2023 OFFICIAL ELK MEAT POLE THREAD

[Mitten32]

Colorado second rifle season. Elk were few and far between. First solo pack out and it was a chore.

 

[Rogue Bay]

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New Mexico.

Lots of great bulls on this thread. Congratulations to everyone.

The fronts on that bull are incredible! Great job!

 

[999delta]

Just got back from a hunt of a life time. Got this bull on the first day. Witch made me camp cook the rest of the week. Wyoming back country

 

[Tremain4414]

A lot of firsts this season. First branch bull, first time using llamas hunting and first time spike camp hunting. Great trip overall and we were fortunate enough to harvest two bulls.

Mixed some of this bull with some venison and made brauts and breakfast sausage. Delicious!

 

[Tinhorn]

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A lot of firsts this season. First branch bull, first time using llamas hunting and first time spike camp hunting. Great trip overall and we were fortunate enough to harvest two bulls.

Mixed some of this bull with some venison and made brauts and breakfast sausage. Delicious!

Awesome. How was your experience with the llama's?

 

[Tremain4414]

Awesome. How was your experience with the llama's?

Overall it was good, these guys were young, I think it was their first and second seasons packing. We took them into some pretty rough country though and all in all they did really well.

 

[FalconRidge]

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I'll go first. This is the first elk I've killed. First day of the season, last light on public land in Montucky with my PSE Mach 34. I'm still on cloud nine after taking this old 6x7 brute as my first elk.

Amazing! Congrats!

 

[kodyshriver]

Consolation prize after an unsuccessful Mule Deer season

 

[hunterjmj]

Got this guy last week. Was getting late and didn't have time to set up a grip and grin. Very thankful to get all the meat for the family. When I was skinning him out I noticed a 5" section on his backstrap that was swollen so I avoided it while cutting out the straps. When I came back in the morning to pack out more meat I cut into that spot and about a cup of puss spewed out and found a broad head. The blades were gone. I'm guessing they dissolved? Anyhow, an interesting discusting find that stunk so bad it made me dry heave.

 

[KHNC]

Managed to get an elk this season finally. lol. Huge cow First afternoon with rifle in Wyoming after a 29 hour drive. 462yds with 300WM. 3.5M pack out. Rough one! Herd of over 100 with 30+ bulls in the herd. Would have been nice to have a tag in that area for sure!

 

[MTguy0341]

Elk #3 of the year, time to chase some deer

 

[Siscoe308]

Can’t find a bull worth packing out but this cow will fill the freezer

 

[Rogue Bay]

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Can’t find a bull worth packing out but this cow will fill the freezer

Cow hunts are my favorite. I’d rather eat a cow than a bull (other than a spike) and cow hunts feel less stressful to me. Congrats on a full freezer!

 

[Rogue Bay]

Got this guy last week. Was getting late and didn't have time to set up a grip and grin. Very thankful to get all the meat for the family. When I was skinning him out I noticed a 5" section on his backstrap that was swollen so I avoided it while cutting out the straps. When I came back in the morning to pack out more meat I cut into that spot and about a cup of puss spewed out and found a broad head. The blades were gone. I'm guessing they dissolved? Anyhow, an interesting discusting find that stunk so bad it made me dry heave. View attachment 626514View attachment 626516View attachment 626515

That’s crazy looking. Was any of the meat affected other than right at the wound site?

I’ve seen a couple similar wounds, but not as large and not nearly as much fluid. I can almost smell it just looking at that last photo

 

[BK Peterson]

My dad and I have been archery hunting elk together every year for the last ten years. It has always been my favorite trip of the year. He drives from Iowa to my place in CO and stays with us for a week or two depending on whatever else we have going on in our lives. He has had a hand full of opportunities, but the stars never aligned to close the deal. Over the last few years, I have tried to convince him to switch to using a rifle or muzzleloader, but he flat out refuses to put down his bow.

Last night we charged into the woods as we normally do. This time it was a little different though. For the first time ever, my five year old son got to join. He had been begging to go every day of the season. Before we left last night my son took it upon himself to go upstairs to his room, put on his camoflauge, strap on his shoes, and fill up a water bottle. He took the initiative to do it. I was busy getting my own gear ready and loaded up. When I walked in the house to grab one last thing, he was standing in the living room and said "Dad, I am ready. Can I please come? I want to go real life elk hunting." He made it impossible to say no.

As we walked up the trail to our spots, my dad took off ahead for a tree stand while my son and I walked at a slower pace. Before my son and I got to our spot about 1.3 miles in, I could hear my dad yelling for me from about 600 yards away. He had already climbed the stand, shot, and recovered his first elk. The bull was at 15 yards within minutes of being in the stand.

My son and I walked directly for him. When we saw my dad, my son took off on a sprint to give him a hug. After some hooting and hollering, we let my son follow the blood trail and find the bull (it was only about 30 yards from the stand). The excitement was overwhelming. It still is. So many miles, trips, spots, and years finally paid off for my dad and my five year old got to be a part of the whole thing. After about 1,000 pictures and high fives, my dad and I got to work while my son held his little flashlight that we grabbed out of the junk drawer before we hopped in the truck.

When we got down to the truck well after bed time, my son's final words before he fell asleep were "This is the best day ever."

Its not huge, but it means everything.

Awesome story!! Congrats!

 

[hunterjmj]

Cow hunts are my favorite. I’d rather eat a cow than a bull (other than a spike) and cow hunts feel less stressful to me. Congrats on a

That’s crazy looking. Was any of the meat affected other than right at the wound site?

I’ve seen a couple similar wounds, but not as large and not nearly as much fluid. I can almost smell it just looking at that last photo

I stayed clear of that spot while breaking down the bull. Didn't cut into it till the next day. No other meat was affected.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Elk #3 of the year, time to chase some deer

I prefer hunting the ladies.

 

[Bigborealaska]

Struck big last night in Montana

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Dang thats a lot of blood. Do you like that big stabilizer out front? Is it difficult to get through the timber with it?

 

[Bigborealaska]

I scored a LE archery elk permit in Utah. Had going on 3 decades worth of points and really was ready to cash them in. Such a great hunt. I put more details 26 year wait - Utah Elk Hunt.

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Man, What a great bull. What unit was your hunt in?

 

[Bigborealaska]

Sept. 18th
New Mexico, public land
Solo

Bugled this herd bull in on the 4th day of a 10-day season. The first shot was 33yds, quartering towards me quite a bit. Entrance was in the crease at the top of the bottom 3rd. Exited paunch behind the last rib at the top of the bottom 3rd.

Had a reed in my mouth and stopped him. He turned to look and was perfectly broadside. I estimated he was at around 45yds, bracketed my 40 and 50 pins on him, and sent another one. Entrance was a couple inches back from the crease at the bottom of the top 3rd. Exit was the same.

The terrain looks nice to pack through in the pictures, and it really was. I was alone and about 50 football fields from my truck though, so the bones were coming out. Got the last load to the truck and on ice around 3:30am. The superb weather and the sound of wolves howling in the dark during the pack out added an extra element of sweetness to the overall experience, a great hunt. Few are so enjoyable, even when you're coming out heavy.

Congrats to ALL of the posters in this thread!

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Nice bull, How do you like those Iron Will broadheads? I was going to switch to them next year.