This hunt started at 6:30 am Saturday on public land in NM. Unit 55A Colin Neblett WMA NE or Eagle Nest, NM. The outfitter we used hunts the private ranch that borders the WMA so access was a bit easier and we got to the elk ahead of the other people who had to start about 2-3 miles away at the WMA parking area.

We hiked up Sat and spotted a few bulls after giving them a cow call. We spotted a NICE 5x5 with long tines, heavy beams and just the whole package. I only had a neck shot at 240 yards and decided to pass. Not sure I should have, but I felt it was the right decision.

We ate lunch over looking a meadow of Aspen trees with snow covering the ground and full sunshine. Beautiful scenery. About 2:00 pm we decided to go over look canyon where we had seen Elk that morning but they were on a different private ranch than what we drove up. So we were hoping they migrated back up into the canyon we were going to check in case they were bedded down.

We came upon the canyon when my buddy slung his pack off and his gun. Laid down in the prone position and seen a nice 5x5 running up the hill. He presented no shot for a few minutes. After toying with my buddy he finally had an opening. 190 yards and he let his .308 eat. Hit the bull in the boiler room and the Bull hunkered up and ran about 15 yards, stopped, wobbled and crashed.

My buddy said "Get the %^&* over here...there is another one." So I slung my pack off laid the Browning 300 Win Mag over the backpack in the prone position. He was perfectly broadside. After hearing my guide say 268 yards, I let it eat. He took off like he was not hit.....then he disappeared. Thinking I missed him cause I didn't hear the impact of the shot, we took off hiking up the mountain.

We found his elk which we knew was dead, and the guide hollered at me and said mine was down DRT.

So we quartered them up and caped them out on the mountain. After calling for help, another guide/helper showed up with 3 packs. I hauled my head/cape and 2 backstraps (72 lbs.) my buddy hauled his head/cape and 2 backstraps (65 lbs.), our guide hauled 1 back quarter of mine and the helper carried out backpacks and rifles. We got off the mountain at 9:30 pm. It was a bit scary walking in the dark with bear tracks all over the place and carrying fresh meat.

We hoisted the other 6 quarters up in the trees and returned Sunday at 10:30 am to haul the remainder out of the woods. A back and front quarter a piece (100 lbs) and it took a while to get it out but we made it.

Was some of the hardest work I have ever done and I felt like I was going to die. No lie. But the hunt/ experience/relationships we built will last a lifetime. We had fun. He is not the biggest but for public land and my first elk I am VERY happy.

His Right brow tine is 19" long.




The black arrow is my backpack on the other side of the mountain where I laid down to shot. I am standing at the kill site.




Enjoy.

Good looking Bull Congrats

Awesome story and thanks for sharing!!!

Congrats to both of you!!!

Way cool. Thanks for the tale. Congrats.

Nice elk. Congrats.

Great story! I want to do a public elk hunt in the next few years so I like reading others stories.

Very nice!!!! Congrats...

Great looking bull, well done. That will make a great mount. Baker

Very nice, congrats to y'all.

Congrats, you've got a good looking bull

Sounds like a good hunt. Darn nice bull.

Nice heavy looking bull!

Very nice and thanks for sharing

way cool!

Thx guys. Getting a floor pedistal on this one. Ready to go back next year.

Very nice congrats.

Thx bassack

Nice bull. Congrat's!!!!!!

Wow..I didn't know Elk hunting was that easy..lol Congrads

Tex, me neither. lol

Thx guys.

nice!!! I love NM Bull Elks

congrats and thanks for sharing

thx guys

I guess I missed pictures on facebook so I got here and searched just to find pictures of this bull. Congrats Josh awesome animal and story.

Congrats. Great animal and