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2016 Elk Hunting Thread

95,955 Views | 726 Replies | Last: 7 yr ago by OnlyForNow
agingcowboy
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1:30p, 8/2/16
AG
Can't argue with Log's math or the deliciousness of elk meat!

I'll add a few of my own pics from some scouting trips and hunting trips over the years. As motivation and to fuel the discussion of should I or shouldn't I shoot him! Added scores for those that I could.


Here's my first bull ever. Happened to get him with my bow. Measured right at 300" (when I say right at, I guess I mean just shy...300 sounds so much better than 297 though)




This little fella woke me up from a nap one afternoon as he bedded down less than 100 yards away. Would you shoot him?




I really liked this elk. His points were all dinky, but he was a super wide 6 point. He was a hard worker too, never seen an elk chase and herd his cows so dutifully. This pic was from 600 yards out, I had him at 90 yards while hunting one evening but couldn't get it done. He would score low, but I like the look of him (not a great picture).



Here's a couple of MT (Bob Marshall) bulls. A buddy and my brother. (310" and 345"). That second one is silly big. My brother has a 365 bull that looks smaller than this one.






Spotted this guy feeding late one afternoon. 400 yards away. Never found him during the season. And yes those are 7th's!!



One more of my bull from last year. Was a rifle bull. 310"




Sorry if pics are of questionable quality. I'm not much of a photographer.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
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AgEng06
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In reply to agingcowboy • 1:33p, 8/2/16
AG
Great pics. I would arrow every bull in your post.
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Buck Compton
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1:34p, 8/2/16
AG
Yep, those pictures just got me excited again. Can't wait to be back on the side of a mountain chasing a bull.

Gotta pick up that training regimen again!
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arrow
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1:35p, 8/2/16
AG
I tagged the first legal bull that presented a shot on my first elk hunt. It still goes down as my favorite hunt. No regrets at all. I'll try to be a bit more selective this year, but I'll have a hard time not taking the first opportunity simply for the meat.

Was anyone else calling Colorado Parks & Wildlife all morning? Crazy to see some of those returned tags on their leftover list this year! As expected, I got busy signals all morning... OTC for me.
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AgLA06
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In reply to agingcowboy • 1:36p, 8/2/16
AG
Are you looking for any new friends willing to bring barbecue, whiskey, and cajun food up for a visit during elk season?
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In reply to agingcowboy • 1:39p, 8/2/16
AG
Yes to all!

Just like with my archery bucks, I'm starting low and working my way up. Bring on that 5x5!
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agingcowboy
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In reply to AgLA06 • 1:44p, 8/2/16
AG
quote:
Are you looking for any new friends willing to bring barbecue, whiskey, and cajun food up for a visit during elk season?
Y'all come on! I'm always trying to get my friends from back home to come hunt with me. They never draw, but I'm suspicious that they never even put in. It's been years!
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
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AgEng06
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In reply to agingcowboy • 1:46p, 8/2/16
AG
quote:
quote:
Are you looking for any new friends willing to bring barbecue, whiskey, and cajun food up for a visit during elk season?
Y'all come on! I'm always trying to get my friends from back home to come hunt with me. They never draw, but I'm suspicious that they never even put in. It's been years!
Be careful saying that around here. You'll wake up in a month with 15 of us on your front porch...
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Log
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In reply to Sean98 • 1:53p, 8/2/16
AG
http://texags.com/forums/34/topics/953700
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ursusguy
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In reply to arrow • 2:00p, 8/2/16
AG
Yes, I really wanted to pick up a mule deer tag, that lasted through the first refresh click. There's still a good number of cow tags though.
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PFG
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2:01p, 8/2/16
AG
quote:
Eberlestock Team Elk pack. I pack fairly light, but the pack is stout and can easily take an elk hind quarter in addition to all my gear. My heaviest load on the pack was about 140 pounds. The pack took it without complaint...I did not.

This is where I would be reconsidering my choice in pack. 140 pounds is heavy in ANY pack, but there are some really well made, backpack hunting packs that will do 140 and do it really well. IMO, the Ebel Team Elk pack is a great looking pack for day/short multi-day trips, but far from ideal for packing out heavy.
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agingcowboy
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In reply to PFG • 2:06p, 8/2/16
AG
quote:
quote:
Eberlestock Team Elk pack. I pack fairly light, but the pack is stout and can easily take an elk hind quarter in addition to all my gear. My heaviest load on the pack was about 140 pounds. The pack took it without complaint...I did not.

This is where I would be reconsidering my choice in pack. 140 pounds is heavy in ANY pack, but there are some really well made, backpack hunting packs that will do 140 and do it really well. IMO, the Ebel Team Elk pack is a great looking pack for day/short multi-day trips, but far from ideal for packing out heavy.
I think your assessment is spot on. I have no intention of ever carrying a load like that again! Luckily it was only a 2 mile pack out (ended up being a two tripper, but my second load was lighter). I've used that same pack to carry a single hind quarter about 8 miles out (thank goodness that was only a single trip). I'm sure there are better packs for heavier loads, but for my type of hunting it gets the job done.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
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stdeb11
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In reply to arrow • 2:08p, 8/2/16
AG
Yeah I tried. The muley tag I wanted lasted all of about 3min so at 9:05 I gave up calling.
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Sean98
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In reply to Log • 2:46p, 8/2/16
AG
quote:
http://texags.com/forums/34/topics/953700
that was posted in 07 before "stars" existed, but I just gave you your first star.
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Sean98
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In reply to AgEng06 • 2:48p, 8/2/16
AG
quote:
Great pics. I would arrow every bull in your post.
This. I would release an arrow on every single one of those bulls including that young 5x5.
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Kalebcs
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In reply to Log • 4:06p, 8/2/16
quote:
http://texags.com/forums/34/topics/953700


