Post by: littlemac on October 01, 2011, 11:19:31 PM
He missed a shot this morning on an ok 6x6 270 class. My fault as I shot his rifle at the Whittington Center range in Raton on our way to camp after he zeroed it. I had cranked up the scope and didn't turn it down. He shot over the six by.
All is well however as our afternoon set up put him in a spot we have used in previous years and is a funnel for the elk heading down in the evening.
Shooting light here is going by around 6:45 and his Wthrby 300 mag barked at just about 6:20pm. I was set up above him a half mile or so. One shot and I think "sweet", then another shortly after.
Turned out the second was an insurance shot, a great first bull. I write at 12am after we dressed an hung his elk. Long day but very rewarding. He has elk hunted four times.
We green scored it at 350 range. I'll get pics up asap. Regardless it has been a great day and it's the biggest elk in our family by far.
Post by: bucklucky on October 02, 2011, 09:17:15 AM
Post by: runamuk on October 02, 2011, 09:24:30 AM
Post by: Huntbear on October 02, 2011, 09:28:00 AM
Post by: buck man on October 02, 2011, 11:31:41 AM
Post by: littlemac on October 02, 2011, 11:51:09 AM
Here's RJ's bull, hope these turn out ok we had to jury rig the files to post them, we are still in the woods. The first pic or two may be while his hors are still buried in the ground the way he fell.
300 Weatherby, 180 grain Nosler at 20 yards, a bit of overkill but one shot and done, the next shot may be out to 400 or so which is why we shoot the magnums.
Hope you enjoy these, we'll try and get two more bulls to post by Wednesday with any good fortune.
The guy in the last pic is our guide.
Post by: bearpaw on October 02, 2011, 11:55:14 AM
Post by: 400out on October 02, 2011, 12:09:20 PM
Post by: buglebuster on October 02, 2011, 12:23:30 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 02, 2011, 12:33:26 PM
Post by: bucklucky on October 02, 2011, 01:14:00 PM
Post by: boonerboy on October 02, 2011, 01:18:52 PM
Post by: runamuk on October 02, 2011, 01:20:09 PM
Post by: scoyoc5 on October 02, 2011, 01:22:13 PM
Post by: SniperDanWA on October 02, 2011, 03:01:14 PM
Post by: buck man on October 02, 2011, 04:33:32 PM
:yeah: those 3rds are cool!
Thanks for sharing :yeah:
Post by: TheHunt on October 02, 2011, 05:25:49 PM
Congrats on a great bull and memories of a life time.
Post by: kramer on October 02, 2011, 06:42:08 PM
Post by: littlemac on October 02, 2011, 08:19:50 PM
Three days to git'r'dun.
Post by: littlemac on October 02, 2011, 08:22:14 PM
I agree this G-3's are really nice. I love the big grin on his face. Then the last picture some dude is standing there with him. :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: What is up with that?
Congrats on a great bull and memories of a life time.
We're on landowner tags. He's our guide even though after six years we're often on our own.
Absolutely geat memories.
Post by: jackelope on October 02, 2011, 08:30:16 PM
Post by: mulehunter on October 02, 2011, 08:33:22 PM
Mulehunter
Post by: zackmioli on October 03, 2011, 12:08:17 AM
Post by: Huntbear on October 03, 2011, 09:28:36 AM
:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:
Post by: Elkrunner on October 03, 2011, 09:58:59 AM
Post by: jmx369 on October 03, 2011, 10:03:27 AM
Post by: littlemac on October 03, 2011, 10:38:08 AM
I'll try to get the new bull pics up late today, we're on the way to the taxidermist and meat processor. It's in the 70's in the day time so we don't want to chance losing the meat.
Post by: Jason on October 03, 2011, 10:46:40 AM
Post by: Huntboy on October 03, 2011, 10:56:18 AM
Post by: Fullabull on October 03, 2011, 12:21:47 PM
Post by: bucklucky on October 03, 2011, 12:23:35 PM
Post by: littlemac on October 03, 2011, 09:03:14 PM
He worked back around the stand and down a back trail, found several cows and the bull. He was able to get two shots off and it humped up and moved off. Two more shots did the deed. Not a perfect set up but the elk is at the processor.
Tonight I passed on a pretty good 5x5, had a shot downhill that I believe I would have made but withtwo more days holding out for a better bull.
On our way out we drove to a meadow area and caught about 100 head including several 6x6's, 5x5's a few spikes and the rest cows and calves.
Post by: Elkpiss on October 04, 2011, 01:54:58 PM
Post by: brianmtsinc on October 04, 2011, 05:41:35 PM
Good luck on the last one!!
Post by: TheHunt on October 04, 2011, 05:57:29 PM
Post by: lewy on October 04, 2011, 06:18:01 PM
Post by: littlemac on October 04, 2011, 08:24:42 PM
Afternoon brought wind and rain. Spotted some bedded cows around four and moved past them checking on a couple of good spots we have.
The clouds moved in so we went back to the cows we new were there, they had moved downhill and were now 10 cows and calves feeding. Stayed with them but no bull. The 5x5 I passed the previous day was in the same area but no sight of a bull today.
