YoungHuntr

I do actually shoot at 4 and 500 but not as often as at 300. At 300 I am grouping 3 consistently in a 4.0" group, so darn close to MOA.

Well maybe I'm looking for some true stories to cheer me up. Hunting elk and deer is my passion and for five years I have done everything in my power to be successful- to no avail. I do not mind getting skunked- but the way in which it happens bothers me. I was wondering if anybody has had similar experiences when they started hunting- having so many unfortunate events plague them. I am 16 and no one in my home is a big hunter. I still became enamored with the sport and took it upon myself to pass hunters safety and get hunting, organizing what tags we put in for etc.... I shoot on a regular basis and have never taken a shot past 250 yards. I consider myself a decent shot and know my rifle. I practice a lot on my shooting and I am consistently 1 MOA. I know how important it is to take your time and be calm. Anyways I've been on four Coues hunts. Almost took a shot at a buck before realizing my scope mount had come loose and my scope was wobbling an inch back and forth. Could not take the shot. Last year I went on an OTC elk hunt and shot at two elk. One was close and acted hit, but hours of searching and no blood trail lead us to believe it may have been a miss. I was shooting 165 grain SSTs which since then I place little trust in. I shot at another elk two days later that dissapeared into the brush. No blood trail. Had switched to 180 grain core lokts. Next day it was discovered, meat spoiled. It had fallen at most 50 yards from where it had been shot, double lung, clean kill. It had fallen in reeds literally 9 feet tall. Impossible to see from two feet away. Weeks ago on an elk hunt I took a VERY steady shot at a cow on top of a watering hole berm. She fell. tried to get up twice but rolled down further. Two elk I did not know were there got up and were joined by a third elk after a minute. I had a slim shot window but could not be certain it was the elk I had shot before. Turns out it was. A good blood trail petered out 50 yards away. Never found. I had spent two minutes setting up for that shot, getting prone on my bipod, getting steady. I was ready. And yet I believe she moved at the shot. I could not have shot at her again because I was not certain that she was the same elk (when the two others came out of the hole and were joined by another). I was shooting 165 Grain trophy bonded tips. Anyways I have done everything right it seems, always taking shots that I knew I could make and felt good about after taking, and I have had all these events plague me. It does not discourage me as much as it would some, but I still feel that this whole situation stinks. I will keep trying and am going after coues with the last two days left on my tag. Who knows what will happen. Anyways, has anybody else had such a run of misfortune? I do not wish anything like this to happen to others, but it would certainly help knowing that I am not the only one plagued by such mishaps that seem to be out of my control. I sight in my rifle before every hunt with the load I use and practice often out to 300 yards. I can't help but think its out of my control. So, iy may seem silly, but gearing that someone else has had similar experiences would certainly help. I haven't recovered a big game animal in my 5 years of hunting, but what bothers me is those animals that should have been recovered. One time happens. Twice is unfortunate. Loosing three animals really bothers me. But I will keep trying.

Good advice, I've practiced real life sitting, kneeling, and resting off of bipod prone out to 300 yards and off hand consistently at 100 yards. Did all that was possible to recover the animals. Maybe my share of unrecovered or lost animals was just dealt to me early on and for all I know I'll never loose another. Good thinking! Is that the San Juan in your avatar? Nice fish you're holding by the way. Why yes is just so happens to be the Juan. Upper flats actually. 19" Rainbow caught sight fishing big ants. Fly fishing is my other passion

I was thinking along the lines of smuggling myself.

Good advice, I've practiced real life sitting, kneeling, and resting off of bipod prone out to 300 yards and off hand consistently at 100 yards. Did all that was possible to recover the animals. Maybe my share of unrecovered or lost animals was just dealt to me early on and for all I know I'll never loose another.

Could be a number of things you have not considered. Camo in my opinion doesn't always mean hunters or government. They could be coyotes scouting a route in for all I know. Members of a cartel smuggling drugs? And/or illegal immigrants who want to look like they are OK to be there? Guys who take the tactical hunting thing a little too seriously? Is there any background info that makes you suspect government involvement on either side?

YounHuntr, there is alot more to hunting than knowing your weapon and how good you shoot it. Tracking skills are a very important part of becoming a good hunter and you will learn in time. Hunting with experience hunters who know how to track can be a big plus in your learning of recovering down game. I'm glad you shared your stories with us because not to many would have been so honest. I hope you continue to learn and hopefully some of our knowledge will help you along. We all started somewhere. Good luck on your next hunt and I look forward to reading your first success story. TJ I know tracking is a big part. On each elk hunt and after each shot I had others with me, in each case friends of the family, who had hunted elk or deer for many years come back and help me track it. Each time the conditions stunk for tracking. Hard soil, little blood, etc....... I know what you mean about the art of tracking. There is so much to learn, Just the color of a twig, the snapped end, a discolored or our of place leaf can tell you so much. There are many aspects to this sport, I could probably spend a lifetime learning how to glass and find coues.

