Never going to kill another Elk like this again....

[William Reinicke]

Went on my antlerless elk hunt this last weekend. It was a good time. Think I finished up the 3 days at 23 miles, crested 7 mountain tops all to have one run to me. Hunt should of been done in the first 3 hours. Got into elk almost immediately after we walked out of the truck. It was complete dumb luck. Started to peak a mountain to glass, come into some trees and push some out just 70 yards in front of us. They kind of busted us, but we chased them around the rim of a mountain, got to the top, found the valley they went back into, made a great stalk to 108 yards, and no idea how I missed. Didnt jerk, guys I was with said it looked solid, they thought it was a dead elk. We didnt see mud fly up, tree didnt crack when we watched the video back, but no sign of a hit. We did hike around the area for a couple miles just to ensure, but there was no sign of a dead elk or even that I hit her. Kind of weird. I shot the gun to make sure it was still on since it was an open sight muzzleloader only hunt. 110 yard, 4" mud clot, and I zipped it hard. So it wasnt the guns fault, just shooter error apparently.

Second day, lots of walking, peaked 4 mountain tops, found tons of sign, just no opportunity. Long day, but thats hunting right

Day 3 push into an area we saw all the sign the day before. Walked 5 miles and peaked two mountain tops with lots of glassing, they just pushed out of the area. We split up that morning and got a call at like 10 that one of our friends watched about 30 head push into a tree line below a plateau and bed down there. We make our sneak to the top of plateau and glass and glass looking for bedded elk. They hide good during the day. At about 4 pm, I get on the binos again and find a group of 4 about 3/4 mile and the wind and hide are just perfect to make this stalk before sun down. I call my buddy about 1/2 mile away, he sees them, tells me to get to him and we would make the stalk. I start to beat feet over to him, excited to get this done as the stars finally aligned to make this hunt happen. I get about 100 yards towards him, BOOOM a shot goes off about 400 yards away and within 3 seconds I have a 30 elk stampede charging right at me. They hit a tree line about 15 yards away, run parallel to me, start diving off the plateau like military diving out the back of a C130 parachuting. One stops at 15 yards and it was game over. Lots of walking, and who knew, all I needed to do was find other hunters to take a ridiculous shot and scare them right to me. Again, dumb luck, itll never happen that way again.

It was a little yearling, and for a freezer hunt, its eating DAMN good! Even the pickiest eaters in the family are really enjoying it so far. Made out with 4 roasts, 20 steaks, back strap, tenderloin and ~100lbs of hamburger. I got to say.... I can see why people get addicted to chasing 4 legs.

 

[Wyatt Russo]

Beautiful elk, in my opinion, the best wild game meat!

 

[William Reinicke]

Beautiful elk, in my opinion, the best wild game meat!

Hear oryx and Barbary sheep eat real good. May try and get drawn for those next year as well. I have only pulled the trigger on ducks one time this year. Got my truck back 3 days before this elk hunt, so fowl better watch out. It’s game on!

 

[Steven Alexander]

I bet that is one fantastic tasting, tender elk. If you do oryx, call Miss Linda Brown at the FITE Ranch in San Antonio, NM. Neat little B&B that borders WSMR. I believe they also allow hunting on their property, but I only ever hunted coyote there.

 

[William Reinicke]

I bet that is one fantastic tasting, tender elk. If you do oryx, call Miss Linda Brown at the FITE Ranch in San Antonio, NM. Neat little B&B that borders WSMR. I believe they also allow hunting on their property, but I only ever hunted coyote there.

See what I can draw next year. Ill be putting in for a lot more tags. Steaks were unreal. Cooked them right off the bone, same day we butchered. Did bbq elk burger last night. Again, some family in town and the pickiest of eaters ate it right down. Might be looking for a landowner cow elk tag in short order lol.

 

[Ed L.]

