Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: 3dsheetmetal on January 23, 2011, 07:20:27 PM

Title: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: 3dsheetmetal on January 23, 2011, 07:20:27 PM: Was drawn for a western cow tag from the 1st to the 15Th.The first weekend I was hunting I ran into about 13 elk which I should have been able to have shot one but i could not find my musket capper.which I later found under my seat.So the next weekend I had a capper in my pocket and one on a lanyard around my neck. :tup::I drove around and checked a few clear cuts I found the first weekend and all I seen was a gut pile with about 3 bald eagles getting a free meal.Decided to head down lower and as I came around a small bend in the road I spotted a bunch of lite colored stumps out of my peripheral.This is where I first seen them from.After crawling on my hands and knees for about 400 yards I reached a spot above where the elk where when i first seen them.By now I was within about 140 yards of them and they were all bedded down.I found a good spot behind a stump and decided to wait until they started to feed again.By now it started to downpour and the wind started blowing like crazy and all I could do was lay there until an opportunity showed itself.After about 2 hours of this and I was soaking wet I decided to crawl over about 40 yards to another stump and see if I could get a clear shot at one of the bedded elk. One of the cows got up and moved about 30 yards closer towards me and bedded down again and presented with a perfect broadside shot.
Since everything was so wet I decided to slip on another musket cap that I had inside my shirt pocket.I laid the gun up on the stump aimed and slowly pulled the trigger.And all I heard than was the loud snap of the bolt closing on a wet non firing cap.All the elk jumped to there feet and just stood there trying to figure what moron was out there making loud metallic sounds.It was raining so hard and the wind was still blowing that they couldn't pinpoint were the noise had come from they just stood there looking around.After my heart started beating again I grabbed the capper I had around my neck and slipped on another one.I noticed this one was also wet but hoped it would fire so i lined up on one that was perfectly broadside to me and this time it ignited.After the smoke cleared the one I shot just stood there while the rest of the herd single filed out of there. Her and a nice 5 by 5 were the last to leave and when they just about got to the woods she stopped for a minute and fell over.I ranged the shot after and it was 128 yds. and she only went about 75 yards I used the Barnes 290 grain ballistic tips.I really didn't get any mushroom from the bullet cause the exit hole was just as big as the entrance hole.I dead centered both lungs and it did it's job but I'm still not all that impressed with them bullets.And also packing an elk out by yourself is really not that much fun. Next year I will have hunting partners. :hello:
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: Blsum on January 23, 2011, 08:17:19 PM: :dunno: is it just my computer or is there a bunch of stuff missing?
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: dscubame on January 23, 2011, 08:25:02 PM: The 2nd pic is my favorite. Nice shot.
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: Curly on January 23, 2011, 08:36:02 PM: Quote from: Blsum on January 23, 2011, 08:17:19 PM
:dunno: is it just my computer or is there a bunch of stuff missing?

I'm missing stuff too.

Hey, is that down around Silver Lake in Cowlitz county? Congrats on the elk.
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: 3dsheetmetal on January 23, 2011, 08:36:48 PM: Sorry about that I'm having a mental breakdown trying to insert my pictures and the story. :yike:
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: BigD on January 23, 2011, 08:46:08 PM: Nice job
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: TeacherMan on January 23, 2011, 08:48:51 PM: Those pics look so nice compared to Alaska right now :bash: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: Blsum on January 23, 2011, 11:03:58 PM: Okay now its working. Congrats on the elk man. Good job. How much powder do you use? What gun?
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: 7mag. on January 23, 2011, 11:08:34 PM: Congrats. Nice shooting, looks like perfect shot placement.
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: carpsniperg2 on January 23, 2011, 11:41:56 PM: Congrats :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: 3dsheetmetal on January 24, 2011, 06:29:41 AM: Knight bighorn , shooting 110 grains triple7 290 Barnes T-EZ ballastic tips
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: Machias on January 24, 2011, 04:03:30 PM: Awesome, congrats on a real nice cow!! Thanks for sharing the photos and the story!
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: C-Money on January 24, 2011, 04:20:23 PM: That cow looks very healthy! Nice job! Congrats!
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: mtndew on January 26, 2011, 05:21:12 PM: Very nice! I shoot a Knight Bighorn too, good shooting gun! Congratulations on a fine elk!!
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: Austrian Hunter on January 26, 2011, 05:27:28 PM: Very Nice!!! Cool that you got it done by yourslef. Was this a second elk tag??? or did you hold off all year for this hunt? Congrats :drool: :drool:
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: rb2506 on January 26, 2011, 05:32:40 PM: congrats on the elk, thanks for the pics i learned something knew tying the legs off like that :DOH: maybe just never in that situation yet but cool
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: silverslayer12 on January 28, 2011, 03:08:28 PM: magnificent shot man!!!!
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: Dan-o on January 28, 2011, 03:33:12 PM: Nice shot!

You were not kidding about center punching both lungs.

You might not have gotten much of a mushroom, but that's some serious hydrostatic shock damage to those lungs from a muzzleloader bullet. I don't know that I'd be unimpressed. No elk will go far with lungs like that.

I'm just getting old enough that I don't envy you cleaning that and getting it out alone........ :chuckle:
Title: Re: Perfect way to start year off elk down!
Post by: 3dsheetmetal on January 28, 2011, 08:31:29 PM: Hey guys thanks for all the comments it was really a great hunt. Austrian hunter it wasn't a second elk tag (didn't know there were second tags) but I did wait for this season cause i knew i wouldn't run into alot of other hunters.I don't like the general season seems like all I ever see is other hunters and the elk are flat ass running out of the country. ;)