Duck-Slayer
Well-known member
I better finish this portion of my season of the elk!
I went into this hunt wanting meat! So a cow was off limits but a tasty spike is totally on the menu lol
Got up early and had coffee eventually came out of the hot box tent into the cold darkness about 15 minutes before it started getting light out. Got the goats saddled up and panniers on, I knew for a fact an elk was going to be harvested today. No doubt in my mind, you could say that is a little conceded thinking but I had seen them up there on Sunday and then again on Tuesday mid morning when I showed up. I knew if I came in with the wind in my face and followed my plan of getting across the drainage from them that I would have an excellent chance it’s not 100% chance to harvest an elk. The only terrible thing about this particular spot is that it is pretty much straight up from camp, it’s right around 1.75 miles to the Top from camp. It is very very very slow going, 1 foot in front of the other with literally no space in between. I’m so thankful that I have goats that will follow me anywhere. I started hiking about 7:30 AM and got 3/4 of the way up the mountain at 10:15 AM. As I was zigzagging up the steep mountain face I happened to glance over my shoulder to where the elk had been on Sunday afternoon, not expecting them to be there because they were farther toward the top of the mountain when I seen them yesterday mid morning, there just happened to be a single elk standing in an opening across the drainage. I put my glass on the elk and it was a spike!!!! Exactly what I was looking for. I range the elk as it went behind a stand of pine trees, 557 yards. Perfect I don’t even have to get any closer than I am now. The tricky part would be getting a good rest on and almost straight up and down hillside. As I had plenty of time to set up and get ready for the spike out to come out from behind the pine trees out into the meadow, I dug out my tripod and mounted my 10 x 42 Swarovski‘s with my phone scope adapter attached and videoed the whole encounter and shot. Yes a little spoiler I did shoot.After I got everything set up in the elk appeared out from behind the stand of pine trees he has now gotten a little closer to 550 yards. I had been shooting all summer long and had my rifle dialed into 650 yards. I dialed my scope to 10.75 MOA, It called for 10.7, but my scope dials moves in .25 increments. From the time I started the video to the time I shot was about five minutes according to the timer. Are use my backpack and set it on a little lip that when the snow melts makes a slight bench on the hillside for my front rest. Since I was not able to get steady enough with just that I used my Walkingstick extend it all the way out for a rear support. I was able to get on the elk nice and steady, announced a fire in the hole, then I squeeze the trigger and washed that spike drop in his tracks. It was such a great feeling to finally put meat in the freezer that will help my family get through the year.
It took quite a long time to get over to the spike once I had shot him and watched him roll down the hill several hundred yards. I timed out from when I took a picture from where I was at to win I took a short video walking up to the elk. It took 55 minutes to cover 550 yards.
Matt
I went into this hunt wanting meat! So a cow was off limits but a tasty spike is totally on the menu lol
Got up early and had coffee eventually came out of the hot box tent into the cold darkness about 15 minutes before it started getting light out. Got the goats saddled up and panniers on, I knew for a fact an elk was going to be harvested today. No doubt in my mind, you could say that is a little conceded thinking but I had seen them up there on Sunday and then again on Tuesday mid morning when I showed up. I knew if I came in with the wind in my face and followed my plan of getting across the drainage from them that I would have an excellent chance it’s not 100% chance to harvest an elk. The only terrible thing about this particular spot is that it is pretty much straight up from camp, it’s right around 1.75 miles to the Top from camp. It is very very very slow going, 1 foot in front of the other with literally no space in between. I’m so thankful that I have goats that will follow me anywhere. I started hiking about 7:30 AM and got 3/4 of the way up the mountain at 10:15 AM. As I was zigzagging up the steep mountain face I happened to glance over my shoulder to where the elk had been on Sunday afternoon, not expecting them to be there because they were farther toward the top of the mountain when I seen them yesterday mid morning, there just happened to be a single elk standing in an opening across the drainage. I put my glass on the elk and it was a spike!!!! Exactly what I was looking for. I range the elk as it went behind a stand of pine trees, 557 yards. Perfect I don’t even have to get any closer than I am now. The tricky part would be getting a good rest on and almost straight up and down hillside. As I had plenty of time to set up and get ready for the spike out to come out from behind the pine trees out into the meadow, I dug out my tripod and mounted my 10 x 42 Swarovski‘s with my phone scope adapter attached and videoed the whole encounter and shot. Yes a little spoiler I did shoot.After I got everything set up in the elk appeared out from behind the stand of pine trees he has now gotten a little closer to 550 yards. I had been shooting all summer long and had my rifle dialed into 650 yards. I dialed my scope to 10.75 MOA, It called for 10.7, but my scope dials moves in .25 increments. From the time I started the video to the time I shot was about five minutes according to the timer. Are use my backpack and set it on a little lip that when the snow melts makes a slight bench on the hillside for my front rest. Since I was not able to get steady enough with just that I used my Walkingstick extend it all the way out for a rear support. I was able to get on the elk nice and steady, announced a fire in the hole, then I squeeze the trigger and washed that spike drop in his tracks. It was such a great feeling to finally put meat in the freezer that will help my family get through the year.
It took quite a long time to get over to the spike once I had shot him and watched him roll down the hill several hundred yards. I timed out from when I took a picture from where I was at to win I took a short video walking up to the elk. It took 55 minutes to cover 550 yards.
Matt
, 210lbs on goats, rest got carried.
