When I don't draw out for Limited Entry Bull elk, I'll go buy a over the counter spike elk tag. I'm hunting with a Weatherby Vanguard Synthetic in 300 WBY. I have handloaded the 200 gr Accubond with a velocity of 3100 FPS.
The night before the opener I heard at least 30 bugles just above camp. So in the morning I decided to just hike above camp for about a mile. That morning I heard bugling from the East and my daughter and I head that way. I made it to the next ridge where the bugling was and some hunters half mile above me were shooting away into the ridge. There was probably 6 shots made. No idea if they eventually hit anything. I look to the south of me which was down the mountain and there is two other hunters 150 yards away.
I decide to just walk up to the edge of the ridge and take a look, I didn't have much hope with hunters all around me. 1 minute later this spike elk came walking 50 yards away from me heading up the mountain. The hunters below me didn't see him because they were a little aways from the ridge. The spike didn't see me and I put one shot a little above the heart. By the time I reloaded I heard the elk crash down into the trees. So he might of taken a couple of steps and dropped. I know it was just a spike and 50 yards away... but elk are tough and I was happy with how my 300 WBY performed.
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