Idaho opening day deer, no opening day elk

[Taco280AI]

Pics and full story to come, but man it was work. The elk are crazy here, nonstop bugling! And they're elk cause I'm looking at them, some good bulls too

[7mmfan]

All that shooting paid off!

[elkboy]

Nice!  Congratulations! 

[Taco280AI]

Had my game plan on where to go. I've been to this area precisely two times before, and both times I got a buck. Hike back a few miles, then take a ridge and hike up. Saw quite a few does early on, along with a small buck that I wasn't going to take opening day. Kept going up and spotted two nice bulls on top of the ridge, looked to be 5 points.





Kept glassing what was in front of me along with the other side of the canyon. More does over there, a few hunters, and only a few gunshots. As I was nearing the top I spotted two bucks, one looked to be a 3 point, but of course not on the hill I was on, but across the canyon behind me. Headed back down from where I was at, and boy do I hate oak brush! Five feet high, impossible to go through quietly, and worked up a sweat going through it, while going downhill. Got to within 700something yard, 600... 500... 493 and that was as close as I could get before they both bedded down.



So now what... tried a new plan a couple times, but either due to wind or other deer that I didn't want to push up toward the bucks, I kept changing it. Ended up going down the hill, then straight up the other side, but staying to the right of the draw they were in, on the other side. The wind, wow. Every. Single. Direction. Uphill, left, right, down, rinse, repeat. I was certain they were going to smell me long before I got there, but kept going anyway. Got up high enough and made my way over the left side of the ridge, trying to see where they were. As I got closer, the terrain got steeper. I was to the point of probably being 40 yards from where I thought they were, and still couldn't see the bottom. Here's comes the wind shift, blowing straight to them. Okay... get ready... and there they go! Up the hill away from me and behind trees, not offering anything. They got about 100 yards and stopped to look back through the trees blocking my view, no shot. Then they made their way left. During this I moved to a tree in front of me, put my rifle against the side of it, and waited. Soon enough, they walked through an opening. The lead deer was a big 2 point, but his buddy was better. Roughly 110 yards (ranged after the shot), and the 145 LRX did its job again, he only went 30 yards.







Didn't notice at first, but he splits on the back on one side, and the front on the other.



Gotta wear your facemask, Covid and all 

13 hours after starting, and 6 hours of rain, was finally on my way home. Am not too happy with Exo, however...



Saw a lot of elk, a lot of nice bulls, and they wouldn't shut up! Bugling ALL DAY LONG.

[ShaneTyTrey]

Congrats, nice buck!

[Dan-o]

Awesome hunt.

LOVE the pics of the country.

[Kvw4x4]

Great buck and great pictures! Exo sent out an email about the frame issue on the new k3,  You musta missed it.  They will be send you a new frame if you contact them. 

[Jpmiller]

I love the look of that rack, especially how it forks differently on either side. Great buck, thanks for posting.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Great buck!! Congrats!

[Alchase]

Nicely done Taco!
Great buck, thanks for the pics!

[RB]

Nice Buck!

[elkrack]

Sweet buck! That would be painful to have that pack break🥴

[archerykraze]

Nicely Done! Thanks for the write up. Really like the opposing forks, neat rack. Really cool you stalked the buck and fought the wind getting in close. Congrats! 

[Wolfdog2314]

Thanks for the story! Great buck!

Like mentioned, there was a recall on the Exo frames last year. Give them a call and I guarantee they will hook u up regardless of the situation.

[Brushbuster]

That was some tuff hunting. Congrats on a hard earned trophy.