2017 results thread

[Irving]

Looks like there hasn't been much luck so far this year. I know muzzleloading season was a bust for many people here.

During muzzleloading, I was able to call in this young bull. I've never bugled for elk before, and didn't know what I was doing. Fortunately for my buddy with the bull tag, this young spike didn't know what he was doing either. The herd bull heard me calling, but didn't care and kept on going (he had just won a fight a few minutes before). This was called in on opening day. Buddy and I spotted a bunch of cows (most of us had cow tags) on opening morning, but then heard some bulls fighting in the other direction and decided to pursue. The hunt was looking great after day one, but our area was quickly overrun with other hunters and all the animals left.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Blt-1tcHaIt8-T7dP6rt4LpcRksNpYgiC866Kc5elVWKboSy2jnpDPFAupI7Pg6 K6wREodep0wcsvzw0MhV8jBLFUDIM8QWiP7O5Q7xmgeN13pT-OsIUuOuDszT9BHwoDV131t8yknu9USI9jTEsoGS5E3CqewycAo 9LwIPvEnnEbgFbXD60fKn1_F7H-O0aiR82tnz1Q1ns8JMz5oL5CvD2fd0bhkVIK8hc8b5d21B-BOWpanBh3DmVd673AdEGQOJiubSeOmBovW2Y5qAeRwIFFIGAZv ME8nFf0oprtSBzS0GdXROXpXjNBtDnzwOKai4PRjbsqb8GpChV g4UlnRj5zVvyvdDnO_5tww7dOujCuh1Rd3YDbeGwIbfPgnTxs7 vci297Yn3IX8-24YJaeZUr_EFX5Vb3TV1CHNnjFNAWJWLOQFVXXGrHGX_1NKbHY diGTWGK6RFFji1CIXeElzGvYhEgF9r3a02ulXHN_FA-HceVaXHfa1Xb4HNknvx5w_5SFMU0tq1D-CRuCcQoGcJBpkbQiXOZZu_6AgJkiVplWQSJ4pFhKtSyV2V-b-1RssNnF6qIQr5Fl2dCMSOUFowZIrjQXb6FTEO8iWnhXR3ONBFD dvsFUvS1g9Y3oVOfBGSFrYMy405bKzxTrVuooIQ9VGV-1X82zESH=w1044-h587-no

I hunted over the gut pile for a bear for a few days, and while I heard a bear, I was too slow getting over there and he was long gone by the time I got there. I had a shot at a turkey as well, but I've yet to be able to hit one with a pistol, despite the target size and distance being within my usual skill set at matches.

Now I'm up antelope hunting. I went up the Sunday before to try and sight in my rifle. I had big plans of shooting further than 100 yards for the first time in my life, but the wind was a steady 20 mph (normal), and it was raining (not normal). Fortunately, my life coach spent a couple hours shooting with me on the Friday before opening day. After sighting in (mostly) at 200 yards, I was able to at least take shots at steel plates at 300, 400, and 500 yards. With guidance, I was able to hit all the plates, at least once.

