Elk
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Rifle Elk Success!!!!!!!!
Posted by Wes on 18 Oct 2007 | Tagged as: Elk
I’ll say this was the most challenging rifle elk hunt we have ever done. But in the end we found success. Wheather was non-compliant the elk were skittish, and some days we couldn’t find them. Our friend Ricardo from Sinaloa, Mexico overcame great barriers to help his dad harvest his first elk in what will likely be his only trip to Colorado. We brought it down to the wire to the last hours of the hunt but long time school principal Jon hung in there passing on bulls to harvest a great 6×6. And Brent went home in the middle of a tough hunt opting for elk steaks and his first bull, a tall horned 5×5. So honestly not the hunt we have been used to, not sure that it helps me sell hunts but it was tough. We had plenty of elk but some mistakes and bad conditions left us grinding it out to the last day. I will add at the end here that this 4 year run puts us on this hunt at 23-24 on kills. We stuck it out in this one though and hunters went home happy. Guides relaxed a bit and we lined up more great elk footage for the 2007 DVD. Now we get to hang up the cow calls and change gears, TIME TO HUNT SOME DEER!! And can I just add that we have deer!
Later, Wes
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First Bull of the rifle season Congrats Randy!
Posted by Wes on 13 Oct 2007 | Tagged as: Elk
Randy was able to make a 347 yd shot today to put this 6×6 down. Unable to advance on the herd Chanse cow called the bull into an opening. Chanse asked Randy 5 times if he could make that shot, later we learned that Randy had his feelings hurt by his concern. So Randy heart shot him to fill his tag and harvest his first bull elk. They just stopped by with their bull and they are soaked as it drenched them while they were packing elk out tonight.
Rain and wind made for some rough conditions otherwise I would be posting a couple more bulls as we got super close today in a herd of 80 plus but couldn’t close the deal. Frustrated as we were chalk one up for the elk, it’s good to see them win from time to time as long as they don’t make a habit of it. Hello from Randy to Canyon Texas.
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Daren is speechless!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Wes on 17 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Elk
![Daren Coryell 008blog1[1].jpg](http://blog.atkinsonexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/Daren%20Coryell%20008blog1[1].jpg)
We set out our last day of a 5 day hunt with whatever thoughts burden the minds of pensive elk hunters. Mine the thoughts of an outfitter on a hunt: that no matter how many mature bulls we have seen it just doesn’t feel right not closing the deal for Daren. In Daren’s mind somewhere must be the ‘almosts’ of the last couple days and the doubting thoughts of “will I ever get my first bull?” Mike, his brother, who was fortunate to harvest the heavy 6×6 two days before, pulling for his brother and wondering why he was so lucky on the coin toss. And no matter how you stretch it, to hunt bulls of this quality these hunts are not cheap and the dollar amounts sure rest easier with that spot above the fireplace being home to ‘the dream’ rather than settling for the wife’s favorite picture another year.
So we sleepily drive the 30 minutes to the ranch not talking somehow understanding each other’s world. I park just in the usual, check the wind, glass through the dark and listen. The night before we saw the elk head for the field but we saw no shooters, so mostly we know the elk will be there but will there be a shooter? Sure enough I can see the shapes fade in and out of my fuzzy eyes and several bulls are posturing. The night before, the herd bull was an over-eager 4×4 who for a night had all that he could have ever wanted. We didn’t know that it was only for a night though and when a 300″ 6×6 skylined I almost didn’t want to say. And then another shooter and the pressure left the Toyota like someone burst a balloon. The game was on again, and we started to talk a little. Someone laughed and I breathed. Now elk will do this to you in a sadistic addictive torturing way - show themselves and then head for the nastiest, rockiest, swirliest, windiest part of the ranch they can find. Did I mention that there are 100 elk and 3 shooters? Whatever you are thinking right now about where they are going, just picture three times worse. So bad in fact that the elk have to change directions several times just to keep from sliding off a cliff. Even they are confused. I think they have finally outdone themslves - they will be there for a week before they can get off that mountain. Hours go by and we’ve got a plan. A couple of times we even dare to discuss the size of that bull. Mostly we think about the wind and send out vibes to give us one last chance. Our approach is from the blind side - our wind is good and we are in the zone. So focused, in fact, that several hundred yards into our hike I stop to share a word with Daren and Mike and they ask me if I saw the snake I stepped in the middle of. I say no and we head off. We spot the elk as we clear the last rise - a cow and a calf 80 yards away - the sentries and security system the old bruzer has