sons elk hunt opens on monday

ivorytip

ivorytip

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this elk hunt has been more challenging then I planned! but its been fun exploring new area. went to place only 15 min from home tonight, I didn't see any elk or sign but.... I seen a lot of deer! walking through the lava flows was a pain in the arse but I found deer, and some dandy bucks. was able to get bad pics of these smaller guys but hope to keep in touch with the bigger boys and get good pics. I seen a buck that has me wetting my pants! I'm more of a tall fan than I am a wide fan. some of those 30 inch bucks just look odd to me when they don't have the height to make them appealing to my eye. this guy was pushing a 25 inside spread and he was super tall and had trash! here some pics of the ones I could get with my crappy camera.DSCN1223.jpgDSCN1218.jpgDSCN1217.jpgDSCN1214.jpg walking those lava beds is something ill never do in the dark!
 
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Tim McCoy

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Dec 15, 2014
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Lava flows are nasty stuff, and often hold surprising numbers of Mosquitos. Hope you find that tall deer. Love those tall boxy looking ones too.
 
ivorytip

ivorytip

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2 mornings ago I covered more ground than I wanted through that nasty lava. about 0900 I spotted 2 big bulls feeding in lavas just out side of a field. I watched them a while and they hunkered down right there in the tall green wet grass where lava and fields conjoin. being how it was already hot out I wasn't going to shoot knowing I didn't have permission to drive farm rd through field, and wasn't about to pack it out in that heat. I hiked out, found landowners name on gps and made contact with him to see if I could use his rd to get close to the flows. he said no:( debated going in the eve with a couple helpers but walking around that crap in the dark seems a little to risky. but may just be worth it.
 
ivorytip

ivorytip

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Sons first elk hunt soon turned into my first velvet bull!! he is not a monster but I was very happy. I wasn't planning on hunting this morn but woke up at 0445 for no reason at all other than to dehydrate myself and decided to head down the rd and check out a spot I seen on google earth. drove up to lavas, walked in a ways where I could glass edge of fields, didn't see a thing. started glassing lava flow and still nothing. was going to head out to another spot but decided to glass fields on more time from a diff angle. 8 bulls (aprox 800 yrds out) soon field my nocs in grassy area just off of fields, in grassy area on BLM! SCORE! secured nocs and started running, keeping rocks, junipers and tall sage brush between line of sight. I got to 500 and ran out of cover other than short sage brush and tall grass.... I see a juniper that would put me 100 closer, knee time! I crawled to juniper...400 yrds. I pull out nocs... a couple small 5x5 bulls. 5 bigger bulls and a big 7x7!! the big bull was standing behind a tree. wind changes and they all lift heads up in unison..they start getting antsy...I cant get closer and I don't want to take a 400 yrd shot at running elk. big guy isn't giving me a shot, 5x5 looks right at me and barks. I'm spotted! this guy steps out, I see the big fronts, I put 400 yrd mark on BDC in middle of front shoulder and touch the trigger. model 70 .270 with 150g drops him like a sack of potatoes, right now! (MM would be proud seeing that pre 64 win firing out Remington cores) the other elk sat there looking at me as I approached my animal. 50yrds before they took off! deff not the hunting I am familiar with in the high country. 4300 ft elevation on the flats, 15 min drive from home, who woulda thought. been a fun unexpected august for sure!DSCN1229.jpgRSCN1240.jpgRSCN1239.jpgDSCN1242.jpg
 
ivorytip

ivorytip

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only had four on the one side and has some weak points, I seen the fronts and knew it wasn't one of the small 5x bulls. tickled pink to have it over with. very pleased
 
ivorytip

ivorytip

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I have to add, I was able to try out that Eastman's outdoor edge knife, that thing was awesome! my buddy showed up to help break him down and he pulled out mr Rambo knife and when he seen mine he said, what the hell you going to do with thing... he kept complaining of his knife going dull, that edge broke the whole thing down minus 1 front quarter and with only one blade. was so nice not needing to sharpen half way through!
 
Slugz

Slugz

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ivorytip said:
I have to add, I was able to try out that Eastman's outdoor edge knife, that thing was awesome! my buddy showed up to help break him down and he pulled out mr Rambo knife and when he seen mine he said, what the hell you going to do with thing... he kept complaining of his knife going dull, that edge broke the whole thing down minus 1 front quarter and with only one blade. was so nice not needing to sharpen half way through!
Click to expand...
Outdoor edge, Havalon......great tools that make things a ton easier!!!
 
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