Colorado in the Snow- First ELK with a Rifle

[Kodak]

I was 40 yo the first time I hunted elk- wish I had started earlier but Uncle Sam kept me in TX, OK and AL until then. A bowhunter since 1960 I took a deer with a shotgun slug in OK 1974- that was my only firearm big game kill- Trying rifle again this year.

We left /Sat afternoon Nov 26 and got back Tuesday night /Dec 6= 2511 miles total. We spent nearly 3 weeks rebuilding the little travel trailer for Judy's grandson to use and were Way behind getting gear and sundries packed so the planned early morning start, didn't.

One needed 3 hour sleep stop and we got to the State campground about 1030 Sunday night. rough set camp, went to sleep and got things organized . We
met our guide Kyle for breakfast followed by a trip to the local range to verify the rifles. There was already 6" of snow in the valley and another 7" fell that night. As a result the steep mesa face the wind drift was too deep for the Quad seat ATV and we had to dig it out. The outfitter brought his Tundra up and lowered the drift enough to get to the overlook.
Our view from the fence road along the ridge was full of ELK we could see over a mile to the adjacent property and rough counted 200- some were duplicates I'm sure but Wow- what a start to a 5 day hunt. We watched several herds move toward the sanctuary ( no hunting in there) and went down the hill to the restaurant again to await going to the afternoon stand location.

Both Judy and I had anterless tags and the outfitter had one of us wait until a elk was confirmed down before the other could load up. Judy and Stew went to the hexagon stand that overlooked 4 different paths the elk often used to get to the hay stubble of grass fields. They saw some elk but they didn't get close enough before dark.

Judy has supported my archery elk hunts over the years so last year we got her a tag in an area S of this one and met guide Kyle. We were impressed by his efforts though Judy didn't get a shot- to move to this new outfitter with him.

 

[Kodak]

Wednesday was much the same... Kyle and I on the overlook ridge could see elk moving on the distant ridges but they didn't come within sight of Judy in the blind.
Kyle had his 20-60 x 80 spotting scope set up with a phone adapter.



Thursday was the first day of December and we had to pack up and leave as the state park was closing. We had made reservations at the county fairgrounds in Hayden and were ready to go back hunting after lunch. I accompanied Judy to the blind and we spotted 3 groups of elk feeding toward us but no shot opportunity. Bulls were forming 'batchalor groups' though some remained with the larger herds. The On X display shows the blind in green placed in the tree line overlooking the stream valley/ fence line/ pond. Previous elk spottings in red show primary routes from the ' sanctuary area'. Other known routes are down the two stream forks to the right visible in the pic below.

I was solo in the blind Friday morning when a snow storm hit hard- so cold that the snow grains were dry and the wind gusts to 40 caused a white out. Kyle showed up in the ATV to get me out before the trail become filled with drifting snow. We spent the morning in the resteraunt and I had their Juevos Rancheros - again.

 

[Kodak]

The On X display shows the overlook in yellow, blind in green and some of the elk sightings. The distance from the overlook to the bulls l that Kyle videod is 1.13 miles.

OK, wake up- it's 3:20 and there are two elk heads showing above the ridge over the saddle. then two more and three more- eventually over a dozen were feeding on the S side of the slope and in no great hurry to get down to me. The top of the ridge was witthin shooting distande - 350 yards- but they were still beyond the boundary. AS long as they are moving- I'm patient, shooting light ends at 5:15.

Another larger herd starts down the slope W of the saddle and look to be converging toward the stream fence gate. As they crossed below the boundary fence I verified the safety was on and took practice aims judging hold over and body angle shot placement. Once they got to 225 yards I no longer worried about holdover as I was zeroed at 200.

Now passing 150 and I could see the calves were leading the way quickly getting to the frozen over pond and mock fighting joined by a couple spikes. The older elk moving slower about 200+ yards away and the 1.5 year olds fed along the 150 - 200' region.

 

[Kodak]

Judy had stated she wanted a large cow, I would be happy to take a Smaller cow. Since she was 1st up Kyle didn't try to set up a shot situation on the closer, smaller cows- hindsight is 20/20.

We had Saturday remaining after this day and I had hope Judy would have chance at these two herds. I tried to block all other thoughts other than choosing an animal, picking a spot and holding steady. Several med/ smaller cows were feeding near the bottom of the hill around the sage and oak brush. I took a couple practice aims using the fold down window frame and folded blankets but needed to raise the rest several inches to keep my fused back straight. I wadded up my fur cap like a taco folded three times and that helped. I double checked to insure no other critters are in line with the shot and took several more practice aims.


She was about 150 yards, nearly broadside and undisturbed. As a bowhunter I would have to be less than 50 yards and would avoid hitting bones. Kyle had recommended taking out the shoulder to anchor them quickly......... I compromised and held just behind and 6" below the humerus joint with the shoulder blade, breathed deep, let 1/2 half out and squeezed. T'he practice aims must have helped- I was calm and steady.........

The 30-06 180 gr Norma BondStrike pushed me hard but the elk even harder. She took 2 hops tried to turn up hill and went down. I had my 2 way radio and after watching to make sure she stayed down pressed the call button to make sure Kyle and Judy heard the shot. Yep, they had been watching the elk for an hour and were gathering scope and tripod to start my direction.

The last picture above shows the pond with several elk tracks in and around it, the base of the hill and the two large oak brush clumps I used to keep oriented.

Kyle and Judy showed up and we drove down through the fence opening and parallel to the pond area. It looked different and I spotted her and we backed up 15'. I told Kyle I needed to touch her first and went through my Jaegar last bite offering in respect.

Pictures and Kyle demonstrated his gutting skill- in about 12 minutes he had her ready to slide down the slope about 15 yards to the ATV tow rope and drug her a short distance to Sam's truck.

Normally the elk are taken to a meat processor for skinning, cooling, cut and wrap. We stopped to watch the sunset and Judy insisted that she enjoys doing all that and a garage area was graciously found to hang the cow overnight. We made short work of the skinning and took the quarters, back strap, tenderloin, neck roast and Judy trimmed everything else.

 

[Kodak]

Tired after a short night we were in the blind early for the morning hunt- no action.

Lunch and back at it for the afternoon. We spotted some elk and watched carefully as they fed high up on the hill beyond the boundary fence. A few were moving closer as darkness fell and the ATV arrived to take us in....

We spent the next day organizing and packing and checking the truck and trailer. Judy took some pictures during the trips and I grabbed her sunrise picture as I always try to post both SR and SS of our trips.

We left Monday after getting dry ice for the cooler driving thru freezing fog and slush that coated the trailer in spite of the mud flaps. The roads got better as we got into Wyoming. We spent the remainder of the night in a rest stop just inside Idaho and got home Tuesday night about 10.

We found snow at home and the dogs were happy to see us. We set up a workstation and deboned the elk meat. Wrapped a Lot of roast size packages after trimming the silver skin and fat, sorted grind into 5# bags along with cubes for stew and put everything into the chest freezer set to -10. It's easy to cut steaks etc later.

 

[Kodak]

Yep, ID and WY have seen herds greatly reduced following the wolves introduction. I've hunted CO whenever I could since the 90s and have appreciated the hunter positive attitude of the wildlife staffs.

I am holding on to hope we can do it again though at 78 we have found guided hunts necessary to ensure we can take proper care of our ( hopeful ) success.

My last elk with a bow was CO in 2010. LOVE those Aspens!!

 

[Bill K]

Thanks for sharing the hunt. Great to see the photos along with the story of how it went. And now home with some fine eating to enjoy also, with various meals prepared the great venison.

 

[jccinohio]

Great adventures.. Keep doing it as long as you can. This year was the first year I didn't go on the annual hunt with my father-in-law. At 84 he just couldn't do it anymore even with my help. Lots of good memories.