Post by: littlemac on October 09, 2013, 09:25:52 AM
I took my son again this year (my brother and son went last year). We flew to Denver and drove to camp. Stopped at the NRA's Whittington Center near Raton and checked the rifles to confirm the flight hadn't knocked them around, all good, zeroed at 300yds, both of us would be shooting 300 Weatherby mags this trip. My son using my 1985 Mark V and I would be using a new Mark V Fibermark I picked up last year.
Our five day hunt started out great when I got on a 350 plus bull and another large bull running with him 30 minutes into the hunt. They were bugling and we made a stock on them, as I got to an opening the large bull got a glimpse of me as he moved through the narrow opening, busted and he was gone. His cows bolted when he did, I could hear him bugle for them once from a distance.
The second bull took off from behind us and I could see him and his cows head down the mountain. My son was down in the general area the second bull headed to. Within a few minutes we heard a shot. A minute later a second. Later we connected and he had gotten the second bull at 371 yards as it came down with some cows. Forty minutes into a five day hunt and he was done. Great 6X5, not a bull you would pass. He had already passed a 6X6 and rag horn 5X5 that morning.
I hunted for the rest of the five days and saw multiple bulls, some weaker 6X6 and 5X5's along with assorted rag horns and spikes. Only one day did we blank on seeing bulls, windy and weather change from warm to cold we figured.
On the final morning we changed up what we were doing and went up an area we had left alone, we'd seen cows in the area the day before and figured the wind may have held them in the deeper woods. We went up at day break, shooting hours at 6:30 with sunrise at 7:00. Right at 7 we caught a spike by himself, watched him for a few minutes until he walked off. We made a move around an island of trees and found he had joined some cows.
We tried to close on them and some of them took off to our left, not really buttered but leaving. The spike a few cows and a rag horn 5X left, a single cow kept looking back in a small opening, lingering. Had to be a bull back there. We were able to close on her a bit and got a better look over a knob behind her. There he stood, 100 yds, facing me head on. I haven't ever taken a front chest shot but I didn't want to lose this bull on the last day. I got a rest on a tree and was ready to make the shot as he turned to the left, perfect shot just behind his right shoulder as he stepped forward.
He went about 50 yards and stood for a few seconds and then dropped. When we dressed him out it turned out to be a double lung shot. Perfect week, first day last day bulls and a fun time with my son for a week. It was also my 9th hunt in New Mexico and 9th elk there.
Post by: MLBowhunting on October 09, 2013, 09:28:00 AM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 09, 2013, 09:33:22 AM
Post by: h2ofowlr on October 09, 2013, 09:33:33 AM
Post by: rosscrazyelk on October 09, 2013, 10:23:09 AM
Post by: et1702 on October 09, 2013, 10:26:12 AM
I love New Mex!!! Congrats on successful Father/Son hunt.
ET
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on October 09, 2013, 10:44:10 AM
Post by: Elkbow33 on October 09, 2013, 10:45:32 AM
Post by: chukar hunter on October 09, 2013, 11:09:47 AM
Post by: littlemac on October 09, 2013, 11:17:58 AM
Sounds like a great hunt! Are those ski runs in your sons pics?
Yes, landowner tags are on the ski area and the surrounding 3000 acres. We hunt between 8500 and 11,000 feet.
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 09, 2013, 03:22:44 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 09, 2013, 03:31:57 PM
Post by: boneaddict on October 09, 2013, 03:39:39 PM
:yeah: :tup:
I love New Mex!!! Congrats on successful Father/Son hunt.
Post by: nw_bowhunter on October 09, 2013, 05:40:18 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 09, 2013, 05:51:28 PM
Post by: elkoholic1 on October 09, 2013, 06:03:11 PM
Post by: Natures Way on October 09, 2013, 06:08:19 PM
Post by: littlemac on October 10, 2013, 03:41:45 PM
Post by: Bearhide on October 16, 2013, 07:32:40 PM
Post by: brianmtsinc on November 12, 2013, 01:54:44 PM
I went back to NM for my 2nd time this year as a helper, and I love it! I hope to be able to afford a land owner tag next year! :tup:
Post by: littlemac on November 12, 2013, 04:00:19 PM
I had never put a tape on my sons elk, it is 50 inches wide. Sure was a nice bull after only a 40 minute hunt.
Post by: C-Money on November 12, 2013, 04:25:05 PM
Post by: brianmtsinc on November 12, 2013, 07:54:07 PM
Can I ask, what unit did you hunt?
I have only hunted 15, but got a lead on some land in 12 with 3 annual landowner tags that I am considering.
Post by: littlemac on November 12, 2013, 09:03:20 PM
There are some landowner tags in there on smaller parcels and then a couple of big ranches that hunt. UU Bar is one outfit that offers guided hunts. Spendy though, $12,500. http://www.expressuubar.com/index.cfm?fa=hunting.elk (http://www.expressuubar.com/index.cfm?fa=hunting.elk)
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on December 02, 2013, 02:49:44 PM