Rocksteady 2016

[rocksteady]

Synopsis.....
no bow hunting...
rifle opening day... Does... No elk
that night... 16 elk, no bulls with herd.
next day... Does and 2 bucks (way too far to pack)
that night, nothing...

yrsterday... Slept in. Too many vehicles where I hunt...

last night, zero elk, but had 3 bucks (spike, 2 point and mine) chasing does like it was the rut...

picked led out biggest at 100 yards, 30yards off main haul road, bang flop...


other2 bucks ran all over while I dragged him out, gutted and loaded into truck like nothing was happening...

wish i I could shoot more than one buck...
anyways, back to chasing elk..

got lots of grouse so far (when I toss the .22 in the truck)... See lots when I don't bring it ;)

[Brambles]

Well you guys in the east certainly see a lot more game than here in the West....I've seen 1 wt doe, 1 bull moose, 1 cow elk and 1 Bull elk ( too bad for him...lol)

[rocksteady]

We see more, but may not be open to shoot..,

quantity over quality...
our elk population is in the toilet...

[Rhyno]

We see more, but may not be open to shoot..,

quantity over quality...
our elk population is in the toilet...

I agree the elk population is down in the trench, that said I can't believe the number of bulls that have hit the ground so early from people I know.

I always enjoy your yearly thread, thanks for keeping it alive this year. Looks forward to hearing your season unfold!

[J_T]

Congrats Mike.
I agree, the Ministry's objective of much lower elk numbers has been met.

[rocksteady]

Boom.. Spike bull in velvet down less than 50 yards from where I killed my bull last year.. Now the pack begins..

Big thanks to Nechako Outdoors for the deal on the 7-08.. Shoots great. 2 dead critters already..

[Rackmastr]

Boom.. Spike bull in velvet down less than 50 yards from where I killed my bull last year.. Now the pack begins..

Big thanks to Nechako Outdoors for the deal on the 7-08.. Shoots great. 2 dead critters already..

Awesome buddy!!!!! Congrats on some tasty eats!

[Salty]

WTF dude this thread's going to be over before September is :lol:
As usual success right out the gates for ol rocksteady way to go bud. Looking forward to the rest of your escapades 8-)

[russm86]

Any Pictures?

[rocksteady]

Any Pictures?


Have not not got to it yet... Been packing.. Got home had a couple beers and did a brake pad/rotor replacement for a co worker... I am sacked

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Shit RS! You're are faster than I am. Savour these days afield! Lol

congrats on the duo!!

[guest]

Love your yearly thread RS ..... Keep it up.

Sure wish I lived near there. Maybe my gooder half will someday say ...... Let's go..... Lol

[Ddog]

boo boo is having a sleep now,,apparently packing an animal is tiresome ;)...
we live for it though! a few times a year is all worth it though eh!!

[Rhyno]

Congrats Mike! You always seem it get it done early.

[rocksteady]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/rocksteadyrifle/image2_zpsjprvaird.jpeg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/rocksteadyrifle/media/image2_zpsjprvaird.jpeg.html)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/rocksteadyrifle/image1_zpsr0jqwyxe.jpeg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/rocksteadyrifle/media/image1_zpsr0jqwyxe.jpeg.html)

Did not want to get my Rav all bloody, so built a tray that will slide into the trailer hitch receiver... Works like a dam, all you have to do is lift it about 16".. No back breaking...

[rocksteady]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/rocksteadyrifle/2016-09-16%2008.24.18_zps19vduklk.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/rocksteadyrifle/media/2016-09-16%2008.24.18_zps19vduklk.jpg.html)

Couple km pack out.. Called a couple buddies, used the game cart and packboards..


Sorry for not getting pics out earlier folks. I cant get photobucket to work worth anything on my cell and my computer was broked.

[rocksteady]

The story of the elk... I was on my favorite bluff overlooking a water course. Saaw a spike come out about 800 yards downstream so I grabbed my gear and ran as fast as I could, hoping to get within range before it crossed the river.. No luck... Next thing you know a dog is barking at me.. Here is a guy and his chocolate lab sitting under a tree watching the same elk.. He said it was a clean spike.. We BSed for a bit and I said I was going to go back to my spot and wished him luck...

A spike wandering around by himself is probably looking for companionship (just friends, not lovers) so we expected him to come out to either of us.. I sat down back on the bluff, about 20 minutes later I see a cow coming across the river about 400 yards away, upstream from me... Glassing her, when I see the spike following... Got prone on the bipod (I had ranged to a log jam when I first sat down, so was good on the distance)...

The damn thing took its time coming across, I was waiting for the guy downriver to open up on it, if he had seen it.. I waited til it hit dry ground and once it was 20 metres from the water touched one off with the 7-08... Saw him jump, knew I hit him, so did not want him to go back across the water. He turned and looked directly at me.. Settled the crosshairs and touched the accutrigger again... BANG... Flop, sand bar face plant...

Took me a while too get down the bluff to him.. When I skinned him I found first shot was a bit back, would have been fatal, lung shot... Second shot hit him just behind the jaw bone, walked all of the way down his spine and lodged against the hide about the 2nd rib from the last...