Went on my antlerless elk hunt this last weekend. It was a good time. Think I finished up the 3 days at 23 miles, crested 7 mountain tops all to have one run to me. Hunt should of been done in the first 3 hours. Got into elk almost immediately after we walked out of the truck. It was complete dumb luck. Started to peak a mountain to glass, come into some trees and push some out just 70 yards in front of us. They kind of busted us, but we chased them around the rim of a mountain, got to the top, found the valley they went back into, made a great stalk to 108 yards, and no idea how I missed. Didnt jerk, guys I was with said it looked solid, they thought it was a dead elk. We didnt see mud fly up, tree didnt crack when we watched the video back, but no sign of a hit. We did hike around the area for a couple miles just to ensure, but there was no sign of a dead elk or even that I hit her. Kind of weird. I shot the gun to make sure it was still on since it was an open sight muzzleloader only hunt. 110 yard, 4" mud clot, and I zipped it hard. So it wasnt the guns fault, just shooter error apparently.

Second day, lots of walking, peaked 4 mountain tops, found tons of sign, just no opportunity. Long day, but thats hunting right

Day 3 push into an area we saw all the sign the day before. Walked 5 miles and peaked two mountain tops with lots of glassing, they just pushed out of the area. We split up that morning and got a call at like 10 that one of our friends watched about 30 head push into a tree line below a plateau and bed down there. We make our sneak to the top of plateau and glass and glass looking for bedded elk. They hide good during the day. At about 4 pm, I get on the binos again and find a group of 4 about 3/4 mile and the wind and hide are just perfect to make this stalk before sun down. I call my buddy about 1/2 mile away, he sees them, tells me to get to him and we would make the stalk. I start to beat feet over to him, excited to get this done as the stars finally aligned to make this hunt happen. I get about 100 yards towards him, BOOOM a shot goes off about 400 yards away and within 3 seconds I have a 30 elk stampede charging right at me. They hit a tree line about 15 yards away, run parallel to me, start diving off the plateau like military diving out the back of a C130 parachuting. One stops at 15 yards and it was game over. Lots of walking, and who knew, all I needed to do was find other hunters to take a ridiculous shot and scare them right to me. Again, dumb luck, itll never happen that way again.

It was a little yearling, and for a freezer hunt, its eating DAMN good! Even the pickiest eaters in the family are really enjoying it so far. Made out with 4 roasts, 20 steaks, back strap, tenderloin and ~100lbs of hamburger. I got to say.... I can see why people get addicted to chasing 4 legs.

Congrats! Great story and pics. I love venison but nothing is better than elk to me. Never have had the opportunity to get one myself but fortunately my neighbor is from Colorado and meets family every year for elk camp and is kind enough to swap a little if we both score.

 

[William Reinicke]

Congrats! Great story and pics. I love venison but nothing is better than elk to me. Never have had the opportunity to get one myself but fortunately my neighbor is from Colorado and meets family every year for elk camp and is kind enough to swap a little if we both score.

Its an adventure. Lots of hiking up and down elevation. Was definitely different than anything I had ever done before. It was certainly a neat experience I will do again. I can see why people get addicted to that kind of a chase. Does it excite me more than having 100 mallard set wings into a spread? Thats a hard choice to pick between. Do I love the table fare im getting over a mallard duck... ABSOLUTELY! Not sure I would ever chase horns like some of my friends do, but I sure wouldnt mind killing at least a cow elk every year.

My buddy who films for Kuiu is on an absolute deer tear this year. The giants he has killed this year has been insane. how he finds time to chase his own animals and traveling all over to film all of kuiu's stuff blows me away. May team up with him and shoot some doe to thin his herd some. Not sure though, my shotgun finger has been itchin real hard!

 

[HenryHawthorne]

Great pics and story, thanks for sharing!

 

[tod osier]

Went on my antlerless elk hunt this last weekend. It was a good time. Think I finished up the 3 days at 23 miles, crested 7 mountain tops all to have one run to me. Hunt should of been done in the first 3 hours. Got into elk almost immediately after we walked out of the truck. It was complete dumb luck. Started to peak a mountain to glass, come into some trees and push some out just 70 yards in front of us. They kind of busted us, but we chased them around the rim of a mountain, got to the top, found the valley they went back into, made a great stalk to 108 yards, and no idea how I missed. Didnt jerk, guys I was with said it looked solid, they thought it was a dead elk. We didnt see mud fly up, tree didnt crack when we watched the video back, but no sign of a hit. We did hike around the area for a couple miles just to ensure, but there was no sign of a dead elk or even that I hit her. Kind of weird. I shot the gun to make sure it was still on since it was an open sight muzzleloader only hunt. 110 yard, 4" mud clot, and I zipped it hard. So it wasnt the guns fault, just shooter error apparently.

