Colorado Elk - 1st rifle season

[Dick darstardly]

Being a brit living in the US, I have tried to embrace the many, many big game hunting opportunities this country affords its residents. As such, last month I got to realize a long time held ambition, to hunt elk on public land in Colorado. As you can see from the pictures it was a sensational experience. Hard hunting indeed, years of planning and work went into the trip. We drove from home (Florida) 36 hours to north west Colorado and got to it. High elevation, lots of miles covered, lots of encounters with elk and i was blessed enough to take this bull with a 280 yard shot with my .270 (150 grain power point) 3 days into our 5 day hunt. Thankfully I took the bottom of his heart and he laid where he was shot. 4 1/2 hours later we had him off the mountain side and on route to the processors. They turned him round in less than 24 hours including the skull mount! The 36 hour drive home felt like a labor of love Archery during the rut next year!

 

[shakey jake]

wow, looks like a hell of a trip

 

[takbok]

Well done, sounds like a great adventure! Really good you can get the venison processed. Are those tubes fulled with mince?

I look forward to doing a bit of travelling in the USA at some stage.

 

[devon deer stalker]

Many congrats, Elk are a tough hunt
Cheers
Richard

 

[John Gryphon]

A great trip for sure..green! May i ask the price the processor charged to do that great job on your meat and skull.

10/10 for the mighty .270 also.

 

[Pete6.5]

Well done very jealous

 

[tac29136]

Being a brit living in the US, I have tried to embrace the many, many big game hunting opportunities this country affords its residents. As such, last month I got to realize a long time held ambition, to hunt elk on public land in Colorado. As you can see from the pictures it was a sensational experience. Hard hunting indeed, years of planning and work went into the trip. We drove from home (Florida) 36 hours to north west Colorado and got to it. High elevation, lots of miles covered, lots of encounters with elk and i was blessed enough to take this bull with a 280 yard shot with my .270 (150 grain power point) 3 days into our 5 day hunt. Thankfully I took the bottom of his heart and he laid where he was shot. 4 1/2 hours later we had him off the mountain side and on route to the processors. They turned him round in less than 24 hours including the skull mount! The 36 hour drive home felt like a labor of love Archery during the rut next year!

That looks epic. The States has some amazing hunting opportunities.

 

[South West Stalkers]

Wow, amazing place and result! I'm hoping to get to the US for a nice hunting trip some point!

 

[404Boar]

Excellent, well done, hope I get to do that one day . That trophy looks just great in the front seat.

 

[tusker]

Well done mate, big thumbs up for the 270, apparently 270 doesnt kill deer here anymore and folks are using the Gaymore.
Tusker

 

[bfltd0]

Great write up!

A 36 hour drive?

Yes, I had a car like that once.

Good skills though and I hope you have enough freezers to take full advantage of the meat on offer.

 

[Dick darstardly]

Well done, sounds like a great adventure! Really good you can get the venison processed. Are those tubes fulled with mince?

I look forward to doing a bit of travelling in the USA at some stage.

Yes mate. All ground with 10% beef fat added. They are divine! So far we have had elk burgers, elk spag bol, mountain pie (what I am calling Shepard's pie made with Elk), and Elk Moussaka with the mince.

 

[Dick darstardly]

Many congrats, Elk are a tough hunt
Cheers
Richard

Thanks mate. It was a testing hunt for sure. I hope I can do it for many years to come!

 

[Dick darstardly]

A great trip for sure..green! May i ask the price the processor charged to do that great job on your meat and skull.

10/10 for the mighty .270 also.

Thanks mate. The .270 did not let me down, i heard it a thousand times before but it is placement that counts. I watched through my scope (another hunter in our group) a big bull get hit with 4 shots from a 7mm rem mag and still make it around 500 yards uphill (thankfully that is where he stopped). Not suggesting I am a better hunter, just the single .270 clipped the heart and he did not take a step.

The processor was fantastic, 24 hour turn around on the Elk (i think they have to be capable of that as many hunters are out of state) for $275 and the "euro" mount was $250 (ready the next day with the ivories). I usually do my own skull mounts but the convenience and fact I had a 36 hour drive ahead of me was enough to convince me to do it with them. I am happy I did

 

[Dick darstardly]

That looks epic. The States has some amazing hunting opportunities.

Sure do mate. Spoiled for choice to be honest, especially if you go on public land (can be a mixed bag but with a little effort you can hunt some amazing land / species for very little money)

 

[Dick darstardly]

Well done mate, big thumbs up for the 270, apparently 270 doesnt kill deer here anymore and folks are using the Gaymore.
Tusker

Cheers mate. It worked for me

 

[Dick darstardly]

Great write up!

A 36 hour drive?

Yes, I had a car like that once.

Good skills though and I hope you have enough freezers to take full advantage of the meat on offer.

Yes sir, 36 hours straight through (switching with a mate every 8 hours or so). I live in Tampa Florida. I have this freezer in the garage and a huge (American style ) fridge freezer in the kitchen full to the brim!

 

[Dick darstardly]

Couple more pics from the trip

 

[Dick darstardly]

Just clipped lower part of heart, cooked up some heart steaks that evening

 

[gelert]

Epic to say the least. Be interesting to see or know how you packed all the meat out, I'm guessing you cut up into primals then the processor did the rest. Great pics again.its definitely something I keep telling myself to do in the near future sooner rather than later.