BuzzH
Well-known member
A good friend of mine had a late season elk tag, and called last week to see what was going on with the elk. After all the snow we got, most of the places that I usually find elk, there really wasn't much going on. He decided to make the trip anyway, and even tough elk hunting beats work.
Saturday, we found quite a number of elk, but not in places we had access to. Finally about 12:30 or so, we cut some fresh tracks that had crossed the road. We glassed the country they walked into, and didn't see where they cut over the top of the ridge. We figured they were likely still between the ridge and the road, so we gathered up our stuff and started working our way uphill following the tracks.
We finally came to a place where we could see they went into a draw with some junipers and didn't come out. So, we circled around above them and sat down and started glassing the draw. We couldn't see them and after about 30 minutes, I decided to drop downhill about 50 yards closer while my friend remained on top. I got down to a lower rock outcropping and finally saw one of the cows edging through the junipers. I waited until she fed out at about 150 yards or so, and shot her with my 7-08 and 140 nosler Accubonds. She crumpled at the shot. I knew there were more elk in the junipers, but couldn't see them. My friend made his way down and just as he got there, another one stepped into a narrow shooting lane. He shot his at 211 yards with a 7RM, also just crumpled at the shot.
We quartered them last night and got to the truck right at dark. On the drive home, we came around a bend in the road and noticed 3 largish animals jogging down the road. Turned out being a female mountain lion and 2 half grown kittens. Only the 2nd time I've seen lions in Wyoming.
We left this morning to get the elk out and about 1/4 mile from where we saw the lions last night, I happened to look under a rock over-hang and spotted a large bobcat sunning himself. The bobcat was not interested in going anywhere and we set up the spotting scope and got some OK pictures.
Anyway, I'm sure late elk hunts can be better, but this one was about as perfect as I've ever had. Just a great time with the elk being the icing, seeing the lions and bobcat, less than 12 hours apart...well, that just isn't likely to happen again in my lifetime.
My friend with his elk:
Me with my elk:
Some country:
Is that what I think it is?:
Yep, it is:
Saturday, we found quite a number of elk, but not in places we had access to. Finally about 12:30 or so, we cut some fresh tracks that had crossed the road. We glassed the country they walked into, and didn't see where they cut over the top of the ridge. We figured they were likely still between the ridge and the road, so we gathered up our stuff and started working our way uphill following the tracks.
We finally came to a place where we could see they went into a draw with some junipers and didn't come out. So, we circled around above them and sat down and started glassing the draw. We couldn't see them and after about 30 minutes, I decided to drop downhill about 50 yards closer while my friend remained on top. I got down to a lower rock outcropping and finally saw one of the cows edging through the junipers. I waited until she fed out at about 150 yards or so, and shot her with my 7-08 and 140 nosler Accubonds. She crumpled at the shot. I knew there were more elk in the junipers, but couldn't see them. My friend made his way down and just as he got there, another one stepped into a narrow shooting lane. He shot his at 211 yards with a 7RM, also just crumpled at the shot.
We quartered them last night and got to the truck right at dark. On the drive home, we came around a bend in the road and noticed 3 largish animals jogging down the road. Turned out being a female mountain lion and 2 half grown kittens. Only the 2nd time I've seen lions in Wyoming.
We left this morning to get the elk out and about 1/4 mile from where we saw the lions last night, I happened to look under a rock over-hang and spotted a large bobcat sunning himself. The bobcat was not interested in going anywhere and we set up the spotting scope and got some OK pictures.
Anyway, I'm sure late elk hunts can be better, but this one was about as perfect as I've ever had. Just a great time with the elk being the icing, seeing the lions and bobcat, less than 12 hours apart...well, that just isn't likely to happen again in my lifetime.
My friend with his elk:
Me with my elk:
Some country:
Is that what I think it is?:
Yep, it is: