Cow elk 2013

Now this was an interesting hunt.  First off, the tag is typically drawn every other year.  My luck wasn't that good, I had to miss two years before getting the tag.  Mental note, don't take Mike to Vegas.  This being my third year I figured I was guaranteed to get the tag.  Low and behold, I got the tag.

Knowing I'd be hunting cows I started to form my posse.  This proved to be difficult as nobody else, that I knew, drew the tag and they were hesitant to sign on.

Three weeks before the hunt it was appearing that I would be flying solo for this hunt (blah), that is, until I thought of a newby hunter friend, Danny, who might be willing to purchase a spike tag.  Lower odds of success, but decent enough that he might go for it.  Plus we'd be able to hunt the same area.  Well, he went for it so we started making plans to hunt elk in October.

Snow was in the forecast for the week we wanted to hunt.  Both good and bad, my thoughts were mainly drawn to the sleeping in a tent at 8000 feet and getting snowed on.  I didn't really have the funds to grab a room at the bottom of the canyon, so I prepared for the possibility of a cold white hunt.  Snow did come, but luckily we were below the snow line, giving us a little rain, but I was prepared for that.

These clouds took their time creeping over the mountains.  I thought we'd get socked in for sure, but that wasn't the case.  They ended up skirting around us to the North.  It was really cool to watch.

Danny couldn't start hunting until later Thursday.  I went up early Wednesday to set up camp and do some looking around.  After camp was established I went to my favorite ridge to see what was happening.

(I've shot many an elk off this hillside.  It's an excellent location)

I thought about dropping low to a watering hole, to see if something would come in to water.  Thinking of me vs. big dead heavy elk on the ground, being way down in that canyon I decided to not make the hike.  Big mistake.  I heard shots ringing through the air in the vicinity of the watering hole.  CRAP.  Keeping a sharp eye for running elk................I saw nothing.  One things for sure, this is a huge canyon with lots of good spots for elk to hide.  Chances are low they ran up and over.  I'll come back tomorrow.

(one of the many holes I like to hunt in this canyon)

Now Thursday I decided to drop down past the watering hole.  As mentioned before, it's an excellent canyon so I had high hopes of seeing something.  In the late hours of the morning I hear some shooting going on.  Oddly enough it's coming from up higher, as if up on the ridges.  CRAP.  Again, I'm in the right canyon, but in the wrong spot.  I hunted the canyon hard but found nothing that day.  Rain was coming in, Danny was probably getting close to being there...........time to regroup for a game plan on Friday.

Friday we still think they are in the canyon.  It's been a pretty dry year, we decide to initially sit on some water.  I really hate this technique.  Sitting and waiting isn't my style.  I like to be up and moving.  We endured some grueling, boring hours, never to hear a shot.

Friday afternoon, this isn't working.  We bail on that part of the canyon.  With the amount of hunters in the area, and the shooting going on, we're figuring the elk are moving to steep, dark hillsides, so we're off to scout another hillside. It's in there a ways.  I'd love to see an elk, but then hate to as well............because we're in there a ways.  Walking the ridge line I see elk sign that is only hours old.  SWEET! they are in here.  FRIK! they are in here.  Walking the ridge line a little more I can start to smell them, oh buddy we are close.  Now the dilemma.  Shoot one at night, and cut it up until the wee hours of the mourning, or come back in the morning and catch them moving around.  We opt to come back in the morning.

Saturday morning we're close to where we want to be.  Danny takes the knoll with the easier, closer shots.  I take the knoll with the possibility with a pretty long shot (almost 600 yards).  No sooner did I put my pack down, that I see an elk butt on the far hillside (almost 600 yards away).  Small herd, maybe 6 cows, no spikes that I can see.  I can't reach Danny on the radio but need to hurry because they are moving to the timber.

Getting a good rest, prone, I pick out the cow I want.  She's feeding side hill, then turns and starts to feed downhill.  This is it, I tell myself.  Knowing their backs are almost 6' long, and my bullet will be dropping about 4', I put the cross-hair on the top of her butt and made a good squeeze.  Acquiring the cow in the scope I see her sliding down the mountain.  Now the work begins.