Opening morning bull!

[jamesmc2]

Seems like I usually fill my tag toward the end of the hunt, especially for elk. This year I tagged out after 30 minutes of shooting light. Got into some bugling bulls which was surprising as it was Oct 15th. Never could locate them but intercepted a herd moving down a ridge. They came out across a small drainage on the move. I got settled in prone from a small rock outcropping. There were two bulls in the herd, ranged the larger one at 550 yards. First shot broke the shoulder, second through the lungs and dropped him. When walking up he lifted his head and tried to stand and took one final round to finish him off. When quartering the bull found 10inches of broke off arrow shaft and broad head his upper shoulder/back strap. Area around the shaft was infected and hard to say if he would have made it long term. Archery season had closed two weeks prior. One of the pics shows the arrow shaft.

 

[JOHNNIE WALKER]

Awesome bull! Good job, and great story! What did you hit him with?

 

[jamesmc2]

Took him with a 6.5 Creedmoor which was the only carry rifle I had. Got the job done but did feel a little under gunned. Just bought a 7mm Rem Mag for Elk and longer range use. Would feel fine using the Creedmoor out to 400 yards on Elk but for anything beyond that I think the 7RM would be better, especially if you hit heavy bone.

 

[lilharcher]

Nice job on a beautiful bull.

 

[Barrelnut]

Well the Creed certainly did better than the arrow didn't it.

Glad you got him and put him down. He might not have survived the arrow... I killed a bull a few years ago and found a broadhead in the backstrap that was just the broadhead and maybe an inch of shaft. The wound had completely healed over and was probably done the year before. I found it cutting up the backstrap on the kitchen table. I don't think your bull would have been that lucky.

That's a fine bull. Congratulations. Good shot.

 

[Timber338]

That's a dandy, congrats! Sounds like one heck of a great hunt. And that arrow you found is crazy. Another example of how tough elk are.

Are you having him mounted?

 

[jamesmc2]

Yes doing a skull mount. I'll post a pic when I get it back.

 

[Timber338]

Awesome. Also post up if you get an idea of what he scored!

 

[jamesmc2]

Scored about 320 gross, great mass but has shorter fronts and fairly narrow spread.

 

[TravisN]

James, what bullet were you shooting in your Creedmoor?

 

[jamesmc2]

James, what bullet were you shooting in your Creedmoor?

Using the 143 ELD-X

 

[jamesmc2]

Belated response with pic of the skull mount.

 

[dirthead1]

Beautiful!

 

[Andy Backus]

I love Euro mounts. Great job!