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WA elk
I've been hunting elk in WA for 5 or 6 years with my brother. The early years were a bit dry–either no elk seen, bad weather, or no legal elk within range.
That changed in '08 when I was drawn for a east side (of WA state) cow tag. I joined my brother mid week and upon getting to our spotting location the morning that cow season opened had my first opportunity. 10-15 minutes into shooting light, out steps a cow at 426 yards. Down she goes with two 180 grain accubond bullets from a Federal vital shock factory load. Talk about a short season!
In '09 we starting thinking about getting a big bull. If you hunt west of the Pacific Crest Trail in WA then you can shoot a 3 pt on one side or better bull with an 'over the counter' elk tag. It was a new area (to us) north of Mt. Adams. Lots of snow, some elk sign, but no elk to be seen at all. Day 5 of the hunt was to be my last morning. I leave my brother to spot an area while I go on ahead by foot about another 3/4 of a mile or so. I spot a bull heading up hill in the re-prod at 178 yards. I get down on one knee and fire on the grazing bull. He stands still and I believe I missed! I fire again and he drops. He is a 3×5 and turns out both rounds connected.
'10 finds us back on familiar ground on the East Side of the state–we simply like that area better for hunting. We're both carrying spike only tags. A tall order–in my few years of hunting, I had never seen a spike elk! Day three my brother spots one and drops it with one shot at 360 yards. Two days later, my last day to hunt before returning home, I spot a cow leading a spike out of the timber at 380 yards. I shoot and miss! Devastated I can't believe I missed! Practice this year with factory ammo had been less then confidence inspiring. 15 minutes later the same spike steps out again at 436 yards. And I get him!
Now, looking forward to the '11 spike season, my brother and I are experimenting with hand loads for the T3 lite .300wsm. 210gr Bergers, 66 grains of H4831sc set to an AOL of 2.88 (barely fits in clip) he shot a 3-shot group of 1″ at 205 yards. MUCH much better than ever with factory. Hopefully more to come…
Jason
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