So who's been hunting, or is about to head West?

[moparguy]

Well the old clock is ticking down on the annual trip to Montrose, Co. We had a good hunt last fall on public ground.



I lucked out with a nice 6x6 using the old Thompson Contender 35 Remington.



With 6 hunters, we brought home 3 elk, and one muley. Had a great time, some snow and 0 problems.



Looking forward to this year's trip. We leave in a little over three weeks on October 13th.



Anyone else going, have stories to tell?



Good luck, Ronnie

 

[TPCDrafting]

I just got home late last night. Brought home a small buck muley with the use of my bow and my horse. Had a great time.

 

[TomGolden]

I hunted Elk out of Montrose about 20 years ago. My dad and I are heading out to Vernal, Utah, which is way up in the north-eastern portion of the state, for an October 4th opening day.



Neither of us has killed anything in too many years

 

[TPCDrafting]

Here's the little guy, (3x3) we just got the pics back today. It's my first with a bow, so I was pretty excited. The lil' woman thought I was the MAN!



#ad






Oh, and we used the CTD to pull the horses up to the hills again. It's nice to have turn key reliability.

 

[moparguy]

NICE

Looks like a great hunt. I'd love to pull horses out, but everyone I've talked to says our flat country horses just can't cut it in big mountains.



A neighbor worked all summer a couple of years ago getting his big quarter horse ready to carry to Colorado, pulled logs, miles of fast riding every day, said he'd rent next time. By the time he (the horse had acclimated), it was time to go home.



Perhaps someday.



Nice deer.



RJR

 

[CPG]

TPCDrafting



Don't knock that "little guy", its a great buck for anyone, especially

with a bow. Great looking country.



CPGOo.

 

[WyoJim]

I hunted Colorado several times when I still lived in Penna.

Altitude did not seem to be a problem untill we went above 9000 feet.



When I lived in Montana I bought several Missouri Fox Trotters and several Tennessee Walkers and hauled them home from Missouri. We used them in the mountains of Montana (Lee Metcalf Wilderness) and they never had any problems right from the get go. Of course Colorado has lots of hunting areas at 11000 feet, where as Montana is not that tall.



All my horses are 20 years old now, but I wouldn't be afraid to hunt them in Colorado.

 

[TPCDrafting]

Mo Fox Trotters, I love'em, that's what I ride. People post on here on which ATV to buy. There is no better way to scoot through the woods.

Jim, I didn't know that's what you had??? We need to hook up for a ride!!!



You know, you don't need to go back to MO for trotters next time. Or for walkers either. Other than MO/Tenn. , NW Wyoming has the largest conglomerate of Fox Trotter breaders in the country. I bought mine up in Lovell, we'll be heading back to get one for my wife when her little Paso wears out, which doesn't seem all that soon.

 

[WyoJim]

Tim... . I still have 1 Fox Trotter and ! Tennessee Walker left. They are just pets now. I haven't been on a horse in 4 years. My wife was diagnosed with Osteo Arthritis in her shoulders and I could just picture her coming off and landing on a shoulder. So since I won't let her ride I don't either.



My foxtrotter had grass foundered in Missouri before I bought him, but he was a beautiful horse and gave me 10 good years. Now he has foundered again, 2 years ago and has a hard time of it. He needs put down but I just can't do it. He is in good spirits and he is my buddy. As long as he stays that way, a little bute once in a while and he will keep on living.

 

[sandbrew]

I hunted everyday of muzzleloader season and passed on 2 5x5 bulls becuase I was after this monster. Lots of elk, lots of grasss, lots of water and lots of antler growth this year. This guy is still out there. Good luck to all. Sandbrew

 

[snowracer69]

:--) :--)



Oo. Oo. Oo.



That's all I've got to say about that picture!!!



He looks to be 390+?



Went elk hunting near Flagstaff, AZ last weekend with my Grandfather and a couple of his friends. Was within shooting distance of 2 bulls and numerous cows/calfs, but nothing big enough for Grandpa at the time. He was holding out till Monday for the big one, but after that it was a meat hunt.



Think I'll be putting in for the same area next year. Easy, easy country to hunt, archery only, and seemed to be quite a few elk running around.



7 deer in 6 years for me with a bow, but no elk (have never shot at one). Maybe next year will be my lucky year (haven't hunted big game in 3 years now... missing it seriously).



Oh, did any of you guys ever read about the 428 bull killed in Nevada 3 years ago? Jerry McKoehn, the guy who shot it, lived 1 mile from me the way the crow flies. I believe it's the largest typical ever and 3rd non-typical to come out of Nevada. Sadly, Jerry went missing a little over a year ago and has yet to be found. Foul-play is suspected, but the fuggin' local ****-firs screwed up the pickup when it was found and so the FBI couldn't pull any good info out of it (what we were told at least). There is still a $10k reward out if anyone has info. Jerry was a great man who loved nothing more then hunting and the outdoors. I'll have my Mom scan a pic of the horns from his elk on the pack horse... it's unbelievable!



