I found them. Colockum Elk

[C-Money]

Well it took a little time but I found some elk Friday. I got on them around 2pm and looked over the herd till dark. I was alone, and was wishing I had another person there to help glass all the elk. I also wish I had packed my little spotting scope too! I saw approx 200 plus head, the herd contained a bunch of bulls. I saw a 6x6, a few 5x5's, a 4x4, a few 3x3's, a 1x3, a BUNCH, of 1x2's and yes, a clean, smooth "true spike". I found him about a half hour before dark. I began at one end of the herd and glassed them over, moving behind  behind a ridge and popping up over enough to glass. This took time to look them all over, but I found a legal bull towards the end. I had the crosshairs on him, saftey off and then I'd put the saftey back on and pick up the binos again. If I had one more set of eyes telling me he was ''true'', maybe I  would have killed him. I kept thinking , I just butcherd a calf in Aug, my brother has my buck and his buck in his freezer, we sure are not hurting for meat, and I just dont want to make a mistake even though I am positive he is legal. I would have been killing him for the sake of filling my tag and my ego, taking my second bull. I let him walk at an easy 300 yard broad side shot. As the elk all moved over the top and down the other side I went up and over to take another look, just before dark. They never knew I was their till I walked over to the other side and then they moved of a bit. This pic is of about half the herd, and another pic of some on the sky line.  Saturday, my wife and I got out and saw 40 or so cows, no bulls. We hunted a different area Saturday. All in all, a slow start to my 2010 Elk season, but it finished up as one of the best!

[boneaddict]

 

[C-Money]

I guess its kinda sad, all those elk and one, only one legal bull. It was a great hunt and a season I will never forget! Here is my Bride of 10 years on our Saturday hunt.

[carpsniperg2]

thats great! glad you got into them. good 4 you,in not taking a shot if you were not 100% sure.

[Stickerbush]

showed some integrity there!

[Elk4me]

I salute you on both counts. 1) Finding the herd. 2) Not taking the shot when you were not 100% positive of a legal elk.

[colockumelk]

Hey C-Money you did the right thing.  If your not 100% sure of what you're shooting or if you can make a clean ethical shot then you shouldn't shoot.  I wish more people were like you.  Unfortunately too many people shoot first and and double check later.  Good for you.  You are a true sportsmen sir. 

[270Shooter]

Soooooo 1 out of every 200 elk is legal? . Has to be a good year for antlers causeing the yearlings to grow that extra point. Sounds like a good hunt, when your that close a herd that size...doesnt get any better than that, whether you shoot one or not.

[C-Money]

Thanks for all the kudos...I was sure he was clean. Maybe it was the 1.25 mile walk back to the ATV, or the 14.3 mile ride back to the truck by my self after dark...nope, guess not. It would have been easy to spill his guts and come back early in the morning with help. My family just did not need the meat, and I guess it would have been comforting to hear my wife or a buddy say yep, he is clean. But the thought of loosing my hunting rights if I was wrong kinda played in too. What a hunt! Cant say how much fun I had! This clean spike stuff makes it tough for me to pull the trigger even when I am sure!  

[elkbuster]

Thanks for all the kudos...I was sure he was clean. Maybe it was the 1.25 mile walk back to the ATV, or the 14.3 mile ride back to the truck by my self after dark...nope, guess not. It would have been easy to spill his guts and come back early in the morning with help. My family just did not need the meat, and I guess it would have been comforting to hear my wife or a buddy say yep, he is clean. But the thought of loosing my hunting rights if I was wrong kinda played in too. What a hunt! Cant say how much fun I had! This clean spike stuff makes it tough for me to pull the trigger even when I am sure!  

That is a good reason to start bow hunting, then you have to be close enough to your prey to be certain that you are shooting a legal animal.  Looks like you had a great time though.  Probably all you could of done if you were bow hunting, doesn't look like much cover to put on a good stalk. 

[C-Money]

Nope! Not much cover. It sure was a good size bunch of elk. That group looked healty with quite a few bulls in there. Lots of calves still comming to Mama for some milk. You know, when you are that far back in by your self after dark, your mind starts asking a lot of questions. I was thinking, boy, I hope my battery on the quad is not dead, I hope my head lighs work, I hope I dont pop a tire on the way out, etc...