Second day, lots of walking, peaked 4 mountain tops, found tons of sign, just no opportunity. Long day, but thats hunting right

Day 3 push into an area we saw all the sign the day before. Walked 5 miles and peaked two mountain tops with lots of glassing, they just pushed out of the area. We split up that morning and got a call at like 10 that one of our friends watched about 30 head push into a tree line below a plateau and bed down there. We make our sneak to the top of plateau and glass and glass looking for bedded elk. They hide good during the day. At about 4 pm, I get on the binos again and find a group of 4 about 3/4 mile and the wind and hide are just perfect to make this stalk before sun down. I call my buddy about 1/2 mile away, he sees them, tells me to get to him and we would make the stalk. I start to beat feet over to him, excited to get this done as the stars finally aligned to make this hunt happen. I get about 100 yards towards him, BOOOM a shot goes off about 400 yards away and within 3 seconds I have a 30 elk stampede charging right at me. They hit a tree line about 15 yards away, run parallel to me, start diving off the plateau like military diving out the back of a C130 parachuting. One stops at 15 yards and it was game over. Lots of walking, and who knew, all I needed to do was find other hunters to take a ridiculous shot and scare them right to me. Again, dumb luck, itll never happen that way again.

It was a little yearling, and for a freezer hunt, its eating DAMN good! Even the pickiest eaters in the family are really enjoying it so far. Made out with 4 roasts, 20 steaks, back strap, tenderloin and ~100lbs of hamburger. I got to say.... I can see why people get addicted to chasing 4 legs.

Sounds perfect to me. You had to hunt hard enough to make it feel like hunting, but not too rough on you!

The young ones are really good eating.

 

[William Reinicke]

Sounds perfect to me. You had to hunt hard enough to make it feel like hunting, but not too rough on you!

The young ones are really good eating.

Ya I have really enjoyed whats been eaten so far. Exactly what I said to the guys, for my first elk hunt ever, I got to stalk em, sit for em, and get stampeded in all one hunt. I got it all in one hunt. The old guy you see helpin me in the pictures has hunted big game for 40ish years. He guided in Alaska forever and has some of the wildest stories. Has helped harvest damn near every north american species. When he ran up to me and asked how I felt after I shot it, I just told him... Joel, everything just happened so damn fast, I dont know what to feel. I went from the extreme low thinking a shot just messed up our stalk, to a feeling of im going to die, to the feeling of shock that I cant believe one just stopped at rock throwing distance and let me shoot her. He just died laughing.

I will say this, I never got that rush that I get when i have ducks working a spread. Even on the first stalk, when i missed that shot, i didnt get a rush. I always just stayed calm through everything focused on making a good shot. I never had a rush per se. Ive always said Big game has never been a true excitement for me. The way the meat is eating though, I can't wait to butcher my next. I will gladly give up a weekend of fowl here and there to chase an animal to fill the freezer. Thats what has me more excited to do it again than the actual chase.

 

[FD Roe]

Hear oryx and Barbary sheep eat real good. May try and get drawn for those next year as well. I have only pulled the trigger on ducks one time this year. Got my truck back 3 days before this elk hunt, so fowl better watch out. It’s game on!

I hunted a Texas ranch this summer for Axis deer. A Barbary sheep was taken on the same hunt by another hunter. Nice horns and an interesting mount but they buried the rest. They don't eat them!

Fred

 

[RM Anderson]

I will say this, I never got that rush that I get when i have ducks working a spread. Even on the first stalk, when i missed that shot, i didnt get a rush. I always just stayed calm through everything focused on making a good shot. I never had a rush per se. Ive always said Big game has never been a true excitement for me. The way the meat is eating though, I can't wait to butcher my next. I will gladly give up a weekend of fowl here and there to chase an animal to fill the freezer. Thats what has me more excited to do it again than the actual chase.