Josh

 

[moparguy]

WyoJim, and TPC, that's encouraging info about your horses. I'll have to question the neighbor a bit more about the location and altitude he used his horse.



SandbrewOo. Oo. Oo. NICE

 

[sandbrew]

Snowracer, Good eye. I had him guesstimated at 380 a friend of mine who is a P&Y and B&C scorer says I might be a little low. I saw him a day after the season ended less than a mile from where I was hunting.



My tag is done but I have buddy with an archery tag in this unit good until 9/28 and another buddy with rifle tag that starts in 2 weeks.



Here's another angle.



Enjoy



Sandbrew

 

[snowracer69]

That view is a lot easier to judge by...



look's like the #4's are about 23-24"? #3's look a little small for a 400 bull, as does the girth, but hard to tell at a distance. Also can't tell width, which although isn't much, still plays a large part.



If I remember correctly, Jerry's bull had 24" #4's and like 18" #3's. Girth at the base was about 20" if I remember correctly... that number may be wrong, but it's stuck in my head for some reason. And at the top before the last split girth was something like 9. 5". All I know is that when he packed the horns about 30 yards away from me and held them in the air over his head, it was enough to make you just about fall over... . just unreal how HUGE something like that really is up close. I will have to go visit his Mom and Dad when I get home and see his collection again (trophy hunter with 6 +30" mule deer all with a bow and then this huge elk, which was, unfortunately, with a rifle).



Josh

 

[LRotter]

That is one monster elk. I'm probably going to Colorado to hunt elk next year. Was going to go last year but decided to buy my Cummins instead. Money was a little tight. A buddy of mine is out there right now for the archery season. I think he's around the Gunnison area. If he comes back with something like that, I'll crap my pants.



As for me, I'm after this little forkie whitetail I've been seeing. Actually, for me, it's either does or big bucks with the old bow and arrow.

 

[mcoleman]

LRotter, Where is Loosecreek located at in MO? We have Foxtrotters and a couple of mules out of registered Foxtrotter mares. Talk about endurance. I personally ride my 16HH Bay Foxtrotter gaited mule more than our horses. I'll be taking her out this weekend to do a little turkey scouting in my area of the Mark Twain forest. She can see and hear the turkeys moving through the woods much quicker than I can. I sold my atv because I enjoy the equines more. Ever see an atv jump a 4 foot fence without knocking it down? Mules can.

 

[sandbrew]

Snowracer,



I'd love to see some pics of your buddies bull and your dads 30" muley. I love big muleys.



Here's what I come up with using some of your #s and what I think he mass might be based on some sheds I have.



Left Right

Main beam 52 52

G1 16 16

G2 16 16

G3 18 18

G4 22 22

G5 18 18

sub total 142 142



H1 9 9

H2 9 9

H3 8. 5 8. 5

H4 8 8

sub total 34. 5 34. 5





Spread credit 40



Gross score 393





If I was a guessing score I would use a lower # and a 20 pt range. I think saying that bull is 350-370 would be a safe bet. Mass is the hardest thing to gauge from a distance or in a picture. I'm lucky and spent nearly 365 days a year looking for elk since I live in and work near GREAT elk areas. I have video and more digital pics of this BIG guy and have spent hours playing guess the score. I



have seen this bull live twice. Once when I took these pics and once from 25 feet while he was still in velvet. I watched him graze on a raspberry patch and was so mesmerized I couldn't get a picture.



I've seen many of the modern record trophy mounts and have studied older record book mounts. This guy stackes up as a whopper next to most of them.



Sandbrew



PS one more shot

 

[LRotter]

Loose Creek is about 15 miles east of Jefferson City. Little town with about 300 people. Pretty nice place. My uncle actually has raises some foxtrotters and I know he's sold some. I hear good things about them all the time. I know their a lot more versatile than ATVs.



I'm trying to think where Oldfield is. I'm sure I know where it's at since I've traveled to every county in the state many times. My mind is drawing a blank now though.

 

[mcoleman]

It's close to Chadwick or about 15 miles east of Ozark out in the boonies. My house is actually about 20 miles from Ozark in the middle of the National Forest. I wouldn't have it any other way. I also have a big Mustang that doesn't ride that well but has a neat personality. He is fun to pull up a chair and just watch his antics. We are in the market for a good Foxtrotter mare to raise some more Mules out of. I'm down to 3 at the moment and the wife wants to keep a good registered Foxtrotter around for her to ride and have an occasional foal.

 

[LRotter]

I'm trying to think if my uncle has any mares for sale. I know he had one for sale a while back but I don't know if he sold it or decided to keep it. I might check with him if you're interested. Myself, I don't think horses like me but I've never really been around 'em that much. I helped break one once but I think it broke me more than anything.



Man, you're way down in God's country. I tend to avoid that area like the plague. They talk funny down there and think I'm strange.



Gotta love the hunting season. My calendar revolves around turkey hunting and deer hunting. They should be state holidays.