- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
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Here is my first really "big" game animal taken with a muzzleloader. I shot this fellow on 10/7/11, the last day of Washington's early BP Elk season. The bull came from the east side of the state in a "spike only" area.
I was hunting with my 54cal Lyman Trade Rifle. My load was 90grns Goex FFG and a 300grn precision rifle all lead bullet. Shot was right at 60yards.
This elk came as an unsuspected surprise to me. I had been hunting the afternoon before and had an opprotunity at a rather large mountain lion that had stalked up on a cow and calf that were feeding out infront of me. I shot the cat but the hit was not solid and I trailed sparse blood till almost dark.
I returned the next morning to start up the track again. I went to the spot where I marked the last small speck of blood to resume the trail. I searched and searched in ever widening circles but came up with no further blood to follow.
At about 10am I heard the sounds of heavy foot falls coming up a small draw off to my right. I eased up to a game trail and sat quiet. I watched as a line of cows and calfs eased up hill. The last elk in line was this spike. I decided that the lion was not going to be recovered and perpared for the shot. My first shot took this elk cleanly at 60yds. It took the remainder of the day for me to skin, quarter and pack this beautiful animal back to the trailhead and my waiting truck. This me friends is exhausting work but so worth it!
I am deeply sorry for not making a better shot on the cat but feel as though I put considerable effort in following up. I hate not recovering any game that I shoot at.
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I was hunting with my 54cal Lyman Trade Rifle. My load was 90grns Goex FFG and a 300grn precision rifle all lead bullet. Shot was right at 60yards.
This elk came as an unsuspected surprise to me. I had been hunting the afternoon before and had an opprotunity at a rather large mountain lion that had stalked up on a cow and calf that were feeding out infront of me. I shot the cat but the hit was not solid and I trailed sparse blood till almost dark.
I returned the next morning to start up the track again. I went to the spot where I marked the last small speck of blood to resume the trail. I searched and searched in ever widening circles but came up with no further blood to follow.
At about 10am I heard the sounds of heavy foot falls coming up a small draw off to my right. I eased up to a game trail and sat quiet. I watched as a line of cows and calfs eased up hill. The last elk in line was this spike. I decided that the lion was not going to be recovered and perpared for the shot. My first shot took this elk cleanly at 60yds. It took the remainder of the day for me to skin, quarter and pack this beautiful animal back to the trailhead and my waiting truck. This me friends is exhausting work but so worth it!
I am deeply sorry for not making a better shot on the cat but feel as though I put considerable effort in following up. I hate not recovering any game that I shoot at.