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-   -   Wyoming Elk Hunt (2015) (http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=292731)

Anotherkiwi 07-02-2016 04:13 PM

Wyoming Elk Hunt (2015)
 
Last year I travelled from New Zealand to Wyoming for an awesome DIY public land elk hunt. Saw a few bugling bulls and managed to take one with my Elite Energy 32. My buddy called him in and I took the shot at 30 yards.

Heres a few photos.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2qspojme.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...psqdzfb6du.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc4pgpnag.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...pspqci974u.jpg

KBF 07-02-2016 04:28 PM

Beauty bull man. A big timber archery bull is high on my list of things to do.
Over the counter?

Anotherkiwi 07-02-2016 05:28 PM

Thanks KBF. I had a general tag which is draw only as I'm a non resident. I managed to draw one this year too in the special draw (high odds but higher cost).

NBFK 07-02-2016 07:53 PM

Thing of beauty

The moose 07-02-2016 08:53 PM

Great pictures , great bull. Pretty jealous as my elk seasons last 2 have been garbage

Anotherkiwi 07-03-2016 12:31 AM

Westland Roar Trip
 
Probably a bit of a stretch to call this a hunting report but here are some iphone photos of my trip into a haast block in April for the red deer roar.

Had an awesome time taking the bow for a walk. Saw a few deer and got to about 15 yards of a decent stag in thick bush but no chance of a shot - he wasn't roaring but snuck in. I hate that :)

Excellent service provided by Greenstone Helicopters.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...pskl9grmlr.jpg

Found a wallow in the bush
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...psgyzhmjfz.jpg

And on the tops
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...pskwat2zpo.jpg

Cool scenery
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...psngyxftns.jpg

Some more views
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdhj4qyx6.jpg

Easy river access
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...psckokpsys.jpg

Anotherkiwi 07-03-2016 01:13 AM

Ok, sorry guys I really messed up! I was trying to add another report but looks like I added to my Wyoming report......and cant work out how to edit my posts :sign0161:

Anyway I got this pronghorn spot and stalk on public land with my bow on my Wyoming trip last year.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7teyh1i7.jpg

no-regard 07-03-2016 09:41 AM

Wow, great animals and pics. I just bought a bow a few months ago, seeing stuff like this sure gets me excited. Although I'm also very overwhelmed and skeptical that I'll ever put it all together, time will tell I guess. Congrats!

Thunder Elk Hunter 07-03-2016 10:04 AM

Nice pictures!!
That is very nice bull elk
New Zealand is a beautiful country, just got back from there the 1st of June.

TEH

Anotherkiwi 07-03-2016 01:48 PM

TEH, great trophies! Are you getting the taxidermy done in NZ and then shipped back to Cananda?

L.O.S.T.Arrow 07-04-2016 08:04 AM

:D Outstanding pics...although pics tell most of the story most would be interested to hear more details...i know I would....great job

Neil

Hoarsecock 07-04-2016 09:14 AM

Congrats! Nice bull

Anotherkiwi 07-05-2016 12:01 AM

Heres a bit of a story behind my elk and pronghorn hunt.

The trip planning started way back in late 2014. I spent a lot of time researching and importantly understanding the hunting regulations for a few of the elk hunting states i.e Utah, Montana, Colorado, Oregon and Wyoming. Wyoming seemed like the best bet as it didn't have OTC tags, which I liked as I thought it would keep the hunter numbers down a bit, and I knew the scenery was fantastic.

After winning an elk and pronghorn tag my trip plans were finalised. A cheap flight took me first to Brisbane and then to LA and finally to Salt Lake City. SLC is a great place, not too big and surrounded by beautiful desert and mountains. I took my time driving to Wyoming to meet a mate that I would be hunting with. I spent a couple of days visiting Grand Teton National Park and saw bear, elk, fox, moose and some very impressive mountains. No need for an alarm clock as the wolves woke me early and I was not sleeping in after knowing they were looking for breakfast haha

I spent the next 4 days trying for a pronghorn with my bow. Many people had told me this would be difficult and they were right! I would have averaged 3 stalks a day with out success. Pronghorn have incredible eye sight and they continuously rotate their head so basically have 360 degrees covered. So with a bow they easily see you when you get close, range, draw and shoot.

I did find a spot that provided good cover. A dry 4 meter deep drain / creek allowed me to sneak undetected to a regular feeding spot. One evening a saw a lone buck out feeding (single animals make getting close much easier!). He was one that had eluded me previously at the exact same spot. I got to the point in the creek that would allow me to pop up and be 30 yards from the feeding buck. This time the plan worked and I looked over the lip (at full draw) and he was head down feeding. I made a good lung shot and he walked 20 yards and lay down. I left him there until morning.

