Thanks fellows.

Jerry, do you shoot a .264?

Yesterday's was a very special hunt. It is the first time I have ever killed an elk on my place during regular season, having killed a couple on depredation in a past winter years ago. Usually elk are not here at this time of the year.

Herd was spotted in a field the evening before. We made a plan. My wife, who only shoots her required range test every year just to show off and make the kid's teeth grind a bit, ACTUALLY decided to hunt this year! Usually whe wimps out. At the normal '30'-degree temps in the morning during elk season, she never hunts. She says its too cold, "My ears burn", she says.

This year she decided to give it a whirl.

So regardless of the 6 degree chill, she and my son and I formed our team and she went wide left, Sonny wide right on a long 7 mile 4-wheeler ride and then a long foot stalk back to block one possible escape, and I right up the middle. I stalked up the mountain and then my wife radioed me that the herd was moving about 800 yards from her onto a field and headed for the thick timber below me. Only one spike among them. We were all about a mile apart.

I hoofed it down, guessed where they might be, then herd them crashing in the brush "dainty elk-style". I gave my Hoochie Momma a squeak which sent the cows into the open, curious, jogging along, but the bull came to a stop and I managed to slide over, out of the thick cover, gun on him the whole time, then got down and locked up for the shot.

Had quite a celebration over the big neck roast last night!

Not only did the Creator give us a full freezer, but I got the joy of being "guided" to the critter by my wife! Doesn't get better than that!

All at 6 degrees Fahrenheit.

And she never once mentioned that her ears burned...!

We got her hooked, now.