Well with 95-105 degree temps. I was not sure if I would get it done. Got there 2 days early and it was a first 30 minutes of light and last 30 minutes of light show. I was able to pattern a group and got there opening morning AUG 1ST. Missed the cows going into the cover by about 2 minutes as the bulls were still out. They went in early
Came back for my evening hunt and stepped on them
the bulls blew out all but a spike stayed and went out and started feeding. The bigger bulls were having no part of it. Even though they did not smell me just heard me. I knew the rest of the heard did not go or I would have heard them leave. I started cow calf calling and pleading. After about 20-25 minutes this cow came though the bottom of the swamp and pegged me. After a few minute stand off she wheeled to leave. I mewed and swung my gun. She made a mistake of pausing to look back.
Mistake for her and my long range monster got to test out the 143eld x at 3200 at 75 yards
It broke all the way though the leg bone and demolished her insides. "This is my 10th animal with these bullets from 75-600 yards. Very solid bullet!!!" She lunged and went around a bush, I jumped into the swamp and saw her standing there and gave her another lung shot just to make sure. She dropped and one more to the back of the neck, as i did not need her going another 5 yards. I would have been swimming with her in the swamp, trying to get her out by myself
3 heavy pack loads out little over a mile each way. Happy to have a nice fat dry cow in the freezer and saw some cool new country and tons of deer and lopes and a few other elk.
Been awhile since I posted a story but since this is probably the first elk of the year. I figured it would get some guys fired up
Good luck and be safe out there all.