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Author Topic: Last minute elk.  (Read 2024 times)

Offline alacran

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Last minute elk.
« on: December 31, 2024, 05:55:15 PM »
Have been trying to fill a cow elk tag since the 6th of Dec.
Finally got lucky on the 29th.


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Offline smylee grouch

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2024, 06:22:26 PM »
Good job on a nice looking critter.
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Offline Elk Hunter

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2024, 06:56:48 PM »
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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Offline alacran

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2024, 08:23:32 PM »
Quote from: Elk Hunter on December 31, 2024, 06:56:48 PM
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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A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.  Frederick Douglass

Offline wattlebuster

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2024, 09:07:25 PM »
Congrats to you. Fine eats right there
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Offline Daryl

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2024, 10:20:01 PM »
Congratulations, alacran. Nice freezer stuffer.
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Daryl

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Offline Stoner creek

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2024, 10:51:15 PM »
Mighty fine Guido!
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Offline Percy

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2025, 11:56:50 PM »
Congratulations, nice elk.
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Offline flatsguide

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2025, 08:29:45 AM »
Yumee! Good shooting.
Cheers Richard
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Offline ScottH

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #9 on: January 02, 2025, 10:01:43 PM »
Congratulations!
God job staying on the hunt during difficult conditions.  :)
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Offline alacran

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2025, 02:52:55 PM »
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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A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.  Frederick Douglass

Offline rich pierce

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2025, 04:01:30 PM »
You could use a horse! Seriously, though, admirable perseverance and conditioning.
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Andover, Vermont

Offline Pukka Bundook

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2025, 05:30:17 PM »
Congratulations on a job thoroughly well done, Alacran!

I process our meat, and yes, and appreciate it takes some time!



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Online Devoe

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2025, 06:44:23 PM »
Great job! Thanks for sharing.
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Offline Daryl

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2025, 10:01:58 PM »
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.


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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline alacran

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #15 on: January 05, 2025, 10:53:47 PM »
Two days is all I had left Daryl.
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A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.  Frederick Douglass

Offline Roger B

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #16 on: January 06, 2025, 06:15:38 PM »
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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Offline alacran

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #17 on: January 07, 2025, 01:36:06 AM »
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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A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.  Frederick Douglass

Offline doulos

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #18 on: January 09, 2025, 12:43:45 AM »
Quote from: alacran on December 31, 2024, 05:55:15 PM
Have been trying to fill a cow elk tag since the 6th of Dec.
Finally got lucky on the 29th.



I’m curious did the ball pass through? Where was the impact?
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Offline Bob Gerard

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #19 on: January 09, 2025, 04:11:09 AM »
Nice score!
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Offline alacran

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Re: Last minute elk.
« Reply #20 on: January 09, 2025, 05:56:45 PM »
Quote from: doulos on January 09, 2025, 12:43:45 AM
Quote from: alacran on December 31, 2024, 05:55:15 PM
Have been trying to fill a cow elk tag since the 6th of Dec.
Finally got lucky on the 29th.



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.
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A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.  Frederick Douglass
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