Morning hunt tomorrow wraps up my elk hunting in New Mexico. We'll try and make it happen tomorrow.
Thanks for following our hunt and all of the comments.
Post by: KimberRich on October 05, 2011, 08:48:58 AM
Post by: littlemac on October 05, 2011, 10:52:55 PM
We spotted a cow in an opening 1/2 a mile off. We were lucky she stayed and was with several others along with a young bull 4x4 as it turned out. Ourfirst sight of the bull was at 800 yards. We were able to work in below him to a distance of 370 yards in timber for our cover and undetected.
After some serious thinking I decided to take the shot. I had passed a better bull yesterday but this bull needed to be taken in my opinion as he is missing eye guards and his fronts are turning down. No point in passing bad genetics along.
The shot was uphill at 344 yds. I shoot a 340 Weatherby with 210 grain Nosler partition factory loads. My first shoot missed high, nerves maybe, my second shot staggered him landing just on the shoulder and he slid about 20 yards donhill.
We got him dressed out and down off the hill by 10. Loaded and off to the processor at 4 and then the drive north to Denver, home tomorrow.
a great trip and three bulls for three hunters.
I'll post pics when I get home, using my phone for this post and can't upload.
Post by: Lunchbox1981 on October 06, 2011, 12:12:57 AM
Post by: jackelope on October 06, 2011, 08:28:07 AM
Post by: littlemac on October 06, 2011, 08:44:53 AM
We met 6 guys at Denver TSA that went 6 for 6 in there camp. They were in the same general area we were, Area 54.
They used H & H Custom Meats in Springer, NM like we did. When I dropped my bull off Wednesday, Rod the owner said he'd never been so full as now with 80 bulls in 5 days. He also said this years crop has the largest bulls he's seen by far, our's hung at an average of 390 lbs (carcass only, no head/legs).
I should be able to add some pics by late today.
Did I mention this is my seventh bull in seven hunts in New Mexico? Two different outfitters, but success with both. I already sent the deposit for next year.
Post by: bucklucky on October 06, 2011, 08:56:01 AM
Post by: TheHunt on October 06, 2011, 09:16:51 AM
Post by: boneaddict on October 06, 2011, 09:19:33 AM
Post by: littlemac on October 06, 2011, 01:44:20 PM
The second pic is just me after we rolled him another 50 yards to a landing. You can see in the pic the odd fronts and overall antler.
He was still packing a lot of fat, probably a 3 to 4 year old, should be very good eating.
Post by: littlemac on October 06, 2011, 04:14:40 PM
Here it is. Double click on it to get it in a larger size, wish I was a better photographer, should have done the ground angle shots etc. Anyway it was a great trip and I appreciate you all being along on the hunt.
And a pic loading that give a good reference to a 4x8 sheet of plywood.
Now get out there and shoot somethin'
Post by: SniperDanWA on October 06, 2011, 06:32:13 PM
Post by: littlemac on October 06, 2011, 08:24:54 PM
Darn boys, that's a boat load of meat. How much did it cost you for the trip, with outfitter and all?
Airfare I did with miles to Denver, rental car $500/3, condo in town $850/3, food we cooked and ate out some, NM tag $569, hunt cost $3,500.00, I'd say with tip etc most likely in the $5,000.00 to $5,500.00 a man if you paid for the airfare.
A great value in my mind as I am 100% successful. It would be a value without the success but with it....fantastic.
I have a hunt comin' up in Montana that will be a fair amount more, I hope it's as productive, I'm sure the hunting will be I'm sure.
Post by: SniperDanWA on October 06, 2011, 09:22:36 PM
Post by: littlemac on October 08, 2011, 08:32:53 AM
Post by: bucklucky on October 08, 2011, 08:41:28 AM
Post by: littlemac on October 08, 2011, 08:48:39 AM
I have a customer in NM now with his daughter and a youth tag in unit 15 , sounding like the guide has some great bulls in there with the arizona fires and all. Hopping she gets a hooter bull.
When we were at the processor three guys pulled in with a young girl, 12 I think, they all got bulls and she got a cow with her cow tag. Neat deal, in talking with her and her dad, they were from the Olympia area. You just don't realize how small this planet is until you are far from home and run into neighbors.
Great to see everyone involving their kids in the heritage of shooting sports and hunting.
Post by: bucklucky on October 08, 2011, 08:52:30 AM
Post by: 50CalJim on October 08, 2011, 09:05:45 AM
Post by: 10Key on October 08, 2011, 10:09:02 AM
Post by: littlemac on October 03, 2012, 01:12:20 PM
This year I got stuck at work and my brother and son went and both tagged out the first day. When they took the meat to the processor they got a look at last years bull the group shot.
Here is the 2011 Mount my friend Tracy has coming. The second picture is RJ holding his soon to be mounted bull, still every bit as impressive as when he shot it.
Post by: Greenhorn on October 03, 2012, 01:54:10 PM
Post by: groundhog on October 03, 2012, 02:32:06 PM