Freezer Full of Montana Elk
by Dave, ElkHuntingTips.Net
(Montana)
We were both a little tired after this hunt
|
|
I killed two cow elk this year with a rifle. I prefer to kill an elk with a bow, but all I managed to do during archery season was to slap a nice bull with an arrow sideways! I worked hard and very successfully to get set up for an ambush on a 6X6 as he moved his herd from feed to bed.
I stopped him right in the only window with a cow chirp. I had already ranged him while he was moving, but I misjudged the distance where he stopped as 40 yards. (He was more than 40 yards out.) I held my 40 pin dead on and my nock barely tapped a fallen tree trunk as my arrow went over it.
That tipped the arrow nock up and the arrow slapped hard against the bull's chest! He and the other two bulls with him tore up some dirt. All the cows behind them panicked, as well.
I am going to spend some time practicing guessing distances and then checking with my range finder this coming year. My store, Elk Tips Outdoor Gear, puts on a 3D shoot during the summer. I'm going to shoot it this year, not just run it! 3D shoots are a great way to practice guessing distances on life size animals before the season starts.
The cow rifle hunts were fun, though! The freezer is full of organic, grass fed, lean red meat. After hunting a ridge thoroughly and finding no elk, I went back down to the bottom to head out. Then I saw "a hundred" head of elk running to the other end of the same creek bottom.
I knew they would go around the other end of the high ridge and cross to the next drainage. They were under pressure from another area. I scrambled hard to the top and moved fast toward the other end where I hoped they would cross. I got there just in time to see them slowly moving across with their tongues hanging out. It was difficult to find one away from the herd, but I finally did.
The weather improved a great deal for a beautiful day for the second kill. I kind of had to press past a couple of other hunters in the dark of morning. I saw them feeding early on a high hill top. I guessed corectly where they'd come down and got an easy 170 yard shot to fill my second cow tag.
Comments:
Hector, TX: "Wow, that was fast! It's very pleasant to see your sincere spirit of service and customer care... You are doing way more than selling products to customers like me...we are getting tremendous value from all you do with your site and your business."
Tim, AZ: "This morning, she was 145# on the hook. I definitely owe some of my success to your website and your products. Thanks again!"
Jesse, NM: "I just wanted to thank you for taking the time and energy
in creating such an amazing and helpful website. As a new hunter, this provides
an excellent guide to approaching elk hunting. I just wanted to thank you for
sharing such a wealth of knowledge, and giving us new hunters a fighting chance
of filling a tag. You guys are amazing!!!"
Skip, (Tucson, AZ) "Your Elk Hunting Tips Web Site is the best, most helpful
one I have ever seen. I read and profit more than I can tell you. I just wanted
to tell you THANKS!
P. Scott, (BC 2016) "I would like to thank my hunting partner for the great company & this website for the wealth of information that I have gleaned & also the gear bought as every bit of info etc. is required to harvest one of these regal animals."
Thomas (OR), "Reading your tips has helped me to formulate a hopefully
positive and safe game plan for the 2014 elk season!"
Travis (WI), "I just wanted to say thank you for your site, and helpful emails! I got several useful tips from you, and your site. ...got to put the smack down on my first elk, a beautiful New Mexico 300 class bull."
Tristan, Superior, CO: "I feel like I could go on forever here, I just get so excited talking about elk and I don't know many other hunters… Thanks again for the gear, and the website. I have found it to be very useful and enlightening.
Jordan, MT: "Your website is a great help! I wanted to personally thank you for the great tips on hunting elk. I am extremely excited for this elk rifle season as its my first. I wish you luck during your hunts and God bless!"
Shop Our Store
Newsletter Opt-in:
"I just get so excited talking about elk.." ~Tristan, CO
Search This Site Here:
Hunting Gear Reviews
ASAT CamoElkNut Outdoor Prod.
Bugling Bull Game Calls
HECS Stealthscreen
Montana Decoy
StringSling Bow Sling
Skull Hookers
Safari Sling Rifle Sling
Clip-Shot Mini Camera Mount
ASAT Camo
Bugling Bull
Game Calls
ElkNut Productions
Free Shipping on
ElkNut Products Here
HECS Stealthscreen:
A New Type of Concealment!
$199.99,
Including U.S. Shipping
Montana Decoy Elk/Deer
Available Here!
The StringSling:
Best Bow Sling Design!
$29.95, Including U.S. Shipping
Clip-Shot: 1 oz. Camera Mount
Skull Hookers
$34.99 & 59.99 Free U.S. Shipping!
The Safari Sling:
Best Rifle Sling Design!
Share your elk hunting pictures and stories on our
Facebook Page!
Forum Topic Discussions:
How often should I use my cow call?, I am new to the sport of bow hunting elk and my question is how often should I use my cow calls?
295 yard kill with a Kimber Montana 325 WSM, by Don from Dallas: My ELk did not even twitch once. He was dead when he hit the ground.
325 WSM is worth considering, Palmer Lake,CO: I believe that the .325 WSM is the ultimate elk caliber...
30-30 for Elk? : I have a 30 30 with 170 grain round nose bullet. Will this work to shoot an elk ?
(More comments about Best Elk Rifle below)
Submissions
Unique Elk Talk by Idaho Steve (Hailey, Id ), In the middle of the night, a herd of elk came traveling through the drainage and right past my tent...
Smelly Elk Areas? by Jimmy (New Mexico), I've come across many areas that just stink of elk, literally. I have heard two somewhat contradictory stories...
