AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: alacran on December 31, 2024, 05:55:15 PM
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Have been trying to fill a cow elk tag since the 6th of Dec.
Finally got lucky on the 29th.
(https://i.ibb.co/1Z4N5tz/PXL-20241229-172950101-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WnRXw4V)
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Good job on a nice looking critter.
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Congratulations! It appears that it was worth the effort. Nice cow, they're generally the best eating.
What caliber and bullet? How long of a shot?
I'm still wanting to take one with a flintlock, maybe next year.
Keep the wind in your face, the sun at your back and your powder dry.
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Congratulations! It appears that it was worth the effort. Nice cow, they're generally the best eating.
What caliber and bullet? How long of a shot?
I'm still wanting to take one with a flintlock, maybe next year.
Keep the wind in your face, the sun at your back and your powder dry.
I was using my .54 Bucks County flintlock. My load is 95 grains 2f Goex, with .530 ball and bear lubed pocket drill. I took the shot at the bedded cow at 72 yards.
It has been very dry here in the Arizona White Mountains. It has been a difficult hunt. I could have taken other shots that I thought were questionable.
This is the fourth cow I've taken with this rifle, and the eighth I've taken with traditional muzzleloaders.
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Congrats to you. Fine eats right there
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Congratulations, alacran. Nice freezer stuffer.
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Mighty fine Guido!
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Congratulations, nice elk.
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Yumee! Good shooting.
Cheers Richard
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Congratulations!
God job staying on the hunt during difficult conditions. :)
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Thanks for all the compliments. It has been a week since I killed that cow and today, I will finish processing the last quarter.
People that don't hunt and take care of their own processing have no idea of the amount of work involved.
I put over 700 miles on my truck never driving more than 30 miles from the house.
I don't road hunt those miles were driven to get to and from places.
I put well over a hundred miles on my legs. Five miles of which I was carrying out meat.
All in all, I love the work. I hope to keep at as long as my body lets me.
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You could use a horse! Seriously, though, admirable perseverance and conditioning.
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Congratulations on a job thoroughly well done, Alacran!
I process our meat, and yes, and appreciate it takes some time!
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Great job! Thanks for sharing.
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Alacran, your title, "Last Minute Elk" reminded me of my last char (lake trout), caught 2 days before the close of the season.
This was my 15th laker for the summer.
(https://i.ibb.co/dJR2DgC/15th-Char-2024.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yBryqSv)
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Two days is all I had left Daryl.
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As we say in South Eastern OK; "You done real good!"
Please say hello to all my AZ friends for me.
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So that's where you ran off to. I'll say hello to everyone and let them know you are still alive.
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Have been trying to fill a cow elk tag since the 6th of Dec.
Finally got lucky on the 29th.
(https://i.ibb.co/1Z4N5tz/PXL-20241229-172950101-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WnRXw4V)
I’m curious did the ball pass through? Where was the impact?
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Nice score!
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Have been trying to fill a cow elk tag since the 6th of Dec.
Finally got lucky on the 29th.
(https://i.ibb.co/1Z4N5tz/PXL-20241229-172950101-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WnRXw4V)
I’m curious did the ball pass through? Where was the impact?
When I shot the elk, she was bedded down 180 degrees from how she lays in the photo. It was very windy 15 to 18 MPH. I was able to see what she did when the ball impacted her. She started to get up and wheel around, but she dropped as quickly as she got up.
I didn't fool around too much since I shot her at 10:20 am, and I didn't have any help, and no help would be coming. Took a couple of photos, and texted this one to my wife so she would know I would not be home any time soon.
SOP for dealing with an elk on the ground is skin one side, remove that shoulder, remove backstrap then the hind quarter, lastly remove the tenderloin.
I do not gut them, unless it is very warm. No need to wallow in a 150 pounds of guts.
After one side is done, the process is repeated.
I really did not spend any time on forensics. I did notice that there was a lot of blood under the shoulder that you see in the photo.
The entry hole was evident on the opposite side, it was the rear of the shoulder even with the elbow joint. When I removed that shoulder I saw where the ball went into the ribs.
Once I got to processing the meat I found that both shoulders had a hole in the rear of the shoulder near the elbow. I had to cut out a good part of the exit side as it had a lot of hair in it.
I believe I hit the heartstrings and by the time I reloaded and walked over to her, she had mostly bled out.
It is possible that the ball stayed under the skin on the exit shoulder. I didn't bother to look because at the time I was focusing on the job at hand.
I may go back out there with a varmit rifle and pick off some coyotes. If I do Ill inpect the carcass.