Fast forward and I had a two opportunities at big antelope bucks on opening day, but I didn't execute correctly on the first action, and thought the shot was too far on the second action. In addition, to never having hunted antelope before, I also thought my tag restricted me to private property only. I called in today and cleared that up. Anyway, I was out today, and saw this little lady running around (I think I also saw her on day two of the hunt). I first spied her about 3/4 of a mile away, so I drove down the road to get as close as I could (I was on public at this time), and got out and set up. I used my distress call, but she didn't care at all and just kept running away. I ended up making a perfect shot, probably mostly on accident.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tgxzHBxTD_Roej8TnmqPXlIVnyd8K3wHGI-Hs6caPETDNDvYwcPX-VXKsuBq5hQAnAFnQ-phz8e-65b7M8xXvJod-nXvQm7dsgonFFYWAxGdsILjGZi7uRojztbRWqQo7B6AXAda-cbW1fLjtbMAi4s3Eg_tEa4FGRLdFf1sQgRubxxlwjVofl2msTY hHq37RvE-SoOWJYTLd_6UuNg4ibChltdbZPjaXCQASt3b2Z-CcpVIW2WQERiUQ4bSTQvo8MDXis9QLSsDvncogAp0oOr9FiPXp ALv18jKUAWcAujqHLq5dtsDpVx5a7CnSFaX7JX7qQWnleHxccs yBtN9SPA9WuGIMj3GnhqK03HF6dmNQ033-3F5CvUAHkH5YSRndl4enXMmz9ms76HuFWHMW8yR5Dw55JcBY8B yUzM0TaCL2q_elT35ZAbtV1J24KZNGkxT4QD-bVOyUR49jUnNnBVmWjiG5I38eg0zB_OnllId7Icv1UQ7N9ySuG 0OVVTN67jbjg_PdZ4O_CGboTB_tHuna24w5eVtXpqHjx-G9ESVi2_g98FWmR4VLrLV6hOyesO8EHS2TYXR0WR0ySRwtLTg8 C8dEsMbipqZpUHrP2HxnS1-fSXKmPGoZjFDgJcEq7xPyYQzCr53BToRiqAdcg8K1sMj0GRgiM p4=w1044-h587-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/VpZjvDKH1lmYNVn-Izr_iPyji-h9DkncevUb4WK_AB_VnMeId3GHx0NKPNqr5XFWVuKjUoOIULwD ai1Del36Qzlg7iPeqjd6i7IQ4xh6MLLvdSYGdwgND_vH-ycHpS4QqhzYE12jy3roVROwVFM3YqD5d_hfzlEwl3jXAmlk0Vx o05wMDfVNguDOQ8IjxQ7qx4WzcnAQ64UprVJOZeYZAStRJ1BFI z-vdl82SfPZlKVVGYWuNglp2rMqcwMR7FbYjGxKZDP5TDl3Y4Z5z 9n2PoExw_HD1K0Ra9R7Yt1fwTPwk6LpEDutp3H9TUXpxG_UMWR UT8sEPu-IAuyLjG0W9VJoOlUq71rfvLL55G-qIM4e749yG-PSJEd99A0fRIlWIArSBByPxhNIbgfgFSDyE0uOMuyUtqManCK0 Md0kZY9-459vgrW51JPLOOfQTZEzFA8aICs_CHHvYEaxZOwNJPvNw3-ZrcNu4fjImy7g-TE_kF0kIEVZjyh3-N2CHQ2U4ZCVg5y4FxsrOrn8T8Q4MvDTDL2PwwrgavDx4pEzRR7 TOU1QO5padR6qU03jWRV8r7iUFk9VMmVh8Bb_uDSpw1C1NexvL TqcClLbZOyH4H7vgwix3KwWJEarUK5hANJXhQ6PVzuK1b7LM06 fiIDDOMb9O_STijvR32gf=w1632-h918-no

Shot was taken with my Savage Axis in .308. I didn't know the distance until after I walked out and ranged my vehicle afterward. I pretty much just guessed my hold over and let it rip. Turns out I got lucky.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kiLrmTojrQHCXVJY6-doFdqMRWT1u3bg4-pzxIFgj75JDeIMp6OuECK1V4kWD3RURWQnkHDcX3Gf0YkslhZ4 ES8IAzQYwJPxxXE3Z-3TgMmS6CucF14N-xTV33gJwpnazsQXRBNUBKz3ATVAgH4A5AsKWo0g5eT1jhxiWn7 S21jtcbFj6AQ3ZiV8PfOsh_Gn2v2yQvNffXqRxBJfJI-5gjs1iOY8Sp2HO3KA5sdMaxo2YpHS41aS1dd5qWdRH6ECdzK0j f08rGnhj6Wc9oFkXdoCBSFcRs3dlq5DwW-gRkd_TN_QyaliRflQJQ5XePBEBYeCHV-O5BF2qNWG0nWpep92UFpLHV71bq8HP_cygwd-Z99JLP_BFaSSyllLSjv82YBKFaYNBrqn2LAxdVRfOvnBx3YbbP VgZI5ZV9xVHinn16LulECtq5f89xobN7omhbHdcyOpwLaApZN-88nGr6IWz1TvMJEXl5xePKm4Mj1kuKT44NTJz7jioSJNVVeXPV rMSjeXny0l0tuM65eubcUGU1LukJy2X27gPxibFoXU-u-4iaa-g11ZrVL0VZSBzfMY8JBb8tJz1inY1O9ztGheswFvhG7u8PsYUr Acbrc89jUXp7AiTw5LN-m6iwb7iXrNwOCcj2b3ytQZ9_T1di_nxfnTh_hpt5Wn=w1632-h918-no

