Looking for his 1st -Story & Pics!!!

[cnelk]

Heading up to night with my son [15yrs]. He has an E/S rifle tag for the 4th Season and is looking to tag his 1st elk
He will be hunting for 4 days
Last year a 300+ bull walked right thru camp and cnelk2 couldnt quite close the deal!

We went up on Sunday and set up the tent and tree stand.

Wish him luck!

[ElkNut1]

Looks cold!!! (grin) Good look son, I hope you follow in your dads footsteps!! (grin) Let us know how the hunt turns out!

What gun is he toting?

ElkNut1

[cnelk]

Looks cold!!! (grin) Good look son, I hope you follow in your dads footsteps!! (grin) Let us know how the hunt turns out!

What gun is he toting?

ElkNut1

It was (^*)%&%*()~!!! cold when we were up there! But the forecast is perfect hunting weather.
Lows in the teens, Highs in the 30s

For some reason, cnelk2 has taken over my old Winchester Mod 70 30-06!!
He has learned to reload his own loads and the '06 will be pushing 180gr Hornadys with 46.5 grns of Varget

[pikemaster]

Good luck!!! shoot a big one.

[ElkNut1]

Ha Ha, my son did the same thing Brad, I had a 06 & he took it over, I'm glad he did or it would most likely be gathering dust! Best of luck to the lad!!!

ElkNut1

[Swede]

Good luck. It looks like you have a fine camp. I am sure cnelk2 will enjoy that when he is finished with a day in the stand. My son in law is planning on a weekend of late cow hunting. He asked if I would go with him, so maybe I will venture out one more this this year.

[CrazyElkHunter]

Good luck to you and your son Brad. It was 85 degrees when I shot my bull, and I know it was warm when you shot yours. I haven't hunted in the snow in a long time. Doesn't snow a lot in Aug. and Sept?

[cnelk]

We are here!
I have limited service on my iPad so I will check in when I can!
Sleeping bags are rolled out, lantern on, propane heater is about to get fired up.
Snow is still present, temp down to 15 tonight.

We ate some sub sandwiches on the way up so the teenager's belly is full (for now)

May pour a nightcap in a bit to 'cheer' our last elk season of 2012

Stay tuned

CNELK and CNELK2

[ElkNut1]

Cheers partner, here's to the two of you in hopes of being successful! Of course just the fact you two are together & able to spend some time is a success in itself! Good Luck!

ElkNut1

[cnelk]

CNELK2 got his 1st elk this morning!!!
He made a great 150yd shot and dropped a big fat cow
Back in camp and the quarters are hanging!

One happy kid

proud dad too

Story and pics when we get home

[CrazyElkHunter]

Congrats to both of you! Special time with your son is so rewarding!

[Swede]

Congratulations guys. Lets hope this is just the first of many.

[ORelksniper]

Congrats #2. This elk hunting stuff is pretty exciting, huh?

[cnelk]

Made it home this afternoon and unloaded the gear.

We stayed up for a couple days as another buddy has a tag also, but he didnt connect and we all called it a year.

Thursday morning CNELK2 got to his stand and I made a 3 mile lap around the mountain looking for sign/tracks.
Seeing some here and there, I met him back in camp late morning.

We then went on the ATV to scout for more tracks and saw a nice moose

After scouring trails for sign, we went back to camp, had lunch, and made a plan for the evening

[cnelk]

That evening we went on a hike thru some new areas checking for elk.
They had been there, now just when will they be back?

The elk didnt play nice that day...

[cnelk]

Friday morning found CNELK2 back in his stand.
I went on another big circle in another direction. Looking for sign and tracks.
Not far from the stand I cut these mtn lion tracks

I would imagine that it was looking for elk like we were.

[cnelk]

My circle topped out about 1/2 mile from the stand.
As I worked my way toward CNELK2, I came across place that really sparked my interest!

All of you have experienced this. You come across a spot that is just ELKY!!!
You just know its good!
How? I have no idea...

Elk had been thru there prior and one pretty recent.
I marked it on my GPS as I was only half way to CNELK2

I eased back into the stand area and told Cole [CNELK2] that we should head back to the spot I just found.
It was only 8am, so off we went.

[cnelk]

We got to the spot in about 15min.
Found a log and settled in.
We were on the edge of an overgrown clearcut, on a high edge.

About 10 min later I heard a stick break out in the middle of the clearcut.

I looked at Cole and asked... 'You hear that?'

'Get ready!' I told him!

Cole slowly stood and looked out into the opening.

'Dad! ELK!!!'

Sure enough! About 10 head were working their way uphill toward the edge of the timber.
They wasted no time moving - we could see them and then we couldnt

2 elk crossed a small shooting lane into the tall timber about 150yds away.
More elk were following.

Cole took a knee and I whispered to him... 'The next one coming is a cow. When she steps into that lane take her!'

The cow stepped into that narrow shooting lane and Cole did not hesitate - BANG!

I heard the bullet smack and saw the elk tip over!

The rest of the elk turned and bolted out of there - LESS ONE!

This where she lay

[cnelk]

As you can see, the old timbercut is pretty thick.
Cole did a fine job of shooting thru that stuff...



After picture taking, the real work began

[cnelk]

Gotta love the gutless method!







Cole was not happy with this saw....

[cnelk]

And the best part...

Hauling out the meat! One trip!

Guess how far from camp?

1/3 mile!!!

[cnelk]

As parents we know how short time is and how fast it goes.

As young adults, time is long and the future is so unknown.

We need to remember to let those young adults be kids when teaching them life's experiences,
and smile when they do silly things that kids do...

[BowElkDwn]

Great job. Sounds like a fun trip.

[POk3s]

Awesome story and Pics. Congratulations Cole!

[JimKirk]

congratulations on that big tasty cow. great shooting too! gotta love the snow around when your are skinning your elk. instant cooling for the meat. Thats not only a great elk harvest but a lifetime memory harvest as well and is what hunting is all about!

[T/H]

congrats to the young elk killer!

[ElkNut1]

Way to go Cole!!!! Brad, that had to be an awesome sight to see your sons elk on the ground! Sweet!!!

ElkNut1