Last weekend I met my brother out in central Nevada to help him out with his muzzleloader bull hunt. We hiked into the wilderness area, camped out, hiked our butts off, saw lots of elk including some nice bulls, saw tons of deer including some nice bucks and decided to give a bull a ride out of the wilderness on our backs. We had planned to stay in for a week, but as it turned out only needed a couple days to get the job done.
Camp. Found a nice spot behind a bluff to escape the ever present wind.
4x4 bull, broke off a tine when he fell. Not the biggest bull we saw, but it would be foolish to pass up a 75 yard broadside shot. Rifle is a TC Renegade, .54 cal., shooting 80 gr. of blackpowder (not Pyrodex, real blackpowder) and a 405 gr. maxiball. First shot was perfect, tight behind the shoulder, double lung, passthrough. He was dead on his feet and didn't know it. Second shot was a bit forward, not necessary (but good insurance) and was recovered just under the opposite elbow.
We busted him down and got the meat hanging in a nearby tree to cool for the night. The next morning we broke camp, hauled it down to the trucks, and went back up the mountain to get the bull. Initially, we were thinking we would make 2 trips each, but upon arriving at the meat, we discussed it and decided to try and get it all in one trip. Luckily, with the exception of about 20 steps, the return trip was all down hill. We loaded up the packs and holy cow was it a load! We're both in decent shape and were quickly questioning our sanity. Once we got moving and into a groove it was fine, tough, but managable.
Loaded up with meat for the trip down the mountain.
A couple hours later we made it to the pickups and happily unshouldered out loads. That night we celebrated with roasted tenderloin and a wee bit of bourbon! The next morning, after a stop at the local hot spring to soak our weary bodies, we said our good byes and headed home. Was a great trip!
Camp. Found a nice spot behind a bluff to escape the ever present wind.
4x4 bull, broke off a tine when he fell. Not the biggest bull we saw, but it would be foolish to pass up a 75 yard broadside shot. Rifle is a TC Renegade, .54 cal., shooting 80 gr. of blackpowder (not Pyrodex, real blackpowder) and a 405 gr. maxiball. First shot was perfect, tight behind the shoulder, double lung, passthrough. He was dead on his feet and didn't know it. Second shot was a bit forward, not necessary (but good insurance) and was recovered just under the opposite elbow.
We busted him down and got the meat hanging in a nearby tree to cool for the night. The next morning we broke camp, hauled it down to the trucks, and went back up the mountain to get the bull. Initially, we were thinking we would make 2 trips each, but upon arriving at the meat, we discussed it and decided to try and get it all in one trip. Luckily, with the exception of about 20 steps, the return trip was all down hill. We loaded up the packs and holy cow was it a load! We're both in decent shape and were quickly questioning our sanity. Once we got moving and into a groove it was fine, tough, but managable.
Loaded up with meat for the trip down the mountain.
A couple hours later we made it to the pickups and happily unshouldered out loads. That night we celebrated with roasted tenderloin and a wee bit of bourbon! The next morning, after a stop at the local hot spring to soak our weary bodies, we said our good byes and headed home. Was a great trip!
