Sherman
WKR
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2021
- Messages
- 634
My family and I are transplants to Colorado from California. We never hunted in California because there was so much to do there and I wasn’t raised a hunter, though our recreation always revolved around the outdoors. When we got to Colorado a buddy took us duck hunting, then goose, then turkey, then deer, I suppose the natural progression. Last year was the first time we all drew deer tags. Only my middle son was successful killing a doe. This year my two oldest drew cow tags and my hunting buddy’s eldest drew an either sex tag, all first rifle in the same unit. We headed out together Friday morning to set up camp and do a little scouting.
Opening morning, with the help of a mutual friend, we set up on a ridge overlooking multiple drainages and ponds, figuring other hunters would drive elk to us as the day progressed. Our friend was correct as shots were fired at first light, starting far off and progressing closer to us as the morning progressed. What we did not anticipate were hunters so close to us just down the ridge cutting the elk off before we could get shots off. At one point a cow closed in at about 150 yards. As my buddy’s son was setting up his shot, a hunter below us (we couldn’t see) let off two shots and the cow ran into the aspens. The hunter only tracked the cow for about five minutes before returning to his spot and sat there to blow out every other group of elk that might come our way. We learned a hard lesson about how unethical some “hunters” could be. My two sons and I skirted the ridge about 60 yards away to get a better view of a finger that elk might come up out of the aspens.
We were taking a little snack break, all three of us sitting, me facing both of my sons when we heard a crack coming from behind me. I turned around and saw the head of a cow coming around a small pine ten yards behind me. I whispered to Jonah to grab his gun. He had it shouldered before I could get my head around to see where the cow was. The front half of the cow was now fully exposed broadside when I heard the safety click off and a BOOM. The entire sequence took less than 2.5 seconds. The cow turned and ran down hill knocking over a tree in the process.
I asked Jonah where he put the crosshairs and he answered correctly, but I began to question where the actual hit was since we were at 10 yards. I have heard of calibers rising 8” out of the barrel at such close range, but wasn’t sure if that is the case on a 30-06. My heart sank as I ran over to where she was shot and I didn’t see any blood for another ten yards. It was all dark timber. There was a carpet of yellow aspen leaves that would be simple to spot blood, yet we couldn’t locate any. We slowly walked the direction she ran off and spotted her 20 yards out laying down. I was just going to sit right there until her head fell down, but she spotted us and got up and ran another 30 yards to our right. I sent Jonah ahead and hung back. He spotted her on her knees and put another shot less than an inch away from the original shot. The second place he shot her was the only spot with blood on the ground, and even then it was extremely minimal. Maybe about 10-15 drops, and she was in that spot for over a minute before the second shot took her down.
We made our way over to her and tried to comfort her as she took her last breaths, thanked her, and prayed to give thanks to God. Tears were shed and hugs were shared. It was awesome to experience that moment with my oldest son, my middle son, and my closest friends.
After she was quartered out we loaded our Kifaru packs and packed out our family’s first ever elk. I’m glad both of my oldest boys have got a big game animal before I have. I can’t imagine it any other way. I know my time will come, and they will be by my side, just as happy for me as I was for them. It makes me think of the one guy who took a poll on here because he was taking his son hunting for his first buck but said he wouldn’t let his son shoot something bigger than what he has already killed. I truly believe I find more joy watching my boys do this and being a part of it, seeing the smiles on their faces, all the hard work, scouting, and range days pay off. I can’t imagine getting to that point and telling my son I would taking the shot because it is bigger than anything I have shot. I think about that guy often, and his son. I feel sorry for both of them.
Opening morning, with the help of a mutual friend, we set up on a ridge overlooking multiple drainages and ponds, figuring other hunters would drive elk to us as the day progressed. Our friend was correct as shots were fired at first light, starting far off and progressing closer to us as the morning progressed. What we did not anticipate were hunters so close to us just down the ridge cutting the elk off before we could get shots off. At one point a cow closed in at about 150 yards. As my buddy’s son was setting up his shot, a hunter below us (we couldn’t see) let off two shots and the cow ran into the aspens. The hunter only tracked the cow for about five minutes before returning to his spot and sat there to blow out every other group of elk that might come our way. We learned a hard lesson about how unethical some “hunters” could be. My two sons and I skirted the ridge about 60 yards away to get a better view of a finger that elk might come up out of the aspens.
We were taking a little snack break, all three of us sitting, me facing both of my sons when we heard a crack coming from behind me. I turned around and saw the head of a cow coming around a small pine ten yards behind me. I whispered to Jonah to grab his gun. He had it shouldered before I could get my head around to see where the cow was. The front half of the cow was now fully exposed broadside when I heard the safety click off and a BOOM. The entire sequence took less than 2.5 seconds. The cow turned and ran down hill knocking over a tree in the process.
I asked Jonah where he put the crosshairs and he answered correctly, but I began to question where the actual hit was since we were at 10 yards. I have heard of calibers rising 8” out of the barrel at such close range, but wasn’t sure if that is the case on a 30-06. My heart sank as I ran over to where she was shot and I didn’t see any blood for another ten yards. It was all dark timber. There was a carpet of yellow aspen leaves that would be simple to spot blood, yet we couldn’t locate any. We slowly walked the direction she ran off and spotted her 20 yards out laying down. I was just going to sit right there until her head fell down, but she spotted us and got up and ran another 30 yards to our right. I sent Jonah ahead and hung back. He spotted her on her knees and put another shot less than an inch away from the original shot. The second place he shot her was the only spot with blood on the ground, and even then it was extremely minimal. Maybe about 10-15 drops, and she was in that spot for over a minute before the second shot took her down.
We made our way over to her and tried to comfort her as she took her last breaths, thanked her, and prayed to give thanks to God. Tears were shed and hugs were shared. It was awesome to experience that moment with my oldest son, my middle son, and my closest friends.
After she was quartered out we loaded our Kifaru packs and packed out our family’s first ever elk. I’m glad both of my oldest boys have got a big game animal before I have. I can’t imagine it any other way. I know my time will come, and they will be by my side, just as happy for me as I was for them. It makes me think of the one guy who took a poll on here because he was taking his son hunting for his first buck but said he wouldn’t let his son shoot something bigger than what he has already killed. I truly believe I find more joy watching my boys do this and being a part of it, seeing the smiles on their faces, all the hard work, scouting, and range days pay off. I can’t imagine getting to that point and telling my son I would taking the shot because it is bigger than anything I have shot. I think about that guy often, and his son. I feel sorry for both of them.
