I left yesterday morning at 3AM for a day hunt in a local unit for "muzzleloader only, antlerless only" Elk. I was in position well before first light,checked the thermals several times and chose a position to ambush a well used travel route from feedin to bedding areas. I didn't wait long after good shooting light before I heard what sounded like hooves clicking on rock periodicly. I was sucked down pretty good in the bitterbrush and sagebrush so I didn't have a real good field of view (just the trail area in front of me), so when she appeared at 30 yards it was almost a shock. I waited until she stepped into a clear lane, raised my .58 and dropped the hammer...CLICK! The cap had fallen off the nipple and was laying smashed in the crevice of the snail. I remember capping in the dark and thinking the cap was not seated real well. Thinking it was just tight, I pushed it down on the nipple again to make sure. Well, it was just an oversized cap, probably the only one in that tin and maybe the only one in the 2000+ that I own. Wouldn't you just know it would be chosen at that exact time! Anyway, because the wind was good and I was so well hidden, I was able to cap again, raise the rifle and much to my delight, she was now standing in reverse direction at about 50 yards, BANG! She trots off another 50 yards, slows to a walk and stops at maybe 75 yards on the edge of the canyon. I watch, hoping she'll go down right there but she walks over the edge and out of sight. I reload, grab my rifle and ease out to the edge real slow, watching my silloette against the skyline. I find her walking slowly, below me and facing away at 100 yards. I sit down and prepare for a follow up shot. She turns to the left, giving me a broadside shot at a little over 100 yards and I shoot again and reload. She goes another 30 yards and is down for good. Both .58 balls hit within 2 inches of each other and I found them both under the hide when I skinned her out. The balls both were flat on one side and quite a bit larger than their original .570" diameter. It was a beautiful day for quartering and packing, cool with a slight breeze and cloudy to block the direct sun. The meat is in the cooler and we are once again blessed with Elk for the winter. Thank You God.
