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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 4:28 pm Post subject: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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Our guided cow elk hunt started this morning in New Mexico. We spotted a couple of elk herds up on a ridgeline a 1000 yards away. The guide four-wheeled it up to a pasture near the top of the ridgeline (8500’). I set-up on the hood of the truck. We spotted a small herd about 350 yards away in a break in the trees on the next ridge over. One bull but I could not tell if the other two were cows because their heads were in the branches (we had seen more bulls than cows so far that morning). Even though I had a good shot on the body, I passed (the penalty is too steep if I shot a bull). Two more steps and I confirmed it was a cow but the shot opportunity was gone. There was another small clearing 400 yards away that was in the direction they were moving. Two cows moved into the clearing. As soon as the one broadside stepped out from behind a tree in the way, I sent the bullet down range aiming for a double lung shot. I heard the "thwack" of the bullet's impact, got the scope back on her and watched her take 5 steps up behind some more trees. My view was blocked but could see her shape fall. I was calm and steady during the shot but after I got the excitement shakes. Then it was down into valley and hike up to the top of the ridgeline to find her. Boy was she big, estimate 500+ lbs! As my lagging partner was catching up to us, we pointed out two more cows standing about 80 yards up in the next clearing. He shot one off-hand. His shot was probably more difficult than mine because our hearts were pumping and we were breathing heavy from the climb. When we field dressed my cow, I was surprised to see the entry about 6 inches behind the rib cage. She must have turned away just as I fired. However, the bullet went dead-center through the heart and was lodged in the ribcage on the far side. The Hunting Gods’ payback, the memory cards failed in both cameras so I have no pictures to show.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9253 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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good man.
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
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shrpshtrjoe Super Red Neck Member
Joined: Jan 26, 2005 Posts: 2965 Location: Maryland
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 4:41 pm Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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Thanks, Evis. The trusty .270 Win with Hornady 130gr GMX bullet did its job. Perfect expansion and 100% weight retention. I'll post some bullet pictures when I get home.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9253 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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great to hear that your load worked that well for you. 400 yrds is a good long shot and getting a projectile back is a bonus but sure shows that energy is getting down the further out you get.
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:25 pm Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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The bullet still had 1700 ft-lbs. It had penetrated a long way.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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DallanC Site Admin
Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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Good story! Before you go out next time, google up pictures of bulls, they are a slightly different color than cows (more cream colored than red). After you notice this, its easy to pick bulls out of a herd even if you cant see heads... although I do admit, always make 100% sure of your target before you fire
-DallanC
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Ominivision1 Super Member
Joined: Sep 20, 2010 Posts: 2984 Location: Iowa
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Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 12:32 am Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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Good shooting Slim.
_________________ Regards
Limitations are but boundaries created inside our minds. |
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Aloysius Super Member
Joined: Nov 03, 2009 Posts: 2440 Location: B., Belgium
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Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 1:57 am Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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SJ, just for your info: our St.-Hubertus is on the calendar on 3th of November. We here in the village celebrate him on the Sunday closest to that date, so that's today. When you want to drink your cow death (as this is the habit in our part of the world), you're welcome
And we were lucky yesterday. In the rain we could shoot a few rabbits, a hare and a fox, just hunting on footh with dogs and the shotgun. The rabbits go to the celebration and afterwards we'll drink that fox death...
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gelandangan Super Member
Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 6398 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 3:31 am Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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picture or it never happen.
_________________ A straight line is the shortest distance between two points.
A smile is the shortest distance between two people.
Do - Not try!
gelandangan.weebly.com/ |
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 6:29 am Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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gelandangan wrote: |
picture or it never happen. |
Our guide may have one on his phone. I don't know why the pictures taken with the tablet didn't come out - they are totally gray. Every picture prior and every one after are there. My xD card has lost formating before. I found a utility where I might be able to recover the images. I'll have to do it when I get home Maybe some pictures on Tuesday.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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Ominivision1 Super Member
Joined: Sep 20, 2010 Posts: 2984 Location: Iowa
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Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 10:44 am Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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If you can't recover the pics off the memory card, try "testdisk" software as its free open source and comes with photorec and runs on all platforms and both are small programs and work 99% in most cases. The included photorec is specificaly aimed at digital cameras and memory cards.
_________________ Regards
Limitations are but boundaries created inside our minds. |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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gelandangan Super Member
Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 6398 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:37 am Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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Dam, thats suck Slim..
I use a software called Advanced Photo Recovery for that kind of incidents with my clients.
But often its the card that got zapped and die.
_________________ A straight line is the shortest distance between two points.
A smile is the shortest distance between two people.
Do - Not try!
gelandangan.weebly.com/ |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 2:31 am Post subject: Re: The Hunting Gods Smiled on Me Today |
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There is quite a difference in colour with some of the elk.
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_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
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