CABL Forum - Got Elk?

Was my first morning out for 09 hunting. Hiked into my favorite spot, atop a ridge overlooking a nice little valley 200yd down to the bottem, 1000yd across with aspen quakkies, then black timber behind the aspens, on the other side, and about 3/4 of a mile long, mostley open sage. Got there about an hour before shoot time. So I got my thermos out, and poured me a cup coffee and sat back to enjoy. Damn it was cold, with a slight breeze blowing in my face and my favor. Another cup of coffee, was just starting to get light enough to make out things. Nothing, sat back and had another cup of joe. Then, I looked to my left and saw a golden spot, then another, then another, in all 9 golden spots. grabbed the range finder, to far out for it and 1/2 hr be for shoot time. So I sat back and kept an eye on em, working their way to me, just grazzing. Now 750yd out and getting closer to shoot time. Keep checking range and looking at watch, 629yd out. Still alittle out there even for my comfert, so I waited. Grabed my binocs so could identify, 3 bulls, 6 cows. YEA MAN! I had a cow tag. Shoot time 7:03, 500yd out still and looking like they might start working their way towards the black timber, still just grazzing. Now I am starting to get itchy, 450yd out, take another sip of coffee. Sit and wait sip some more coffee, now they are for sure headen for the timber, 408yd out and have good shot on 4 of em, pick one, take another sip of coffee. BOOM!!!!! Elk scattering every where, didn't see her drop. Start counting as they are going in the timber 1,2,3,4,5 cows, 3 bulls. YEA MAN! There was alittle knoll between me and them. So I grabbed the binocs and started glassen the hill side. No sign of her. Well, finished my cup of coffee, got gear together, and headed on down. Took about 10 min to get down to where they were, looked around, took 5 min to find her. YEA MAN! She was on the back side of the knoll. Well, got her all dressed out, looked at my watch 7:47 am. Now the fun starts, and I am by myself, and no cell service, my buddies are not scheduled for another 6 hours. What are my options, drag her out by myself, don't think so, quarter her up and make 4 trips packing her out, can do but do I want to? Not really. So I hike back to the truck, and head back to camp. Grab this plastic trash can thats full of mule tape. Drive back over to the hunting grounds, park my truck, grab the end of the mule and start hiking in to the elk. Got it all tied up and ready to go, hung a choker and a sherman riley on aspen tree at the top of the ridge, and then down to the truck about 500yd away. Got back to the truck, and tied the mule tape to it, 4500 ft out, and was getting ready to start pulling. When my buddies showed up couple of hours early, Right on! So, I grabbed a radio, and I tell one of my buddies to put it in 4 low and go slow. I hike back into the elk, I say, go truck, 10-4 crackles back,. The mule tape starts to tighten up, sling. that elk shot out across that sage like a rocket. Whoa!!! I was yelling into the radio and trying to keep up with that animal. Finally, after about 15 min we had her out to the truck, and in one peice. Thats about it in a nut shell. Just thought I'd share that with you.

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Got Elk?