This was only our 3rd year ever elk hunting, and honestly while we didn't get anything we are getting closer and closer each time and learning a lot. We are however really gonna need to rethink finding a good softball (steepness-wise) unit for next year, 2 years in the Frank in ID and this year in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in CO 
Got in 4 days ahead of season start of 1st rifle, used that time to road travel, glass , quick day hike in to most of our plans A-G. Basically covered the whole unit judging access, pressure (mostly hikers and social media "stars"), and then settled in on an area we actually heard some bugles and even cow calls the night before opener.
Well we ended up empty handed, again. Day 1 nothing, Day 2 We spotted 2 herds 30+elk (and a BIG boy, the kind of big you know 2.5miles out) in a couple parks about 2.5+ miles back and about 2500'-3000' up from where we were, watched them all day from there, made some friends who saw us then saw the elk. Day 3, find out our new friends are planning to head that way too but give us the choice of which heard we want for the day.
Well, the hike up is an ordeal to say the least but we made it, along the way we saw the elk were still on edge of the park and knowing what they did before are very confident we'll be in right spot to catch them feeding out about 1-2hrs before sunset/last shot time and should walk to within 300yds of us if not closer. It should be said we didn't think you could take a 4x4 up the mountain but could to trail head, but there was 4x4 tracks alll the way up the mountain so..... We didn't run into any 4x4s in the morning and didn't hear any coming up all day so we thought we had this park and this heard all to ourselves and the other group was up and kind of behind us watching after another.
Well ~5pm rollls around and BANG/CRACK..........BANG/CRACK. These shots were loud! So loud I was seconding guessing one of us didn't shoot but it was coming behind us, now the group we knew about was only "going to shoot about 300yds" so again thought "great they must of got one of theirs". About 5-10min we see 4 cows/3 calves come running from where the herd went in the morning mouths open tongues out not stopping closest they got was ~415yds. Its 530. Then 545, 600, 615, 630. We call it and start heading down.
On way down we see 2 other hunters ahead of us going down, they get to the their side by side virtually at the top of the mountain. And then we chat. They ask were we were and make it sound like they shot a bull back away from us opposite direction of where we were "it was 800-900 yards" "I'm shooting a 338 lapua improved" "gunsmith says I can shoot 2000yrds" "I'm not comfortable with that I've only had it out to 500".......
Well our new friends come down and though we've not known them long we can tell they are pissed! Well the two in the side by side say they'll be back up in the morning to find the bull. Our new friends inform us that those two drove in at 5pm on the side by side walked up past them (seeing them) and set up above and behind them (who are also above and behind us). They could all see the park we were watching and our friends could see the herd we were expecting from about 1pm napping in a basin at the edge of thick timber, we were too low and too far left to see. Well when those new guys came in they saw the herd, shortly after the big boy got up out of that timber and was gonna start pushing the herd to feed towards us but he doesn't get the chance. Those two rip off those two shots over our friends heads (unacceptable) and over ours (forgivable to me probably didn't know we were even there). Our friends say they saw it hit dirt both times.
Well day 4 comes along and we watch 2000yd guy, and 2 buddies walk right up into that park looking for the bull no one but them think they hit. And we called it. Tired, sore, more then a little bummed out. We did a NICE bull and 5 cows on the flat private land on the way out. But that's how the cookie crumbles sometimes. Public land means other public hunters doing what they wanna do, not knowing your plans and having plans of their own. We felt really good that without any interference we'd have had a super nice bull but wasn't to be.
A couple things we learned:
What Colorado calls a road and what I call a road are not anywhere near the same thing
I need some new glassing mitts or gloves, my FL cold weather alpine gloves are not warm enough and just don't jive with my hands shape wise I guess-so open to suggestions.
My Akto tent is a condensation monster and I will either be getting something else, or might try one last ditch effort customizing the ventilation.- If anyone can recommend a place that could add some mesh panels to a tent please let me know.
*also my Athlon 15-45 spotter broke (not catastrophically) I could still use it but it will be getting warranty work and then sold
*I'll really look at getting some higher mag binos as another possible option instead of spotter
Anyway if anyone wants to PM some nice gently rolling units in any state please PM away, my legs could use a break next year lol.
