Bull Down 6.5 Sherman strikes again !!

ramrod79 said:

He was,and it sure did just a little saw work and 3 of us dragging for a couple hund yards then onto calf sled and home.Heres the old boy pulling up our north fence,and my buddy is just about to us with Truck then back to the shop.

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Sorry the BS of making an ethical shot and doing the right thing. A lot of people, who are also good hunters, jumped on it. I don't like reading, "Shame on you," from anyone in a forum. And I really do not know who wrote it, I just don't feel like it belongs in a forum like this. I read the blogs because I am looking to share different people's experiences, and not to judge them. Perhaps asking, "Are you sure it was down for good," or something along those lines would have been a lot better than a criticism!! When you posted you were in the heat of the hunt. From what I have read, it appears that you did the right thing for the area where you were hunting. You also seem to be a conscientious hunter based upon your replies. NOW.....sir I do have a criticism on your choice of words!!! Be careful about calling a 66 year old, "old guy", because I don't consider 66 being old cuz I've still got a number of years on your dad, and I AIN'T old!!! Nice to see you two guys hunting together. My son and I have been hunting since he was 15 years old. We are planning our next hunt while we are on the hunt that we planned last year. I know that I won't last forever (cuz of my years), however our memories will always last forever!

Iclimb said:

So you mentioned graduation to the "big brother" ....
You staying with the 6.5 or?.?.?
I'm debating a 6.5 Sherman or a 28 Sherman....

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Yes would you please answer this question as I am about to do a build myself. I was leaning toward the .270 Sherman, only for nostalgic reasons. The reason for this question is that I have also been looking at the 6.5 Sherman as well. I am looking at using this primarily for white tail deer hunting, (and a mule deer/antelope hunt if I win the lottery) and I am recoil conscious.

Always good to finish it if possible...each situation may be a bit different. Clean fast kill if at all possible is always best.

Well, it looks like i missed an exciting morning! First of all, congrats on your bull and a good memory for your dad as well.
I'll just leave my comments to the following:
I wasn't there!
In my 70 years, I've seen a few things happen and not every occasion went my way. When it did, I figured I made the right decision. When it didn't, I sometimes then wondered?
Ramrod recovered a nice bull!!
Enough said.

Is this site a bunch of Dems or what? Bashing a guy who posted in the heat of the hunt for being an "unethical hunter" simply because he did not do what you think should have been done? This thread would give a person pause the next time they were going to post about a hunt! I don't care who you are, how much hunting experience you have or don't have, why not congratulate him then just sit tight and wait for the "rest of the story"? As was said earlier, you shoot an animal at 600+ yds and even if you can see them where they fall, they may appear dead but that does not mean they are. If they get up you can see that, but if they are lying there bleeding out you may not know that they are not dead yet. Depending on the terrain, it could take a lot longer than 30 minutes to reach the animal.

I have no problem with waiting 30 minutes before walking up on an animal. But leaving the area before a kill is confirmed is a poor practice. If circumstances were such that you had to leave the area and could not wait long enough to confirm the kill before leaving you should not have taken the shot, even in the snow.

Alibiiv said:

Sorry the BS of making an ethical shot and doing the right thing. A lot of people, who are also good hunters, jumped on it. I don't like reading, "Shame on you," from anyone in a forum. And I really do not know who wrote it, I just don't feel like it belongs in a forum like this. I read the blogs because I am looking to share different people's experiences, and not to judge them. Perhaps asking, "Are you sure it was down for good," or something along those lines would have been a lot better than a criticism!! When you posted you were in the heat of the hunt. From what I have read, it appears that you did the right thing for the area where you were hunting. You also seem to be a conscientious hunter based upon your replies. NOW.....sir I do have a criticism on your choice of words!!! Be careful about calling a 66 year old, "old guy", because I don't consider 66 being old cuz I've still got a number of years on your dad, and I AIN'T old!!! Nice to see you two guys hunting together. My son and I have been hunting since he was 15 years old. We are planning our next hunt while we are on the hunt that we planned last year. I know that I won't last forever (cuz of my years), however our memories will always last forever!

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ALIBIIV,
Yours is the best reponse I've read thus far. Agree with everything you've written especially on age. I'm 65 next month and look 40's seriously no BS. Many factors determine that. Genetics, diet and lifestyle for starters. I have freinds younger than myself and they look older than their years or, what some might assume is, "looking their age"..
POTUS is a very good axample of living clean and healthy at 71+ now.

First, congrats are in order and in good taste.
G R E A T job ramrod on your successful hunt. You killed an elk and took it home. Perfect hunt.

Second, what a bunch of judgmental, self-righteous, know-it-all a$$holes. This is one of the many reasons I stopped giving time here and on other "rifle hunting guru" forums, especially geared toward "long range". Simply remove the mechanical methods from archery, muzzle loader and the modern firearm, and you're left with a shot (or multiples), a judgement call, a decision, and the result of it. It was yours to make and the result proves you made the correct one. Come pull that small-minded, mamby-pamby, high-powered, "you should have", "you should be ashamed of yourself" ******** over here on the archery and muzzle loader forums; I guarantee you'll see a side of a hunter you've never seen before.

@Elk Fire "No way in heck I would be leaving a bull for an hour that I wasn't positive was dead." Clearly, you've never shot an elk with a bow, a muzzle loader, or likely shot an elk ever. You weren't there, you don't know anything. But please, tell us all how you would've made that positive conclusion in that environment without possibly pushing the animal further. This situation is like a three-legged stool, with one of the legs being the decision to "go in after him" to verify. Good thing you weren't there, he probably would've lost it.

@TG-5150 "Just curious, why not put him down instead of waiting"? Good question, he gave his answer, be ok with it.

