The Dawg
02-21-2012, 09:26 PM
We planned a quick 2 day get away to try and fill my coveted any elk LEH tag with only a week left in the season.
We knew it would be a fast hunt covering a lot of ground, but we did know the area very well, and thought we had a good shot.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/cow1.JPG (http://javascript<b></b>:;)
The first day, we saw a lot of animals, no traffic, but no elk. Well, at least in an area we had permission to shoot in.
I had heard its bloody frustrating to see a herd just over a fence in a property that you dont have access to.
Trust me. I found out how frustrating it is. From 50 yards away.
A long day over, we found a nice (relative term) Motel to stay in back in town. Nice cold beer, and some food and we were done for a night.
Up and at 'em early, we were in our area at first light.
We came to an area that had an unexpected gate across it.
Brutal.
Quite obvious that someone else was ticked at it as well.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/GATE1.JPG (http://javascript<b></b>:;)
Onward we went.
After seeing a vehicle that had just passed through the area we had wanted to look in, we were
a little discouraged.
We pulled over to wait a few minutes, and make a sandwich. Nothing better than a fresh ham and
cheese made on the road with an icy Diet coke.
The wind was in our face, and blowing pretty good so we were hopeful that it would cover the
crunch of the sugary snow.
We noticed rather quickly that there were a few fresh elk tracks right in the track of the
vehicle that had just passed by not 15 minutes before, so we were needless to say, a little
stoked.
Less than 100 yards down the road, I caught a flicker of movement on the right side.
It was the beginning of a herd crossing onto the left side, into a large field.
As my LEH tag was for any elk, any sex, any age, I was more than a little excited.
Stopping the truck, I jumped out, grabbed my rifle and jacked one into the chamber.
I waited until I had a decent sized animal in my scope with a good sight picture.
Gently squeezing the trigger, I sent a 225g TTSX moving 2800ft per second on its way across the
300 yards.
The herd froze, turned around, and bolted for cover.
I didnt see it drop, but I yelled to Moosin that I knew I hit it.
We walked across the field to where I was sure we would see it laying, and nothing.
Confused, I turned to him and said my built in range finder was sure it was only 300 yards.
Moosin said no way, that was more like 400. I was pissed. No way, I was so angry he doubted me and my built in range finder, I punched him in the face.
When he got up, we looked farther into the field about 350-400 yards and saw the unmistakable shape of a downed elk.
High fives all round.
I had cut my first elk tag on a young button bull.
I handed Moosin a kleenex to clean up his bloody nose, and said our thanks for yet
another full freezer.
Pics were taken, work was done and the drive home was started.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/me4.JPG (http://javascript<b></b>:;)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/moosin.JPG (http://javascript<b></b>:;)
We saw many mooses, much elks, and more memories were made.
Thanks again for another great hunt my friend.
We knew it would be a fast hunt covering a lot of ground, but we did know the area very well, and thought we had a good shot.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/cow1.JPG (http://javascript<b></b>:;)
The first day, we saw a lot of animals, no traffic, but no elk. Well, at least in an area we had permission to shoot in.
I had heard its bloody frustrating to see a herd just over a fence in a property that you dont have access to.
Trust me. I found out how frustrating it is. From 50 yards away.
A long day over, we found a nice (relative term) Motel to stay in back in town. Nice cold beer, and some food and we were done for a night.
Up and at 'em early, we were in our area at first light.
We came to an area that had an unexpected gate across it.
Brutal.
Quite obvious that someone else was ticked at it as well.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/GATE1.JPG (http://javascript<b></b>:;)
Onward we went.
After seeing a vehicle that had just passed through the area we had wanted to look in, we were
a little discouraged.
We pulled over to wait a few minutes, and make a sandwich. Nothing better than a fresh ham and
cheese made on the road with an icy Diet coke.
The wind was in our face, and blowing pretty good so we were hopeful that it would cover the
crunch of the sugary snow.
We noticed rather quickly that there were a few fresh elk tracks right in the track of the
vehicle that had just passed by not 15 minutes before, so we were needless to say, a little
stoked.
Less than 100 yards down the road, I caught a flicker of movement on the right side.
It was the beginning of a herd crossing onto the left side, into a large field.
As my LEH tag was for any elk, any sex, any age, I was more than a little excited.
Stopping the truck, I jumped out, grabbed my rifle and jacked one into the chamber.
I waited until I had a decent sized animal in my scope with a good sight picture.
Gently squeezing the trigger, I sent a 225g TTSX moving 2800ft per second on its way across the
300 yards.
The herd froze, turned around, and bolted for cover.
I didnt see it drop, but I yelled to Moosin that I knew I hit it.
We walked across the field to where I was sure we would see it laying, and nothing.
Confused, I turned to him and said my built in range finder was sure it was only 300 yards.
Moosin said no way, that was more like 400. I was pissed. No way, I was so angry he doubted me and my built in range finder, I punched him in the face.
When he got up, we looked farther into the field about 350-400 yards and saw the unmistakable shape of a downed elk.
High fives all round.
I had cut my first elk tag on a young button bull.
I handed Moosin a kleenex to clean up his bloody nose, and said our thanks for yet
another full freezer.
Pics were taken, work was done and the drive home was started.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/me4.JPG (http://javascript<b></b>:;)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/moosin.JPG (http://javascript<b></b>:;)
We saw many mooses, much elks, and more memories were made.
Thanks again for another great hunt my friend.