Ok now I'm JACKED UP! So awesome man.
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chuckr70
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9:36p, 8/3/16
AG
Does anyone hunt unit 34 in Colorado? If so, let's compare notes.
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tmaggie50
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8:00p, 8/5/16
AG
Do any of you wear any sort of knee/joint bands? If so, what? My dads knees will likely give him trouble on this hunt so any info helps.
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shaynew1
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8:54p, 8/5/16
AG
I bring kinesio tape for whatever is bugging me, but i wouldn't count is as supportive.
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Aggzwin00
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9:49p, 8/5/16
Headed to broadmouth canyon ranch in Idaho sept 5, gonna whack a big un
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Sean98
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7:53a, 8/6/16
AG
I'm taking my mountain training to a new level this weekend by heading to Miami for a week long work conference. And by new level I mean sea level.

Not exactly helpful for altitude training.
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ursusguy
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8:26a, 8/6/16
AG
Got my cow tag.
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Log
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In reply to Sean98 • 8:46a, 8/6/16
AG
quote:
I'm taking my mountain training to a new level this weekend by heading to Miami for a week long work conference. And by new level I mean sea level.

Not exactly helpful for altitude training.
Go run in the loose sand at the beach in your off hours.
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tmaggie50
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12:03p, 8/6/16
AG
What are the rules on wearing orange for Colorado? Are they different for different parts? Every time I watch people hunting on YouTube they are never wearing orange caps or vests, but my drop camp guide says its the rules that we have to wear orange vests and hats.
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GottaRide
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In reply to tmaggie50 • 12:22p, 8/6/16
S
Orange vest and headgear are required for muzzleloader and rifle. Not for archery.
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ursusguy
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In reply to tmaggie50 • 12:58p, 8/6/16
AG
500 inches above the waist during any firearms season.....not required during archery season.

And that is SOLID orange, orange camo does NOT count. Though legal, they recommend against orange mesh.

I plan on glowing.
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tmaggie50
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1:33p, 8/6/16
AG
Thanks for the responses. Such a stupid rule. Oh well.
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tmaggie50
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5:26p, 8/6/16
AG
What camo are y'all wearing? I've been looking at First Lite. Heard great things about it and the looks seems to be one that can fit certain areas of Texas as well. It seems to be just as expensive as a KUIU brand though.
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Lungblood
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6:05p, 8/6/16
Just got my Lowa Tibets... Gonna pound em like a porn star for the next 4 weeks.
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ursusguy
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In reply to tmaggie50 • 7:03p, 8/6/16
AG
Unit 24, I want to stick out like sore thumb.

I haven't really worried about camo any. When I guided for elk (NM), I pretty much wore dirty Carhartts. Whatever pattern my Rivers West jacket is will be my camo.
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agingcowboy
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In reply to tmaggie50 • 7:59p, 8/6/16
AG
quote:
What camo are y'all wearing? I've been looking at First Lite. Heard great things about it and the looks seems to be one that can fit certain areas of Texas as well. It seems to be just as expensive as a KUIU brand though.
I know I'm lame, but I've got a bit of an addiction to camo. I have Sitka, Kryptek, UnderArmour, Predator, and a few other lower price brands I can't think of. Sitka is probably my favorite, but that's partly because I can get pretty good deals through their pro form. I have a buddy that is pro staff with Kryptek so I've picked up some of their stuff lately as well.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
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Sean98
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In reply to tmaggie50 • 8:01p, 8/6/16
AG
quote:
What are the rules on wearing orange for Colorado? Are they different for different parts? Every time I watch people hunting on YouTube they are never wearing orange caps or vests, but my drop camp guide says its the rules that we have to wear orange vests and hats.
Colorado has some of the strangest, and definitely the most poorly worded hunting regs in the Lower 48.

The reality of Hunter Orange in Colorado is that it is all related to the tag in your pocket. If you have a muzzleloader or rifle tag then you MUST wear orange even if you are choosing to hunt with a bow. It has no overlap related to time. For example here in Kansas bowhunters have to wear orange at any time it is legal for muzzleloader or rifle hunters to be in the woods. That way a rifle hunter doesn't shoot a camo'd bowhunter.

In Colorado however, despite the fact that muzzleloader and archery season overlaps a bowhunter can be in full camo while muzzleloader hunters must wear orange. At the same time, on the same day, on the same mountain there are two different requirements. For what it's worth I will DEFINITELY be wearing some orange during muzzleloader season since I'll be actively moving and calling throughout the day.
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Sean98
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8:06p, 8/6/16
AG
As for camo I have a ridiculous hodgepodge of brands and patterns. FirstLite, Core4Element, Cabelas, UnderArmour, Rocky, WalMart... And patterns from Max1, ASAT, Mountain Mimicry, OutfitterCamo, you name it.

Camo patterns are one of the most overblown marketing schemes in the world. I prefer very open patterns. About the worst thing in the world you can do is wear some kind of terrible MossyOak pattern that just looks solid black from more than about 15 feet away.
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tmaggie50
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In reply to Sean98 • 8:17p, 8/6/16
AG
I agree. But I was more so curious about fit, comfort, and durability. Whether there were certain layers that people have found to be excellent at keeping cool or warm, what the best layers were for 20 degree, 80 degree, etc.
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ursusguy
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8:42p, 8/6/16
AG
I'm planning on a Columbia cooling shirt as a base, with a brown NF wind vest over that. When needed, I'll putt a hydrofleece jacket over that. I'll have a brown, heavy weight polypro top (and medium bottoms) if the temp heads really far south.
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