just got back to the house. Long story short, decided to pack up and glass in the evening and leaving at dark if we didn’t see anything.
got up high and saw elk spread out through sage and junipers in a corner of public land closest to where my dad saw some cows on private while driving 6am.
saw quite a few bulls but some elk didn’t have defined antlers, so we decided to work our way over (2.5 miles away, we’re able to drive around to be about 1.5 miles from them).
hiked in and got setup, sure enough a cow and 2 yearlings come running at me….came to a dead stop at 150 yards. They came from the opposite direction I expected, so wind wasn’t great. They then turn and run into junipers. Got setup, then mamma stepped out and bang. Through the shoulder out the ribs.
she went about 50 yards before she piled up. Best part was my dad was able drive up a creek bed to get within a half mile for the pack out.
There is a huge 360+ Bull running around bugling the entire time. Even had him at 500y…oh well.
I’m exhausted. 15 mile day, at least packout was on the easier side.
Here she is taking a nap on my pack.