Western Hunts

Is anyone applying for, or doing, any western hunts this year?

I'm in for a few including Wyoming Elk, and those draw results will be posted tomorrow.

A pic from my last elk hunt (Colorado). Pursued this bull for several days but unfortunately never got a shot at him. Too many eyes!

Good luck with the draws Greg. That looks like a pretty good spot in CO! 3 of us got skunked last year.

Still saving points for CO elk, but hoping to use 2nd choice to get back out there - usually 2nd rifle. Looking for a new area if anyone has any suggestions they are willing to share.

Have not started building points in any other states out west, but would like to.

Putting in for muzzy elk in CO this year if we don't get drawn going with bows in September.

Stick I would consider that the bull of a lifetime. I plan on plugging the first legal bull I see or a cow later in the trip I'm meat hunting first go round.

Any tips for a first timer fellas?

Shoot the first legal elk that you have the chance at. Depending on the area that you are hunting, waiting for something that you might not have a chance at sometimes doesn't work out to well.

I did and I don't regret it. My buddy with his 300 win mag set up for 300 yards shot over the back of 350 class bull at 30 yards. Said all he could see in scope was hair!

trad, yes for sure that was a fantastic bull! Not really representative of what you might see in most of the OTC units. He was in a draw-only unit. But you really never know and a guy could get lucky anywhere.

As far as any recommendations.....If you're bowhunting, I'd recommend waiting until later in the season, like the last 2 weeks, if you want to have the best chance to hear bugling and see rut action. If you're willing to sit waterholes, then I'd go the first week. That can be a highly effective strategy, but it may not be for everyone.

I like to camp back deep in the forest, close to where I'll be hunting. There are guys who have success with road camping too. But for me I just like to be close to the elk, and far as possible from other hunters. Having said that, there are places close to roads where elk live, and are overlooked by hunters. But those may be hard to find, and in general, the deeper you go, the less chance the elk with be as pressured.

Well no luck for me today in the WY draw. Will just have to hope for luck drawing some kind of tag elsewhere!

Well the Arizona and Wyoming draws are out and no luck on those. Time to apply for Colorado.

I'm putting in this week also. Dropped 17 lbs already for the trip and almost have all my gear also, few small things left to get. Good luck

The preparation, planning and anticipation are half the fun

Yeah I'm outta training for atleast a week. Got a vasectomy yesterday but I've made some good progress so I don't think a week will make that big of a difference.

Well the western draws are winding down with no luck for me. Just a few long-shots left to watch in Montana, Oregon and Arizona. Got a couple other hunts planned, but still would love to pull a sheep tag.

Drew a Mule deer tag for Colorado 2nd rifle season in the Book Cliffs area

Hunted Idaho for elk September 15-21. Was a blast. First western hunt. OTC tag. No elk poked, but learned a ton and am hooked. Cant wait till next September.

Do you still gotta go through a host site to post pictures? I can't post directly from my phone can I?

Idaho is a great state to hunt, especially archery elk & deer.

For pics you need to use a hosting site (imgur), or send pics to me and I can post. PM sent.

I have been absent for a while with a lot of moving and job changing (spent 6 months working in Germany, then back to CO and now on my 2nd fed job here in the last year-trying to get settled after the mil retirement)and thought this would be a good reentry. 2 weeks from today I head to the Flat Tops for 2nd season elk and mule deer in our regular camp. Last year I got a measly 3 days to hunt in a freakin heat wave(65+) but this year I had plenty of leave so I will be on the mountain for 11 days. The weather is also looking better in that area to with early snow and cold temps. To say I am excited would be an understatement. The area we hunt isn't a "trophy" area but it is beautiful and we know it well. in 5 years of hunting I have taken a muley buck, a cow and a bull. Not bad odds. The freezer is a little light at this point so I am hoping for some success.
After my excursion , the next hunt in our household will be for the Hunting Prnicess' first big game hunt!!! She drew a cow RFD tag for the middle of DEC on a ranch outside of Craig. I may be more excited for that hunt than mine. I had a rifle built for her this year (Howa 1500 SA in 7mm-08 on a boyd's thumbhole stock with a Vortex 3x9x40)and she is shooting well. So, that is how it is looking so far. If any of you are in the Colorado Springs area give me a holler and I will buy the first round at a local brewery.

