jwatts
Well-known member
I think we're going back for lunch
2nd rifle OTC hunt about to begin.
- Thread starter jwatts
- Start date
Southern Elk
Well-known member
Now that I have a little time, I’ll tell my portion of the story. Jwatts can fill in what happened before my shot. We walked in before daylight to a ridge that we knew the elk use to travel from feeding ground down low to timber higher up the mountain to bed.
The top of the ridge has timber on it and it is open on either side slope. Both sides can’t be hunted by one person. We decided that I would hunt the side that we came to first and Jwatts would hunt the opposite side. It was right at shooting light when he left me.
I wait probably 10-15 minutes and hear a shot. Followed by another shot. I knew that it had to be Jwatts. If there were multiple elk, which way would they go. They could go back down, go up on his side of the ridge, or cross over to where I was. The question was answered quickly as I saw a lot of elk crossing over to my side of the ridge out into the open.
I didn’t think that I would get a shot because they were running. When they got out into the open, they stopped momentarily not knowing which way to go. I ranged the mass of elk at 260 yards. I then tried to find a legal bull. Toward the left side of the herd, I found the bull that I shot and quickly put the crosshairs on him and fired. He was quartering to me and I shot him just in front of the shoulder. He dropped in his tracks. The rest of the herd thundered back over the ridge in the direction that they came from.
For those interested, I used a Kimber Hunter in 30-06 with a 165 gr Federal Trophy cooper bullet. This was my first time using a copper bullet and I was very impressed.
The top of the ridge has timber on it and it is open on either side slope. Both sides can’t be hunted by one person. We decided that I would hunt the side that we came to first and Jwatts would hunt the opposite side. It was right at shooting light when he left me.
I wait probably 10-15 minutes and hear a shot. Followed by another shot. I knew that it had to be Jwatts. If there were multiple elk, which way would they go. They could go back down, go up on his side of the ridge, or cross over to where I was. The question was answered quickly as I saw a lot of elk crossing over to my side of the ridge out into the open.
I didn’t think that I would get a shot because they were running. When they got out into the open, they stopped momentarily not knowing which way to go. I ranged the mass of elk at 260 yards. I then tried to find a legal bull. Toward the left side of the herd, I found the bull that I shot and quickly put the crosshairs on him and fired. He was quartering to me and I shot him just in front of the shoulder. He dropped in his tracks. The rest of the herd thundered back over the ridge in the direction that they came from.
For those interested, I used a Kimber Hunter in 30-06 with a 165 gr Federal Trophy cooper bullet. This was my first time using a copper bullet and I was very impressed.
Southern Elk
Well-known member
A couple of random thoughts. 2 elk in one day is not as cool as it sounds. Add a 3rd elk on day three and it really gets tough.
This was my first OTC rifle hunt in Colorado. Everything you hear about the crowds is true. People were everywhere. We were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I know that we could never duplicate this hunt.
Having good friends to hunt with is really special. As much as the pack out sucked, it was still fun. I was glad to be a part of it.
This was my first OTC rifle hunt in Colorado. Everything you hear about the crowds is true. People were everywhere. We were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I know that we could never duplicate this hunt.
Having good friends to hunt with is really special. As much as the pack out sucked, it was still fun. I was glad to be a part of it.
jwatts
Well-known member
My turn.
My son had a 4th season tag here last year. After I tagged my mulie, we hunted this spot. We were caught in the open and had to hunker down as 2 bulls crossed a saddle and walked this very ridge. We let them hit the woods, then went to check the area out. We never caught up with them but we had some good intel.
This summer we came back to scout. I was able to locate some great trails and possible bedding areas. There were 2 major areas. One on this ridge, and a patch of dark timber and blowdown on the opposite side of the ridge at the head of a drainage. It looked like the elk were traveling down the mountain and into the drainage to feed down low. Then returning to bed at the head of the drainage or crossing a saddle onto the ridge, then running the ridge into the timber up high to bed.
We arrived a few days before season to scout. We talked to several hunters. They were all planning to hunt up high. We also had decent snow for 2 days leading up to season. We decided to hunt those travel areas in hopes that the pressure up high may move some elk towards us.
Opening morning we made the hike in. I left @Southern Elk at thr top of the ridge. I had about 10 minutes until legal light. As soon as I stepped away I swore I heard a bugle among the coyotes howling. I continued slowly picking my way down the hill towards a pinch point at the head of the drainage.
