First time elk

[Dave]

So for my first elk hunt I went on a semi guided hunt with 2 OTC cow tags just past Meeker. Second morning in my wife and I were in a blind and just after sun up we heard a rustling coming down into the draw near a water source close by. As we lowered the partition we saw 6 elk as 3 cows and 3 spikes were leading the herd down and the range finder put the lead cow at 43 yards away. There was still more rustling in the wild sage from behind the blind as I lined up the shot and tried to control my breathing, which wasn't working well. As I moved slightly to adjust for their walking the stopped and stared right at me as I squeezed the trigger. The lead cow shuddered and stumbled as the other 5 ran down past the water and around the oak scrub going back up the other side of the draw. I heard noise out the back and lowered the partition on that side and ranged another good sized cow running back up with two calves. As the calves went back over she turned broadside to look back down at the blind and I was able to hit her in the shoulder enough that she fell down and then tumbled down the side into some dead fall. I then looked back over at the first cow and saw she had moved about 20 yards and was now down. The one back up the mountainside was still popping her head up and down and I put a second round into her neck. The rangefinder put her at 261 yards and the level app on my phone aimed up said it was a 39 degree incline from the blind, which made it a rough trek through dead fall and sage to get her down without damaging the hide. All in all it was a good time and my wife got a lot of pictures of the area and some wildlife once my tags were punched. Fortunately they had some Polaris Rangers to get the game out and bring to the camp for cleaning at a stand. Pic below is me with my two cows.

67719

[Irving]

Congratulations. Tell us more about how you got two OTC tags for yourself. A lot of people on here post about multiple tags and I'm intrigued. Never heard of more than one OTC though.

[nogaroheli]

Nicely done, congratulations!

[killianak9]

Awesome ! Congrats
I'm heading out Friday
Can't wait[emoji482]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sniper7]

Congrats!

[Dave]

Congratulations. Tell us more about how you got two OTC tags for yourself. A lot of people on here post about multiple tags and I'm intrigued. Never heard of more than one OTC though.

Ask for two when you buy them. When they go on sale in August just get them then.

[Irving]

It's that easy? Don't I feel like a dummy!

Congrats again. Not many people can say their first elk kill was actually two elk kills.

[USMC88-93]

Congratulations. Tell us more about how you got two OTC tags for yourself. A lot of people on here post about multiple tags and I'm intrigued. Never heard of more than one OTC though.

My first thought as well, how did you manage two tags?

[CS1983]

Congrats! When's the cook out?

[bboy]

Congrats! Nice looking cows

[rondog]

Yes sir! Congratulations!

[whitewalrus]

Congrats Dave! Nice looking cows.


My first thought as well, how did you manage two tags?

You can get an A and B list tag, or two B list tags per species.

[jslo]

My first thought as well, how did you manage two tags?

Could it be you got leftover tags and not OTC? I thought the only OTC elk tags, for rifle, were for bull only and A licenses.
Edit: archery being an exception

[BladesNBarrels]

Congratulations!
An inspiration to get out again.

[Hummer]

Congrats on meat in the freezer! Two elk is a lot of meat. One elk provides most of the red meat for my wife and I for a year. We're still eating on the two elk I got in 2014. And yesterday, we butchered and packaged my 2016 cow elk. Vacuum packed and double bagged in a chest freezer elk can remain good for several years. The lack of fat in the meat helps it keep fresh tasting for a long time.

Just a reminder to not over cook game meat--it will be tough and lose flavor. Rare to medium rare is best. I like to wrap steaks with a strip of thick bacon, sear on high for a few minutes, then reduce the heat to medium. The bacon adds flavor and slows the cooking of the elk to make it more evenly rare/medium rare. I season it simply with kosher salt and coarse ground pepper.


http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g292/COHummer/Home/Elk-on-the-grill_zpshk1dq9vf.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/COHummer/media/Home/Elk-on-the-grill_zpshk1dq9vf.jpg.html)

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g292/COHummer/Home/Elk-steak-dinner_zps8gro0d0d.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/COHummer/media/Home/Elk-steak-dinner_zps8gro0d0d.jpg.html)

[Dave]

Could it be you got leftover tags and not OTC? I thought the only OTC elk tags, for rifle, were for bull only and A licenses.
Edit: archery being an exception
Yes sorry, leftover tags. Sorry for the confusion there people.

Grabbed some pork shoulder and belly and mixed in about 40% pork for brats and bulk breakfast sausage this past weekend. Made about 20 lbs of each. Whole tenderloin is being bacon wrapped and going on the smoker tonight.

[jslo]

Very nice! Well done (not the meat, of course)

[Lars]

Congrats on the hunt. It's an awesome feeling when the hard work and a little bit of luck all come together.

[barney fife]

Congrats Bro, that sounds like a great hunt. Cows and baby bulls that's all we eat. I'm convinced that why my family loves elk and trophy hunter's kids won't touch it.

[ColoradoBoilermaker]

Gratz on the hunt!

[BigBear]

congrats!

[Shooter45]

That's an amazing first trip for elk hunting! Lot of elk in that area. White River National Forest is the biggest herd in the state.

[Watermagnet]

Nice!