Nothing Died but the Elk!!!

Just got back from our 4th season Colorado elk hunt. I killed a good bull and my partner killed a big cow, both with one shot from 300 win mags. The warden came by a day after I shot mine and was wondering why all the meat wasn't accounted for (a ticket for wanton destruction of game was probably on his mind) and I showed him the big bruise and scrape on my stomach from falling with one load and he was merciful and took my word I'd go get the rest when I had rested a bit. It was plenty cold to keep the meat and I finally got it up over the snowy slippery cliffs. My partner was very considerate and killed a cow fairly close to a fire road so we had a 2 hour instead of a two day recovery. Old guys are pitiful!!!! I plan on dying packing an elk out instead of in a locked ward like most of the men in my family have done as they lost their minds from the aging process. Didn't happen yet. I'm pretty beat up though. I guess God ain't through with me yet. It was a very hard hunt with frequent snow and cold temps. We tagged out while others saw and shot few elk. I guess Old Guys Rule!!!
Mark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwFP6TeezZc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BABJync-WoI
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Here's a short video of the day before the season after Mike heard elk the night before near our tent and our camp "The Holiday Inn Express".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMYGY0EQQYw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGV23ZqCYYU
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a_bow_nut
That's a nice elk. :thumb

My brother just got a tent like that and we used it on his bison hunt. You are right the wood stove can make all the difference when it turns cold outside.
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That tent camp made all the difference. The weather kept everyone else out of the area. The nearest camp to us was 8 miles away. They all had trailers and couldn't get in.
Mark
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MuleyMadness
Cool video, great bull Mark. 10sign:
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killerbee
great job mark! im super happy for you, that is a great bull to be proud of. good job!!
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congrats that is a nice looking bull! The videos were great too. :thumb
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shmobag
Great bull, congrats!! 10sign:
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Thanks guys. I'm grateful I can still do it. It's a young man's game but we still have fun even if we move slower now. :))
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Very nice job! Remember.. age is just a number! Lol. Best time to hunt is in snowstorms that everyone else is unwilling to hunt in.
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AGCHAWK
VERY NICE!!! CONGRATS!~!
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sneekeepete
Great bull and great videos thanks for sharin and congrats to the both of you! :thumb
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Mark - You are the man! I love the videos too. What a great bull! 10sign: That's the 4th season in cold snowy weather when those elk have been running for their lives now all year. Heck of a job! I'll tell you what, wisdom beats youth it seems 90% of the time! I hope to follow in your footsteps and hunt as long as the body is able, and maybe even a little more.

Great job! :thumb
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Thanks. I've shot lots of bulls there but never took one out in the snow. I knew it would be trouble when I couldn't get anyone to take horses in there. It's a long brush choked canyon from an old burn on one end and there's a ribbon cliff at the top. We used backpacks to get up to the rocks, then a sled and ropes to go up and over the cliffs, then across the flat to the nearest road. Two days later and enough bruises to supply a football team later we were through (my partner was considerate enough to shoot a cow near a fire road, thank God!). God let us live another season. It made me feel like a man again. (A man who had been mugged and beaten with a baseball bat!!!) lol
God bless and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Mark
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What an elk 10sign: I'm leaveing on my first ever snow hunt and I'm way over the hill. The vedio gives me alot of hope. Congrats on a great hunt.
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Thanks and good luck.
Mark
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Awsome Bull and great Video clips!! Im headed for the late youth season Cow hunt, Got two cow tags im hopeing I can atleast close the deal on one!! Great Job and you deserved that big bull!! And good job to your buddy and his Cow :thumb
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Have fun on your hunt mossback. There's enough weather that I'm sure you'll be into elk.
God bless.
Mark
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6x6 bull
Great Job Mark!!! Thanks for taking us along on your elk hunt. You are an inspiration to us all. Every time I am setting at home feeling like I can't get out because my back hurts or my feet hurt I will just look at your video one more time. I hope you have many, many more years of chasing bulls.
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Hiker
Mark,
Great job my friend. :thumb I'm glad it all worked out. =D>

Brother Mark, that is a wonderful Colorado Bull. Proud of you.
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Thanks guys. Just got through putting the last of him in the freezer and blessing some people with some of the meat. Quite a gift from the Lord all around!
Mark
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