4th Season Colorado Elk

[m gardner]

It was kinda tough this year. I got to camp and set up the tent just in time to catch a storm that dumped an inch of snow on me and 2 to 3 inches higher. That was 3 days before the opener. The next day it warmed enough to melt most of it and turn the ground to a slippery gravy that needs to be walked and driven in to be appreciated. I found some bulls below camp and one is crowding the "book" for sure. His short thirds may keep him out though. I tried to walk in to see if I could manage to get him out but I had messed up my knee during archery elk in Az and there was no way I could pack him out. The little town nearby was going bust and there are no horses available any longer so I told the local C.O. to put someone on the elk if he wanted to bring his stock up with the local community. He did and a young guy shot the smaller bull that was traveling with the monster bull. His dad stopped by camp and thanked me before they went to go in and pack him out. They had seen the big bull but couldn't get close to him. I found many elk in places that were much easier to hunt in my degraded condition. I saw 4 bulls (3, 6's and a 5 point) in a large basin and planned to hunt them. The first day an enterprising fellow drove right across it and spooked the bulls at daylight. He never knew they were there. The next day I saw one bull and could barely make him out in the cedars so I was reluctant to shoot because there is a 4 point rule. Day three saw me where the bulls had been spooked by the road hunters and at first light the 5 point came trotting by and I shot him at 250 yards as he slowed a bit in an opening in the oak brush. When I worked the bolt the plastic magazine fell apart and spilled the cartridges in the dirt at my feet. I reached down to retrieve one and stick it in the rifle and all the tears in my eyes from the cold wind fell into my glasses and then I was legally blind. Luckily by then he was doing the "kangaroo dance". He went about 50-75 yards and fell in the road. Thank you Lord. Well it wasn't really a road, just a goat trail to service a stock pond but it was driveable until the sun softened the snow later. I walked the mile and a half to my truck and crawled in 4 wheel low to the elk. The weather was supposed to turn bad again so I quarted him and went and broke camp and missed the next storm.

[huntinsonovagun]

Congrats! I've got a TC Venture that I had the magazine fall apart on once. I think it's a horrible design flaw. I've got to make it out there for an elk sometime.

[texastrophies]

Congrats!!!!

I like the caption on the picture...."Tired guy, dead elk."

[Shaun_300]

That's awesome, congrats!

[dbHunterNY]

congrats mark! sounds like a good hunt. If this is that T/C Venture you've been raving about hopefully the mag was a fluke. From what you've said the gun is a shooter in 300win mag.

[m gardner]

Thanks guys. This TC Venture is one of the most accurate and shootable rifles I've owned but it has a bad magazine design. I'll pin the magazine together or build a new one. (I'm a machinist). I just got back from a guided goose hunt I won with Stillwater Outfitters in Loveland, Colorado and had a ball and shot lot's of geese. It was below zero. Two things us old guys from Az hate are hills and cold weather!

[silvertip_co]

COngrats on a great elk.

[m gardner]

Thanks, I called TC arms about the magazine and found that my rifle is recalled for trigger problems so it'll be going back this week. I guess it may fire when closing the bolt which really annoys some people.

[pointing_dogs_rule]

Great story and a great hunt. Nice to know that there are people around, like yourself, to help out other hunters.

goog luck to all

the dog

[m gardner]

Great story and a great hunt. Nice to know that there are people around, like yourself, to help out other hunters.

goog luck to all

the dog

I work with some Serbians who were soldiers and came here so they and their families would not be killed after the wars ended. One of them hunts and was at a loss to find elk where he drew his tag. I made him a photocopy of a map and put an "X" on it where they should hunt. There were 4 of them with tags and 25 more went just to camp out in the snow. They cooked a goat the first night then a lamb the second. These are rugged people who love the outdoors. When he came back I asked him if they got any elk and he looked at me funny and said "of course". I asked him where and he said "We shot 4 bulls in two days right where you put the "X". I think they like me, which is a very good thing. :yes:

[Ravin R10 man]

Mark..you may have to find another hunting spot..or you may be at a big hunting camp next year...hope you like goat!...lol congrats on the elk & the story

[pointing_dogs_rule]

I work with some Serbians who were soldiers and came here so they and their families would not be killed after the wars ended. One of them hunts and was at a loss to find elk where he drew his tag. I made him a photocopy of a map and put an "X" on it where they should hunt. There were 4 of them with tags and 25 more went just to camp out in the snow. They cooked a goat the first night then a lamb the second. These are rugged people who love the outdoors. When he came back I asked him if they got any elk and he looked at me funny and said "of course". I asked him where and he said "We shot 4 bulls in two days right where you put the "X". I think they like me, which is a very good thing. :yes:

THey sound like FUN guys to hang out with.

good luck to all

the dog

[texastrophies]

That's a neat story.

[wtnhunt]

Good story. Nice bull Mark. Congratulations.

[stevebeilgard]

great story, mark. way to go. i like the way you help out, also. have you ever thought of heading up a realtree elk hunt? you seem to like that kind of thing. maybe next year???

[m gardner]

Thanks Steve. I'll pass on organizing a hunt. In the last few years less and less people are willing to go with me because I live and hunt like an animal and society at large has an increasing need for comfort, safety and ATV's. The wife of the guy I took last year stood on the porch wrapped in a blanket crying as we left because she thought I was going to kill him when she found out we would stay in a tent in the snow. The Serbians are a special group, they are very tough physically and mentally. By the way I had put others onto the big bulls where I shot mine and in three days only one guy had enough sand to try it and within a few hours killed an elk. Same with the Serbs.

Edited December 23, 2011 by m gardner

[stevebeilgard]

Thanks Steve. I'll pass on organizing a hunt. In the last few years less and less people are willing to go with me because I live and hunt like an animal and society at large has an increasing need for comfort, safety and ATV's. The wife of the guy I took last year stood on the porch wrapped in a blanket crying as we left because she thought I was going to kill him when she found out we would stay in a tent in the snow. The Serbians are a special group, they are very tough physically and mentally. By the way I had put others onto the big bulls where I shot mine and in three days only one guy had enough sand to try it and within a few hours killed an elk. Same with the Serbs.

yep. i understand