"Shoot the first legal bull" - a solo public land Alberta elk hunt

[DirtShooter]

Originally Posted by J.B.

Sounds like pretty standard kill using monos. They have a smaller permanent wound than lead bullets, so the animal takes longer to die.
Using a creedmoor with manageable recoil he can place more shots on target, quicker.
If the bull took 3 shots from a 7mm rem it’s because elk are tough right?

CONGRATS on a great bull dirtshooter!

Thanks!

I actually saw the ripple in his body with the first hit, a benefit of a smaller caliber rifle being able to spot shots. But yes Barnes made small Barnes wound channels and he wasn't going down so I shot till he was going down. There was no way I was letting him take off lol

[TheIceTitan]

Originally Posted by J.B.

Sounds like pretty standard kill using monos. They have a smaller permanent wound than lead bullets, so the animal takes longer to die.
Using a creedmoor with manageable recoil he can place more shots on target, quicker.
If the bull took 3 shots from a 7mm rem it’s because elk are tough right?

CONGRATS on a great bull dirtshooter!

I don't disagree about the creedmoor. Given that he mentioned using three rounds, I thought it might re-ignite the eternal debate on whether 6.5 is suitable for larger game yadda yadda yadda...

[J.B.]

Originally Posted by TheIceTitan

I don't disagree about the creedmoor. Given that he mentioned using three rounds, I thought it might re-ignite the eternal debate on whether 6.5 is suitable for larger game yadda yadda yadda...

Oh I hear you lol! 6.5 is too small, but 7mm is a great elk round. Yeah that .02 of an inch sure changes things

Now ive really stirred the pot…

[DirtShooter]

Honestly after this lot of factory vortx 127gr ammo gets shot I'll be looking into other bullets to reload with. But I had lots of factory ammo that I practiced with so I went with what was shooting well. Maybe if I let him just stand and walk after the first shot he'd have fallen over but no sense risking it. I always mention the 223 thread on rokslide because there's tons of data there on different bullets on many species and pictures of results

[J.B.]

Originally Posted by DirtShooter

Honestly after this lot of factory vortx 127gr ammo gets shot I'll be looking into other bullets to reload with. But I had lots of factory ammo that I practiced with so I went with what was shooting well. Maybe if I let him just stand and walk after the first shot he'd have fallen over but no sense risking it. I always mention the 223 thread on rokslide because there's tons of data there on different bullets on many species and pictures of results

100%. If you have the shots, keep shooting. Id rather trim a little meat than spend hours tracking in the bush. And as stated, you used what was shooting well with good knowledge of what to expect from that bullet.

And once you get used to spotting shots on game, it’s tough to knowingly step away from that.

The 223 thread is gold. Im not quite at 223 for elk mentally yet though haha.

[KazIce]

Incredible hunt and an awesome story! Thanks for sharing, it’s an inspiration to all of us.


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[Stinky Buffalo]

Fantastic story and pictures. Congratulations on your successful hunt, and surviving the pack-out! Well done!

[A207X2]

Superb job on the elk hunt! I loved the way you continued to dig deeper to come up with motivation to keep going.

Well done!

[goldscud]

Way to go. Such a fine animal and a great story to remember forever

[Ackleyman]

Yes sheer determination and literally a slug out to haul an Elk by yourself.
You know what your doing , any animal thats on its feet after first shot hit him again and dont waste anytime , if it takes a third so be it, do it..fast. ! Way to go. The picture of you haulin the rack out in that ravine is quite possibly one of the best hunting pictures ive seen.

[CBintheNorth]

Originally Posted by Ackleyman

Yes sheer determination and literally a slug out to haul an Elk by yourself.
You know what your doing , any animal thats on its feet after first shot hit him again and dont waste anytime , if it takes a third so be it, do it..fast. ! Way to go. The picture of you haulin the rack out in that ravine is quite possibly one of the best hunting pictures ive seen.

My sentiments exactly.
Congratulations!

[Bushrat]

Great story! Congrats on a beauty bull!

[DirtShooter]

Originally Posted by sns2

I tip my hat toward you and offer you nothing but the highest respect. Man, that’s hard work. The knife you are using is a beauty in my opinion too. Great job!

Originally Posted by KazIce

Incredible hunt and an awesome story! Thanks for sharing, it’s an inspiration to all of us.


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Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

Fantastic story and pictures. Congratulations on your successful hunt, and surviving the pack-out! Well done!

Originally Posted by A207X2

Superb job on the elk hunt! I loved the way you continued to dig deeper to come up with motivation to keep going.

Well done!

Originally Posted by goldscud

Way to go. Such a fine animal and a great story to remember forever

Originally Posted by Ackleyman

Yes sheer determination and literally a slug out to haul an Elk by yourself.
You know what your doing , any animal thats on its feet after first shot hit him again and dont waste anytime , if it takes a third so be it, do it..fast. ! Way to go. The picture of you haulin the rack out in that ravine is quite possibly one of the best hunting pictures ive seen.