I didn't get a photo, but entry was just behind/below her ear, and here is the exit wound.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FVEdoZzHC2Xi8ZNu9YaHNxfhm15wCpJxOJD8kwF5mK95lxMSPo K7wd1DFcpmUp07BWT9poNYh_lpkaJUmvLMz72x6R68zTtzCroP OGCei24sDoQEymHco3IenvNStFMfbBDQAzWT2zQXbZNgaT5-CKUuh8RjJEAUVI2RDlqSF4l5KD1Jo3ne9yYiZvATHrB6HDJxXB M5e_AB4hkO4M1d4i_Oewbr6nmuG32cYUwmMyjbeEOiGDiA9i8P cR6wk3D5iBQ3DpbNwyephmjRd5BiuO3HYE2_fqhVilQBx284qi gxfPjUpl_yr7ciNTJZ1bFxlIigF6GG2gAX12cIpYvj5TpRf01U I2AuUaBqrkpEf14ThkxxiwU_WDW3TO2BCnSvmTYaKbZH6eT-R6M9tIamGtEJ2Dq8t9sLktsjxwm80WzqcX697kfvFxmrqCDoZ-lnH5PNaMcbpHVUmiuuoc6qb4zKEMWS6o1amDSmhcKBXpu4jdVw UrWGubVFvG2qPsTHpJ-_8Hs4PxIgV3YwOgYi9DqDX3qQ-tC8T2YCfBprjrFEaOwkXRWqqyNpzen3Xm8vNT8ineNRtbb9lMo 9ruKCtYsG9hXmTktq8dDFBc2kS6cwCMWX1pbHlAQjMIOdzb_l9 eRuE1ElDTNnwSGYp51gY4qQk2i3bWSZkDm6=w1632-h918-no

Here is looking back at my vehicle. I landed this shot at 396 yards. She was moving away, but kept stopping to look at me.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zNp5Nj2i-X78Zsd4ObRKeGuJBUfMBG-UOreSIyGnTYEOHU8C4QwX5IjNI3miotV6nAemoxpRV8rClTcFr Qs6ebCGloF7sMVoZm59ha--iznNdYXPqYIHOfeFvqtAuKvYYuqWXCReUczgf4Fr1umhyv1m84 gNYAFLt3-JDoQAyA_QYf_duTkZa5v6jsa7hyPaOGhzFVEZhAEIbj1UGz3ZJ bctSBe3tZPYHSoO3e4MuEpzAvKkCrRToum3_Ynk4BJlyCMytBD IRS7b5pAUgzayULu0HhWlMdFjAD8Ec7I16dxLGCm56Cl9q0qfe qhlkzFjd2BJzN0v0mx_4BqihB0DMyUmXvJab9iwftDJLx5N8n0 3f17X5JUI88ZsQo2MM0-vWEJ9DdXa_4txCbMcGIPUI_x41AkUWWt485tcH6v7aKnRcBoTD 0N7uZT0DdMX212rXP6CZhUn6dU1hezVP2JvnEV_1Ol7cHXLU5t uaRAFP-GyiY3BBQRYdl-LlhHp7yfn_hb0XFAZDi7nlz77wwl5TfWE9GRwYT2gBFJF-chuc5Ep92GfsaZg-n03fTRAo_qm-jgwS-k60zhsRfeUejLQEV5KhyJ8VxXjoS3QQ_HFaAzwUq4b6LU2nwcl lCbTJEqZg16TU3-BZvpcZjcBkCFL2UmhyD5MGrv8-SNU=w1632-h918-no


Heading back up tomorrow. When I came out to sight my rifle, I saw the biggest, most beautiful buck I've ever seen. On opening day, someone shot at him and the entire herd ran over to where I was hunting, but I never got a shot. I think it's too late for me to get anything now, but I'll go try anyway. Good luck everyone else for this year. Post up your pictures.

[OtterbatHellcat]

Nice post, Irving.

[Hummer]

Good writeup, congratulations on the elk, Irving!

I'm heading out 2nd season and hope to be as lucky.

[Irving]

Well, my hunt was a bust, I hope someone else gets something down. I took a shot at an antelope today, but didn't connect. I spent a lot of time finding the herd again and doing a stalk, again. We were crawling up to get another shot, after over an hour of walking around, then driving around, then walking around again. I actually had a good spot, and another hunter that had been hanging back and watching me, drove in on top of the remaining animals and chased them out. We never saw them again, then it got dark. Good luck everyone else.

[TRnCO]

Congrats to your buddy on the elk Irving, and nice poke on the coyote.
I'd post a pic. of my archery antelope buck that I was lucky to get in my own pasture, but the only pics. I took are on my phone and I can't seem to figure out how to move them from my phone to the computer. I should get learned up on computer stuff someday, but probably won't.

[ACE2GOOD]

Just got back from North Dakota last week. Bird numbers are WAY down, 60%+ according to fish and game. Always have limited out on my Uncle's farm since I was 12. We only got 1 pheasant out of the farm. Really crazy year for us so far. We ended up getting 2 limits of birds over 5 days down along the Little Missouri river at my dads house. On the bright side we got to see family and my wife got to break in her new shotgun. Chomping at the bit for our deer tags to open next weekend.

