CO 3rd Rifle Thread

[WashCycle]

Overall decent. I was able to get out on 3 half day hunts on a leftover tag that allowed me to sleep in my own bed. Chances on all 3 outings. Did see lots of hunters(a LOT of road hunters), 4 Moose, 5 bucks, 1 Mountain lion, 0 Elk or sign.

Had a small 3X3 give me the slip and got onto private during a mini-whiteout on opening morning. Moved to within 250 yards and he bedded down. 15 minute white out rolled in and when it lifted, he was gone. Almost! A larger 3x3 walking 10 yards over a private land boundary with a squad of does(as I was parking). A fork and Horn and a double spike on the second day that I watched for about an hour in a wide open field mid-day.

I got out to hunt the closing afternoon of the season. Within an hour I was on a group of does and a nicer 3x3 bounded out. Moved in from 700 yards to 397 and decided I had to make a play. He was about 10-12 yards from a private boundary with 4 of the 6 does already over the boundary. Kinda windy and based on the wind where I was and their position, I figured they were walking into the wind. Did my measurement and calc...welp I shot in front of the buck. He bolted. Went over to do my checks, did a wind test and found they were walking with the wind. Found my hit in the dirt, their exit trail and was able to confirm a clean miss.

I've never missed a shot on a wild animal or even in training once my scope is dialed...so extremely humbling and it's going to have me back to doing more practice and shot/wind dialing this off-season.

Enjoyed everyone's posts and successes

 

[Poser]

Take the Colorado Mountain Lion Hunting Exam! Not only does it give you the ability to get a lion tag and go for long walks in deep snow with a rifle, but this year of all years is a great time to have record numbers of lion tags purchased.

Good idea. I think I'll do that and get out at least a couple of times when snow conditions are uninspiring.

 

[cnelk]

I have a 4th Season buck tag but it’s going to be unused.
A bull elk, cow moose, and a whitetail buck is enough for this year.

Started the snowmobile the other day and going through ice fishing gear.

Hard water is almost here.

 

[Mattyq17]

SW CO 3rd season for us. We got there on the 5th, set up camp scouted for a few days had a good plan we thought for day 1 and all we saw was fog. Spotted a legal bull for my nephew in a brief clear moment only to have the fog roll back in for 4 hours and not find him again once it cleared. Plenty of doe running around and a few bucks but never within range or time to get in range. My nephew did get his first big game kill, a 5-point bull that I got to help pack out (thank God for the old dozer trail on the way out). My dad got his 1st 4-point buck as well. Overall, we had a great time and can't wait till next year. I could have shot a small fork on Friday but decided to pass.

We saw a ton of cow elk, talked to a local who hunts the area every year and he can't remember the last time he saw so many cows. This was our second time to this area, and we have expanded our hunt areas from 1 (shot my bull and son shot a buck in the same canyon last time) to about 6-8 for next year. Good luck to all the 4th season hunters.

One last thing the amount of road hunters from 3 years ago was insane. My dad counted 20 vehicles go past our camp one day and down in the flats it looked like a KOA campground. Only had one hunt where some guys walked right through the bowl, we were glassing so overall a fun experience and so much learned for next year.