Elk hunting in Wyoming

[MWDG3]

Hey guys, just thought I'd share my recent experience in Wyoming. It was my first real hunt and first time that high in altitude, 8K feet. Though I didn't get a chance to shoot anything I did have a blast. It was definitely a learning experience and hopefully next year I can try again.

Anyway here are some links to a few photos...

Driving 30 miles thru ranches on dirt roads headed to camp
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg193/MWDG3/Wyoming%202010/D1roads.jpg

Camp http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg193/MWDG3/Wyoming%202010/D1camp2-1.jpg

Day 1 hunting public land. This photo taken just before I passed out the first time...lungs calibrated at 600ft.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg193/MWDG3/Wyoming%202010/D1alive.jpg

The rock in this pic is where we spotted the first elk on Sunday. We hiked just above it and around to the bottom to climb out on top, it was huge. Also spotted 3 day old black bear tracks in the snow. For the pic I'm standing at the first dead elk approximately 1 mile away from that rock.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg193/MWDG3/Wyoming%202010/D1boulder-1.jpg

Leaving the timber back to camp at end of day.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg193/MWDG3/Wyoming%202010/D1timberout.jpg

Horses going back to carry out 350-400lbs of meat x 3 elk.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg193/MWDG3/Wyoming%202010/D1horses.jpg

Hunting the Bell-Otte Ranch 15 miles north of camp.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg193/MWDG3/Wyoming%202010/D2BellOtte.jpg

We were dropped off 3 miles in from the ranch house. This is looking back down the valley..
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg193/MWDG3/Wyoming%202010/D2valley.jpg

We did see elk on the other side off this valley, but stayed together to hunt our ridge. Sighted elk were over a mile away(as the crow flies) moving away and up. If I get to go again half my gear will stay at home.

My rifle was a Vanguard 300wsm. This thing will put the first two on top of each other using Winchester 180 CT's. Of course after it warms up some, groups open quickly. I need to thank Tom Manners for putting this together in time for my hunt. The rifle I'd planned on using ended up cracked by MMI Trutec(see my other thread). I remember begging Tom for a TA probably 3 years ago. When the groupbuy popped up I had to have one and it's worth every dime.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg193/MWDG3/Wyoming%202010/DSCN1670-1.jpg

 

[BoiseRob]

Re: Elk hunting in Wyoming

Beautiful pics. What part of Wyoming? My family has an "outpost" near Pinedale...

 

[High Binder]

Re: Elk hunting in Wyoming

Did you have company 'drop camp' for you or did you provide the horses?

We had the same experience here in CO a few weeks ago. Glassed a lot of them but couldn't get to them on foot.

 

[MWDG3]

Re: Elk hunting in Wyoming

It's tough! A man I work with invited some of us up there. His family had the horses. We were east of Medicine Bow around 20 miles.

 

[Rhys]

Re: Elk hunting in Wyoming

I recognize where most of those pics are from. I'm just a hop skip and a jump over those mountains to the east.

 

[High Binder]

Re: Elk hunting in Wyoming

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MWDG3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's tough! A man I work with invited some of us up there. His family had the horses. We were east of Medicine Bow around 20 miles. </div></div>

Ah, just wondering. We're talking about using pack lamas next year or doing a drop camp with horses.

 

[Opticsspecialist]

nice! i'm going on my first public land elk hunt this year