2024 OFFICIAL ELK MEAT POLE

[GSPHUNTER]

I had the privilege to hunt in Colorado this week. 4th rifle season. At about 8500 ft elevation. There was about 10 inches of snow laying where I was and a cold front moved in on Tuesday. It was 7 below on the truck dash Weds morning for the opener.

We had several guys scouting/spotting Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday at sunset we went higher and used spotting scopes to look down into our planned hunting area. I was so excited to watch numerous elk moving into our planned hunt area.

The next morning we waited for some fog to lift and then worked our way to a ridge. We were surrounded by 3 different groups of mixed elk over the the next couple hours. If I told you how many I tried to count, most would not believe me. On BLM land and private ground.

I missed a nice 6 x 6. Shot high. Not sure why. Other then much different conditions then when I sighted the gun in.... And the fact that my glasses were fogged, the sun was in my scope, my heart rate was high and my breathing from trying to awkwardly sprint a hundred yards hunched over.....

Then repeated that several times. So then when a smaller herd came down a side canyon, and this bull stood still at 352 yards, I finally got my act together.

It was a lifetime dream come true. And I learned a lot about myself and my gear.


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Adrenalin will do that to you at times, ask me how I know. Nice bull, now enjoy it, the meat and the memories.

 

[sako49541]

Wyoming last day bull.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Wyoming last day bull.

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I said, Damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jonesn3]

Late to this thread…

Proud son moment this season, helped get my dad his first archery elk, and first archery animal for that matter, all on his first season archery hunting! Happened early afternoon on the last day of the hunt! Pretty happy with the way it turned out and he was beyond thrilled

 

[Rogue Bay]

Late to this thread…

Proud son moment this season, helped get my dad his first archery elk, and first archery animal for that matter, all on his first season archery hunting! Happened early afternoon on the last day of the hunt! Pretty happy with the way it turned out and he was beyond thrilled

Congrats to both of you!

 

[snag11x]

 

[GSPHUNTER]

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How about some story to fill in the blanks???

 

[snag11x]

Saw him night before opener til the bear blew All elk off the mountainside. Saw nothing legal for next few days killed him on day 4 of first rifle.(he’s at top in above pic)

 

[roosiebull]

Bucket list bull! I’ve officially killed every bull from spike to a bull with 7 on one side. True forky horn. My goodness the tender flavor.
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That’s funny, I also have a forky on my bucket list. Roosie forks are rare creatures. I passed one years ago opening morning, first couple minutes of light opening day at under 10yds, but I let him go because he was in velvet (and I wanted to hunt more than 5 minutes)

Years before that I had one I was about to shoot, but left my rangefinder hanging after ranging, when I drew back, It was steep downhill and luckily I noticed that if I shot with my rangefinder dangling like it was, I was going to have some serious problems and he caught me trying to draw after I let down and secured my rangefinder

Somewhere in that same timeframe I had 2 forkies in a herd, looked like twins, I couldn’t believe it, I got in a perfect spot, they were feeding across, a cow was in the lead, then one of the forks, both were well within range but I was just waiting for the cow to clear so she didn’t catch me draw, and then I felt burning on my leg, then my hand, then noticed I was being swarmed by yellow jackets… I was standing on an underground nest. I tried to keep my cool but I wasn’t cool enough, they got me.

I have since figured fork roosies have supernatural powers that keep them alive, so the hunt for one continues.

I will likely drop what I’m doing next time I find a fork and hunt him exclusively, but I haven’t had the chance to even hunt one in several years