Good luck with your upcoming hunts!

Just went to the range for my last tune up before heading out on the 17th. Range was packed but the weather was awesome. Put 9 rounds within an inch and a half at 100m and called it a day. With a bad shoulder and +$2 a round no reason to push it. In reference to the post above about ID, if there are any disabled vets out there (like me) they should check out the ID fees. The OUT OF STATE disabled vets fees are cheaper in ID than what I pay for in state licenses here in CO. GREAT DEAL!!

Colorado Book Cliffs 10-25-17

Nice buck. Way to go Dennis.

Congrats on your buck.

Any hunt details to share? Looks like the weather was mild?

Thanks guys....

Weather was mild. To nice really. We spent a lot of time in elevation as well, but the weather was really to warm. Lows in the lower to mid 30's with high's in the mid 60 during the day.

We seen 4-5 bucks, like the one I shot, everyday. Just wasn't seeing anything that was an eye popper per se. I was hunting with a cousin that has lived in the area for 40 years, and has taken some nice buck from this area. The weather just was not helping us. He has taken elk from this area as well, and he had a cow tag but we never seen an elk the whole time we were out.

Spotted this buck in a wash and went after him. He had another buck with him and I couldn't get any closer to him because of some doe in the wash between him and myself. Set the rifle up on a rock and glassed him, reached for my range finder, and found out I left it in the truck. I guessed the range at about 350 yds and shot. No reaction, ran the bolt and shot again but held for 400 yds.

He was quartering away, at the shot, he and the second buck went around some oak brush and I lost sight of them. I was a little lower in elevation than the buck were, but my cousin was at a higher elevation than I was and saw him go down. From where he was standing at the shot, he went about 40yds. Shot went through the last rib and out the off shoulder.

Took him with a Remington 700 in .257 Weatherby Magnum, 100 gr TSX, 3700 FPS

Great job! Enjoyed the story and photo. Those Barnes are excellent bullets.

I am back!! Not really happy to be out of the woods but have a bit of a tale to ell. This year's camp included 4 of us adult hunter's and my buddies 12 yo son on his first deer hunt. We got up to camp early, got set up, cut fire wood for the stove and were raring to go for the opener. Opener was a slow day with nothing but a couple of coyotes for us and not very many shots fro the surrounding area either. The day was a bit of a downer as we also had to deal with a jack-leg riding his freaking ATV into the wilderness. The @sshats who ride those things up there have torn down all of the signs and think that absolves them from following the law. After a good nights sleep and continuing chilly temps, we headed out on Sunday with renewed hope. I move to a high ridge watching an expansive bowl but had no activity. About mid morning I heard the report of a couple of shots from way down the valley and hoped it had been one of our party. Just after noon I was restless and decided to head back to camp for some chow. As I rolled down the trail entering camp I noticed some commotion. The other camp members were all there and working on 2 deer!! Seems my buddy's dad and son scored does almost simultaneously while sitting together. I tucked in helping with skinning. When we were done we shared some chow in the afternoon sun. About 1430 I decided to head for my favorite spot up and over a ridge(down a hole)and my other buddy (Aaron) decided to join me. we staked out a meadow that stretches about a mile and a half, me at the top and him in the middle. The afternoon was clear and chilly but uneventful. About 35 minutes before the end of shooting light Aaron comes rolling up to my spot and I wave him into the wood line with me. He asked if I was ready to go and I said "No, we have some light left and head lamp, let's sit." So we sat and talked of our respective time in SOF (he is a Ranger and I was in 2 different SF Groups)and deployments while drinking in the last of the day. About 5-10 minutes left in shooting light I caught movement out in the meadow. It was a bear!! As I raised my rifle Aaron said "BEAR" a little louder than he intended and the bruin started to lope toward the woods. I caught him in the scope and dropped him with a shot to the neck about 40 feet from the timber. I never would have guessed that of the 3 tags I carried into the woods THIS would be the one I filled BTW, he is a dark chocolate color and went about 300lbs.

Here are some pics

Congrats on your bear!

nice bear..

Thanks guys...now i have a "nice" taxidermy bill coming

Congrats on a awesome trophy

This is a very honorable trophy, great respect for you! Real hunter!