Will,
Your story kind of reminded me of how I felt the first time I had mallards working my spread of decoys. After a lifetime of big game hunting, I totally lost it and never scratched a bird. But failure is like that, at least for me, in that it kind of energizes you to try again and do better. I am really happy for you and glad that you had a successful hunt. Elk don't come easy, RM

 

[William Reinicke]

I hunted a Texas ranch this summer for Axis deer. A Barbary sheep was taken on the same hunt by another hunter. Nice horns and an interesting mount but they buried the rest. They don't eat them!

Fred

I worry about that with sheep. We have Ibex here and I have never heard anyone like the meat. I simply wont waste my time if its not worth eating. I dont even much care for duck, but it makes good jerky and jerky sticks. Whenever I do one just a little wrong or dont like the outcome, cut it up in little strips and mix in with the dog food and the dogs love it. I dont know how not to duck/goose hunt though. Its so engrained in my blood, its going to be a cold day in hell when I finally give it up.

Big game, has to be freezer worthy for me to chase. I asked many around here who have harvested barbary and they all say its very good. Kind of interesting it came off a texas ranch, where most times they are feeding on corn feeders and it still wasnt worth butchering? I think the process of butchering has a lot to do with how meat taste. Getting rid of blood shot and taking the time to get rid of silver skin goes a long ways in the meat world. I trust those that have told me its worth chasing. I do know a couple people that have a Barb tag for February. Maybe I can trade for a few pounds, if they tag out and give it a shot before putting in for the draw.

 

[William Reinicke]

Will,
Your story kind of reminded me of how I felt the first time I had mallards working my spread of decoys. After a lifetime of big game hunting, I totally lost it and never scratched a bird. But failure is like that, at least for me, in that it kind of energizes you to try again and do better. I am really happy for you and glad that you had a successful hunt. Elk don't come easy, RM

We talk about this a lot. Its been proven over and over how A personalities attract to A personalities. There are those that fail and lose desire, and theres those that fail and it makes them work harder. Sometimes I get more motivated to chase fowl when I had a rough weekend or had a hard hunt. When I got them so in tune, and can run out and kill my birds in 30min to an hour, is when I sometimes find myself wanting to stay in bed. Its a weird thing the older I get, but I like the challenge. I will say, thats the part of this hunt that keeps coming to mind. In some ways im kind of happy it didnt end in the first 3 hours, because I would of felt every hunt should of gone that way. I did get to experience that feeling of thinking the animal was always one step ahead of me and it kept driving me harder and harder to get it done. The next one I shoot, I want a good stalk and shot that way, almost felt like I cheated with one running right into my lap the way it did. A big ol group of mallard or 50 divers falling out of the skies like F14 jets gets me every time though. You get a line of geese headed right to the spread and the second they put their wings away.... Those are the times I can literally feel the excitement come through me like a child the night before christmas. It still happens and continues to happen. Theres just something about fowl and the trickery around it all that I truly love. Decoys, calling, location and then dog work. It really is an art to make it all come together.

 

[Noah Shaver]

Its an adventure. Lots of hiking up and down elevation. Was definitely different than anything I had ever done before. It was certainly a neat experience I will do again. I can see why people get addicted to that kind of a chase. Does it excite me more than having 100 mallard set wings into a spread? Thats a hard choice to pick between. Do I love the table fare im getting over a mallard duck... ABSOLUTELY! Not sure I would ever chase horns like some of my friends do, but I sure wouldnt mind killing at least a cow elk every year.

My buddy who films for Kuiu is on an absolute deer tear this year. The giants he has killed this year has been insane. how he finds time to chase his own animals and traveling all over to film all of kuiu's stuff blows me away. May team up with him and shoot some doe to thin his herd some. Not sure though, my shotgun finger has been itchin real hard!

Man, I have never killed one, but I've had a Bull Bugling 15 yards away from me and it's an out of body experience. It will send chills down your spine. I can't imagine the adrenaline of standing there with a Bow. That may rival mallard ducks for me, I sure want to find out.

I need to start applying for NM. It's nice for us non-residents because it's a truly random draw. You don't need to have 37 years worth of preference points built up to be drawn for a good tag.

 

[William Reinicke]

Man, I have never killed one, but I've had a Bull Bugling 15 yards away from me and it's an out of body experience. It will send chills down your spine. I can't imagine the adrenaline of standing their with a Bow. That may rival mallard ducks for me, I sure want to find out.

