Just got back from our CO elk/deer hunt, and it was very successful for us. Ernie had a buck permit we didn't fill, but he wanted to get back to Pueblo to hunt coyotes for a day or so.

The 1st day was a little rough to say the least. We were seeing/chasing game all over the place, and finally after putting on more than a few rugged miles we were in our old spot we affectionately call the "1st knob," that gives us a pretty good elevated spot to galss from. We spotted a herd of elk on a snow-covered no.-facing slope way down again, and we just looked at each other, groaned, and took off after them. We got to a shooting spot that overlooked the slope they were bedded on, and got set up for the shot. I had my portable Big Eyes set up on a backpackable tripod, and had a teeerrrific view of them. RX4 Leupold laser gave 666 LOS yds. to the tgt., and 655 slant-range yds. Kestral gave 4-8 mph wind, and Ernie obtained the targeting solution from his Dell Axim with Exbal loaded using the BIG 200 gr. ULD Wildcat bullet @ 2700 fps mv, and got set up for the 666 yd. shot. At the shot the cow just rolled over with it's head twitching here and there, and after a few seconds i told him to send another favoring wind a couple more inches or so, as i though it may have been a neck shot (turned out to be a high shoulder shot tho.) Second bullet centered her chest, and she seemed to have actually expired just before he sent the 2nd shot downrange anyway. Terrific downrange performance for sure. What a day!!!

2 days later after packing her out a couple miles, we were in a new spot, that was just off the road, but looked like it had potential. After hiking in up a steep slope, i thought it had some good glassing potential especially in sparsely-treed, typically overlooked no.-facing slopes. So i went back down to get Ernie who was waiting back at the truck. We grabbed our gear then and headed up and up, and up again to the top. When we got there Ernie immediately spotted a couple does across a valley in another no.-facing snow-covered slope at a lasered 597 yds. We elected to take the lower animal, and got set up for the shot again. Same system as before. Ernie checked wind, and range, plugged it into Exbal, and it gave a targeting solution using Ernie's big old handgun again (i'd hurt my back several months ago, and couldn't carry all my gear/gun up as usual). BUT I SCREWED UP ROYALLY, and applied windage the wrong way with the reticle. Oh well-- so much for screwups. Crap happens, i guess. At the shot the doe jumped forward and when i figured out what i did wrong, i set up again with the correct windage correction, and nailed her just an inch or so too far back. But she slid down hurting badly giving me a back shot, as she was now facing up and down the steep slope. I fired again and the bullet passed thru her just to the left of the backbone, and exited out her side. She dropped and rolled down the slope about 10 yds. or so dead. When we finally got to her turns out "she" was actually a yearling buck with no antlers-- OK, of course with an "antlerless" permit. It'll be good eating for sure, and wife Vicky likes that part. Man what a time we had, i tell ya'.

congrats on the success
think it's too much "calculating" for me though

Nice shooting!! Should be very tasty eating

So, did you go coyote hunting??

Yes, we did go coyote hunting, but I don't have any pics to show. I will write more about it or Steve will later.

Great shooting! Elk to eat! Yum, Yum!

Great shooting, but dang did you have a lap top in your pack?

A Dell Axim is a pocket PC (like a palm but more windows based). I had it in a dustproof/watertight container that protected it but still allowed me to access info without taking it out.

Nice shooting...again. If my memory doesn't fail me, you guys did pretty good last year too. I hope to finally get an elk with mine some year. Congrats to both of you!

Wow...that's just awesome! All the "hard" work has paid off.

It's tough to read...but there is a hint of jealousy in my "voice"!!

Dan,
As you know having a partner in LR shooting/hunting is almost a neccessity.
Personally, I think you are doing a great job @ LR shooting.
The only thing Steve and I have on you is time and a partnership.

way to go guys!!!!!, I just drove in from KY ( had a great and succesful hunting trip as well) congrats to both of you on your trip , will read about it in depth tomorrow. man !!!! that 7mm is deadly
nmhunter

If I only lived a little closer Dan!! Would be a done deal.

Steve and I live 400 miles apart.

Well you got me there Ernie. Dan and I are about 200 miles apart.