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.


View attachment 795186

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

 

[Strider]

Me and my buddy that cut our teeth together figuring out the whole Elk hunting thing finally doubled up. Long day on the mountain and lots of fun. I shot the rag.
#shootragswithoutremorse

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Got my 1st rifle euro back

 

[Firestone]

Me and my buddy that cut our teeth together figuring out the whole Elk hunting thing finally doubled up. Long day on the mountain and lots of fun. I shot the rag.
#shootragswithoutremorse
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That hashtag awesome

 

[Geewhiz]

Me and my buddy that cut our teeth together figuring out the whole Elk hunting thing finally doubled up. Long day on the mountain and lots of fun. I shot the rag.
#shootragswithoutremorse
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Droppin' rags and punchin' tags!

 

[Navaluk]

Over the counter Idaho public land Rocky. Timber company land Roosevelt, Oregon.

 

[LoganWolfe]

My first elk ever and it was a healthy Raspberry Island (Kodiak, AK archipelago) cow rosey. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a Raspberry Island cow tag this fall and we had ourselves a heck of a time.

My hunting partner and I put in 38 miles over four days and ended up packing out 256 pounds of delicious elk meat.

I shot her the evening of the fourth day with the float plane coming on the fifth, four miles from camp. 225 yards with a .300 win mag, 200 grain ELDX.

A night time pack out, followed by a pre-dawn second run and the meat was secured and waiting on the float plane.

Epic trip, epic meat, all around fantastic.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

View attachment 798130

My first elk ever and it was a healthy Raspberry Island (Kodiak, AK archipelago) cow rosey. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a Raspberry Island cow tag this fall and we had ourselves a heck of a time.

My hunting partner and I put in 38 miles over four days and ended up packing out 256 pounds of delicious elk meat.

I shot her the evening of the fourth day with the float plane coming on the fifth, four miles from camp. 225 yards with a .300 win mag, 200 grain ELDX.

A night time pack out, followed by a pre-dawn second run and the meat was secured and waiting on the float plane.

Epic trip, epic meat, all around fantastic.

I like eating girls.

 

[Scrappy]

View attachment 798130

My first elk ever and it was a healthy Raspberry Island (Kodiak, AK archipelago) cow rosey. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a Raspberry Island cow tag this fall and we had ourselves a heck of a time.

My hunting partner and I put in 38 miles over four days and ended up packing out 256 pounds of delicious elk meat.

I shot her the evening of the fourth day with the float plane coming on the fifth, four miles from camp. 225 yards with a .300 win mag, 200 grain ELDX.

A night time pack out, followed by a pre-dawn second run and the meat was secured and waiting on the float plane.

Epic trip, epic meat, all around fantastic.

Dammmmn, that girls got a big butt.

Congrats Sir

 

[TxhunterPRC]

First bull elk for me and my brother. Brother killed his two days prior on opening morning. Cousin and I doubled up at 600 yards. Was an unforgettable trip to say the least. I knew my bull was big but once I got down to him I was speechless. Ended up taping out at 311”.

 

[Buckshot85]

I’ve hunted elk in Colorado back in 1995. Saw a few cows but no bull.
Then hunted Wyoming in 2022 north of Dubois and never saw an elk, only griz, moose, deer and sheep.
Was back in Wyoming this October of ‘24 for an antelope hunt and bought an OTC cow elk tag. All 5 of us got our goat the first day plus I shot my first elk that morning. A nice mature cow and of course was surrounded by bulls. Lol. A few were very nice 6 points.
1 shot at 380 yards with .264wm.
Ended up with 128 pounds of boneless cuts and burger.
Man, those steaks are tremendous.