2010 Elk

Southern Windriver Elk Hunt
October 1st - 22nd, 2010
Mexican Creek Area

One of many beautiful views and meadows around the area I hunted.

Since I had so much fun, and success, last year setting up a camp in the Mexican Creek area, I figured I'd do the same this year. It's close to home (only 12 miles) and it seems like there are always a few elk in the area, particularly if you're willing to work for them. The week before the season opened on October 1st, we headed up there after school and put in a camp. Darran Wells helped me put it up. This year my father-in-law let me borrow his new wall tent. Much easier to set up. The tent was a bit small, but much sturdier. Though we didn't have near the weather this season, the tent kept me warm and snug for three weekends (six nights). The kids had a ball staying in it on opening weekend too.

My Mexican Creek Condo



Warm and snug!

The most important part.

Put in a big hike on opening weekend before going down to the parking area in the afternoon to pick Mandy and the kiddos up. I did see a dead elk too. I was headed down towards an area called Paradise Valley when I heard the shot. I was still a long ways away. When I got there though, I saw folks packing out a little five point bull. It was still pretty warm out and the country was pretty dry. I didn't have my hopes that high for seeing critters. Was thinking I'd mostly be camping with the kiddos after that.

Sunday morning I got up early and did a big hike up to and down a different draw (photos of it in the beggining). I did get on to some very fresh elk sign in that draw. It was a sizeable draw next to Mexican Creek. It sure looked like there were elk living in it. They were hanging in the thick tree (bottoms of the draws) near or closer to water sources. Though I didn't see anything that morning. I figured I was on to something.

The view from Cyclone pass.

The next weekend we actually got a little weather. It started to rain bit on Saturday. Over the week I had heard that there was a bunch of elk up near Cyclone Pass (which at 10,000ft) was a little higher than my camp. I decided to get up early and bounce my way up there. When I go up there, no one was there. Had the place to myself and there was even a little snow on the ground. I was hopeful.

I hiked my arse off though up there- made two giant loops and all I ever saw was alot of fresh bear sign, and a grouse. Closer to noon the weather started to go down a bit, so I headed back down. I hunted the ridge I eventually got mine on, on my way back down that weekend. Saw Barney's ATV on it, that was about it. Around 4pm I headed down to the parkign area to pick up Darran who would join me for the rest of the weekend.

On our way back to camp that night we stopped and hiked up the draw that I had seen the fresh sign in the week before. The weather was starting to clear a bit. The ground was wet, alot more quite now. Once near the top of the draw I decided to bugle a bit. We got answer! A further away one, then one closer. Whoohoo! They're in there. While working our way down closer to the bugle, I called a little more- both cow and bugle calls. Once we were in the bottom and the thickest part of the trees and cow came up and squeeled at us not more than 20 yards away. It was getting dark, and it was so thick in there, that we couldn't see her. She squeeled twice. The second time she was answered by a large bull- probably only 50 yards away. Again, we could see him either. It was very exciting, but frustrating- surrounded by elk, but not able to see them in the twilight and thick trees. Eventually it just go too dark and we had to leave. We snuck on out with plans to assault the area early the next morning.

The next morning we headed up from camp back into the same area. This time we'd hit it from the top and work down. It was shaping up to be a blue bird, warm day out. Grrr. More warm/ dry weather. Oh well. Once we were near the top, we started seeing good sign again. And actually before we'd got to the top, we worked a small patch of tree on the way up that Darran thought he'd chased some big animals out of. He was sure they were elk, but thought maybe they were too big for deer. Whatever they were, they ran into the draw we were about to hunt.

About a third of the way down the draw, I started to see really fresh sign. At one point I remember seeing green poop (way fresh) and smelling them. Soon after that- boom two elk jumped up 15 yards in front of me as I was squeezing through some brush. A cow and a calf or two cows- I couldn't tell. I had just enough time to get my rifle up before they disappeared into the timber. But, they were running towards Darran. Maybe he'd get a shot. Turns out he had a similar experience, a few times. We kept pushing them down the draw and every time we'd get close, we'd only see them for a split second or two before they'd take off again. After a while we lost them. Although we didn't come away with anything this weekend, we had some pretty exciting hunting... and we'd seen elk. That was much better than many folks were doing. The warm, dry weather wasnot making the hunting very easy.

Looking down on Shoshone Lake from Cyclone Pass

Another view from Cyclone Pass

A great spot to sit on the pass.

A few hours later.

The third and final weekend I hunted with Barney. He actually too Friday off and hunted. I met him up at camp Friday night. This weekend is pretty much summarized in my "2010 Deer" blog entry, just before this one. We tried hard for elk, but were pretty much completely skunked. Funny thing though- someone had actually got some elk that same day, right where we had started. Even funnier- we walked the same ridge that I finally got one on. You just never know.

I was really beggining to think that I'd be hunting elk up by my dad's next weekend and maybe even the Refuge in November the way things were going. I did however, decide to head up to my camp one more time on the last day of the season, October, 22nd. My plan was to hunt myself silly until dark that day and then pack my camp out the next day. So... I had actually driven the jeep up, so I could pack the camp out in one trip.

