrant. Huzzah!

 

[Revenuer Man]

Great job! Can you tell us a little about the history of your rifle?

Thanks

 

[fallfreak]

Congrats on a hard earned freezer full of meat.

 

[SBAHunts]

nice bull, congrats

 

[thusby]

Sounds like a tough way to find out you have hamstrings in your body after all. Congrats, that young bull is going to taste great.

 

[TrumpkinTheDwarf]

Great job! Can you tell us a little about the history of your rifle?

Thanks

It was my great grandfather's. It's a model 70 in 30-06AI, with a custom stock, and was handed down to me when I was 12 years old.

This is a poem of questionable decisions and delicious rifles. You get the stars of the Ming Quadrant. Huzzah!

I'm honored! I think...

Congratulations! Sounds like you earned it. Did you use your Bugout to cut up that bull? I have one in my pocket at all times and love it, but it seems like it’d be pretty light for that kind of job.

Yep! Broke the whole bull down with no issues, and it still will barely shave hair. Never felt like I needed "more" knife. But then again, I grew up with a two blade trapper, so I like smaller blades.

 

[PsRpOiGrRiAtM]

Congrats--you earned that bull.

 

[406dn]

Congrats, you earned both some fine meat and wonderful memories. Using a rifle from a great grandfather is beyond special.

 

[Sask hunter]

Congrats!

 

[Big Fin]

Sounds to me like the perfect elk hunt. Congrats.

 

[TheJason]

Love the heirloom rifle. Pretty sure there aren't too many true elk hunters alive who haven't seriously wondered WTF did I do and WTF did I choose to do it.

Good work.

 

[nwihunter]

Congrats. Way to get it done !

 

[TrumpkinTheDwarf]

Love the heirloom rifle. Pretty sure there aren't too many true elk hunters alive who haven't seriously wondered WTF did and I do and WTF did I choose to do it.

Good work.

Hahaha! I saw the bull and my first thought was "do I really want to shoot one here?" followed by "If you won't shoot a bull 1.5 miles from the truck, all downhill on the packout, you can't call yourself an elk hunter"

 

[TheJason]

Short memory makes for repeatable bad decisions.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Hahaha! I saw the bull and my first thought was "do I really want to shoot one here?" followed by "If you won't shoot a bull 1.5 miles from the truck, all downhill on the packout, you can't call yourself an elk hunter"

Good on you. Nicely done!