Chris McCaslin

First I would like to say that Joe was great, communication was good, and the property had ample opportunity for success. Unfortunately I was late to the party, which didn't end up being a problem because of solid communication with Joe; so I didn't get started until the afternoon of day 1. I spent that afternoon scouting the property and was able to glass a couple of small groups of cows and 1 nice bull making their way across a high ridge line. The weather was good that week, though the afternoons were a little on the warm side, but the mornings were cold, crisp, and clear. Morning of hunt day two came I and I quickly determined I hadn't done enough with regard to getting in shape for the climbing a long walks. I ran out of gas high on a ridge line and decided to settle down and start glassing the surrounding high country. Mid-morning a nice shooter 6x6 bull came though chasing a smaller bull and disappeared into a craggy draw and thick timber. The draw was too thick to shoot into, so I just watched his rack move through the brush as he disappeared. The rest of the morning passed uneventful as well as that afternoon. I was able to glass small groups of cows and a couple of young bulls, but nothing to try and move on. The morning of hunt day three started and I decided to go back to the same location hoping to get another chance at the bull that came through the previous morning. Things got exciting early as I had settled down in an apparent "high" traffic area, and I was almost trampled by a spike elk and two cows. I was able to spot a solid shooter but determined that there was no way I could up to that altitude, he was almost on top of the mountain, with any remaining energy left to hunt; plus the fact that it would take me hours to get there and he would be long gone by then. I decided to scout my way back out and try again that evening. I crossed the draw I had been looking over and went up and over the hill and found enough sign to tell me I was in the right place; I took a lunch break and decided to give that location another chance that afternoon, good decision by me. I came back out the afternoon of hunt day 3 but moved to a slightly different location on the ridge where I could reasonably cover that thick draw and large hillside to the side of it. I spent most of the afternoon glassing some cows moving through the higher elevations and had just about determined that I was too low when a nice bull came up and over the large hill. At first, b/c of the distance, I wasn't very excited and continued to glass the tree line. The bull was about a third of the way down hill before I put the binoculars on him and realized that it was the 6x6 from the previous morning. I slowly slipped around the ridge and was able to set up my shooting sticks and started ranging him as the distance slowly closed. Finally he turned and began to parallel my position, the range finder read 392. I had a self-imposed maximum shooting distance of 400 yards, beyond which I just wasn't comfortable shooting under field conditions. My rifle is a GA Precision Non-Typical chambered in 7mm Rem SAUM and I was shooting the Nosler 140 gr Accubonds, both of which are proven variables so there wasn't going to be any equipment excuses. He stopped just short of a small patch of trees and I fired...he dropped...I almost had a heart attack, he tried to get back up but the 140 Accubond had done its' job and had gone right through the front shoulder. I sent three more across to make sure and just about fell off the ridge trying to get across to him. I was in awe at the size of this animal. I have hunted mid-west whitetails and have taken some very large bucks, this does not prepare one to walk up on a downed bull elk. He was huge and now it was time for the true labor intensive part of the hunt. Of course I shot him at 4:45 so by the time I got back to camp to get the ATV and then back to the hill it was dark. Field dressing and quartering an in elk, in the dark, on the side of a mountain is an experience in an of itself.

I could have done a better job getting in shape for the hunt. Walking the hills, mountains, and ridges at high altitude is difficult and I do not feel I was adequately prepared. Practice long range shooting. Though a close shot is possible, shots across draws and ridges are more probable. Don't skimp on the glass. I spent 95% of my time in the field glass the high country with binoculars. I went with Vortex Diamondback for this trip, which were really good, but I might be upgrading for the next trip.

I would absolutely recommend Rocky Mountain Ranches and will be using them again soon. Probably in 2021 if he has room for me.