Looks like meats back on the menu boys!

[lamrith]

After 5yrs of trying I finally got the job done early Sat morning, notched my Elk tag and filled the freezer. Normally I stomp around ID with a stick and string but this year I got the opportunity to do a private land Modern hunt.

First thing Sat morning at shooting light we had a herd come in where we were sitting. Nice bull and a spike leading the group of around 40 head, but the bull was quartering away hard with no shot. Cows started crossing the opening and he did not turn broadside until they were around him. They knew I was there and I will say it is pretty amazing watching these animals and how the cows were crossing back and forth staying between the bull and me. Protection detail that would make the secret service jealous.

That heard went up to an area it was not feasible to follow, so we moved to another spot and spotted a big herd and followed them to a really large clearing. I could not get any closer than 600+yrds off due to open land, so we stayed out of sight. Looked to be around 40head total. The herd finally trotted off and that 40 head turned out to be closer to 80 as there were a bunch that had been in the bushed around the edge of the opening that filed out and followed the rest. Then this badboy sauntered his way out lagging behind the herd. He then ducked back around a big blackberry pile where he had come from. The guy with me suggested we move up so we hoofed across the open land and then followed the trail the bull had gone up. The bull was still back there milling around, and as I crept around a bend he was suddenly right there at <70yrds. I dropped to me knees and he had me in a star down not sure what I was but giving me a nice broadside view. I brought rifle up floating the crosshairs and squeezed. The Savage Hog Hunter barked and I heard bullet impact as the gun recoiled up and I lost sight of the bull. Coming off the gun and racking another round I see antler tips moving away, then it looked like he dropped down over the hill. Darn, I hoped he would drop right there and now we have to chase him down. The guy with me then says those beautiful words we all want to hear from our hunting party, "He's down!" After a few breaths to let the shock wear off we start slowly working our way over and sure enough the bull is down, 50yrds from where he was shot. I finally got it done! The handloaded 308WIN with a 178Grn ELD-X did the trick.

I got him home a few hours later and qtrs hung in the garage, temps cooperated so spent 2 days breaking him down and getting it all in the freezer. I hit him square in the ribs just behind the leg, but I ended up losing pretty much all the meat on the side I hit him on and 1/2 the shoulder do to hydraulic shock damage. It really was amazing the amount of shock damage but I pretty much hit him with full muzzle velocity.

BIG thanks to RJ. He may not have been able to tag along, but without his help and guidance the last few years I never would have been prepared or in a position to go on and enjoy this hunt.

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[Swede]

Congrats on a fine looking bull.

[WapitiTalk1]

Awesome Larry! Again, congrats on a great bull.

[GoGriz1234]

Congrats! Way to stick with it! There is nothing like a freezer full of wild game for the year!

[Elkhunttoo]

Congrats on the bull

[Lefty]

Congratulations

We make dog treats with bloody messy stuff , grind it, jerk with heat, no additive jerky for the dogs