About halfway down the hill I start hearing cows mewing. I never figured the elk would be low, but there were at least a few cows. I stopped, loaded my rifle, killed my headlight, and kept angling towards my spot. I checked my watch, it was legal light. As soon as the drainage came into view I spotted a few cows. After seeing the cows I checked the wind. It was good now, but if they headed up the drainage I was busted. I angled towards the head of the drainage being careful to stay in the shadows as to not get spotted.
I got pretty close to the edge of the woods and paused to check on the cows. I pulled my binos up to find them and instead spotted a few very close. I ranged them at 70 yards. I dropped my pack, deployed my bipod, and looked for a shooting lane with a view into the open meadow in the drainage.
About the time I got set up I heard hoofbeats running. I just knew those cows spotted or smelled me. I looked and they were still there. A string of cows crossed in front of me. 107 yards. All of a sudden a bull bugled and I realized he was pushing the cows to the bedding area. He came into view, and man he was a stud. The problem is he was surrounded by cows. Then I spotted a 5x5 trotting behind. He's legal, good enough.
I was already prone. I tripped the safety, aimed, and sent one his way. At the shot he hunched up and one front leg went limp. I knew it was a good shot. It also looked like you kicked an ant bed. Elk went everywhere. I can't begin to count them. My bull was surrounded by confused cows. As soon as he was clear I hit him again. He went down shortly after that shot. When he went down the herd split. Half ran down the drainage. Of the half left, half of those ran up the drainage into the blowdown and dark timber. The remainder hit a trail I'd seen, crossed the saddle, and hit the ridge. Not long after I lost the sound of elk running, I heard a shot on the other side of the ridge. Then I knew we'd pulled off the nearly impossible. An opening morning double on bulls. That started a long 2 days of shuttling meat, but man was it worth it.
My son had a 4th season tag here last year. After I tagged my mulie, we hunted this spot. We were caught in the open and had to hunker down as 2 bulls crossed a saddle and walked this very ridge. We let them hit the woods, then went to check the area out. We never caught up with them but we had some good intel.
This summer we came back to scout. I was able to locate some great trails and possible bedding areas. There were 2 major areas. One on this ridge, and a patch of dark timber and blowdown on the opposite side of the ridge at the head of a drainage. It looked like the elk were traveling down the mountain and into the drainage to feed down low. Then returning to bed at the head of the drainage or crossing a saddle onto the ridge, then running the ridge into the timber up high to bed.
We arrived a few days before season to scout. We talked to several hunters. They were all planning to hunt up high. We also had decent snow for 2 days leading up to season. We decided to hunt those travel areas in hopes that the pressure up high may move some elk towards us.
Opening morning we made the hike in. I left @Southern Elk at thr top of the ridge. I had about 10 minutes until legal light. As soon as I stepped away I swore I heard a bugle among the coyotes howling. I continued slowly picking my way down the hill towards a pinch point at the head of the drainage.
About halfway down the hill I start hearing cows mewing. I never figured the elk would be low, but there were at least a few cows. I stopped, loaded my rifle, killed my headlight, and kept angling towards my spot. I checked my watch, it was legal light. As soon as the drainage came into view I spotted a few cows. After seeing the cows I checked the wind. It was good now, but if they headed up the drainage I was busted. I angled towards the head of the drainage being careful to stay in the shadows as to not get spotted.
I got pretty close to the edge of the woods and paused to check on the cows. I pulled my binos up to find them and instead spotted a few very close. I ranged them at 70 yards. I dropped my pack, deployed my bipod, and looked for a shooting lane with a view into the open meadow in the drainage.
About the time I got set up I heard hoofbeats running. I just knew those cows spotted or smelled me. I looked and they were still there. A string of cows crossed in front of me. 107 yards. All of a sudden a bull bugled and I realized he was pushing the cows to the bedding area. He came into view, and man he was a stud. The problem is he was surrounded by cows. Then I spotted a 5x5 trotting behind. He's legal, good enough.