I need to start applying for NM. It's nice for us non-residents because it's a truly random draw. You don't need to have 37 years worth of preference points built up to be drawn for a good tag.

I dont even own a bow. Couldnt imagine what that is like. Ive never been a big horn hunter, never claimed to be. Despite the numerous people around me that are always killing big animals and trophy horns. I will say, the meat is what has me so freaking excited. From here on out, im going to make it a goal to keep wild game in the freezer. Plan on putting in for oryx, elk, and barbary next year. The guys that helped with this hunt, they have hunted all over the country. Like mentioned, the old man guided in alaska for much part of his life and hes just a wealth of knowledge. He often talks about calling in big bulls and getting them coming up right up to you pissing and screaming ready to fight.

Put in sir, if you get drawn, im sure we can make something happen for you. As long as it doesnt coincide with one of our hunts as well. I know the old man lives to elk hunt, and if he had a reason to be in the woods to help someone, he absolutely would. Getting back the meat would be the costly part for you. Not sure if you would want to drive out and just keep it on ice or we could freeze it hard for you in tubs and you have it shipped back. You could always take the best cuts and what you wanted, no need to pay to have it all sent back, there are plenty of freezers who could hang onto what you wouldnt want. Nothing else, make sure you put in for a couple cow tags, even if you dont draw your bull tag, you could always come and get in on the elk experience with a cow tag. I will likely put in for a quality Mature bull tag for first choice and then 3 cow tags as my 2nd, 3rd and 4th choice. Just to try and guarantee a little meat in the freezer every year. Get it done quick enough, and if you're around a few more days, maybe we get out and kill a few ducks if its the right time of year as well.

I am making backstrap for xmas this year. Going to cut a pocket in them, fill with cream cheese, make a bacon weave and wrap it in the bacon weave. On the smoker to 130 internal and then in the last 10 minutes going to glaze the entire thing. Im looking forward to that christmas snack. Pulled them out of the freezer yesterday to start the thaw process.

 

[Noah Shaver]

I dont even own a bow. Couldnt imagine what that is like. Ive never been a big horn hunter, never claimed to be. Despite the numerous people around me that are always killing big animals and trophy horns. I will say, the meat is what has me so freaking excited. From here on out, im going to make it a goal to keep wild game in the freezer. Plan on putting in for oryx, elk, and barbary next year. The guys that helped with this hunt, they have hunted all over the country. Like mentioned, the old man guided in alaska for much part of his life and hes just a wealth of knowledge. He often talks about calling in big bulls and getting them coming up right up to you pissing and screaming ready to fight.

Put in sir, if you get drawn, im sure we can make something happen for you. As long as it doesnt coincide with one of our hunts as well. I know the old man lives to elk hunt, and if he had a reason to be in the woods to help someone, he absolutely would. Getting back the meat would be the costly part for you. Not sure if you would want to drive out and just keep it on ice or we could freeze it hard for you in tubs and you have it shipped back. You could always take the best cuts and what you wanted, no need to pay to have it all sent back, there are plenty of freezers who could hang onto what you wouldnt want. Nothing else, make sure you put in for a couple cow tags, even if you dont draw your bull tag, you could always come and get in on the elk experience with a cow tag. I will likely put in for a quality Mature bull tag for first choice and then 3 cow tags as my 2nd, 3rd and 4th choice. Just to try and guarantee a little meat in the freezer every year. Get it done quick enough, and if you're around a few more days, maybe we get out and kill a few ducks if its the right time of year as well.

I am making backstrap for xmas this year. Going to cut a pocket in them, fill with cream cheese, make a bacon weave and wrap it in the bacon weave. On the smoker to 130 internal and then in the last 10 minutes going to glaze the entire thing. Im looking forward to that christmas snack. Pulled them out of the freezer yesterday to start the thaw process.

The meat is absolutely the goal for me as well. Our family lives on wild game and that's how I was raised. I have 3 freezers in the garage and try to keep them well stocked with whitetails and anything else. I wouldn't expect to come shoot some giant, I think any elk with a bow would be a trophy for me.

If I get drawn I would absolutely drive out and plan on icing the meat down and taking it all back. I'd want every scrap I could get!

Hope you and the family have a Merry Christmas, looks like you will all be eating good