Originally Posted by CBintheNorth

My sentiments exactly.
Congratulations!

Originally Posted by Bushrat

Great story! Congrats on a beauty bull!

Thanks everyone. I appreciate it a lot. I'm glad that knife in the log held my phone and got the shot in the first take. Part of me is already to do it again one day lol.

[weekender7]

Great bull and great read! You dang sure earned every bite of that one. Now about that wife that don't like mounts, I'll stop there....

[roper1]

Originally Posted by alpineguy

These are the stories I like to hear.......some skill, some luck and a whole lot of determination.
Congrats on a very nice bull!!
Thanks for posting.

I'll second this!!!

[JD848]

Dirt shooter I just read this thread,great write up pics and true stubborn hunter who gives up on nothing . Also what great bull.

Shows great integrity in your self confidence as a solo hunter and great character to depend on no one at anytime . I love it and wish more hunters are or were cut from the same cloth as you .

Those kinda hunts are what my heart loved to do, it's hard hunting yet so easy if the love and the love of pushing your body into saying nothing is impossible.

Sorry I went on bit much,but I meant every word .

You will look back years from now and laugh with pulling it off and the dangers travelling in terrible weather ,yet forward you pushed on.

Cheers and all the best in all your hunts
JD

[Dick284]

Quite the story….
Well done!

[JohninAB]

Congrats on an awesome bull elk! Great write up as well.

[DRhunter]

Yeah that is a great write up and pictures. This keeps a guy coming back to the site! What a trophy and one hunt you will remember for the rest of your life each time you see that beautiful elk on your wall.

Thanks for sharing your adventure and pictures!

DR


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[Cottus]

Good job man. Every time I chase an elk solo in the mountains I think "please God, don't let me get him." Works every time I've done a few packouts with entire whitetail deer plus camping gear, and an elk would be that times 4 or 5. Buddy, whoa. Good job.

[Jamie Black R/T]

You got er done with minimal gear....no excuses! Awesome.

Ill stick to a capstan winch and atv...but enjoy your thread no less!

[DirtShooter]

To be honest I really packed light, well as light as I could and what my budget allows.

EXO K3 4800 pack
Spyderco Southfork & Bow River
2 headlamps with replacement batteries (I left one hanging at the meat like a beacon so I could find my way before the end of the night
Siltarp
Blackovis undersized game bags (great for loose meat hah)
1st aid kit
2L of water and a contigo of coffee
35-40ft of paracord (next time gotta take more)
Garmin inreach hooked on bino harness
Trekking poles
20mAh battery charger
Food consisted of a salami cheddar bacon wrap, pepperoni and cheddar stick, protein shake powder, mix of peanuts, peanut m&ms and reeses cups (didn't take long to eat all that after the bull was down)

Outdoor Research Transcendent jacket (RIP)
Fjallraven pants
Black ovis merino hoodie
First lite Klamath hoodie
Crispi Thor II boots
Leather roper gloves (don't leave home without them)

[DirtShooter]

Guys I did it. I killed the mystical bulletproof elk lol. Maybe it was a match bullet.

I was cutting neck meat up tonight and found chunks of lead. Definitely not LRX bullet like I was shooting.

Someone definitely shot this bull before at some point. Since I put one in his neck I didn't look too close for damage.

[J.B.]

Originally Posted by DirtShooter

Guys I did it. I killed the mystical bulletproof elk lol. Maybe it was a match bullet.

I was cutting neck meat up tonight and found chunks of lead. Definitely not LRX bullet like I was shooting.

Someone definitely shot this bull before at some point. Since I put one in his neck I didn't look too close for damage.

No kidding!

Keep your bullets in the ribs guys, saves alot of heartache and rodeo!
All shots are an option if you have one in him already though.

[DirtShooter]

Shout out to Duncan Henry in Rimbey (DH custom meats and sausage)

I dropped the quarters off and some cubed vac packed meat and had maple breakfast sausages, cheddar pepperoni sticks and elk hotdogs made along with roasts and steaks.

Man we got a lot of hotdogs and they are delicious. Same with the breakfast sausages and snack sticks.

Mrs Dirtshooter has to learn to make hotdog buns from scratch now and the kids birthdays will be full of elkdogs

I'd recommend Duncan's butcher shop for sure.

[roper1]

Originally Posted by DirtShooter

Shout out to Duncan Henry in Rimbey (DH custom meats and sausage)

I dropped the quarters off and some cubed vac packed meat and had maple breakfast sausages, cheddar pepperoni sticks and elk hotdogs made along with roasts and steaks.

Man we got a lot of hotdogs and they are delicious. Same with the breakfast sausages and snack sticks.

Mrs Dirtshooter has to learn to make hotdog buns from scratch now and the kids birthdays will be full of elkdogs

I'd recommend Duncan's butcher shop for sure.

His Dad is one heck of a fine gunsmith as well!

[graybeard]

Excellent read, that is a story one would expect to read in a Hunting magazine.....well done...

Thanks for sharing.....