From: ras@fred.niaid.pc.niaid.nih.gov (Randy Stevens)
Subject: ELK Hunt Report
Organization: Frederick Cancer Research & Development Center
Date: 16 Nov 92 07:57:54 CST
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

Greetings Everyone,

     I just got back from my first hunting trip out West and wanted to
share my good fortune with you all.  Our party of eight hunted for ELK
and Mule Deer in NorthWest Colorado, about 5 miles from Craig in unit
211.  We leased about 1000 acres of land for the third combined
Elk/Deer season. This was a do-it-yourself hunt, NO GUIDES.

     We had excellent success there.  We were 8 for 8 on Elk (4 bull,
4 cow) and 7 for 7 on deer (all bucks).  That's 100% success!!!!!
     All mulies had respectable racks but no trophies.  Mine was the
smallest, a 180lb 2x2 buck. It had a rack similar to our year-old
Eastcoast whitetail.  I was at about 9,000 ft. on a canyon rimrock
when I caught him moving with 3 doe on the next canyon.  Since it was
late in the afternoon on the third day of the 3-day season, I decided
to harvest this buck (I didn't see anything better the first two
days).  I rested my Rem700 BDL 30-06 on a boulder nearby. One dose of
the 180gr. Noslar Partition (Federal Premium) was all that was needed.
He ran about 25yds. and went down. No way of knowing what the actual
shot distance was because I was shooting from one side of the caynon
to the other, but it was close to 200yds.
     The Elk hunting was fantastic.  On the fourth day of our hunt,
the annual Elk migration finally reached our hunting area.  Heavy snow
the previous 4-days had helped to push them out of the higher
elevations.  We spotted a herd of about 30 Elk at 8:00 and planned our
ambush.  After about 1 mile of running/walking, I set up at the mouth
of a draw where the Elk were feeding.  The herd spooked when another
member of our party shot.  They ran past me at 100yds. I had a trophy
6X6 in my scope but I blew it. Yes, I got excited and forgot to take
off the safety.  Needless to say, when I finally got the scope back on
them, there was no good shot available.  Since there were about 8
legal bulls in the herd, we decided to follow them and set up another
ambush. After another two very exhausting miles, we were again in
position.  Others in the group harvested two bulls and one cow.  This
sent the herd right past me.  I took aim at the 6x6 but a cow was in
the way. I then put the crosshairs on a real nice 4x4.  Again, one
shot from the 30-06 was enough.  He spun around 180 degrees, took one
step and dropped.  The distance was 178 paces.  Live weight was
estimated at 800 lbs. He will be on my wall in 10 to 12 months.
     All in all, I had a truely wonderful hunt.  I'm ready to go
again.  Thanks to all you in rec.hunting for your advice and for
persuading me that my 30-06 was plenty of gun for Elk. It sure was.
Also, the Noslar Partition bullets could not have performed ANY better
than they did.
     So far this season I have been blessed with 3 good harvests: Elk,
Mule Deer, and a 150lb. 6-point during bow season in Maryland.  Rifle
starts in about 2 weeks and I still can't wait!!!!

     Happy Hunting to All..... Randy A. Stevens      


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