This was the hunt of luck. Teanawayslayer and I hunted opening day of muzzleloader with just about every other hunter in the Taneum. It seemed more like rifle season than Muzzleloader. Very few shots, no bugling and lots of hunters and motorcycle riders. I didn't hunt Sunday as it was too busy on the weekend.
Monday morning had me headed to one of the more out of the way spots that I've seen elk sporadically during the Summer. I did a morning hunt tracking some fresh elk tracks that took me into thick nasty. I lost the elk and headed back to the truck. I was absolutely soaked by the time I got back to my rig.
I decided to take the long way out and see if I could see some elk in a couple clear cuts. I spotted two cows and another elk I thought was a bull. They were feeding along the road. I drove around the to the clear cut and saw her above the road. I got out put my cap on and got a rest on a scrub pine. She dropped right where I shot her.
It was so steep that I was able to get her into my truck whole. I feel very fortunate for my success. She was an old cow with nubs for ivories.