USA: Unbelievable success x4 an epic hunting season

Stetsonham

AH veteran
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
179
Reaction score
436
Location
Colorado
Media
18
Hunting reports
Africa
1
USA/Canada
2
Member of
SCI
Hunted
United States, South Africa
Well, folks, I thought I’d write up just one of these hunts. But I couldn’t help myself this season was simply too unreal not to share the whole story. What a fall it’s been, with unforgettable adventures, jaw-dropping success, and family memories I’ll cherish forever. So let’s dive in.

The Hunt of a Decade: Colorado Elk
The year started with a bang when my brother drew a coveted Colorado elk tag – one that took him ten years to get. Naturally, we didn’t take it lightly. We scouted, packed up the truck, and settled in for eleven intense days of hunting. The first few days we camped out in the truck, roughing it.
IMG_7084.jpeg
Then, we upgraded to a wall tent to really dig in for the long haul. Close encounter after close encounter, we saw over 100 bulls
IMG_7092.jpeg
but it was on day 12 that the stars aligned. I called in a bull to 65 yards, and my brother made a perfect shot, ending his ten-year wait with a stunning 6x6 bull, grossing around 335.
IMG_2126.jpeg
My wife even tagged along for a few days, and our dad watched from 200 yards away, glassing from the rocks. Seeing my brother take that shot after all these years was something special.
IMG_7183.png

IMG_7218.jpeg


The Exclusive Utah Adventure
Next up, I got a once-in-a-lifetime invite to hunt on a private ranch in Utah – 26,000 acres all to ourselves. Let me tell you, this place was next-level. Four days to hunt, low fence, in peak rut. Bulls everywhere, and big ones.
IMG_7267.jpeg
We stayed in a cabin so exclusive even George Bush Jr. had been there four times. Seriously! It all came down to the wire ten minutes left on day four, and my friend took the shot. An incredible bull, netting right around 363. I’ll probably never hunt a place like that again, but I’m glad I got to be part of it.
IMG_3176.jpeg

Colorado Rifle Season with My Better Half
Just when I thought things couldn’t get better, it was time for third rifle season in Colorado. This time, my wife had a buck tag, and I had an elk tag. We spent the first couple of days tracking a wily buck who kept slipping away,
IMG_7537.png
but on day three, we spotted a unique, tall buck. It was go time. With my brother glassing from a distance, my wife and I snuck in for the shot.
At 200 yards, she made a perfect heart shot (off sticks) and took down her best buck yet – a 9x6 mule deer, her biggest and most unique trophy.
IMG_7564.jpeg

IMG_7561.jpeg

To top it all off, earlier that morning, I bagged a 5x5 to fill the freezer.
IMG_7409.jpeg
It was one for the books, and she’s thrilled to hang that buck on the wall.


Now, here I am with a freezer packed to the brim and a good 50 pounds of meat sticks to hand out to friends and family. This fall has been nothing short of magical, and some days I have to pinch myself it doesn’t get better than this. Next up? A March hunt with Jaco NWKE and the whole family, where I’ll be chasing a big eland. I can hardly wait.

Thanks for sharing in my unbelievable fall. Here’s to the memories, the meat in the freezer, and the family who makes it all worth it. Cheers!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7561.jpeg
    IMG_7561.jpeg
    2.2 MB · Views: 12
Excellent. I have 18 or so Colorado elk points that i need to use at some point in the next 1-3 years.
 
I’m open to any good unit that won’t be overrun with people. Would like a quality area with good access. I know the NW trophy units (1, 2, 10, 201) were hit hard with winter kill in 2022-23.
 
Great for you!!!

I'm trying to get it done in Wyoming, but it will be several years before I build up enough PP's to get drawn for elk again.

We had an epic year in Wyoming in 2015 when my son was a senior in high school.
3 pronghorn, several grouse, several ducks, and many post-spawn brown trout on streamers.

The most successful trip I've ever been on.

Everything was DIY!
 
Last edited:
Congratulations on your success. You are going to live hunting with Jaco and NKWE next spring. I shot a big eland bull with them this past summer after a long tracking hunt
 
Congratulations! Seems like it was a year you will never forget. Good luck on your Eland hunt.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
57,769
Messages
1,239,632
Members
101,997
Latest member
gordongrant437
 

 

 

Latest profile posts

406berg wrote on Elkeater's profile.
Say , I am heading with sensational safaris in march, pretty pumped up ,say who did you use for shipping and such ? Average cost - i think im mainly going tue euro mount short of a kudu and ill also take the tanned hides back ,thank you .
Grz63 wrote on MontanaPat's profile.
hello
I am planning a trip next Sept in MT. May I ask you to tell me if I have forgotten something essential and if something is not worthy. Thank you
Philippe

Billings: little big horn battle field
MT Grizzly encounter
Rockies Museum
Great falls : CM russel museum, Lewis Clark Helena center
horseback riding
Garnet ghost town , Buffalo Range
road to the sun , apgar , hiking in Glacier NP
Anaconda
Bullet Safaris wrote on River Valley's profile.
Hi - welcome to AH!
cheers,
Nathan Askew
 
Top