[fj605]

We didn't see a single elk during first season in Jackson County. Jumped a bunch of mule deer but not any elk.

[zimagold]

Shot a medium size doe last weekend for 2nd rifle mule deer in Boulder Canyon. Suppressed 16" 6.8 SPC at 110 yards had excellent performance with Barnes 95gr Tac-tx. Missed out on Elk season this year due to a work conflict, but my hunting group got 2 bulls during first rifle season.

[brutal]

Congrats to your buddy on the elk Irving, and nice poke on the coyote.
I'd post a pic. of my archery antelope buck that I was lucky to get in my own pasture, but the only pics. I took are on my phone and I can't seem to figure out how to move them from my phone to the computer. I should get learned up on computer stuff someday, but probably won't.

Be happy to help you out on that some time. Easy peasy to have them automagically send to any one of multiple cloud services that you can then see on your 'puter.

[spqrzilla]

In mid month, my group went back to an area we hadn't hunted in at least a decade. Just east of the Flattops on Derby Mesa. We were surprised at how little game we saw. I saw a small band of cow elk on the first morning but we never saw any more the whole trip. I saw a pair of muley bucks twice, the same pair. And that was it. Years back the area was filled with mule deer and elk. Obviously the warm weather meant that the elk were still high but the amount of sign we saw was very disappointing.

[sampson]

Nice young muley buck taken at only 35 yards. Buckled down without moving one inch. Amazingly no exit wound with a 30-06 Spine shot. Have the bullet as a keepsake.

[encorehunter]

https://s19.postimg.org/9vlazmh7j/20171028_091457.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/9vlazmh7j/)
https://s19.postimg.org/9vlazm9hr/20171024_100159.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/9vlazm9hr/)

By far the most productive season I have ever had. Both animals dropped in their tracks on the first shot. My trusty old Encore in .25-06 with a 110gr Accubond did the trick again.

[whitewalrus]

By far the most productive season I have ever had. Both animals dropped in their tracks on the first shot. My trusty old Encore in .25-06 with a 110gr Accubond did the trick again.

Good job!

[Hummer]

This year construction projects at home conspired to delay my hunt and I lost the first six days of the season. I finally got to my camp site in the Flat Tops region and was out before dawn on Friday. I climbed the mountain, over the top and into some aspen parks, then slowly ventured down into the dark spruce-fir timber. Before long I spotted a brown patch and brought up the binoculars. Sure enough, it was a bull elk laying in his bed looking my direction, and I could count four points on his left side. In a second or two he would bust out and be gone so I took the quick offhand shot. The 180 gr. Nosler Partition cleaved his heart and went through the lungs. Still, he stood, walked 27 yards and collapsed down an embankment.

I made the shot from 47 yards. Remarkably, where I shot him in his bed was 24 yards from where my 2016 cow elk was downed. I shot the cow at 27 yards on the first day of season last year. Both times, had I not been using binoculars while moving through the woods, those elk would have been gone before I could get a shot, or even a view. I love hunting the dark timber because it's so elky and pungent. The forest is so thick it's not easy to get close enough for a shot but when you do, it sure is gratifying. Oh yea, I'm one lucky son of a gun.

72376


I camp near an outfitter and usually hire them to pack out my elk. Much easier, and better than letting a bear get to it. Saturday morning, Cole had horses and mules ready to go and we had the animal back in camp by noon. I drove home and got the meat in the refrigerator before dark. Now the butchering begins....

72377

[Hummer]

By far the most productive season I have ever had. Both animals dropped in their tracks on the first shot. My trusty old Encore in .25-06 with a 110gr Accubond did the trick again.


Outstanding, you can't get much better than a buck and a bull in the same season. Congratulations!

[encorehunter]

Thank you. Both of these guys were on public land.

[jslo]

In mid month, my group went back to an area we hadn't hunted in at least a decade. Just east of the Flattops on Derby Mesa. We were surprised at how little game we saw. I saw a small band of cow elk on the first morning but we never saw any more the whole trip. I saw a pair of muley bucks twice, the same pair. And that was it. Years back the area was filled with mule deer and elk. Obviously the warm weather meant that the elk were still high but the amount of sign we saw was very disappointing.

Ditto. Drew leftover and hunted Dome Peak area for muzzleloader. Over 5 days heard 1 shot, way too warm. Won't gamble on 1st choice next year. Went back second rifle and heard 2 shots and saw very little sign.