I got back at first light and he was at the same spot frozen solid. I gutted him and chucked him in the back of hire car, luckily no blood on the seats haha. I took him back to my mates place and we butchered him.

The elk hunt started on the opening day for archery. My American mate was a fantastic host. We set up an awesome camp which include the iconic canvas tent and a corral for the horses. First light of opening day we took the horses an hour from camp. We then heard 3 bulls bugling which was definitely a trip highlight. We called in the first bull and got him to 30 yards. I messed up the stalk and he saw movement and took off. While a little disappointed I was hoping the next bull would be bigger. He looked like a fairly young 5x5 bull.

A second bull was bugling hard out so we decided to go take a look. My mate stayed back and did a prefect job to bring him into bow range. He was moving quickly and I could see him coming in so I drew my bow. Then he stopped behind a tree at 30 yards. I couldn't get a clear shot so waiting with the bow at full draw, may be a minute later he stepped out and I took the shot. He was shot and headed straight down the hill.

Now this is were the horses come in. Once we got to the bull we got a few photos and butchered the bull and loaded up the horses. I enjoy the carry in New Zealand but this bull was huge. Also at 10,000 feet the air is bloody thin. It was a great experience using the horses and highly recommended if you get a chance. My knees were also grateful for the light load back to camp.

I'm getting both the bull and buck shoulder mounted in the US and sent back to NZ.

L.O.S.T.Arrow 07-05-2016 02:28 PM

:D Great story thanks for sharing...

Neil

Anotherkiwi 12-18-2016 10:16 PM

Finally got my trophies shipped to New Zealand and on my wall.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa9togebp.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd5gptnom.jpg

58thecat 01-05-2017 04:45 PM

Beauty, thanks for sharing with us.
:)

Ranger CS 01-05-2017 05:03 PM

Congratulations, beautiful bull. What do you hunt in Kiwi land?
Would love to visit your country some day.

Anotherkiwi 01-06-2017 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger CS (Post 3434935)
Congratulations, beautiful bull. What do you hunt in Kiwi land?
Would love to visit your country some day.

I hunt mainly red deer, chamois and tahr. I live in the north island so hunt red deer a lot and then South Island trips for tahr and chamois. It's a great place to hunt, no tags or seasons for anyone who wants to hunt public land.

Z7Extreme 01-07-2017 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anotherkiwi (Post 3436247)
I hunt mainly red deer, chamois and tahr. I live in the north island so hunt red deer a lot and then South Island trips for tahr and chamois. It's a great place to hunt, no tags or seasons for anyone who wants to hunt public land.

So would that apply to me as a non resident. To maybe vacation there and get a hunt in while I was there as well?

Anotherkiwi 01-10-2017 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z7Extreme (Post 3436744)
So would that apply to me as a non resident. To maybe vacation there and get a hunt in while I was there as well?

Yes, anyone can hunt public land. There aren't any real restrictions except some popular areas are balloted during the rut & roar but this is just to manage access and doesn't limit what you can hunt.

Z7Extreme 01-17-2017 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anotherkiwi (Post 3440021)
Yes, anyone can hunt public land. There aren't any real restrictions except some popular areas are balloted during the rut & roar but this is just to manage access and doesn't limit what you can hunt.

What do you mean by balloted?

Twisted Canuck 01-17-2017 03:26 PM

Great story, and fantastic pictures too. Thanks for taking the time to write it up, really enjoyed it. Great hunting, congratulations!

CNP 01-17-2017 04:53 PM

Awesome!

Anotherkiwi 01-18-2017 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z7Extreme (Post 3445489)
What do you mean by balloted?

Good question. Some areas in the south island are very popular during the roar / rut. . To be allowed to hunt these areas you have to win a ballot (lottery or draw) . Its pretty cheap, some free, and easy. The prime blocks are very difficult to win (may be 5% chance) but many areas are good odds (may be 75%). Hope this makes sense - here's an example http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...-block-system/

Z7Extreme 01-21-2017 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anotherkiwi (Post 3446244)
Good question. Some areas in the south island are very popular during the roar / rut. . To be allowed to hunt these areas you have to win a ballot (lottery or draw) . Its pretty cheap, some free, and easy. The prime blocks are very difficult to win (may be 5% chance) but many areas are good odds (may be 75%). Hope this makes sense - here's an example http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...-block-system/

Right on. Thanks for the info

WT Ridge 01-22-2017 02:58 PM

Nice job! Looks like a couple great hunts.


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