[Killed this guy very late Monday. I mean right at dark.
I spent the day on a long trek but as usual didn't hit the elk tracks 'till probably 2:30. Tracked them up onto an old landing where they had been bedded. Stopped for a snack, 3:30. Figured out which way they went and jumped them maybe 200 yards from where I ate my orange. Only saw three, two calves and a cow. They went down the hill into a big canyon. The road out follows the top of the opposite ridge out.
I had in the morning stashed my bike nearby and had hunted up. Figured on coming out there and coasting back down to the car.
It was too late to give chase to the elk so I was going to bike to the car and come back Tuesday.
On the way out I was watching down hill into the timber but had kind of given up. I was so far down the road when there they were. They had run about a mile and a half. 4:30 by then and getting dark fast in the timber. Only about 7 or 8 elk but the bull was obvious but hard to get a clear shot through the second growth trees. I ran along the road twice paralleling them and couldn't get a shot. Finally saw a narrow lane and held on it. Pulled the trigger when the bull crossed. They really took off then and only about a 100 yards to some doghair. I went down but couldn't see a damn thing. I heard the elk cough. Finally had to give up, after 5:00 and really dark.
I worried about it all night. Went back this morning and spent almost two hours searching before I found him. He had only went about 150 yards but hard to see in the brush. Lung shot but never left a drop of blood anywhere.
Had him packed out and in the PU at 3:30.
Still worried about the meat but I went out this evening and did some trimming and I think everything will be OK. There was some green around the guts but I trimmed everything off that was suspect. Didn't really lose that much. Biggest loss was the flanks which aren't much of a loss. Once I got the trimming done and that stuff outside no smell so I think I'm OK.
Man, my knees are as stiff as a board right now. Hobbling around like Frankenstein. Glad I don't have to go out tomorrow. Need a day off but maybe cutting meat will be like a day off from climbing hills.URL=http://s4.photobucket.com/user/humptulips/media/DSCN0756_zps4askkk4o.jpg.html]
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