[jhood001]

This year construction projects at home conspired to delay my hunt and I lost the first six days of the season. I finally got to my camp site in the Flat Tops region and was out before dawn on Friday. I climbed the mountain, over the top and into some aspen parks, then slowly ventured down into the dark spruce-fir timber. Before long I spotted a brown patch and brought up the binoculars. Sure enough, it was a bull elk laying in his bed looking my direction, and I could count four points on his left side. In a second or two he would bust out and be gone so I took the quick offhand shot. The 180 gr. Nosler Partition cleaved his heart and went through the lungs. Still, he stood, walked 27 yards and collapsed down an embankment.

I made the shot from 47 yards. Remarkably, where I shot him in his bed was 24 yards from where my 2016 cow elk was downed. I shot the cow at 27 yards on the first day of season last year. Both times, had I not been using binoculars while moving through the woods, those elk would have been gone before I could get a shot, or even a view. I love hunting the dark timber because it's so elky and pungent. The forest is so thick it's not easy to get close enough for a shot but when you do, it sure is gratifying. Oh yea, I'm one lucky son of a gun.

72376


I camp near an outfitter and usually hire them to pack out my elk. Much easier, and better than letting a bear get to it. Saturday morning, Cole had horses and mules ready to go and we had the animal back in camp by noon. I drove home and got the meat in the refrigerator before dark. Now the butchering begins....

72377
Awesome post. Thank you for sharing. And congrats are in order.

[bkincaid]

My year!

[Hummer]

Awesome post. Thank you for sharing. And congrats are in order.

Thanks, J-- !

[Hummer]

Since this is a 'results' thread I thought I'd follow up with a couple more photos. This year our old FoodSaver vacuum sealers weren't working any more so I got a Cabela's 12" "commercial grade" vacuum sealer (http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-COMMERCIAL-VACUUM-SEALER/1661927.uts?slotId=9) to package the meat. I got it on sale and it works great!

Another years worth of fine elk steaks and sausage! Tomorrow we'll be making knapwurst German breakfast sausage, and chorizo Mexican sausage.


72574


Every year I hang the butchered out backbone and leg sections from trees near the house so that birds can use the fat, meat and marrow. It's an important source of protein and all kinds of birds use and pick it clean by the end of December. We regularly get Steller's and Western Scrub Jays, Black-billed Magpies, Common Ravens and Crows, Clark's Nutcrackers, Hairy, Downy and Lewis's Woodpeckers, Mountain and Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-crowned Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Audubon's Warblers, Wilson's Warblers, and even Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles have used the boned out carcasses. It's great to watch them all up close. Here's one of the Clark's Nutcrackers just a few feet from our dining room window today.


72575


P.S.: You probably shouldn't try this if your homeowners association would disapprove. [Coffee]

[Hummer]

Today was a sausage making day. We ground 23 lbs of elk and pork shoulder to make Mexican chorizo and Italian sausage, bulk packed in vacuum sealed bags. We also did 3 lbs. of elk jerky using the Cabela's jerky blaster. The blaster works like a caulking gun to lay strips of ground and seasoned meat onto a rack and dry in the oven at 175 degrees. Works neat!

72594

[Planner]

I had a decent year again, matched my results from last year. 2 of 4 tags filled.

Archery elk was a bust. New area for me this year, too easy to access and too hot. Lots of great exercise and peaceful nights camping but no Wapiti again this year.

Opening weekend of rifle season for Pronghorn in early October, had a real tough time closing within 500 yds of the bucks. Connected on this young buck at 225yds on the second morning, he was alone in a bowl and seemed very surprised by my appearance. Fortunately, he waffled on the decision to run and I had a decent quartering shot. 185gr Berger Hunting VLD HSM ammo from my .300WSM dropped him. I lost some meat with the VLD though - it sure does expand :)

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171231/c7f61312c01325a5f001e2ae55eabf10.jpg

Later in October, I was able to connect on this young mule deer from 309 yds on a small working corn farm in eastern CO. This was with the new Federal Edge TLR in 200gr, very hard hitting. Best shooting position ever, had to crawl up on top the cab of my buddies International tractor to see the full body on the other side of the irrigation ditch and weeds.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171231/d87c7d57508aeb56c51f84672b66bb0b.jpg

Last tag was late season antelope, both doe tags for me and my son in the same unit I harvested the buck in October. We spent several days with not even a single sighting. Despite the tag soup, I spent some great hours with my boy in the peaceful quiet of the prairie, breaking in some new boots and stuffing tumbleweeds into every crevice underneath my truck. This about sums up how this hunt went.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171231/e62e35616401cab73d7ed15ad633be2b.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk