Muzzy Tule Elk Hunt at Fort Hunter Liggett Army Base in California

[Billinsd]

I finished my elk hunt on Saturday, December 21st. I got my bull, the first day of the season at 8:30am. I'd been preparing since I found out I drew the tag in July. My failing hip and concern about the rain and wet muddy roads, and marooned trucks was sure was on my mind. I didn't want to come home empty handed. My good friend would help for 3 days. First Sat hunted a great location on foot along a river. Jumped a shooter bull like he was a rabbit. He ran off, and we cow called him back closer. Wasn't really the bull I was looking for, but didn't want to pass. He REALLY wanted to go into the river valley. He moved out a 1/4 mile in front of us as we walked along the edge of river for cover. Then he came in to the river, broadside at 130 yes. My shot was a little high and forward a bit in the neck. I'd practiced on elk targets and for some reason tended to shoot too forward in the neck. My friend said I'd missed. The bull now came towards us to the river. I loaded another shot, and to my horror about 20 grains of powder were stuck on the inside of the tube. 20 grains of bh209 out of 115 grains. I got to my senses, thinking I'm 50 yds, the gun will go boom. That's what I did and he crashed. I'm sure he was mortally wounded on first shot. Neither shot exited the elk. We recovered one bullet, a 290 grain Barnes TMZ sabot and it was perfectly mushroomed. I texted the biologist and he let me drive my truck off road right up to the elk. We pulled it up to a berm, so it would be easier to load into the truck, which we did. Heck of a hunt, and I was so lucky to have help. As it turned out my hip acted up as I was gutting it. I stood up and almost fell into the gut pile, just missed it. My hip acts up if I'm sitting down or kneeling sometimes. So blessed to have it work out so well. Couldn't be happier. I'm afraid I'm going to get my hip replaced sooner than later. Cheers Bill

 

[Billinsd]

Tule elk like riparian areas like feral pigs or ducks. Not at all like you'd expect for Rocky Elk.

 

[Billinsd]

Fit in my 5 foot Tacoma bed fine for the drive to the check station.

 

[Billinsd]

Forgot to wipe out my knight speed loader tube with a dryer sheet. The Bh209 site says to use a dryer sheet if the grains stick in the tube. Almost lost my mind in the field in the moment. There are so many, many things to be aware about while hunting.

 

[Billinsd]

Thanks to Mike, Sabotloader and others for the Muzzy help. Your help ensured that I'd be confident to shoot. The powder clinging to the knight tubes still blew my mind.

 

[Billinsd]

Pretty nice place to process the elk.

 

[SWOHTR]

Awesome. I am thinking of applying for a tag while I’m stationed at 32nd st in San Diego.

Do you have to pack it out whole?

 

[daddie63]

Congrats and nice bull. I’ve seen those bulls, only cause I never had a tag in my pocket, but they are impressive. Some surprisingly nice land on Liggett
Congrats again.

 

[TX_Diver]

Nice!! I hunted pigs there a few times when I lived in SLO. Saw elk a few times but never had a tag.

Congrats on the elk!

 

[7Bartman]

Can any active duty apply for the tag, or do you have to be stationed in CA?

 

[Billinsd]

Can any active duty apply for the tag, or do you have to be stationed in CA?

I don't know, I'm a civilian. There were 4 civilian and 4 active military tags. All the guys with military tags I've talked to, this hunt and past hunts were stationed in California. I'd google Fort Hunter Liggett Hunting for more info.

 

[Billinsd]

Awesome. I am thinking of applying for a tag while I’m stationed at 32nd st in San Diego.

Do you have to pack it out whole?

No, I was super lucky. The biologist let me drive off road to get the elk and it wasn't too muddy. Lucky my Tacoma is pretty light. I also had over 500 feet of mule tape, winch, come along, and game cart. Another guy killed a bull 500 yards from me and couldn't drive to it. He spent about 12 hrs packing it out. Most of the area you can drive around on roads and glass from the road at high points.

 

[Billinsd]

There was a lot of red tape to hunt on the base. I hadn't hunted there since around 911 and things sure changed. Need to get vetted, register weapons, and take some training. Not a big deal, but took time. I got there a day early and wanted to go into the main part of the base. I told the guard I wanted to look around and his reaction was funny. He said I can't do that, this us an Army base. Then I wised up and the other guard is also a game warden came over and talked to me. Once I explained what I was there for and said I wanted to see where the orientation was going to be the next day and check out the Hacienda it was fine. The base used to be pretty wide open with lots of poaching in the 80s. I remember almost getting stuck in the mud there 20 years ago. Lots of pig hunters stuck in the mud and a group of elk hunters the first day.

 

[Fowler530]

Congrats on your muzzy Tule! Glad to hear your hip held out to get the job done! Nice write up. Thanks for posting!

 

[5MilesBack]

I applied for a tag each year when I was living in Monterey, but never drew. Took a whole bunch of firewood off of the base there though, and used to see the Tule's all the time. It's a cool place. Congratulations.

 

[SWOHTR]

I applied for a tag each year when I was living in Monterey, but never drew. Took a whole bunch of firewood off of the base there though, and used to see the Tule's all the time. It's a cool place. Congratulations.

NPS?

 

[Azone]

I finished my elk hunt on Saturday, December 21st. I got my bull, the first day of the season at 8:30am. I'd been preparing since I found out I drew the tag in July. My failing hip and concern about the rain and wet muddy roads, and marooned trucks was sure was on my mind. I didn't want to come home empty handed. My good friend would help for 3 days. First Sat hunted a great location on foot along a river. Jumped a shooter bull like he was a rabbit. He ran off, and we cow called him back closer. Wasn't really the bull I was looking for, but didn't want to pass. He REALLY wanted to go into the river valley. He moved out a 1/4 mile in front of us as we walked along the edge of river for cover. Then he came in to the river, broadside at 130 yes. My shot was a little high and forward a bit in the neck. I'd practiced on elk targets and for some reason tended to shoot too forward in the neck. My friend said I'd missed. The bull now came towards us to the river. I loaded another shot, and to my horror about 20 grains of powder were stuck on the inside of the tube. 20 grains of bh209 out of 115 grains. I got to my senses, thinking I'm 50 yds, the gun will go boom. That's what I did and he crashed. I'm sure he was mortally wounded on first shot. Neither shot exited the elk. We recovered one bullet, a 290 grain Barnes TMZ sabot and it was perfectly mushroomed. I texted the biologist and he let me drive my truck off road right up to the elk. We pulled it up to a berm, so it would be easier to load into the truck, which we did. Heck of a hunt, and I was so lucky to have help. As it turned out my hip acted up as I was gutting it. I stood up and almost fell into the gut pile, just missed it. My hip acts up if I'm sitting down or kneeling sometimes. So blessed to have it work out so well. Couldn't be happier. I'm afraid I'm going to get my hip replaced sooner than later. Cheers Bill

Congratulations on the bull! I've been waiting for that tag for 17 years! Hopefully one day I draw it, I've been drooling over some of those bulls out there for years. The mud at that place can be horrible, I've spent a few days helping to dig trucks and jeeps out down there. There is alot more red tape than there use to be down there but it really did help get some of knuckle heads outta there for good. Did they let you guys hunt behind the tank range and in Stony Valley or was all that still off limits?

 

[Billinsd]

No, Stony Valley and the tank range were closed, 12A, and 12C.