I got up at 3:30am, or Tally got me up. I drove the jeep to the base of this draw that was close to the one Darran and I had seen all the action in, and decided to start hiking from there. I hiked all the way to the top. Instead of working some of the same draws that we'd been seeing elk and fresh sign in down, I decided to go up high. It was still pretty early and I figured I might catch somethign moving. I hiked all the way up nearly to suicide point. I remember getting close to the backside of the rocky outcropping that makes up the point and seeing some fairly good and recent sign- maybe a week old though. I crested the ridgeline, and looked down upon the open ridge line below that I'd hunted sooo much over the years. Seen quite a few elk killed on it too. Then all of a sudden I noticed a cow and calf elk trotting out below me onto the open ridge line. Holy smokes! There they are!

They were a long ways down there, but moving slow. I thought they were in range. So I popped open my bi-pod and sat down. I took aim, hold a little high right at the top of her shoulders, going for a heart/ lung shot. Kaaa-waannnggg! Crack. Her ass end dropped. "Shit!", "Not again." I thought as I watched. The ol' 300 and me were notorious for ass-shots. Works every time though. Slows them down somethign fierce- usually enough for me to get closer for a better shot. Anyway, she was hit. She was still making her way towards a very steep and deep draw though, one I definitely didn't want to pack her out of, so I fired off a few more rounds. That's when it donned on me just how far away I was. I shot four three more times- not of them connecting. The last shot went high and turned her around though, so at least she was staying in the open, near the trail now. She had stopped now too- was resting. I made my way down from the ridge to get closer, close enough for a kill shot.

As I got good looks at her calf as it was wondering around. Too bad Darran or Barney weren't with me- we'd have gotten both of them. Oh well, I;m pretty certain someone will get the calf during the cow season.

Within range for a kill shot.

Just before the shot (click to enlarge and see the elk).

Done deal!

Finally, I got an elk on the ridge that I've hunted so many times.

A young cow. And my shooting wasn't as bad as I had originally thought.

The hundred dollar (3 to 500 yard) shot. I missed the arse (and good meat) and had just taken out the running gears-- 300 H&H style. That's why her ass dropped. Whew! Close one.

As I looked back, I realized what a shot that was. She was actually about a hundred yards further away from the ridge when I first shot too. The arrow indicates where I was (click to enlarge).

Although I could have driven my quad right up to her... technically the road ended at the buck rail fence a quarter mile up the ridge, so I decided I'd better keep things legal and drag her up the road that far. After trying to drag her whole a few yards, I split her in half. This was much more reasonable.

Still very hard work though- all up hill. No snow.

I stashed her under a shady tree and started the hump back to the jeep and few miles away.

I would need my ATV to haul her out, since she was way up on the ridge- a good five plus miles of rough arse bouldery road further than where I brought the jeep in. I had to go get the jeep, drive it out and then bring the ATV back up. Good thing home was only 12 or so miles away. I shot the elk about 8:30am. Had it drug up to the road by 11am and was back in Lander headed back up the mountain on my quad about 1pm.

Finally, back up with my elk around 2:30pm.

Took a half hour worth of wrestling and tieing up, before I was loaded up and ready to head down.

This is the fifth elk (two from this area) that the ol' Bombardier has hauled out.

Got elk. Ready to ride!

All down hill from here.

Tally was super happy to see her dad on a Friday afternoon. Been a few since that happened, or I guess they see me on Fridays, but I'm always headed up the mountian.

That's my boy! Seamus trains for future expeditions.

Got the elk unloaded and hung up, so I could skin them.

It was a bit cooler, but still fairly warm for late October, so it was critical to get the hide off ASAP and get them cooling. I had just enough time to do this before it got dark. Slept pretty good that night though!

The next day it was cool enough, we decided to let the elk hang and go retrieve my camp before the snow hit. The forecast called for snow (now that the season was closed) on Sunday. So figured we'd better get up there and pull the camp before that hit. Mom and the kiddos and I loaded up the in Jeep Saturday morning then, and headed up.

The kids did some hunting on the way into camp.

Actually, it seems my luck just kept up. On our way out, with camp and everything loaded up on the jeep, a grouse walked out in the road in front of us and surrendered. The kids got to sit in the jeep and watch the whole thing unfold as accepted the terms of it's surrender with my .22 rifle... kaappop! "Mom, what's that bird doing? How come he's wiggling around? Hey... Dad's gun makes noise!"

Back at home the kids take turns hold the pine grouse. Seamus kept saying, "Eat him? Eat em' dad?" Yes, Seasmus... we'll have him for dinner.

The next day it was time to cut up the elk. It was nice and chilled.

Trees are finally big enough to hang elk from. They weren't when we first moved in.

Before: A front shoulder awaits the butcher.

After: One down, three more plus a back and ribs to go.

The butcher, and Tally. Started cutting meat at 11am. Finished everything up just after 4pm. I think the young cow yielded around a 150 pounds of meat after it was all done. Not the biggest elk I've got... but not the smallest either.

The freezer is getting full. There's elk in it. I'm happy. Now it can snow!!