Elk .... Let's see them!!!

[Cornbread]

First elk, South Dakota solo DIY hunt. Measured 3 times, score range 335-338” green gross. Grateful. Easily most exhilarating hunt of my life behind being with my sons for their first WT bucks.
300 WSM 180 grain Norma Bondstrike at ~50-70 yards

What a trophy! Getting a chest mount??

 

[SD_redbear]

What a trophy! Getting a chest mount??

Thank you. Yes sir. I’m waffling between a standard shoulder, wall pedestal or floor pedestal. Likely a once in a lifetime bull for me, although I’m going to look at out of state hunts now that I’m hooked. SD non-landowner residents will only draw a couple SD “any elk” tags in their lifetime, if they are lucky. I had 12 years preference points in this prairie unit before drawing, have 25 or so in the mountain units (Black Hills).

 

[dstaffk5]

My son's first elk. AZ youth hunt

 

[Cornbread]

What a trophy! Getting a chest mount??

Its already been Europeaned.

 

[Cornbread]

Thank you. Yes sir. I’m waffling between a standard shoulder, wall pedestal or floor pedestal. Likely a once in a lifetime bull for me, although I’m going to look at out of state hunts now that I’m hooked. SD non-landowner residents will only draw a couple SD “any elk” tags in their lifetime, if they are lucky. I had 12 years preference points in this prairie unit before drawing, have 25 or so in the mountain units (Black Hills).

12 years!! Holy, my luck I'd be dead before I got a tag. I can see it now, they get done spreading my ashes in the ocean, and my tag arrives in the mail.

 

[SD_redbear]

12 years!! Holy, my luck I'd be dead before I got a tag. I can see it now, they get done spreading my ashes in the ocean, and my tag arrives in the mail.

I have the cape at the taxidermist. The antlers/skull plate at home for now. Good luck with your draws in the future.

 

[wyoboypt]

Is that background an open pit mine?

Nope. Just a dry wasteland. There is a lot of oil field in that area. The elk don’t seem to mind. It is odd.

 

[shrapnel]

Lead cow…

 

[Brad]

Lead cow…

I will never understand why anyone would shoot a lead cow, let alone brag about it...

 

[Mountain Mule]

I will never understand why anyone would shoot a lead cow, let alone brag about it...

Why not? Just curious.

 

[shrapnel]

Why not? Just curious.

It isn’t about elk it is about who shot it.

It doesn’t matter, when they are all bunched up and you have one outside the group, there is no chance passing through and hitting another elk!

 

[Brad]

Why not? Just curious.

The lead cow is the repository of generations of knowledge. Killing her eliminates that and hurts the herds ability to navigate migration routes. She also has a deep knowledge of food and water resources that younger members don't have... not shooting the lead cow should be elk hunting 101, but apparently it isn't.

 

[bigsky2]

Why not? Just curious.

Typically one of the oldest cows in the herd so the meat probably isn’t as good as the other cows. Also, the lead cow is the individual in the herd that knows how the get the herd to safety. I’ve seen some absolute slaughters when the lead cow gets killed because the herd will run back and forth not knowing what to do. Maybe that was the intent.

 

[mtmuley]

Would an Ebike help for killing a lead cow? mtmuley

 

[Huntnut60]

Arizona. Tikka 7mm Rem mag. 160 Accubond. 400 yards. Down with first shot, 2nd to make sure.

 

[rogerthat]

Would an Ebike help for killing a lead cow? mtmuley

Depends how fast that sucker goes across the summer fallow field!

 

[mtmuley]

Depends how fast that sucker goes across the summer fallow field!

I haven't killed many cows. Three I think. I did kill a lead cow once though. With a shotgun. Far as I know the rest of the elk lived. They didn't have any trouble leaving after she was dead either. mtmuley

 

[Rack Daniels]

Wait til they allllllll get over…. Annnd SHOOT THAT LEAD COW!

I’m more lookin at the kids facial expression… haha! Did he not have a tag or just not quick enough on the trigger? Congrats on what? The 3rd elk this year already?

 

[idahojoe]

Because if you kill the lead cow all the other elk forget every survival instinct and will evaporate.

 

[Mountainguide]

I will never understand why anyone would shoot a lead cow, let alone brag about it...

Elk hunting 101 should be keeping your idiot comments to yourself, if it’s legal then what does it matter to you?