Rookie learned a lesson the hard way/Help coweeman cow tag?

[Pete112288]

So this is my first year going muzzleloader. I have yet to get any speed loaders or even a flask. I just had a small plastic vile in my pocket with 1 load worth of powder and my bottle of powder in my backpack. I have a coweeman cow tag this year. I got up on the herd in the area I hunt. It was thick brush and my pack was making noise scrapping on the brush. Just like I have done during archery season, I dropped my pack in the brush as I got close. I followed the herd for a few hours and a mile or so before I had a shot. I missed right over her back in a clear cut. I had misjudged the range. I reloaded and went to the edge of the clearcut where they were still hanging out. They started into the big timber. There is 30 yards or so of big timber then a brand new log road. I had a faulty primer that delayed ignition and made me flinch and miss the second shot. Now my pack was a mile away and I had no powder on me. I came out on that new log road and the whole herd of 15-20 animals was bunched up on the log road 30-40 yards in front of me. They stood there and looked at me for 5-10 minutes. In that time I went to check out a truck that was parked 20 yards away to see if I could desperately bum a load worth of powder but the hunter was nowhere near. The elk walked slowly up the road and lazily walked into the timber. As I headed back to the truck a lone cow that had got separated came out 20 feet away. Again, she just stood there taunting me for 5+ minutes. Not a minute after she finally took off, another truck rolls up, he had offered that he could of given me some powder but it wasn’t the same stuff I shoot and the elk were out of earshot again. So he was kind enough to give me a ride back to my truck. I ran the 100 yards from there to get my pack from the brush and went to where I last saw the elk. Followed the tracks and got on them one more time but they were on the other side of a small finger and I could not see them. They took off as the wind picked up in their direction. They went straight across private property to an area that is a safe haven. They haven’t been out since. Now I cant seem to find any fresh sign or anything for any other groups of elk or anything. I am desperate to fill my cow tag. I have Wed Thurs, and maybe Friday left for my cow tag. Any tips to find a cow in the coweeman by then? Wanna take pitty and help a rookie muzzy guy out? Haha. So how many things in my story are mistakes someone else has made? Hopefully I am not the only one. I am gonna feel like a complete gomer till I can remedy this and find my cow. Guess everyone learns some lessons the hard way.

[BOWHUNTER45]

it happens 

[Pete112288]

Thats what I keep telling myself. Just keep praying that I didnt screw up my only chance there. Dont know where else to try in the coweeman as this area has been my core area for years. This had been the only group spotted there and I cant get too far from there in the area I accessed because of active logging operations. All the gates are shut and cant go too far in the other directions because of private property.

[wadu1]

Got to get some speed loaders, I carry mine in a small belt pack and a short rod.

[Crunchy]

Lesson we have all learned at one point or another.  Good luck on filling that tag. 

[Pete112288]

Yup, got a gift card for my birthday from my mother-in-law. Guess tomorrow morning its gonna get used to go buy a handfull of speed loaders and maybe a smaller easier to carry possibles pack/bag.

[kerrdog]

Dang Cows.  They are everywhere til you get a tag!


I was glassing 3 cows on a distant clearcut (Coweeman at Dusk) and feeling pretty proud of my elk spotting abilities.  Til my buddy pointed out a herd 100 yards right behind us!  He got on them while I watched.  I got my Bull early season    He was all over them; 11 cows and no bull.  Big surprise.  We didn't have cow tags.

[sebek556]

funny how they know that your out of ammo and or have no weapon on you.

[Runamuck]

Experience is such a good teacher 
I bought a cheap shotgun slip over the stock shell holder. It holds speed loaders just fine. Keep a couple in it and the rest in my fanny pack.
Good luck!

[Elkrunner]

That sucks..if you had the power and stuff with you, then the elk wouldn't have been there...lol  It always seems to happen that way.  Good luck next time out.

[C-Money]

Good luck, and keep at it. You are bound to stumble across another cow with that many days left in the field. Waiting for success photos!

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

My possibles bag always has 3 or more speed loaders, powder flask, extra caps, extra bullets, bullet puller, safety pin. Never have needed half of it but it will be there the day I finally do need it.

[billythekidrock]

Yup, got a gift card for my birthday from my mother-in-law. Guess tomorrow morning its gonna get used to go buy a handfull of speed loaders and maybe a smaller easier to carry possibles pack/bag.

Or maybe a quieter main pack so you don't have to leave all your gear behind?

[mtman]

couple years back my dad had to take the action out of his muzzy and clean the pine niddles out, as the elk were crossing in front of him. He had everything he needed and killed the last one. Takes a few years of figuring those guns out. Good luck one mistake you wont make again.

[Pete112288]

got her done on friday. I'll post in the 2013 Cows topic

[Runamuck]

 

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

got her done on friday. I'll post in the 2013 Cows topic

  right on!

[Opportunist]

Your first post/story made me cringe. I luckily had friends who were experienced muzzlestuffers to learn from. Glad to hear you filled your tag. I carry 8-9 speedloaders, elk are tough beasts, I'd rather have too many than too few. I love late season muzzle elk hunting. Cheers!