Got in 4 days ahead of season start of 1st rifle, used that time to road travel, glass , quick day hike in to most of our plans A-G. Basically covered the whole unit judging access, pressure (mostly hikers and social media "stars"), and then settled in on an area we actually heard some bugles and even cow calls the night before opener. Well we ended up empty handed, again. Day 1 nothing, Day 2 We spotted 2 herds 30+elk (and a BIG boy, the kind of big you know 2.5miles out) in a couple parks about 2.5+ miles back and about 2500'-3000' up from where we were, watched them all day from there, made some friends who saw us then saw the elk. Day 3, find out our new friends are planning to head that way too but give us the choice of which heard we want for the day.
Well, the hike up is an ordeal to say the least but we made it, along the way we saw the elk were still on edge of the park and knowing what they did before are very confident we'll be in right spot to catch them feeding out about 1-2hrs before sunset/last shot time and should walk to within 300yds of us if not closer. It should be said we didn't think you could take a 4x4 up the mountain but could to trail head, but there was 4x4 tracks alll the way up the mountain so..... We didn't run into any 4x4s in the morning and didn't hear any coming up all day so we thought we had this park and this heard all to ourselves and the other group was up and kind of behind us watching after another.
Well ~5pm rollls around and BANG/CRACK..........BANG/CRACK. These shots were loud! So loud I was seconding guessing one of us didn't shoot but it was coming behind us, now the group we knew about was only "going to shoot about 300yds" so again thought "great they must of got one of theirs". About 5-10min we see 4 cows/3 calves come running from where the herd went in the morning mouths open tongues out not stopping closest they got was ~415yds. Its 530. Then 545, 600, 615, 630. We call it and start heading down.
On way down we see 2 other hunters ahead of us going down, they get to the their side by side virtually at the top of the mountain. And then we chat. They ask were we were and make it sound like they shot a bull back away from us opposite direction of where we were "it was 800-900 yards" "I'm shooting a 338 lapua improved" "gunsmith says I can shoot 2000yrds" "I'm not comfortable with that I've only had it out to 500".......
Well our new friends come down and though we've not known them long we can tell they are pissed! Well the two in the side by side say they'll be back up in the morning to find the bull. Our new friends inform us that those two drove in at 5pm on the side by side walked up past them (seeing them) and set up above and behind them (who are also above and behind us). They could all see the park we were watching and our friends could see the herd we were expecting from about 1pm napping in a basin at the edge of thick timber, we were too low and too far left to see. Well when those new guys came in they saw the herd, shortly after the big boy got up out of that timber and was gonna start pushing the herd to feed towards us but he doesn't get the chance. Those two rip off those two shots over our friends heads (unacceptable) and over ours (forgivable to me probably didn't know we were even there). Our friends say they saw it hit dirt both times.
Well day 4 comes along and we watch 2000yd guy, and 2 buddies walk right up into that park looking for the bull no one but them think they hit. And we called it. Tired, sore, more then a little bummed out. We did a NICE bull and 5 cows on the flat private land on the way out. But that's how the cookie crumbles sometimes. Public land means other public hunters doing what they wanna do, not knowing your plans and having plans of their own. We felt really good that without any interference we'd have had a super nice bull but wasn't to be.
A couple things we learned:
What Colorado calls a road and what I call a road are not anywhere near the same thing
I need some new glassing mitts or gloves, my FL cold weather alpine gloves are not warm enough and just don't jive with my hands shape wise I guess-so open to suggestions.
My Akto tent is a condensation monster and I will either be getting something else, or might try one last ditch effort customizing the ventilation.- If anyone can recommend a place that could add some mesh panels to a tent please let me know.
*also my Athlon 15-45 spotter broke (not catastrophically) I could still use it but it will be getting warranty work and then sold
*I'll really look at getting some higher mag binos as another possible option instead of spotter
Anyway if anyone wants to PM some nice gently rolling units in any state please PM away, my legs could use a break next year lol.
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