I took my 3 younger sons on their first elk hunt this year. We got 2 bulls. We started out for a high country back pack trip but were knocked off the mountain near Rabbit Ears by a big snowstorm. We ended up hunting at 6000-7500 feet west of Craig, Co. I shot my usual, the first legal bull I could see, but one of my sons shot a very good 6x6. We all had a big time. We climbed Cross Mountain two times and walked miles of hills and ravines. We found a few elk on the mountain but found the big one at 6200 feet in a sage brush filled ravine on public land. Charles knocked him down with a spine shot at 30 yards and then gave him a finishing shot on the ground. He was using my 8mm Rem Mag. Then the work began. We got the truck out there and got both elk dressed and loaded. We spent the rest of the week hunting for 2 more bulls for John and Reed but could not come up with any. Now they have something to go back for next time.

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What tibbee, you didn't even stop and say hello?!?!?!?

Awesome job. Your son will be forever spoiled. Trying for a bigger bull will be pretty tough. Cross mtn. is a pretty good place.

RJ

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Congrats tibbee, and both bulls are very nice. 30 yards, in the sagebrush?!! You guys must be stealthy!

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Yes, Charles will have to look a long time to find another that good. Before we went into the brush the boys asked me if I was going to shoot the big one and they would shoot the smaller ones( before we had seen the elk). I said "no, Just shoot the first one that you can". They were all set to let old dad have the big one. They will understand later that it means more to dad for the sons to get one than for dad to get one.
RJ, next time I am going out I'll let you know. I did not get on the computer while i was there and forgot to send a note ahead on Beartooth. I saw a lot of PD and ground squirrels that needed thinning out. That was one of my favorite pastimes when I lived there. It would be nice to spend a day doing that again. Winter rabbit shooting on the flats below Cross Mountain was always a lot of fun too. My buddy up there drew unit 10 this year and he got a huge, heavy 6x7 bull. I have a few more years before I can draw the trophy area.

My youngest son, Reed, got his first wild hog.
My nephew, Cody, got his first deer.
The dads are sure happy for them.

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Congratulations to all of you. Yes the Western Slope is a great place to hunt elk and deer. Got a nice 6x6 out of Grand Junction some years back.

Hope my grandson does as well in Texas on our deer/hog/turkey/duck hunt next week with TPV, MikeG and their young fellers.

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"Firearms only have two enemies - rust and politicans" author unknown

Wow! A lot of first this year. I think it has been a magic season for many. Congrats all around.

Gongrats to all. Give them kids a big pat on the back for me.

BigSky

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They got a lot of pats on the back. I heard my nephew's yelling from 1/4 mile away when he got the buck. Boy, was he excited!