2019 CO Elk Hunt Success

[Caleb777]

Hello!
I'm new to the forum and wanted to share some success I had in CO on my first elk hunt. Day 6 and had not seen a single elk! This guy got under me at 70 yards and worked his way down and up onto a hillside. 212 yards away and he was the herd bull. Ivory's show he was older and likely on the decline. Had a very goofy rack…possible injury, bad genetics, or his age. Was a long, hard hunt. We used horses but we were on foot equally as much. I was with a phenomenal guide service called Sable Mountain Outfitters.
The rifle pictured is a Christensen Arms Mesa in 300WM. Using Hornady ELDX 200gr. The bullet performed poorly in my opinion but got the job done that day. Can't wait to get back after them!

 

[HSmithTX]

Welcome and any bull elk is a success!!! Good work taking an old bull out.

 

[chetraguse]

Great pictures. It took me 4 years to get my first elk and that was a cow. Tasted great. Good luck in the future.

 

[Scoot2403]

Congrats and welcome!

 

[Caleb777]

Thank you all!

 

[DNB]

Give us the low down on the bullet performance.

 

[Caleb777]

212 yard shot. Missed ribs. Bullet exploded and lead core separated from jacket. Found fragments in the offside hide. Shot a couple deer with this round as well. Similar performance. Acted like a very big V-Max. Sure it worked and got the job done. Some may say it performed well as the energy was transferred to the animal. Then there are those like myself who believe big game bullets should not fragment such as this did. If I didn't have 100 rounds of this laying around I would certainly be searching for a round loaded with nosler partitions going forward

 

[cornshank]

Beautiful Bull , knock em over, if you wait for a bigger one sometimes he doesn't show up .
Don't sell yourself short, elk hunting is not a simple thing, but it is an individual thing.