Just got off the mtn & have to got back in tomorrow with a couple horses to pack out the 5 point.

I saw a GOOD bull the 1st morning at first light. I was watching him for a good 1/4 mile coming along the mtn side. I was atop the ridge watching a big bowl. He could have taken 3 trails. The 1st would have been about 125 yard shot, the 2nd would have him in the middle of the bowl about 250 yards. The 3rd was at the bottom----450 yards from my stand. Guess which one he elected to use. Yep, I watched him going to the dark timber just past sun up. I stayed at that stand all day hoping he might come back out. Never saw an animal all day.

Next morning I thought I would hunt the other side of that dark timber patch. It opens into another bowl. I was there about 20 minutes before legal shooting time. Enough time for the woods to settle back down. There was nothing in the bowl & I didn't see anything in the general area. Nor did I hear the usual shooting at dawn. I waited there to about 7:30 AM---then decided to hunt down the edge of the dark timber. I've hunted this ridge for 20 years. I know the trails the elk like to use & where they like to bed. Fact is--- I've killed my 1st elk in this very spot & have taken another 4 or 5 there over the years. Anyway, I just past the main trail into the bowl. I hear "Crunch, Crunch, Crunch" ---there is about 2" or 3" of snow in the dark timber. It's old snow----freeze, thaw, freeze---so it has a layer of ice on top. Anyway---I hear it & sit down. Looking for an opening in the spruce. I can see legs moving. Then I pick out a cow, then another cow,then a calf. I've got about a 6' opening in the spruce where I can see. Then I see antlers. The bull stops just short of the opening. I can see his head, neck & horns. That lead cow has stopped----She must has caught my scent. She does a 180 degree turn & comes back down the same trail----taking all the other elk in tow. She's headed down a small ravine---I know that it comes out into a small clearing if she comes right---if she goes left---back into more dark timber.

I hussle down the edge about another 100 yards. Just where I can see into the clearing----2 elk there. The lead cow stops. Soon another cow, calf, cow. Then comes a bull---a small raghorn 4 point. I got my crosshairs on his shoulder & out of the corner of my eye I see movement. More elk coming. Cow, calf, Cow.---then come out a good looking 5 point. The lead cow is still standing---she knows something is wrong. If you hunt elk you know they don't go anyway until the lead cow decides where to go. They were just piling up behind her. I put the crosshairs on his shoulder--he is still moving a little. I'm about 60 yards from them. I hit him a little far back, he turns. The rest of the elk don't know where the shot comes from & they are still paused there. I put the next shot on the point of his front shoulder. Now, elk are moving everywhere. The bull is hit hard. He's doing that 3 legged hop----I don't know how else to describe it. He can't put any weight on that front leg. He goes about 10 steps & tries to go up an enbankment to the dark timer. He can't. Takes a step backwards & looks at me. Then he starts to wobble. He goes down.

FYI-----rifle---30/06 Model 700 LH-- Leupold 2 1/2 x 8 VarIII. 180 grain "Hornady Spire Point" handloads---56 grains of IMR 4350

I've got film at the store now. I'm kind of a computer illiterate----but---LOL--I know how to hunt elk!! Anyway, I can get a photo & e-mail to someone if they would post it for me on this thread.

The only thing I don't know is if that real GOOD bull was in the group. But, my Daddy taught me one in hand !!

Great hunt Bob, I will be out there for the Nov 6th hunt in the Craig area, can't wait. Good luck with the meat.

I like a good elk story, thanks. I shot a cow on sunday. Hunting in a favorite place I slipped out to the edge of a draw to watch the opposite hillside when I see this guy busting down through the trees. He's a driver who thinks he's a hunter. I wait to see what he's going to push out. After he disappears into the bottom I slowly hunt back through a little saddle. When I peek out of the timber there stand 3 cows. I shoot one behind the shoulder and they all bolt back into the timber. Instantly I hear something behind me and look around to see this hunter running at me, full speed. I stand and he comes to a stop. "Did you get one! Can I go look!" he fairly shouts. Well, I don't know (if I got one) I'll have to go see, says I. He blasts off down the hill into the timber looking for the others and in a moment I have deer running past me and hear elk go crashing out through the bottom of the draw. Sheesh! Like most hunters I prefer to have the woods all to myself, but this is not the first time I've been able to position myself to take advantage of a noisy hunter. When the guy came panting back up the hill he saw me gutting my cow and came over. "I spooked them out of the bottom and watched them run into the timber. I saw you kneel and said to myself, he's going to shoot!" the guy exclaimed. When I asked if it was him I saw coming down the other side on the gulch, he said yes. Boy, that guy was FAST! I went home and got horses and packed the elk out. That evening a bunch of elk came out in a field near my home that I have permission to hunt in. My 15 yr old daughter got her first bull, a 5 point, out of that bunch. The bull ran back into the trees and went down. we walked in to get him and in the next field over, that I don't have any permission for, stood over a hundred head of elk, with several bulls and one that was a tremendous six point. We both said "Darn!" That big 'ol boy gave us both something to dream about for next year. Good Luck to all!