I'm back! Was planning to go with my youngest but he is starting a new business, and some work came up that we thought he couldn’t turn down. Very disappointed but had the choice of go by myself or not at all since my only other hunting buddy capable of running around the mountains was out of town.


Campsite from archery season was taken but this worked out better.


Pour over coffee and oatmeal for breakfast.


The day started out crisp, nice and clear.


2 hours later looked like this! Snowed for about 2 hours then stopped and the sun eventually came out.


Hot lunch on the mountain.


Colt 22 pistol for grouse and 300 win mag for Elk. Unfortunately, no grouse were harmed.


Snow melted. Heard a few sticks break and eased along a game trial and bumped a bull in his bed but he hesitated just a few seconds too long! Made a poor decision and shot him even though I was a mile from the trailhead and by myself. Ran and heard him crash but waited 30 minutes. Didn't go far but took a while to find him. Only elk I saw the whole trip.


And of course, it started raining as soon as I found him, big bodied 4x4! Got him quartered and hung in tree and took the first load out. Dropped into the 30's that night so wasn't worried about the meat. Reached tent exhausted about midnight, slept in and spent next day packing the rest of him out. Didn't take the cape, too heavy, just the head. 5 trips. Even though the trailhead was downhill from where I shot the bull, not going to lie, it sucked!

On a whim fly fished a creek along a forest service road on the way out.


Caught some Brookies! On a Prince Nymph. Thank you Wyoming! and Wytex for helpful advice.


Long road home.

JT's in Childress! Prefer Herds but a close second.

Heck yeah! That's getting it done. Congratulations on all, including the burger!

That is awesome. Wow what a great adventure. I have a new admiration for you.

Just WOW!

Great pictures and story.

Man I didn’t know you were going back solo!!! Congratulations on a hell of a pack out. You ain’t a man until you solo packed out a bull!!!


Well done!!

Well done. A lifetime memory right there.

heck of job. congrats on a successful hunt.

Beautiful wood on that rifle as well.

Great job, sorry we weren't available to help out.

Love seeing that success on elk hunts, you did good !!

I wondered if you were ready for the cold and snow but looks like you were.

Thanks for the kind words! After about the 3rd trip I was thinking road hunting would be the way to go from now on. ;-)

Congratulations! Those pack outs are exhausting especially when you’re not close to a trailhead.
I learned to bone them out where they drop. It cuts down on the number of trips you need to make up and down the mountain.

Thanks!

Yeah, I've tried it both ways but find it's easier for me to deal with when its bone in. Seems to carry better and tough to keep it as clean. Figure the bones are 8 or 9 pounds each. If farther from the trailhead probably would have had to.

I agree on the bone in for packing , just take off the lower leg and hoof if needed.
We do gutless on elk now every time. The leg bones help with carry if not using a pack also.
Trying to pick up a boned out rear quarter is not easy for me, it wants to go everywhere but in a pack, lol.

Congrats on a great story. I bet you are a wore out pup. I'm not sure I am that mad at 'em..... LOL

Way to go, great elk and a lot of work!! Well worth it, big congrats

Congrats. Seeing that Wyoming sign brings back memories. Hunts with my father and brother and others with my youngest. Fathers gone, brothers old and son is off working. I don't know if I could solo that pack out at my age. Big grats to you for getting it done. I have points in WY for elk and deer. Maybe next year.

I can't determine if I am more impressed or just envious - thank you.

Hunting alone, it took me 3 trips up and down hills to get a bull out. Don’t want to do that again.

Looks like a great time

Beautiful rifle, congratulations on a great trip and hunt!

man, that looks like an awesome experience! Congrats!!

What a great story. Thanks for sharing.

Great job! You earned those onion rings for sure

Thanks for the pics and amazing report.

I AM IMPRESSED!!!!!!