[Ourea]

HBC continues to only get better.
Great posts Rocksteady and congrats.

Lots of young eyes are eating post like this up
Well done

[rocksteady]

The 4 quarters from the elk weighed 135 lbs, at the butcher, and I took all the backstrap, tenderloins and neck meat home to process myself.. Guessing another 40 pounds??

[HarryToolips]

Congrats on the elk and WT buck! They look tasty...

[sawmill]

Nice going Mike! I saw 7 bucks and 14 does this morning.I love hunting right after it rained all night. Only saw one buck I might take ,a weird looking 5 on one side with a clump of bone one the other,like four fingers poking up. Pretty fast mover but I know how he gets in and out. I`ll sneak up behind tomorrow I think, catch him on his way back to bed.

[rocksteady]

Get him Joe..

[Rhyno]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/rocksteadyrifle/2016-09-16%2008.24.18_zps19vduklk.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/rocksteadyrifle/media/2016-09-16%2008.24.18_zps19vduklk.jpg.html)

Couple km pack out.. Called a couple buddies, used the game cart and packboards..


Sorry for not getting pics out earlier folks. I cant get photobucket to work worth anything on my cell and my computer was broked.

Oh ya that one is going to be nummy

[Backwoods]

Congrats man!!

[ElliotMoose]

My mouth waters just looking at that.. Couple of tasty looking critters there RS

[kennyj]

A couple of nice animals there. Your freezer is in great shape already.
kenny

[Sitkaspruce]

Nice job Mike!!! Now what??

Thanks for posting!!

Cheers

SS

[Seeadler]

Thanks for sharing.

[rocksteady]

Gonna do a retro hunt on the 10th of October...

red end and black gum boots
wool fisherman a pants
red and black Mack jacket
john Deere hat
30 30 with iron sights and the binder twine sling...

no binos, no range finder...

just luke my grandpa would have, with his gun that was willed to me when he passed

[rocksteady]

Shotgun for any turkey opened on the first... went for a boot after work. 15.5 lb jake fell to the SAVAGE...

cant post pics on photobucket with my dumb phone..,

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Congrats on Big Bird, RS!

Do you have a Trapper Nelson lined up for your retro hunt?

[rocksteady]

Unfortunately my grandpa passed away whe I was 10, so really don't know how he hunted, but there was not a TN in his belongings, so I am assuming a good old piece of rope around the neck and start draggin...

[rocksteady]

Awesome day today... took a new rookie female coworker out hunting today...

we we went shooting at paper yesterday... that girl can shoot..

drive up an fsr fsr at first light this morning.. big doe stood and grazed at 75 yards.. partner kept calm and made a perfect heart shot.. she is now hooked for life...

even though i never got to drop the hammer, I am tickled pink, for her

[kennyj]

Way to go!! Great getting new hunters out there.
kenny

[rocksteady]

She is one hell of a shooter.. took the top of the heart right out

[rocksteady]

She is one hell of a shooter.. took the top of the heart right out


Listened to to all of the advice I gave her... don't shoot, wait til she turns... take her

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Way to go Mike!
That's a great first experience for her!
Congrats to both of you!

[HarryToolips]

Congrats on gettin her her first deer, the first one is an awesome feeling that will never be forgotten..

[rocksteady]

Went for a wee drive last night, several doe fawn pairs but no solo does..

Did see a good sized, non afraid grizzly bear walking down the road within 400 yards of 2 homes near fort steele..

Drove up on him (it), it ran 10 yards down the road, 20 yards into the bush and stood there and looked at me for 10 minute's, grazing and sniffing at stuff..

Being so brazen, I suspect he will soon become a problem bear at the local acreages/ranches/hobby farms...

[ruger#1]

I watched one come down the fence line behind Horseshoe Lake. Glad to hear the fence make a noise. And it going the other way.

[rocksteady]

Road hunt after work.. played whack a die...

35 yard neck shot on a young dry doe...

done filling tags tags for me this year. Continuing the mentorship program of others..

[GoatGuy]

Good stuff RS appreciate the mentorship of new hunters.

[rocksteady]

Then I will be onto the predators...

coyote wolf and cougar...

[rocksteady]

Took 2 rookies out yesterday. Scored on a small spike. Showed them how to gut and skin (husband and wife team).

they are hooked

[Rhyno]

Took 2 rookies out yesterday. Scored on a small spike. Showed them how to gut and skin (husband and wife team).

they are hooked

Awesome Mike! You have helped more than a few this year, good on ya.

[Shikari300WSM]

Awesome to hear buddy. Great that you are helping new people into the game!

[rocksteady]

Still got a waiting list of newbies too...

i love I've to see the reaction of rookies when they pop their cherries..

[rocksteady]

Took out my 78 year old hunting buddy today. He has not been motivated this year. ..

He got a sweet 3 by 4 wt today.. so he is happy...

[HarryToolips]

Great work!

[hunter1947]

Good on you for doing this Mike ,,carma will treat you good in the 2017 hunting season..

[ajr5406]

Still got a waiting list of newbies too...

i love I've to see the reaction of rookies when they pop their cherries..


How do I get on this waitlist???

[tuner]

It's a great thing you're doing, I'm sure those folks will be forever grateful.