CO 3rd Rifle Thread

[intunegp]

Just had a buck stalk ruined by an entire elk herd of 200+ head! Spotted the buck from 1400 yards and moved in for a stalk. Also spotted the elk herd in the other drainage probably 3/4 mile away from the deer. The elk herd just rolled over into the drainage and the deer booked it. Elk ended up walking downhill about 600 yards from us before it was too dark.

Come to find out there was 2 groups of hunters that spooked the herd. Thermals were not in their favor. Blows my mind that people think they can beat the wind.

90% of elk hunters in an OTC unit have not considered the wind whatsoever.

A few years ago my dad and I were on the same ridge, watching a trotting 5x5 through our rifle scopes waiting for him to present a shot, when a truck came flying down a private road probably 1000 yards away, putting the elk between us and them. A guy hopped out and shot 3-4 times across the hood, all clean misses. The bull took off to where he came from and the guy jumped back in the truck and they continued flying down the dirt road trying to catch up with the bull again. I have never been happier to see an elk escape a "hunter".

 

[abbrown]

..

Is this buck not dead yet?

 

[Jethro]

Is this buck not dead yet?

Answer appears to be "no". I didn't catch that the first time I looked.

 

[Poser]

Full moon and 20 mph wind gusts this morning yielded nothing for me.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

Is this buck not dead yet?

My same thought based on the position of the buck's head. Let's give the person the benefit of the doubt, maybe it's propped up by a stick we can't see. Hopefully people are putting their animals down before snapping pics.

 

[BigThig09]

4 for 4 on mulie tags on NW Colorado. I blew it on a much bigger buck, and was unable to locate him again until AFTER I tagged out. Go figure

All bucks killed were with does, but not really pushing them hard.

Heck of a good week for our group!

 

[Nickofthewoods]

4 for 4 on mulie tags on NW Colorado. I blew it on a much bigger buck, and was unable to locate him again until AFTER I tagged out. Go figure

All bucks killed were with does, but not really pushing them hard.View attachment 791518View attachment 791519View attachment 791520View attachment 791521View attachment 791522View attachment 791523

Heck of a good week for our group!

Nice! How did you get all those skulls cleaned so fast?

 

[WTFJohn]

Nice! How did you get all those skulls cleaned so fast?

The processor he used does 24 hr Euros. @BigThig09 Some of your backgrounds are easy to ID. Nice work on your trip west!

 

[jwatts]

My truck is loaded and ready to head out tomorrow for 4th rifle. I should be scouting by Sunday morning. Congrats to the 3rd rifle guys, and good luck for 4th rifle.

 

[gregsky]

Thank you everyone that posted here, I was following along when I had cell service. The info was really helpful to a new mule deer hunter like myself, I was able to tag out Wednesday.

Good luck to all that still have tags!

 

[Poser]

Can't believe that's the last hunting for me until turkey season. Going to wax some snowboards today.

 

[lak2004]

Can't believe that's the last hunting for me until turkey season. Going to wax some snowboards today.

Makes me sad too! Though ice fishing, winter fishing and some bird hunting will help. probably a little snowmobiling too

 

[Mountainrancher]

Makes me sad too! Though ice fishing, winter fishing and some bird hunting will help. probably a little snowmobiling too

Same for me too. I’ll probably help out on some late season cow hunts maybe shoot one myself but I’ve got a brand new snowmobile sitting at the dealership in town so bring on the snow!

 

[sndmn11]

Can't believe that's the last hunting for me until turkey season. Going to wax some snowboards today.

That's 100% the reason why we got a bird dog puppy!
I had a second season help out that was an opening day kill, and a third season help out that was an opening day kill. Both above average animals, so not much holding out for bigger. A rokslider came out for archery, but the hurricane(s) turned that into a one day thing also.

Post Hunting Withdrawal is a thing.

 

[blackhawk219]

I was hunting NW CO and was able to tag out on opening day! Not the biggest guy, but he is my biggest mule deer for sure (2nd time mule deer hunting for me). I got him with a group of around 10 does and a spike. Found them in an opening by a timber patch about a mile from the trail at about 9400'. He seemed to just be feeding with the does while the spike was chasing them around and harassing them. Happy with the harvest especially since my freezer was empty after having struck out on 2nd rifle bull elk hunt. My first solo hunt so happy with the success (getting him off the mountain by myself sure made me wish I had a buddy lol)

 

[Treeratslayer]

We made it happen in NW Co. some rut action for sure. We wouldn’t have gotten the 4th buck if it wasn’t for a smaller buck being in the area and drawing the buck in


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[Hnthrdr]

Well I struck out during third. Located a solid 3x3 opening day and passed him and some dinkers, hunted 3 days hard, saw way more hunters than deer. Got another afternoon in Thursday at a place I have never not seen deer a 1 mile x .6 mile ridge with 3/4 drainages coming off it. Didn’t see one deer on it. But it was fun. Already planning and looking forward to next year!