The final day was another scorcher and we all did the morning hunt and then headed to Livingston to do a little shopping and eat some lunch. I needed a little rest, so I decided not to make the hike again as I’d figure I would encounter the same fate as the previous two nights. Besides I told the other two hunters I would cut up those deer, so that’s what we did. We got back to Bill’s before supper, I started cutting deer and we told stories. Ryan was checking the zero on one of his guns on a rock at 580 yards. I handed him my 300 RUM and said, put the 4th dot on the rock. He center punched the 12” rock and I said, see, that elk at 539 was toast!
All I can say is those boys worked their rear off trying to make sure everyone was having a great time and trying their darndest to get us elk that just weren’t there on our property. Leave it up to me to pick a week that would ruin their 100% opportunity on this property, lol. As most of you know that were elk hunting this year, the weather was just plain horrible for hunting. 60-75 degrees is not optimal hunting weather, when those animals should be moving, they just have no reason to come down out of the high country. Even though I didn’t have to, I choose to put on about 50 or so miles of foot and horse hunting outside of how they were hunting them. In the end, I came home without an animal, but I wouldn’t call it empty handed. I had the time of my life in one of my most favorite areas in all of the US. I came home with new friends, tons of stories and just one heck of a memory. Bill Hoppe of North Yellowstone Outfitters runs one of the best operations that I’ve had the opportunity to partake in! If you’re looking for an awesome hunt, big elk and especially trophy mule deer, give him a call and tell him I sent ya! Oh yeah, I have to get back out there in archery season!
http://www.northyellowstoneoutfitters.com/
Sorry it was such a long story, but it was such a great hunt and I still missed quite a few details. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the story and the photos….this guy is top notch in my book