DIY Gear List Must Have's! by Craig (Florida) "Here are some of the items I use on my DIY hunts in the CO backcountry..."
Elk and Deer Hunting and Mountain Bikes, by Skip Shepherd (Tucson, AZ)~ At 67 I am thinking a lot about investing in a mountain bike to get back into remote areas...
Solo archery hunting -- tips for calling/set up?, by Idaho Steve (Hailey, ID )~ I hunt by myself a lot...I'd love to hear your thoughts on strategic set-ups when solo hunting and calling.
Non- Lead Bullets for Elk?, by Dave, Elk Hunting Tips.Net (Garrison, MT)~ What do you ballistics guys think about the use of non-lead bullets for elk? According to this story...
Rage Broadheads by Chris, ...my buddy gave me a rage practice tip and when I shot it you could not pick out the broadhead from the field points. I was sold...
Recent Submissions:
Finally filled the freezer..., Colorado Rockies~ "I was bummed when I got to the property and no elk, nor any hoof prints in the snow. ...I pulled each of the elk into shade then started gutting..."
Wounded Veteran Elk hunts, by Joshua FL), I am a disabled veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and have always dreamed of hunting elk. I am posting this to see if anyone would know of any elk hunts free to disabled vets....
First Elk with a Bow, by Ryan H. (Colorado), ...Finally after many years of hunting with a bow "I got er did"!
First Elk!, by Tater (Sheridan, Arkansas) I took the advice I received from this website and was successful…I wanted to Thank You and Your Forum and the folks that share on here for the knowledge and information that helped me find an elk I was quite happy with.
Any success in Unit 14?, by: Dave (MI), "I'm planning on doing a DIY in Unit 14 for 2012..."
Bugle in Herd bulls, by Swiltbank (Az) The key to calling in a herd bull is to get into his bedding grounds and threaten his herd. Start off sounding like…
Best Rifle Caliber?, by Buglemup (Superior, MT), "I've been reading what people have been writing about rifle calibers and here is what 16 years of guiding elk has taught me."
7mm Remington Magnum, by Dean (Helena, MT. USA) I use my Liberty Ruger M77, 7mm Rem. Mag. for antelope, deer, elk... Comment: "What do you guys think about the idea of hunting elk with a 270? I also know a guy who kills elk with a 243."
338 Marlin Express, "Light, fast shooting, hard hitting, manageable recoil, and for a lever gun - very accurate."
Guns I like for Elk, by Mountain Walker (Kootenays east B.C. Canada),"I think the gun you shoot Elk with should be one you shoot a lot with... "
.35 Remington, by Bill Smith "...my .35 Rem appears to have dropped a medium deer flawlessly, but I now have serious doubts as to its capability to take an elk."
Where to hunt in Az unit 3B?, by Cliffjumper (Tucson, Az) ~ I got a late bull muzzle loader hunt in Arizona unit 3b. Does anyone know how to hunt bulls in the late season?...
First time elk hunter hunting Arizona unit 6A , by Rob Marchio (Omaha, Ne)~ I'm a first time elk hunter hunting Arizona's unit 6A. I'm planning on staying in the Pine Grove campground...
Help needed for 1st DIY Hunt w/Son, by Patrick (Parker, CO), "I was looking for some advice on my 1st DIY hunt for 2014 in CO with my 13 yr old son. I have countless hrs going over stats, topo maps & Google Earth"
Elk Hunting Colorado in 2013, By William (Midland, TX) "I am planning an elk hunt next year in Colorado and I wanted to know if hunting Gunnison National Forest..."
Unit 60 Elk 4th Rifle Season Nov 13-17 Either Sex 2013, By Chester "...Any general advice about the unit would be appreciated!"
Elk Hunting Idaho Unit 8 8A 11, This is my first year seriously trying to track down some elk. Is there anyone that has hunted in any of these units and can give me some friendly advice? Mitchell, Moscow Idaho
Elk Hunting Pocatello by Cameron (Pocatello) Where is the best place to elk hunt around Pocatello, Idaho? I'm a student at ISU and I'm looking for somewhere around here to hunt next season.
How is the elk hunting in unit 30A in Idaho?, by Terry (Richland Center, WI) Has anyone archery elk hunted in unit 30A in Idaho? What can you tell me about the area?
Hunting in Western Montana, by Mike A. (Alabama)
I did not draw a tag for Missouri breaks where I have hunted in the past. Having to start over and try western Montana.
New Mexico Unit 49, by Silas (Los Alamos, NM)
If anyone has tips on areas to start scouting, I'd really appreciate it.
First Elk Hunt First Elk Hunt, by Big "R" (NM)
I finally got drawn for a late elk hunt in Unit 28, north of Road 506 and south of the boundary line of the Lincoln National Forest...
Cow elk in Nevada's unit 222:
"Any good places known in unit 222?"
Northeast Nevada Early Elk hunt, by John (Carson City,NV)
"Any suggestions on what areas I may see some signs of elk?"
Retired USMC MSgt Needs Advice, by Ken Wing USMCRET (Bealeton, Va)
Popcorn VenisonPopcorn Venison with Maple Syrup?
Elk or Venison Steaks Grilled to Perfection Here's how to turn them into steakhouse steaks!
Spice-Crusted Grilled Venison Roast Recipe This Spice-Crusted, Grilled Venison Roast recipe works great for any red meat roasts, including elk, deer or beef roast...
Corned Elk Recipe You can easily make corned venison and elk, moose or corned beef from these instructions...