I was already prone. I tripped the safety, aimed, and sent one his way. At the shot he hunched up and one front leg went limp. I knew it was a good shot. It also looked like you kicked an ant bed. Elk went everywhere. I can't begin to count them. My bull was surrounded by confused cows. As soon as he was clear I hit him again. He went down shortly after that shot. When he went down the herd split. Half ran down the drainage. Of the half left, half of those ran up the drainage into the blowdown and dark timber. The remainder hit a trail I'd seen, crossed the saddle, and hit the ridge. Not long after I lost the sound of elk running, I heard a shot on the other side of the ridge. Then I knew we'd pulled off the nearly impossible. An opening morning double on bulls. That started a long 2 days of shuttling meat, but man was it worth it.
WVmike
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2020
- Messages
- 613
Congratulations!
jwatts
Well-known member
The Mississippi meat wagon (not to be confused with the adult film of the same name) is loaded up and ready to head out. 
The_Coloradoboy
Well-known member
Being from Colorado, the local brew in this picture alone gives me a pretty good idea of where you boys are… good work
jwatts
Well-known member
That's my go to celebration beer. I've drank it after moose, mulie, and now elk. I've got some coming home with me too.Being from Colorado, the local brew in this picture alone gives me a pretty good idea of where you boys are… good work
The_Coloradoboy
Well-known member
It’s good stuff. I used to always swing by the brewery when I was on the east side of the pass
jwatts
Well-known member
I guess things were going too good. Limping it on to Amarillo for a set of tires in the morning. 
Congrats to you guys, going three-for-three in an OTC unit is outstanding!!!
jwatts
Well-known member
We got some new shoes and are back on the road towards home. 
jwatts
Well-known member
Thanks. We have no illusion that it may happen again, but we're sure glad it did
Sask hunter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2016
- Messages
- 3,881
Congrats!
jwatts
Well-known member
We just got through putting my bull in the freezer.
63.5lb of trim. I mixed it with some brisket trimmings I had and came up with 75lb of burger.
2 packs of shanks, 10.75lb total
25 roasts of various sizes. I kept some whole muscles, others I cut to 1 to 2lb sizes. 57.5lb total
11 packs of steaks. 3 per pack. 22.75lb total
4 packs of backstrap. The rest was cut into steaks. 7.5lb total
All in all I put 173.5lb of processed meat in the freezer.
63.5lb of trim. I mixed it with some brisket trimmings I had and came up with 75lb of burger.
2 packs of shanks, 10.75lb total
25 roasts of various sizes. I kept some whole muscles, others I cut to 1 to 2lb sizes. 57.5lb total
11 packs of steaks. 3 per pack. 22.75lb total
4 packs of backstrap. The rest was cut into steaks. 7.5lb total
All in all I put 173.5lb of processed meat in the freezer.
jwatts
Well-known member
Every shop needs an elk rack in it. 
EastTNHunter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2018
- Messages
- 2,232
Big congrats! Quite an accomplishment and looks like a great trip
jwatts
Well-known member
Thank you sir. It was an awesome experience
jwatts
Well-known member
One last post. This one's for the number nerds. Before each trip we do an estimated cost for the trip. We split the cost and throw cash in an envelope to cover the expenses. Here's the estimated costs:
We were looking at 2300 miles round trip, another 200ish while we're there.
2500 miles
Conservative average 22MPG
Average national diesel costs as of 9/8- $3.74
$425 for fuel
Actual cost:
2955 miles
23.6mpg
$391.20
Fuel consumed- 120.83 gallons
Average cost- $3.24
Hotel- one room on the way up, one on the way back
Estimated -$130ea, $260 total
Actual- $144.89, $159.12, $304.01 total
Other expenses
Estimated- 2 meals from the grocery store- $40
- $25 ice, propane, etc
Actual- $13.68 one meal from the grocery store
- $20 tire repair
We were looking at 2300 miles round trip, another 200ish while we're there.
2500 miles
Conservative average 22MPG
Average national diesel costs as of 9/8- $3.74
$425 for fuel
Actual cost:
2955 miles
23.6mpg
$391.20
Fuel consumed- 120.83 gallons
Average cost- $3.24
Hotel- one room on the way up, one on the way back
Estimated -$130ea, $260 total
Actual- $144.89, $159.12, $304.01 total
Other expenses
Estimated- 2 meals from the grocery store- $40
- $25 ice, propane, etc
Actual- $13.68 one meal from the grocery store
- $20 tire repair
jwatts
Well-known member
Steak, tater, good beer. Don't get much better than this. 