@WeiserBucks "Behavior like this is what gives us all a bad name . You should be ashamed of yourself ramrod79 . The game we hunt deserves our utmost respect and the cleanest harvest possible." Well it's clear, daddy should've whooped your *** at some point in your life. You should be ashamed of your "ethics/behavior/respect-shaming" you put on him. So ALL your hunts are and historically been one shot, one kills? In reality, behavior like yours is what gives you a bad name.

I didn't see any of you pu$$ies jumping on the Idaho guy on here, this season, who shot a bull cross canyon in Montana from 940 yards with a 6.5 SAUM, and when he FINALLY got to it hours later, was STILL ALIVE. Where were you "pros" then to tell him all he DID WRONG?

How do any of you know his bull didn't die immediately after laying down? All think/say they can shoot and hunt, when if fact most can't and/or don't. Instead of seeing all he did wrong and pouncing, give him some grace, congratulate him on his success and go about your day.
Pro hunters; either post up your "perfect kills" this season or go f#(k off.

Hi every one, have not posted much on here, but have hunted about 50 years or so. I think it's great he got his bull, and I'm not going to say he did any thing wrong. My view on this is I have had almost the same thing happen. But I always carry a pistol with me for this reason. I took a cow elk in Colorado a few years ago at 10,000 ft, and two miles back in. It was heavy forest, with big boulders all around. I was standing near a big tree, heard a herd of elk thundering up a canyon neer me. You realy don't plan on shooting a elk at 30 yrs, with a 300 we but I did,lol. It was a blur in my scope at that range, but hit her behind the shoulder, and down she went. I knew she was not dead, but did not want to shoot in so many rocks.this is why I carry a short 357 pistol. She started to get up, but one shot to the back of the head, and she was done. I'm one of those people who cant let a animal suffer. This was a huge cow, bigger then most bulls. Hope you all understand, it's just me.just my 2cents.

Here's my "perfect hunt" this year. 486 yards with my 6.5 saum, threaded the 140 Berg through the timber, on STEEP country, with @Brianc74 on here giving the constantly changing range, wind and dope. One shot, done. Watched him skid down the slope after one kick, unloaded packs, hiked to him, took 45+ minutes to reach him. Did I know he was dead with 100% certainty...no, that's stupidity. But he had almost an hour to die if he wasn't. Am I wrong for not "putting another in him" at that distance, just to make sure I'm being ethical and free of shame? Should I have ran over to him as fast as possible to make sure he was dead, just to make sure I'm being ethical and free of shame? Tell me pro hunters, how would you have done it differently?
BTW, thanks again Brian.

clownbuster said:

First, congrats are in order and in good taste.
G R E A T job ramrod on your successful hunt. You killed an elk and took it home. Perfect hunt.

Second, what a bunch of judgmental, self-righteous, know-it-all a$$holes. This is one of the many reasons I stopped giving time here and on other "rifle hunting guru" forums, especially geared toward "long range". Simply remove the mechanical methods from archery, muzzle loader and the modern firearm, and you're left with a shot (or multiples), a judgement call, a decision, and the result of it. It was yours to make and the result proves you made the correct one. Come pull that small-minded, mamby-pamby, high-powered, "you should have", "you should be ashamed of yourself" ******** over here on the archery and muzzle loader forums; I guarantee you'll see a side of a hunter you've never seen before.

"No way in heck I would be leaving a bull for an hour that I wasn't positive was dead." Clearly, you've never shot an elk with a bow, a muzzle loader, or likely shot an elk ever. You weren't there, you don't know anything. But please, tell us all how you would've made that positive conclusion in that environment without possibly pushing the animal further. This situation is like a three-legged stool, with one of the legs being the decision to "go in after him" to verify. Good thing you weren't there, he probably would've lost it.

"Just curious, why not put him down instead of waiting"? Good question, he gave his answer, be ok with it.

"Behavior like this is what gives us all a bad name . You should be ashamed of yourself ramrod79 . The game we hunt deserves our utmost respect and the cleanest harvest possible." Well it's clear, daddy should've whooped your *** at some point in your life. You should be ashamed of your "ethics/behavior/respect-shaming" you put on him. So ALL your hunts are and historically been one shot, one kills? In reality, behavior like yours is what gives you a bad name.

I didn't see any of you pu$$ies jumping on the Idaho guy on here, this season, who shot a bull cross canyon in Montana from 940 yards with a 6.5 SAUM, and when he FINALLY got to it hours later, was STILL ALIVE. Where were you "pros" then to tell him all he DID WRONG?

How do any of you know his bull didn't die immediately after laying down? All think/say they can shoot and hunt, when if fact most can't and/or don't. Instead of seeing all he did wrong and pouncing, give him some grace, congratulate him on his success and go about your day.
Expert hunters; either post up your "perfect kills" this season or go f#(< off.

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Kinda reminds of high and mighty Fly Fishermen looking down their noses at all those "unethical" bait fishermen.

Ramrod. Congratulations, nice elk. Next time just post those awesome elk pictures only keep the jealous jerks off your back. You did nothing wrong.

Niiiice! Every once in a while a guy gets lucky. You must have been moving very quietly too. I got mine at close range this year too, then did what I was taught; wait a little while and let her bed down in case it wasn't such a good shot. Then slowly and quietly sneak in. I once got in a hurry because I knew it was a good hit. Walked up on my dead cow all sprawled out, and she jumped up and ran off. I found her a week later a half mile away.
Congratulations friend, good hunt!

Gee I guess my buddy is a real ******* then. He shot an elk this year with a muzzleloader just before dark. Pushed it a bit into heavy timber until dark then headed back to camp. Went up next morning & found it dead 75 yards from where it went in the timber. Should he have chased it all NIGHT??? Sometimes you just have to back out & let things be. Broz knows who this is so I'll just leave it there.

BW