Rifle Scenario 2

[Swede]

October 26, 0800
weather part rain and part snow. Definitely snow just above you. There is a light coating of snow on the ground, but it is missing under the timber canopy.
Wind from the southwest less than 5 mph
The area is roaded and gets a fair number of hunters.
Your tag is good for an elk with antlers longer than the ears.

Bummer! It is opening morning and you have to go to plan B already as other camp have moved in where you wanted to hunt. Oh well, you have several options, so you drive your truck out to a location you scouted a couple of days ago. After parking near the end of an old logging road, you and your friend start to hike to the south down into the timber, and stay below the snow line. Right away you see very fresh tracks, so you both hike down another 100 yards and see several elk on a knoll. There is a draw off to your right, and to your left is a ravine. The small creek is running a fast flow of water, but the draw is still dry. The elk are milling around, feeding in the timber and brush below between the creek and the draw. You can't see any antlers. You won't be able to shoot from where you are. Because of the trees and brush and the roll of the hill, a hunter in the draw or creek will not be able to see the elk unless the elk moves or the hunter does.

This happened in 1974 and I killed a branch bull there that morning. Lets see if you do what I did.

[oldnovice]

I would assume that if those are cows you are seeing, that the bull would be a little ways off watching over them. i would select the best cover I could find to circle around them. The draw seems to be the best bet but the bull may be nearer the water.

[saddlesore]

I'd stick to the ravine with water as it would help cover the noise. Try to work about 50 yards and then peek up over the edge. Probably doesn't apply to me,because I don't hunt in the rain.

[Lefty]

The topography is everything, depending on the distance and how open ,.. were, moving in quick. keeping an eye our for a legal animal, and if the bull is small Ill hand over the honors to who ever Im hunting with.

[Swede]

You folks are all too wise here. I did exactly what saddlesore said he would do and shot a rag-horn bull. The "friend" I suggested you were hunting with was actually my dad. I was trying to nudge the elk his way, but was given a good shot opportunity before I bumped them. Oh well, dad made a good packer that day. Later in the season he got even and then some with a much tougher pack out on a bull.