Filled my Wyoming General elk tag!

[barnesuser28]

Just got back from Wyoming, with a set of antlers and 180 lbs of meat! We got to our hunting spot on Saturday evening and hunted Sunday and Monday for my Dad's cow tag (wasnt successful). We hunted tuesday-friday and filled my tag on friday.

There was so much going on and fighting with the weather that I forgot when everything happened but, I do remember seeing a 330" 6x7 1250 yards away on thursday... Man I wished we had the 338 Lapua all tuned up with the 300 grain OTM for that shot.

I did miss a small 4x4 bull at 450 yards on wednesday, because I decided to use the reticle to hold off 5.5 MOA, but my scope was set to 12x not 24x, so I missed by a good 5.5 MOA LOL

On friday we headed to a ridge 1 1/2 miles from the truck where we've been seeing elk almost everyday. We just got there and I was trying to find a place to set up for the 300-350 yard shot that would have been presented when a decent 5x5 stepped out right below us. I ranged him at 245 yards. I grinned wide because I knew this bull was in trouble. I pulled down the bipod legs on my 284 win that had a mag full of 168 grain Barnes LRX bullets loaded to 2755 fps. I DIALED 1 MOA up and settled the cross hairs right on the bull's shoulder and let her rip. The bull's shoulder crumpled and he started stumbling away from us. I shot again trying to pin him between the shoulders but must have missed. He ran into some small trees and out of site. We gave him 20 minutes and looked for blood where he was standing... nothing. I was sick to my stomach. We got 8" of snow the night before so we followed the bulls tracks, he only went 40 yards and we found him piled up. I think I said "Thank you God" about 10 times before I got my hands on him.

The bullet went right in the middle of his shoulder and exited in the same spot on the off side with about a 3/4" exit. The bullet took out the artery right above the heart and below the lungs, the pulmonary I believe its called.

It was a 2 mile hike back to the truck, then another 4 mile round trip hike for the second load. I am very happy with this bull and i think it is a good first bull.

Impact velocity was 2463 fps, and impact energy was 2264 ft lbs.

Here are the pictures.

 

[Doublezranch]

Great job little man!! What a season you've had. The perfect trifecta. Mullie buck, Antelope buck, and a Bull elk. I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to sit next to you for 2 of the three.

 

[GRIP N PULL]

Boy Riley, you sure are stacking them up. Congratulations on a very nice bull elk! Hope he is good eating. Better make you a ring or something with the ivories. That will make the memory last forever. Keep it up.

Brandon

 

[Derek M.]

Great Job! I sure wish I lived out west. Need to make that happen!

 

[barnesuser28]

Boy Riley, you sure are stacking them up. Congratulations on a very nice bull elk! Hope he is good eating. Better make you a ring or something with the ivories. That will make the memory last forever. Keep it up.

Brandon

Thanks Jayson, Brandon, and Derek, it is a hunt I will remember for a looong time.


About the ivories... We forgot them, we got back to the truck after the second load and were a couple miles out and my little brother reminded us of them.... Good timing. We werent going to hike all the way back to grab them, so thats that. I do have the ivories from my cow i got last year though. All well.

 

[bigngreen]

Way to go Riley, elk will give you a scare but they don't run well when the oil pressure drops gun)

 

[GRIP N PULL]

Thanks Jayson, Brandon, and Derek, it is a hunt I will remember for a looong time.


About the ivories... We forgot them, we got back to the truck after the second load and were a couple miles out and my little brother reminded us of them.... Good timing. We werent going to hike all the way back to grab them, so thats that. I do have the ivories from my cow i got last year though. All well.

Bummer. Life goes on though. Not worth it to go back after them after that many miles. Good job bud!

Brandon

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Way to go Riley! You're not the only one to forget a set of ivorys

 

[SBruce]

Congratulation Riley!
Thanks for sharing the story.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Riley great hunt, on another note, its my personal opinion that you should consider writing up these stories for some out door magazines. I think you have a great mind for writing, I am constantly amazed at what I read from you. I am of course only comparing you to how I was a 15 years old.

Jon

 

[royinidaho]

Riley, U DA MAN!!!

I understand about the 5 MOA miss thing. That's why, on my carry gun, the reticle is in the FFP. I can still see that trophy 4X4 and where every shot impacted, just over his back, cus I thought I was on 9X and was on 3X. I can't seem to grasp all variables when antlers are in view. But, hey, that's what keeps me goin'.

 

[wyomingblizzard]

Congratulations Riley! I am very glad your hunt went better than last year. Sorry we never got togather this year. If you draw next year I will make sure we get togather. Hunts like this only last a few days but the memorys last alife time. The lost ivories just add to them.

 

[varmintH8R]

Riley! Awesome. I'm crazy jealous. That is an awesome first bull and a great story. That 284 is getting some serious use.

 

[D.Camilleri]

Great job Riley! Where about were you hunting? I too have forgotten some ivories including my bull from last year.