built in for himself. Then without surprise we know the herd is headed right at us. For the next 2 hours we live with the elk. We are 50 yds from the bull with no shot. We are 70 yds from bull number two and a cow will not clear. But can I say this - we HAVE A GOOD WIND a real elk-killing wind and inside we challenge the other variables. Then we are pinned by a young cow and I say thank you to her youth as she turns her head and filters through the mob. Another hour goes by and we are at times too close, even in a good wind, but it holds. Another 10 yds and we’ll have a shot, nope they are all flopping one by one as they begin to lay down. The bulls sift through the cows and we back off for another approach. We chill a bit and reach for cactus. The bull screams and reminds us of our task, we creep through the velcro mahogany and there he is 120 yds away taking a break. Daren knows he can make that shot, I know Daren can make that shot, and Mike calls out the range. 124 yards - we just need him to stand….quickly he does, the camera rolls and the air fills with white cloud. It’s not the muzzle blast we hear though it’s the WHACK - the bull stumbles, he coughs and collapses. We don’t talk again and it sounds like we are just leaving the hotel all over again. We wait, mumble, and wait and mumble. The approach is positive as we know he only went 10 yards. Mike sees him first and says he’s got to be 330″ we decline but he is definitely growing. In fact we’re not talking again. Daren wrestles him from the tree, actually we all wrestle him from the tree, all noticing that he doesn’t budge. His beams are super long and he is growing still. So we don’t talk for a bit, not loud anyway no yelling here just WOW. Last day WOW what a bull. We know he was born a long time ago and we just can’t believe we got to hunt him. A big thanks from all three of us.
Awesome hunt guys see you another day.
Later, Wes
338 6/8″
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Can you say MASS??!
Posted by Rachelle on 15 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Elk
We can’t get enough of this incredibly massive 6×6, double-lunged by Mike at 116 yards. An older bull with tree trunks for beams, we won’t see mass like this for a long time to come. Congratulations, Mike, great shot! Tomorrow it’s Mike’s brother Daren’s turn, so stay tuned! Tonight Wes and Mike and Daren were treated to an evening of dueling bugles bouncing off hillsides, so we’re looking for more action in the morning.
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4 days, 4 bulls
Posted by Chanse on 13 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Elk
Saw five bulls one 40″ wide 5×5 bugled. I called, the bull trotted in, Jim shot him at 60yds. We packed him out. That’s how we do it. End of story we’ll get another one soon.
Later, Chanse
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Another Hunter’s First!!!!
Posted by Chanse on 11 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Elk
It is the third day of the hunt and all of the other hunters in camp, including Rob’s long time friend Jon, have harvested a bull. After seeing Gary and Jon harvest a bull with muzzleloaders, Rob was ready for his turn with a stick and string. The afternoon before we had spotted a small five point running some cows around and decided to get a closer look at him. However, when we arrived to where they were supposed to be, they were gone! So we moved on to another location that afternoon, but no luck. The morning of the third day Rob opted to go back and look for the five point we had seen the day before. After glassing for about 45 minutes I spotted a bull elk on the hillside. Rob was ready to do some stalking. After gearing up, checking for release, arrows, and bow we headed for the elk. Walking as quiet as one can through dead sticks and noisy brush, Rob stopped and pointed out some cows working their way up the draw. We dropped in our tracks, nearly busted. Checking the wind we set up uphill and back from the elk. After putting Rob into position Jon and I retreated back a few yards and settled in. I left Jon with the camera and snuck down the hill to setup the montana decoy, then worked my way back to Jon. Now the fun begins!! I started cow calling and working that bull and his harem towards us. It took some convincing but they started to come, but they were working up instead of across. I told Jon to stay put and started moving lower into the draw, trying to work the bull down towards the decoy. It worked! I could just see his antlers, and was hoping that Rob could see him coming. The bull finally stopped, looked to his right where the cows were and I could see Rob appear out of the brush to his left less than 20 yards away. I called and Rob let one fly. The bull took off and I could see that he was hit in the boiler room. After doing our jumps and high-fives, we went to tracking. After only 150 yards Jon spots the bull, I see it and then Rob the last one to the spot sees his trophy. As you can see in the pics, Rob’s bull is a huge-bodied, massive, mature 5×6. What a hunt!!!! Rob and Jon, both first time elk hunters, are able to harvest elk and see each other’s hunts. Definitely a hunt to remember. Congrats to the both of you!!!
Chanse
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