First, huge thanks to all of the members here at Rokslide who have given me advice and guidance. After trying and failing for four years in a row, including wasting a draw on what I thought would be an easy cow elk tag last year, everything came together this year. Story time:
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At that point the work started. I didn't really know what I'm doing, other than what I've seen in Randy Newberg's and Cory Jacobsen's "Gutless" method youtube videos. Did my best. Takes me a long time, being new to this method, and being solo. Holding that rear leg up to make the cuts hurts the back.... But I get it done, throw a front quarter on the Eberlestock, and head back to the truck.
Oh and found a cool memento for my shelf when skinning out:
THINGS THAT WORKED:
EDIT: Oh and public shout-out to @rayporter for his unlimited patience in answering my dumb questions about hunting from horseback. Turns out I didn't have to use the horses this year for hunting (Again, that "luck" factor) but his advice was still a godsend in making me confident enough to take a hoofed critter into the backcountry.
- Sunday: Get on horse. Go scout. Horse is a dick - Doesn't like being by herself, with just me for company.
- Monday morning: Wake up early. Solo. Hike out to where I scouted with the horse yesterday. Not a long hike, maybe 2km. Gain some elevation. Wait for first light.
- Sun comes out just enough for me to use my binos to look at stuff. See seven mule deer about 80m from me. We are all stunned to see each other. Stay quiet and don't move.
- Mule deer stop staring at me, and all start looking north at something. I turn my Kowa's north. There are three cow elk running towards me. I'm happy. Elk! Then immediately am bummed. Three cow elk, and no anterless tag. That's probably all the Elk action I will see. Watch as the elk run away. (Look for the black dots.)
- Dejected. Time to go for a walk. Nice morning, may as well get to a high point and enjoy the view.
- Get to the top of the ridgeline. Stare west at the mountains. Act like a tourist and enjoy the view. Enjoy not being in the office.
- Open up a Snickers. Start munching. Casually look back east. Do a double-take. Herd of elk heading my way. The Opening Day hunting pressure appears to have pushed the herd my way. Dumb luck: Right place at the right time.
- Panic.
- Try to get my shit together. Realize that the elk haven't seen me. Get low. Elk are to the east of the ridgeline I'm on. I get on the west side of the ridgeline. Stay low and use the ridgeline to hide my stalk.
- Get closer. Get lower. Start belly-crawling. Get back to the top of the ridgeline and peak over. I'm within about 150m. Not sure, because my brain is mush. Have a range-finder right there on my chest with my Kowas, but forget that it is right there.
- Get Kowas out. Start looking at herd. Look for antlers. Find what looks to be a small 5-point. Okay focus.
- Get the Rokslide-Special out. Paging @Formidilosus . 6x SWFA on a T3x Lite stainless (30-06, not 6.5. Sorry Form...) 180gr Accubonds. Have a good feeling, because I know this tool works. Who cares that I banged the scope on the rocks when I was low-crawling - 100% confidence in this unit.
- Settle the crosshairs. Nice broadside. Herd is heading east-to-west. Feeling time pressure, as the herd is starting to quarter away from me and add distance.
- Try to focus, but brain is mush. Can't believe I am seeing a herd of elk, let alone have a shot at a legal bull.
- Breath. Laying on belly, facing downhill, shooting unsupported prone off my elbows. (Left my pack at my glassing spot in my rush to cut off herd.) Wish I had my pack to shoot off of. Fail.
- Settle the crosshairs on the bull. Still broadside. Completely forget to do my shooting mantra/routine. Squeeze trigger.
- I hear it before I see it. That sound every hunter knows. Good hit. Bull falls, gets up and tries to walk. Starts to quarter away. Work bolt and fire second shot. Hear it again - Good hit. Bull down. 4x5. The rest of the herd runs southwest over a ridgeline. It's now very quiet.
- Happiness sinks in. Long term goal about 20 years in the making finally achieved. Many thoughts and feelings. Am very happy. Am very grateful. Realize that luck is a factor. Grateful that I was lucky. Grateful for food for the winter.
***
At that point the work started. I didn't really know what I'm doing, other than what I've seen in Randy Newberg's and Cory Jacobsen's "Gutless" method youtube videos. Did my best. Takes me a long time, being new to this method, and being solo. Holding that rear leg up to make the cuts hurts the back.... But I get it done, throw a front quarter on the Eberlestock, and head back to the truck.
Oh and found a cool memento for my shelf when skinning out:
THINGS THAT WORKED:
- Puffy + Rain jacket. Don't screw around with anything else. Just do this. I use the Eddie Bauer (yes I know) Cloud Cap 2.0. Got it on sale. It works awesome. The wind where I was is nuts, so you need something to cut the wind when you stop to glass. Rain jacket works as a multi-use item: Rain gear, hard shell, and wind-stopper.
- Victorinox Paring Knife. Orange. Roksliders put me on to this. I was using a Havalon scalpel knife before, but never really liked it - seemed wasteful. The Vic knife is awesome. Get the orange handle one for easy-spotting when you put it down. I did the majority of the elk with this thing. Touched it up with a small diamond sharpener a couple of times, but that was it. Used my Kabar Dozier utility knife to do the rough cuts through the hide, but used the Vic for everything else. No joke - This thing was brilliant.
- Rifle + Scope. I can't stress how nice it was to not doubt your shooting iron - This has always been a curse for me. @Formidilosus put me on to the Tikka + SWFA combo. Not saying it's the way for everyone to go, but for me, it's been the Easy Button solution.
- Gutless Method. It's a thing. It works. Learn it.
- Routine. Get your shooting routine down, so that muscle-memory takes over. I was all panic-brained and my adrenaline was going. I forgot all my usual steps and shooting fundamentals. I need to practice more, so that setting up and taking the shot becomes autopilot. This routine needs to include using your rangefinder and field-shooting positions. A shooting bench doesn't translate at all here.
- Fat + Solo. Packing an elk out solo, even if it's only a short trip out, is really, really hard. Be in shape before you try this, and be ready for a long couple of days if you do. I got lucky and was able to get my truck close-ish to collect the rest of the quarters. If I had to pack it all out on foot, it would have been a suck-fest. Be smarter than me and find friends who are into backpack hunting, and will give you a hand if you get something down.
- Spare Latex Gloves. (edit). Forgot to add: bring spare latex gloves in your kill kit. I had one pair, and that was it. Ultimately you'll take them off at some point mid-butcher. It's nice to have a clean pair. Next time I'm going to bring three pairs: one to use, another to swap to, and one for a just-in-case backup. They are light and cheap, so bring extra.
- 30-06. Just kidding. Love it. Still puts food on the table 100+ years later. Simple is good.
EDIT: Oh and public shout-out to @rayporter for his unlimited patience in answering my dumb questions about hunting from horseback. Turns out I didn't have to use the horses this year for hunting (Again, that "luck" factor) but his advice was still a godsend in making me confident enough to take a hoofed critter into the backcountry.
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