nobody mentioned the 100+lb backpacks! (elk hunting)

[vash]

here is the original thread:

sorry PETA. i drew for elk!

well despite the long odds, my i got my elk on opening morning, and my bro got his the next morning. mine was a huge 5x5 and ken's was a 5x6. his had a harem of six cows. we called them in with sexy cow calls with the occasional bugle. it was amazing. the jubulation dissipated on my animal, in about 5 seconds. the daunting task of butchering and packing out the meat (3 miles) was very sobering. i have never ever been so tired. the second morning, we hiked back up and got the second animal. packing out that animal, a friend muttered, "i think i lost the will to live". all in all it was a blast. next year, i am doing it with archery equipment. btw, elk taste like beef.

is it bad taste to show pics?

[Eric 951]

vash,

no pics aren't in bad taste. Congratulations on the success. I leave in the AM for a week of mule deer hunting in Wyoming.

Gotta love hunting season.

[vash]

ok, sorry PETA.



mine is the top pic. sorry i scanned the images.

[Eric 951]

Nice....how many yards?

and what did you use?

[SlowToady]

Nice elk! I didn't click on the original thread, but where did you go? Guided or no?

My friend's dad just got back from an archery elk hunt; you'll love it. What kind of bow do you shoot?

I'm really hoping to get a deer and 'yote this year, and I'd *love* to get a turkey for Thanksgiving.

[charleskieffner]

NICE RACKS! THE FUN STARTS AFTER YOU PULL THE TRIGGER or HOW I KILLED A CLYDESDALE! peudners of mine got 2 bull tags. one by flagstaff other north of payson in the happy hunting grounds where i have nailed mine. nothing better than a good elk hunt............well if they stumble and fall onto the trailer after being shot would make it better! LOL! congrats you earned it! NO-ONE realizes how hard an elk hunt is until they do it. no bench racing, no books, no video will ever come close to OTJT(on the job training).

[vash]

thanks guys. i used a 30.06 shooting 180gr nosler partitions. my bro used a 7mm shooting 165 grains, same bullet.

this hunt was guideless. we talked to a game warden and he said, if we were up to it, we should go up the ski slopes. so we were in ruidoso, NM, unit 36. hiking up (empty) and down (loaded) black diamond runs was an eye opening experience. my house is at 67 feet from sea level, and we hiked to 10,000 feet. i think my lips turned blue. both shots were at 150 yards. maybe 200. but they could have been alot closer. they were definately heading towards our cow bleats. we must have sounded HOT!

i have an older PSE bow, that i plan on retireing. i shot a mathews switchback XT, (the salesman was smart and ruthless), and i am SOLD! hopefully picking up the gear this weekend. byebye, overdraw! the new parallel limb bows have zero vibration. i am 100% more accurate with the new equipment. charles, i am going to jump into the points system for that arizona region. can you explain the points system? that region produces some great animals. i am hooked. moose is next.

[vash]

good luck eric. mulies are still my favorite chase!

[Eric 951]

Originally posted by vash
good luck eric. mulies are still my favorite chase!

thanks vash. Ruidoso NM--Ski Apache?I almost moved to ruidoso years ago. were you on the res?

[pmajka]

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM-EAT
MEAT!!!!!!

[vash]

no, we didnt have the $13,500 to hunt on the reservation. so we did the next best thing. we searched the border, and called them in. we did glass over, and saw some massive bulls. best $750 i ever spent. i guess we were lucky to actually draw a tag. we talked to a few locals that have been trying for years. i personally think it is a conspriacy to get more money. non-res spend more.

yes, ski apache. i got some land there, so when i retire, waaaay later in my future, i am going there.