Fort Riley Kansas Elk Hunt

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MattDavis

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Jul 22, 2020
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Starting a new thread for part 2. Click below

 
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MattDavis

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Jul 22, 2020
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Ended up being a short story

Alright so the morning was all just me screwing up. To start I over slept on day one of my elk hunt part two and a shitty excuse for it. I've got a damn tooth ache that comes and goes. Got seen before I traveled and I have a cracked lower molar. Going to need a root canal but they couldn't do it then and had to wait until after the hunt. Any way the damn thing starting throbbing last night keeping me up from midnight to 0300. So long story short my dumbass over slept, no excuses. Suppose to leave at 0540 in the morning but I wake up at 0558. Wake up panicked and just through shit on and go. Now I'm driving in at first light instead of being set up. Well maybe I'm lucky I spot the heard of about 60 elk coming in, there running late also. I scramble to get set up on them and barely get in place when they start crossing the opening in front of me.

I'm a little out of shape right now and the rush has me breathing harder than I'd like. Three small bulls cross first and there running, shit there all running. Did i spook them? A shit ton of cows cross running, no big bull. I stay patient, finally I see him coming with ten cows and calfs. I kinda catch a break he stops perfectly broadside at 100 yards with a damn calf right in front of him. He starts running, ive got buck fever and still breathing hard. I shoot and flat miss a hundred yard shot. ****! They turn back to the draw they come from.

I still hunt the tree line of that draw finding/bumping every elk except the herd bull. I also realize I've lost my phone. Spend an hour looking for it just to find it at my original shooting point. Pissed at myself I give up on the bull and decide to go check another spot another hunter informed me about. In the truck now and half way to the other spot I decide to turn back to set up a trail camera hoping to catch them crossing again before hunting this spot again.

On the way back I see ivory tips sticking up in the brush along the tree line I just walked a few hours before. It's him! I keep driving and get set up down wind for an approach. Theres an old rock fence line that is overgrown with brush between me and him running directly towards him. I'm able to crawl within 50 yards of him bedded. I cow call him to get him to stand...
 

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realunlucky

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Round sounds like a fun trip glad to made the effort to get back over there.

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Shrek

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Congratulations ! A lot of cool junk on that rack ! You certainly put in the time and effort. I’m happy it worked out for you.
 

bhalb69

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Nov 22, 2020
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Good morning everyone,

I drew the KS OIL elk tag on Fort Riley. Just starting my hunt this morning. Depending on the area I can hunt with a muzzleloader or rifle, this morning is muzzleloader.

The morning didn't start as planned, I think me and the gate guard weren't communicating well this morning leading me down a road I couldn't access the hunting grounds. Causing me to run about an hour late.

Walking to my glassing point I was in a hurry and it being my first day hunting of the year I just wasn't locked in. I ended up bumping a small 5x6. He just stood and started at me from 40 yards. I probably could have dropped him but it just felt sloppy. It's the first morning of the hunt, I wasn't paying attention, it was just luck and he's not quite what im after.

Fog from this morning pretty much covered the ground below until 0815.

Just watched a crossbow hunter from a tree line below me pack up and head out.
Oh man this is awesome. Been putting in for this for a little while and it sounds great to have a chance at an elk so close to home!

Congrats to ya!
 
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Bigfeet14

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Oct 6, 2020
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Matt, did you end up getting the bull mounted or Euro'd? Would love to see how it looks for you
 
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MattDavis

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Jul 22, 2020
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Matt, did you end up getting the bull mounted or Euro'd? Would love to see how it looks for you
My dad is bleaching it for me. Picking it up from him over memorial weekend.

Than getting the ivories from him to have jewelry made for my wife and our anniversary.
 
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MattDavis

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My dad is bleaching it for me. Picking it up from him over memorial weekend.

Than getting the ivories from him to have jewelry made for my wife and our anniversary.
Wasn't going to apply for the view tag originally because it felt like I had taken enough.... but after reading through my hunt again I couldn't help myself. Applied for the cow tag today.
 

Hunterw

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Aug 9, 2014
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Great hunt and a good bull to show for it..! Interesting head for sure.

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