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Hunt of a Lifetime!!!

dukhnt

By dukhnt
in Deer Hunting-Bear-Elk-Moose

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dukhnt Experienced

dukhnt

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Started out last friday, headed to grygla, mn for the cow elk hunt my dad and I were lucky enough to draw one of the six tags for. Did a little scouting before the mandatory hunter orientation and found some tracks and beds. Things were looking good. Went to the orientation and was extremely excited for the next days hunt.

Woke up to snow, snow, and more snow. I think we got 9 inches that day. Sat by a corn food plot the morning and evening. During the day we drove around looking for any sign of the elk. None were found.

Sunday morning found us at the food plot again. Nothing doing. Drove around and found an elk trail. Met up with the other two hunters and decided a stalk was in order. My dad posted by an open field and the other two hunters and I started walking. We must have followed the tracks a couple miles, through thick woods. The tracks were now on a fire break. We decided to post one guy on it. I volunteered and the other two continued. They told me they tracked for another 200 yards and got up 3 bulls about 100 yards away. We all only had cow tags. But I was bummed I didn't get to see those bulls.

Monday my dad and I followed some tracks while the other 2 guys followed some others. Ours resulted in nothing, while the other guys found the herd. They got some long shots off at a cow, but didn't hit it. Needless to say the herd ran out of the hunt zone when they jumped them.

Tuesday, another snow storm. Eight more inches piled up and there were no signs of the herd heading back into the hunt zone. Four days into the hunt and my dad and I have yet to see an elk. We were getting bummed. And the snow and cold wasn't helping matters.

Wednesday morning found us back at the corn field with nothing doing. Met up with another one of the hunters and he said the herd is back in the hunt area. So the three of us found the other hunter to figure out a plan. We decided to post my dad on the north end of the woods that the herd went in and the three of us would follow the tracks to see if we could find them. We followed for over a mile through a foot and a half of snow. Then things started to happen. There was an opening in front of me and this huge brown animal stood up. I put the gun up, cross hairs on it. But couldn't see the head. Finally it moved and I saw the biggest antlers in my life. He was 60 yards broadside but no bull tag. It was one of the most amazing things I have seen while hunting. I was getting pumped up now. We waited there a few minutes to see if any other elk would show themselves. Nothing happened. Started walking again and the guy to my left fired a shot. We all got together after the shot. He had a small window to fire and said the calf hunched up when he shot. We decided to give the elk a few minutes to settle down before we continued on. The guy that shot went over to folllow the tracks of the one he shot at to look for blood. We continued on and another elk popped up in front of me. But was gone before I could get the gun up. Walked a few more yards and there ahead of me and slightly to the left of me were two more elk. The closest being 40 yards and broadside!! Gun up, safety off. Fired the first shot, she started walking away from me. Fired the second shot, she turned around and started walking to me!! Put the cross hairs on her chest and fired the third shot. She fell right in her tracks. I couldn't believe it. I had just shot an elk in Minnesota. My first shot actually went through both lungs, perfect. She was dead and just didn't know it yet.

I then had to contact the DNR guy in charge of the hunt. Told him where it was and he said if I get permission from the farmer he can drive his atv to where we have to go into the woods. This elk was close to a mile and half from any road. Contacted the farmer and was giving permission. This saved alot of work. Met the DNR guy and around 2. We quartered out the elk and had to bring it a quarter mile out to the ATV. As we got the last of the elk out of the woods, the sun was setting. What a perfect day and an amazing hunt to share with my dad. The elk was estimated to weight 450 to 500 pounds. As you can see from the photos, it was cold. When I got back to the truck after I shot it, the thermometer said 17 below zero.

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Gissert Veteran

Gissert

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Nice going! As you found out, A Minnesota elk hunt is no gimme. That flat terrain really makes it a challenge to catch up with them.

Where about did you shoot it? East or West of CR 54?

Enjoy that meat, and join the RMEF!

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CornfedHogs Rookie

CornfedHogs

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Josh,

It didn't take me long to find the herd the next day. After we chased them back to the West of 54 I had a feeling they would be in the corn and CRP the next day. As I walked around the hay bails on Norris's road I lifted my binocs to scan the CRP. It was still dark and 20 mins before shooting time but I could make out elk grazing on Norris's land just to the north of the tree line. I stalked up to the edge the corn to where you had been sitting the first couple days. At that point I still needed to get closer to the herd to get a better shot. I slowly moved through the edge of the woods another 50 yards. As I made my way to the edge of the field the elk alarm went out. That high pitched cow noise that lets the other elk know something isn't right. As I came to the edge, the elk ran about 25 yards and stopped. I was lucky enough to have a single cow standing a the edge of the herd in the field. I cranked up the scope to 12X and held a little high. I touched off a single round and the elk scattered across the field. The cow ran about 100 yards in dropped in the middle of the field. I got her in the lungs. The blood trail made for easy tracking. She was an adult cow weighing over 500 pounds. The shot was 223 yards.

As I was writing this Carl called, the other elk hunter in the group. He just got a cow off of Conrads CRP this morning. All the MN Elk hunters filled their tags in 2007, 6 for 6.

Give me a call anytime you are west to the cities Josh. We'll go out for a cold one sometime.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cc26b3127cceb1251db0d9cf00000026100RatmjZw3Yi

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dukhnt Experienced

dukhnt

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Gissert - I shot mine east of 54, inbetween 54 and the next gravel road to the east. And about a quarter mile into the woods from Paul's land.

Powerstroke - I had a huge 10 pointer 50 yards away during the buck hunt, but wouldn't come any closer. Saw that you got some though. Nice work.

Cornfedhogs - My dad and I were really hoping you guys would get your elk. It was great to meet you and your dad. Would be nice to get together for another cold one. If I am ever out that way I will give you a call. Congrats. It sure is a big job butchering it up.

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