560 ML cow tag 1 for 3

[spotter26]

I got home from my Muzzleloader special permit cow hunt in the lewis river unit (560), last thursday. I was hunting with my dad and grandfather, my dad was the only one that managed to get one. I had two opportunities but was unable connect, my ML was fighting me the whole time. The first day 10/5 at lunch time i walked to the creek behind camp and had a cow come running right to me, i pulled up fired, the gun went CLICK, so i cocked the hammer again, this time the cow was starting to move and the gun actually fired. I looked around awhile and no sign of a hit, i took a head shot on that elk so, i figured it was a clean miss. We ended the day seeing a half dozen elk.

The second day 10/6 we didnt see anything on the morning hunt, but managed to see one cow in the road, didnt stick around , when we were up scouting some new area within the unit in the afternoon. We also saw 40 head in a work zone, above the Swift reservoir.

On the third day 10/7 we (my dad and I) decided to hike back in on an old logging road, we made it about a mile or so back in and got into elk. They were about 40 yds off the road in the timber, i didnt have a shot, but my dad did. The cow his was aiming at took a step as he fired, i saw the elk lunge then take off, i kept my eye on her since he didnt see where she went, damn smoke clouds. I was watching the herd standing probably 90-100 yds off through the timber, then they started to file off away from us. I see one 1 go by, then 2, then 3, then 4, and the last one walks  into the very small opening i can see through with my binos, and i see her lay down. We sneak up there and i lost sight of my landmark in the woods as we were working down there, my dad says, "so where is i thought you said it laid down" i say, "it should be close, I know it was right in here some where." We take another 10 steps around this giant old growth stump, and there she lays, head up looking away from us, my dad shoots, done. While we were taking a minute to let the excitement settle and trying to get gpa on the radio, About 15 min, i turn around and theres another elk. I pull up and "PAP" cap fires gun doesnt, and away goes the elk. 5 hours, a mile pack out, and all uphill. great day

The next two days 10/8 & 10/9 were uneventful, seeing elk only on private land.
Then the morning of 10/10, we decided to go back in where my dad shot his. We got down to where his elk was, and wouldnt you know there goes the group again. They had came back, but were not sticking around this time, wind was not in our favor. We all broke camp that afternoon, and headed for home.

We cut up the elk yesterday and and found that she had actually been shot in the hind quarter and had a broken leg, from the year before. It had completely healed around the bullet, which was a jacketed Muzzleloader bullet.

[Rooster1981]

Sounds like your hunt was really active, congrats on filling a tag.

[MLBowhunting]

Glad you guys had a successful hunting season 

[erk444]

What set up are you shooting? Wonder why you had the problems

[buck man]

Those elk are tough animals! Glad your dad connected. Sounds like a great hunt.

[spotter26]

I have a Thompson Center Grey Hawk, the first time, i had got some caps from my grandpa that were suppose to be #11 turns out they were #10.75 (grandpas attempt to sabotage me lol)  or something like that so they werent going all the way on the nipple. so the first time i pulled the trigger the hammer pounded the cap on and the next time it shot. The second incident i had the smallest bit of crap plugging the nipple. when we got back to camp i found it, cleaned it out and fired no problem.

[erk444]

I have a Thompson Center Grey Hawk, the first time, i had got some caps from my grandpa that were suppose to be #11 turns out they were #10.75 (grandpas attempt to sabotage me lol)  or something like that so they werent going all the way on the nipple. so the first time i pulled the trigger the hammer pounded the cap on and the next time it shot. The second incident i had the smallest bit of crap plugging the nipple. when we got back to camp i found it, cleaned it out and fired no problem.

I hate working that hard just to have equipment failure . Next time!

[GONEHUNTIN]

I have plm with nbr 11 and 1075 caps. misfired on me alot of times. Last year change to musket caps. Its much better. I bagged out my cow elk and a buck in late season last year without any plm.

[spotter26]

I had a problem with musket caps not firing for me but, it is because my hammer doesnt hit the nipple square (its bent) and wasnt making contact enough to fire. if i use #11 no problem. Im getting to the point where im tired of this gun and am not confident in it anymore, ive killed an elk and a deer with it, i just never know if its gunna fire. Im saving my pennies for a new muzzleloader.

[GONEHUNTIN]

If you are comfortable with nbr 11. Just stick with it rather than using 1075. What are you looking for a new muzzleloader rifle? I am thinking about Tradition Trapper .50 cal pistol. Hope you will do better in late season. Good luck.

[spotter26]

my dad bought the Vortek Northwest magnum in .50 Cal, setup with musket caps from cabelas, i used that after he got his elk and i really liked it. Lightwieght and you can see the sights really well, it took down his elk no problem. My sights are so big on my grey hawk that an elk at 40 yds facing me, will disappear behing my front bead, at 100yds broadside the sights take up the whole elk. the way my gun is made i dont really have any other sight options for it either.