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Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Tony 270WSM on November 15, 2008, 08:32:45 PM


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Title: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: Tony 270WSM on November 15, 2008, 08:32:45 PM
So I wanted to get away from people and headed for locked gates. There were a few trucks there so in the early morning darkness I hiked for about 70 minutes, got a few miles back, a bit of elevation, and waited for sunrise.

It came and nothing was to be seen. Watched, waited, nothing. Walked about another two miles, or so, and found a herd about 1000 yards out and it had a legal bull! So I devised a strategy to get within range of him while watching what they were doing. Weren't in any hurry, just feeding and taking their time.

Figured my best bet was to circle around to keep the wind in my favor which meant I had to completely lose sight of them, go around a patch of trees, come out to roughly 600 yards, and take another look. Did that in a few minutes, took a peek when I had a vantage point, and they hadn't moved much at all. Now there was no cover, just me and the elk and a lot of fairly open ground. I was able to get about 50 yards with the dip in the terrain blocking their view of me. I don't currently have a rangefinder, and my rifle hasn't proven itself at long ranges yet, so a long shot was out of the question. This had to be 300 yards or less. For the next 20 minutes, I actually crawled on my hands and knees closing the distance. Closer, looking good, closer, looking better, ok this looks about right.

Finally, am about 300 yards out, see the elk, but have no shot at the bull. What little cover is there, is right in front of him. Have to wait, and wait, and wait. After a few minutes, he was clear of it, but there was a cow behind him and couldn't take the shot again. After a few moments, she cleared him, I had the shot, and took it!

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi39.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe194%2Fanthonyfield%2FIMG_2228.jpg&hash=a2719fde5445eee546b26dc53b5543a18094fe68)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi39.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe194%2Fanthonyfield%2FIMG_2234.jpg&hash=e9dd0444aa96adf840a1d4da4691513f06118cad)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi39.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe194%2Fanthonyfield%2FIMG_2239.jpg&hash=cf2af5bbf7da8b749f085cddc9ae16ca8036c468)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi39.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe194%2Fanthonyfield%2FIMG_2241.jpg&hash=31c9e256a3d3d39890a62c91aa233b00a8cc53f4)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi39.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe194%2Fanthonyfield%2FIMG_2246.jpg&hash=35d32c5ec2af61bab62aa2f99075c1d25748f099)

Small 5x5 (with one point almost being gone from him breaking it early on). The 140 Accubond performed well. Through the left shoulder, ribs, spine, and ribs on other side.





BTW, that story is a bunch of crap. What really happened was we (neighbor and I) were driving from one area to a clearcut that had some good trees next to it that we were going to walk through and try to find elk in. As soon as we came up to that clearcut, there they were, in plain sight. Stopped, jumped out, went off the side of the road, got a rest... the part about a cow being behind him was true so I had to wait. Bullet performace is true as well. End result is the same.

About 3 or 4 minutes after I got him two people came walking out of the woods we were going to go into. They found him and the herd he was with, saw him a few times, never got a shot off. They pushed them out into the clearing, we saw him and thats that. Right place at the right time. Was about 150 yards.
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: rackattack on November 15, 2008, 08:39:09 PM
Congrats on the bull.  That sunrise picture is awesome!  Like you said right place, right time is how a lot of elk hunting goes.
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: Opportunist on November 16, 2008, 06:01:52 AM
I'd rather be lucky than good!
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: jae on November 16, 2008, 07:49:48 AM
Great bull! Thanks for the post.
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: blessed on November 16, 2008, 08:14:12 AM
I like that :o...2 stories :chuckle: :chuckle:
Great job!
Prize winning sunrise ;) wow
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: Dameion on November 16, 2008, 08:20:59 AM
I have to agree, sunrise picture is just awesome...congrats on the bull!
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: X-Force on November 16, 2008, 03:26:43 PM
Very cool. great read.
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: 270Shooter on November 17, 2008, 03:56:57 PM
Nice bull. Looks like the Accubond did well too :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: Red Dawg on November 17, 2008, 04:06:25 PM
very nice bull. That 140 accubond is exactly my next load for my wsm. I was wondering if it would put down an elk. I know 130 grain core-lock will put down a large mule deer right now. congrats on the great hunt.
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: C-Money on November 17, 2008, 04:13:11 PM
Nice Bull. Did you shoot it with the 270wsm? Great bullet performance on the elk. Glad to see that. I have killed a big 3x3 mule deer with the 140 accubond in a .270 win and it did great. I usually use a 3006 for elk, but want to use the 270 with the 140 accubond. My 270 is a composite stalk , and my 3006 is beautiful walnut. I want to keep the walnut off the ATV. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: Tony 270WSM on November 17, 2008, 07:29:50 PM
Yep, used the 270WSM with that 140 Accubond and am very happy with its performance. Impact velocity should be around 2900fps. It bored a straight channel through everything and I didn't find any fragments in the meat or the bone. Have used them on two elk and numerous deer with the same results. Most were with my old 7WSM with the 160 Accubond, before I sold it.
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: markts on November 17, 2008, 08:40:09 PM
Nice bull, I have hunted Saddle Mountain several times and the whole area is beautiful country. Congrats MarkTS 8)
Title: Re: Saddle Mountain opener (Oregon)
Post by: fc2038 on November 17, 2008, 10:16:43 PM
Congrats on your elk. Wish I was lucky this year. O well maybe next year :dunno:
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