I have archived the page from 2013 it can be found by clicking on the archive button above and then finding the 2013 tab.
Here we are in 2015 and Vernon, and I made it out to Jackson Hole. Vernon and I both drew elk tags for the 2015 rifle opener in Wyoming.
We hunted once again with Trophy Mountain Outfitters in Jackson Hole Wyoming. I took my Ruger M77 7MM. I am used Barnes 160 gr VOR-TX TSX Boat tail.
I have altered my Leupold 3.5 X 15 X 50 scope and have added a new turret set for the elevation, humidity, temperature etc. I zeroed it at 200 yards and was very much looking forward to the hunt. Vernon and I both expected to need to shoot at distance but quickly found that the bulls were in the height of the rut and not bashful about coming in when called.
Vernon began his hunt opening morning going with his guide Jordan and I went with Dustin the owner of Trophy Mountain Outfitters and his two sons Hays and J.D. As we separated Dustin and I heard a bull with a very guttural bugle only an estimated 100 yards in front of us.
We dismounted and began to work on finding this bull. We could see the cows but not the bull. I finally got a look at a small 5 X 5 that Dustin called in well under 75 yards but I did not want to shoot something that small and passed on him.
We pressed onward and upward until Dustin's son J.D. spotted another bull looking at us back in the timber.
Dustin called the bull and once again I could see that it was another small 5 X 5 and I passed on shooting it again. We began yet another intense hike, and found a rock slide below a saddle we had been trying to get to.
We took a much needed break below the saddle and contemplated climbing up so we could see over both sides of the saddle.
During our break we could hear a bull in front of us again at an estimated 100 yards and we discussed which way we should go, the upper root was harder and intriguing but the other bull seemed easier to obtain. I deferred to Dustin's expertise and we went after the closer bull. Our first set on this bull gave us no movement toward us; so we moved in closer and I took a place in front of Dustin and his sons. Dustin bugled the bull and he responded quickly, Dustin continued to follow up with several rounds of cow calls and the bull continued to respond.
Then I saw the bull moving back in the timber he was coming in slowly. I could see him peeking around a pine tree and then another cow call from Dustin and he leaned in further to see where was that cow call coming from. I had a great shot at his right shoulder and decided to take it. The 7MM hit him hard and he turned to run away while pulling his right leg up.
Dustin and I gave him a few minutes and during our wait his son Hays said he heard him fall. We began to track him and Dustin found freshly overturned grasses and we continued up the side of the hill for about 70 yards and there Dustin said look right there! The bull was down and to my surprise much larger than I previously thought.
Vernon went on 45 minutes later and shot his bull called in by Jordon, Jordon got Vernon's bull in to 17 yards for the final kill shot. Vernon's bull did not go more than 45 yards before expiring. We both tagged out quickly under the skillful guidance of Dustin and Jordan.
Vernon and I never even got our gear unpacked from the truck and we were done. Trophy Mountain Outfitters know their country and how to work the elk by calling and using the wind.
