New Mexico 9th elk hunt

[littlemac]

After a really bad year and missing my New Mexico elk hunt last year when I found out an employee of 16 years had been stealing from me ($236k) and hadn't filed quarterly taxes for over a year (while providing CPA with documentation she had) along with having my hip replaced I was able to spend a great week in the Angel Fire area again this year.

I took my son again this year (my brother and son went last year).  We flew to Denver and drove to camp.  Stopped at the NRA's Whittington Center near Raton and checked the rifles to confirm the flight hadn't knocked them around, all good, zeroed at 300yds, both of us would be shooting 300 Weatherby mags this trip.  My son using my 1985 Mark V and I would be using a new Mark V Fibermark I picked up last year.

Our five day hunt started out great when I got on a 350 plus bull and another large bull running with him 30 minutes into the hunt.  They were bugling and we made a stock on them, as I got to an opening the large bull got a glimpse of me as he moved through the narrow opening, busted and he was gone.  His cows bolted when he did, I could hear him bugle for them once from a distance.

The second bull took off from behind us and I could see him and his cows head down the mountain.  My son was down in the general area the second bull headed to.  Within a few minutes we heard a shot.  A minute later a second.  Later we connected and he had gotten the second bull at 371 yards as it came down with some cows.  Forty minutes into a five day hunt and he was done.  Great 6X5, not a bull you would pass.  He had already passed a 6X6 and rag horn 5X5 that morning.

I hunted for the rest of the five days and saw multiple bulls, some weaker 6X6 and 5X5's along with assorted rag horns and spikes.  Only one day did we blank on seeing bulls, windy and weather change from warm to cold we figured.

On the final morning we changed up what we were doing and went up an area we had left alone, we'd seen cows in the area the day before and figured the wind may have held them in the deeper woods.  We went up at day break, shooting hours at 6:30 with sunrise at 7:00.  Right at 7 we caught a spike by himself, watched him for a few minutes until he walked off.  We made a move around an island of trees and found he had joined some cows.

We tried to close on them and some of them took off to our left, not really buttered but leaving.  The spike a few cows and a rag horn 5X left, a single cow kept looking back in a small opening, lingering.  Had to be a bull back there. We were able to close on her a bit and got a better look over a knob behind her.  There he stood, 100 yds, facing me head on.  I haven't ever taken a front chest shot but I didn't want to lose this bull on the last day.  I got a rest on a tree and was ready to make the shot as he turned to the left, perfect shot just behind his right shoulder as he stepped forward.

He went about 50 yards and stood for a few seconds and then dropped.  When we dressed him out it turned out to be a double lung shot.  Perfect week, first day last day bulls and a fun time with my son for a week.  It was also my 9th hunt in New Mexico and 9th elk there.

[MLBowhunting]

Great hunt and memories.   Nice job 

[blackveltbowhunter]

Nice Bulls!!

[h2ofowlr]

Nice write up.  Congrats on the elk.  Some good father / son bonding.

[rosscrazyelk]

Thats cool.. 

[et1702]

I love New Mex!!!  Congrats on successful Father/Son hunt.

ET

[ShaneTyTrey]

That is awesome, congratulations!!!

[Elkbow33]

Congrats on a great hunt with your son.  Miss New Mexico as I spent years guiding all over that state and southern Colorado, can't wait to go back someday!

[chukar hunter]

Sounds like a great hunt!  Are those ski runs in your sons pics? 

[littlemac]

Sounds like a great hunt!  Are those ski runs in your sons pics?

Yes, landowner tags are on the ski area and the surrounding 3000 acres.  We hunt between 8500 and 11,000 feet.

[bowhunterforever]

Nice bulls Congrats guys

[Pathfinder101]

cool beans

[boneaddict]

I love New Mex!!!  Congrats on successful Father/Son hunt.

[nw_bowhunter]

Way to get it done on a out of state hunt!

[carpsniperg2]

Congrats