HuntingNet.com Forums - 44-Official Team The Nimrods Thread.

Don't thank me thank the dam rag tag bull Elk I shot last year LOL. Its true ifI had not shot him I would have not put that dang surgical hatchet in the side of my knee while quartering him up. See we pack in 7 milesto about10,000 foot in a non motorized areaon the north west slope ofColorado. We are a self run camp no guides no hired hands which means a whole lot of work! Last year was harsh we were in for fifteen day's nothing but cold and lots of snow so much that most the Elk had bailed to the low country. We filled only 3 tags out of 6. It started getting rough for all by day 9, we had all sorts of chores to attend to 24/ 7 from clearing snow off thewall tent, cutting wood " no chainsaw" and added up keep for the horses " cleaningIce blocks off their shoes and no grazing at all meant a extra trip out for additional feed, that took a day" It was just plain nasty up their. It was day fourteen and I broke off from the group to hit my Honey spot for one last try. I have killed 5 Bulls within a 400 yard area thats why its the honey spot perfect elk country a ridge top flanked by a 30 to 60 foot cliff that drops into a ancientheavy spouse forest. the opposite side of the ridge top slops down and is covered by aspen and lots of good grazing for the elk. I left the party on foot letting them lead my horse back to camp and I start to hike up from the low country about a mile and half from the spot. when I reached the start of the Aspen slope I came across three fresh track. the sun was out and snow melt was fast. These tracks were in three foot of snow and had quite a bit of fresh snow kicked up around them " I knew they were close" I started to stalk the track. about ten minuets latter I jumped them and spotted the rag tag barely legal Bull " you must shoot a 4x4 or it must have 6 inch brow tines to be legal" There was a down fall shielding any option for a body shot and he was lunging threw the snow could not get a bead on the head shot so I dropped down tohis neck and spine and let thee 338 do her work. Well I started to quarter the elk up so we could pick it up with the horses that night. Let me tell you I made great time cutting him up he was so young his bones were not as hard as an adult bull. I was almost done one last chop and the head would be removed from the two fronts. Then it happened I did not feel a thing that surgical hatchet shot right threw into my knee.... well I took off my pants and outer shell to see how bad it was and it was not good. it went right under my knee cap about 1 inch and halfdeep 3 inches wide. I mediately packed snow into the wound to clean it and slow the blading while I made a compression bandage out of my day pack straps. while I still had my whits about me I planned my route back to camp and tried to use my radio and cell phone to contactmy partybut could not gain contact with them.Its 5:00 pm and I start the drag the leg threw three foot of snow back to camp It was hell but I made it to the last ridge and Finlay raised camp on the handheld. it wasdark and shock was robbing my senses so when I sawMy dad and Uncle come over that ridge. words can not describe the relief in not being alone. Now the seven mile trip out in the middle of the night to get to the hospital is a whole other story LOL. As you can imagine I was laid up for a few months with the knee damage andduring that time I started doing art again I had not created any designs for some ten years and it has been hard to blow the dust off my style but Its getting closer now. For everything bad that happens some thing good comes. Its been a year and the Elk hunt approaches andI'm ready to hit the honey spot again LOL.

Glad you all like the Logo and thanks for the fine complements
Elkslayer