Elk, elk, elk!!!

[birdhunter]

I just got back from my elk hunt and I am soo pumped up. 3 days = 3 fantastic big branch bulls. Here's the low down.

Went out late Friday afternoon after bagging a couple of phesant at EE Wilson in the morning. Stayed with a logger friend down in Drain. We hunted somewhere in the cascades on public land during the general season (If you think I'm going to get any more specific than that you aren't playing with a full deck. You'll see why.)

Saturday morning we get out to our spot at opening light. My dad, our friend and myself all out there looking for a bull. We had no idea where any elk were so we just started looking for fresh tracks. Didn't take long.

I jumped a herd of about 20 with 2 spikes and a 6x6 in it. They ran by my friend and down into a canyon. He tracked them down for 3 miles and finally shot a 5x6 satellite bull that was following the herd. We spent there rest of the day packing that bugger out from where he had killed it.

The next day we went out to the same area where we had crossed tracks while hiking around the day before. While walking around an old skid road I turned the corner and saw the biggest bull I've ever seen in my life. An absolutely monstorous 7x7. He was standing broadside to me about 100 yards out. He turned and started to trot so I shot him twice in the chest w/ my .308. The elk acted like I hadn't even hit him. We tracked him all day and couldn't find much blood. He had been with a harem of about 30 cows and another 3 spikes. When I shot elk went every direction so it was tough to stay on just his track. At this point I was supposed to go back to school and work, but I decided to blow it off and track down this bull. I felt really confident about my shots, but the bull had taken off like he hadn't even been hit.

The next day (today - Monday) we took another friend up there to help track and pack. It was pouring down rain and had already erased any sign from yesterday. We started looking around for this big bull again and after about a mile of hiking I came into another herd of 10 or so cows. There was a large 6x7 who I didn't see, a few spikes and a nice 5x5. I shot the 5x5 from about 100 yrds with a .338 (bigger gun this time) and he dropped in his tracks. At this point all **** broke loose. There were elk everywhere the next couple of minutes.

While I was gutting my elk I heard another shot. My friend's friend was hollaring up and down the radio that he had just shot a monster bull. Turns out it was the one I had shot at the day before. A little while after I shot, a group of elk filed past him and this big guy was in the rear. He blasted him with his 7mm and the sucker finally stayed down. When we skinned him out there were my two shots. Both in the shoulder within 3 inches of each other. Next time I'll try to place those shots a little better. Tough once they start running.

So I just now got back after getting poured on all day. All day I was soaking wet but grinning from ear to ear. We finally packed out both elk and my Dad is still down there trying to fill his tag tomorrow. If he didn't have to stop and help pack so much I'm sure he would have already gotten one. So 3 elk. A 5x6, my 5x5 and a monster 7x7. We saw probably another 8 branch bulls and 5 spikes the whole trip.

3 bears including one that tried to come onto my elk while I was still boning it out. Kind of unearving to look up and see a 200 lb bear 30 yards. He was sort of popping his jaw and pacing around, waiting for me to finish. I did and got the **** out of there. 40 + blue grouse, should have brought the shotgun. Coyotes, deer, mt. quail and lots of sandhill cranes in the clear cuts for some reason. I'd never seen that before. As an added bonus, we only saw two other hunters all weekend long.

All in all great hunt. I've been doing this for years and have never had a hunt this great. This is the kind of thing you talk about for years to come. I hope some of you other guys did well too. I've definately put in my time and miles for these elk. It's been 4 years since I killed my last one. I'll try to post pics if they come out. Disposable camera in wet and cloudy conditions might be sketchy. I am so pumped for next season already!!! Elk burgers all winter!!! Yeah!!!!!!!

[ 10-22-2001: Message edited by: birdhunter ]

[Snapset]

Good Job, Bird. I was down around Elkton fishing on saturday. On the way down we saw a big herd by Cottage Grove on I-5, then on the way back out we saw a another big herd between Elkton and Drain. I was surprised to see several large bulls in both herds.

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

You can tell me, Birdhunter, as I don't hunt elk anymore.

As an aside, I see you're going to school at OSU. My wife used to work there in the entomology department. On our first date she showed me stoneflies over on the Metolius.

Congrats on the successful hunt. You'll tell stories about that one for years.

[ 10-23-2001: Message edited by: Zen Leecher aka Bill W ]

[SLEDDER]

Bird, Good job sounds like you worked your butt off [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I still have the late season archery hunt to look forward too. I went to osu for a couple years, they were good times!! Anytime you want to shoot coyotes or anything else, and are looking for a partner let me know.

[ 10-23-2001: Message edited by: SLEDDER ]

[Fish Hunter]

Way to go, congrats. Bet that bear got your attention! Sure would like to see those pics! Sounds like you guys cleaned up. Bird can you explain how the shots from your .308 failed in greater detail? Did they go clear though? What type of bullet were you using? How far forward were the shots? I know shot placement is everything on these bulls, but you would think at 100 yds you would have got a blood trail. My wife hunts with a .308 and we need to know!

[SeanD]

Congrats on a great hunt! I was down around lemolo and diamond lake this saturdasy through monday, but i didnt have the good fortune to see any antlers, although i saw lots of cows. Yeah, midterms suck during elk season. Sounds like your hunt couldnt get much better.

[birdhunter]

Fish Hunter - The bull was angling away from me when I hit him with my first shot. 100 yrds away is what we paced off. I wanna say I shoot 180 grain bullets for elk, but I need to check on that. Usually it is 150 for blacktail and the .308 does just fine. Both shots went into the shoulder instead of just behind it. I guess I was leading him just a little too much. We found both bullets in him. One was lodged against a rib on the side I shot him. the other was in the shoulder on the other side. It only grazed the top part of one lung. Both real near misses. Neither past through so he only bled a little internally. There was a little blood for the first 50 yards or so, but it was pouring down rain and washing away most of the sign. That and about 30 elk going off in every direction made it tough to follow his track.

I've killed elk before with that .308 and so has my dad. All of those have been head shots however. I wasn't about to try a head shot on a moving bull and risk missing completely. Big Roosevelt bulls can take a lot of punishment and keep on moving. Last year I saw a big bull shot at 20 yrds away with a 7 mm. Went through both shoulders and the bullet still didn't come out. This weekend another of our bulls was shot through both shoulders with the same 7 mm. 100 yrds and the bullet was lodged in the far shoulder. These critters are really tough and if you don't want to chase them all day, you need to break them down.

If I had my say I'd shoot a 7 mm and put one into the middle of the shoulder. It drops them where they stand. Besides taking out the elks front legs so they can't run, you also hit the heart/lungs. You just need a heavy gun so it hit the animal hard. Knock them down and don't stop shooting if they are still standing. Elk have a nasty habit of running forever and dying in the bottom of the deepest canyon they can find. Don't worry about ruining meat. It really doesn't. Besides, there is plenty of meat on an elk anyways.

This area has been very good to us. 8 branch bulls in the past 5 years now. I drew a Steens tag and wasn't going to be able to make it over for that hunt so I wasn't really looking forward to the general season. It ended up working out great. Another interesting thing is that the elk were just finishing up their rut. We still heard some bugling in the early morning. Made them a lot easier to find. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Sledder - All my weekends are booked through November, but some time this winter we'll have to get together and do some predator calling or duck hunting. I've still got your number so I'll keep in touch. Good luck on your trip.

[Fish Hunter]

Bird,
Thanks for the background info. on the 7x7 shots. It's got to be pretty satisfying to do so well in the general elk season. Better keep that area tightly wrapped. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[RichH]

[img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Awesome dude!!!

[Dogfish]

One thing that this helps to demonstrate to folks is that if you shoot anywhere above the shoulder, you will miss the lungs. The heart is located in the lower 8 inches of the elk's chest, just behind the shoulder.

I know they are big animals, but shot placement is the rule with all game. Remember, shoulder and below will get the heart and lungs, above that, you might nick the spine, if you are lucky.

Congrats on the elk!!!

Andy

[Baldpate Basher]

Hey Bird,
You can trust me I won’t tell a soul! Well maybe not. Sounds like one of those places you need to keep secret.

Congrats!!! Great hunt. I’m sure it was a ball.

Of course you could have taken your old friend who has never gone elk hunting before in his life. But I guess you have to live with your guilt knowing that you snuffed your oldest and truest buddy.

Boy, am I full of it or what? OK. Now I’ve gone too far for even me! Sorry?

Great to hear you had fun! Keep us up to date on the dux down in your neck of the marsh.

P.s. You are rapidly becoming my hero. You go out hunting more then could when I was in school. Good job!

[ 10-24-2001: Message edited by: Baldpate Basher ]

[Merle]

Bird,
I enjoyed that story very much.

[blackdog]

birdhunter - congratualations!!! Now, where the heck are the pictures? Not that we need proof, just want to get a look at these monsters. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[birdhunter]

Okay, here is the pic of the 7 pt I shot at. Sorry it's so dark. Disposable camera. My Dad has the other roll of film with the other bulls so I'll post that when I can get them and scan them. Enjoy.

[Lured In]

That sure is purdy! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[Fish Hunter]

Bona-fide a ss scratchers!! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Not much cape left for a head mount. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Perhaps this isn't the owner's biggest bull?

Dam it's a long time (1year)till my next elk hunt.

[Rauly]

I think you need a bigger truck. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] That is one nice bull! And that ain't no bull. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Baldpate Basher]

Way cool! Photo's not even all that bad unless you're a professional phlash. So noprob.

And great rack!