Nice try, but you aren't pulling one over on me. That cam is in Alaska, isn't it? Thought I wouldn't notice, didn't you? Amazing bear.

Thankyou. The kill is not what it is about for me. But that meat would be a bonus . I am not the type of person to give up on a sport so fun when I have mishaps, it just makes me want to try harder.

Need pictures!

Yup, bipod is on the ridle. Every shot I have taken is off the bipod. First elk I was a little excited, but felt confident. Second elk was a perfect shot did not recover until meat was bad. most recent elk was another shot where the crosshairs were right where they should be when the recoil started but the elk twitched or moved enough something happened.

Nice- I like the bald eagle and that deer looks tasty!

Have to ask- were those bucks shot that low down in the desert?

Thanks. I hunt with my uncles for deer but they have been evasive, I know more research, even miore scouting, more time on the ground is what it will take.

I feel your pain. I've never had a buck in my scope either, unless you include the spike which I did not shoot at. I honestly would have preferred missing an animal to shooting it and not recovering it.

I know that my string of luck is a small one compared to others, and I do have some perspective. I just wanted others to share their experiences so myself, and others who have had even worse experiences then me, realize it happens to everyone. Unfortunately I am not a archery hunter, but the offer is really appreciated. The angles on the shots have been almost level. On two of the elk others watched the shot and I was by myself on the most recent one. Set up is 30-06 weatherby vanguard with Nikon prostaff 4-12x40 and burris steel rings. Took me a while to save up the dinero to get my dad to buy it.

Wow, congrats to all, I am jealous. And those shot placements are just textbook, simply textbook. I don't imagine those deer went far.

I have looked at this thread many times, and it rendered me simply speechless. All I can say is the general consensus WOW!!! That would be a shooter if it were an eastern whitetail, much less a coues. And if it weren't for that body I would say you were trying to pull one over on us with a picture of a deer taken from Texas! LOL Nice buck.

Close to where I saw that cow elk I mentioned in a previous post! But it was on the WEST side of the galiuros, high enough up it could have crossed over.

Could be a sharp shinned- but my gut tells me Coopers Hawk. I really love birds of prey and those are some awesome pictures. Reminds me of the time years ago we found a red tail with a broken wing. Took a heavy sheet to capture it and immobilize, contacted a rescue and rehab facility, they took over and eventually released it. Had a similar situation more recently. Came across a peregrine, yes a peregrine falcon with a wounded looking wing. Called the same people who picked it up and confirmed it was a peregrine. Its wing was just hurt but not bad enough that it was broken. They released that one too. My point being I love birds of prey and those photos are really cool to me. Thanks for sharing.

One does not have to imagine why there are ALWAYS leftover tags for the November hunt and most of the time for the October hunt...... That being said, I know a guy who hunts there and does well. Scouting INCESSANTLY to find good spots is a must before the season opens.

When you've hunted alamo lake the spots that elk hold become much less suprising. And I know you will call me a liar but I saw a cow elk @ 4,000 feet in the Galiuros, miles away from Ash Creek.

I would say it will probably make over 100" gross, maybe around 105", net will be pretty close to 100." No matter how you cut it that is one awesome buck that almost looks like it has ivory tips. Congrats to the hunters.

Hey all. I'm looking fr some advice on my tag that ends friday. I'm 16 and went up there with my family on thursday but did not hunt a minute because we were called back due to a family emergency. So now I'm hoping to do at least one day trip or over nighter into 32 for coues deer. Even if I don't get one I'll treat it as a scouting trip. Anyways I at least want to get a day or two of hunting in. The only problem is I can't go back to where we are familiar with because we only have a 2wd fairly low ground clearance car. I was hoping for some information fast- is there any place in unit 32 I can access with such a car that doesnt require a day of hiking to even get high enough for deer? I would GREATLY appreciate a PM with any info on where I could go to maybe get a quick deer or do some scouting. I don't mind hiking in a ways as long as I can get back to the car before night and still spend some time in deer territory. Directions, suggestions, roaed names, ANYTHING would be GREATLY appreciated put in a PM. I really just want to at least try and kill my first coues, its been four years without even firing a shot at one. I don't care if its an area with big deer or just a buncj of spikes or forkies, I'm not picky, I just want some suggestions so I can possibly get a deer. Thanks all. After my elk hunt, I seriously need redemption.

I know, its a bit of a last resort. I know 32 has terrible access and most of the roads are in nasty shape. I don't even know if what I am asking is possible.