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Hunting Gabber

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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,438
There must be other hunters on NS.

What do you guys hunt, where do you hunt and what do you use?

Harvest anything cool this season? Post a picture or a story!

Looking to get into hunting or just have some questions about it? Ask away!


I hunt Washington state, mostly just deer and small game, but I did my first turkey hunt in Twisp this year and it was awesome.
I use a compound bow for everything but grouse.

**This thread was edited on Jan 22nd 2020 at 10:07:53am
Jan 21 2020 11:36PM
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SendyMcSendyface
Posts: 2453 - Karma: 20,000
safarisam

Got my deer!

Yo congrats!
TheMoostafian


Had a great season in washington. My friends and i all butchered our deer yesterday. 2 muleys, 1 whitetail and 1 black tail.



Congrats bud, shits makin me hungry!
Oct 26 2020 9:28PM
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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,438
Do you guys eat the deer heart? How do you prepare it?

This is my first year eating it raw. I made tartare, it was so fucking good. Only complaint is I used too big of an egg yolk.


Oct 28 2020 9:57PM
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ModMommy
Posts: 10719 - Karma: 55,324
TheMoostafianDo you guys eat the deer heart? How do you prepare it?

This is my first year eating it raw. I made tartare, it was so fucking good. Only complaint is I used too big of an egg yolk.



Looks great. We usually do a grill right near the kill site. I shot right then the heart and destroyed it though this year. Jealous.
Oct 28 2020 10:17PM
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Nickc88
Posts: 630 - Karma: 2,074
SendyMcSendyfaceblyat. good on ya for huntin with a moisin. hope to snag an sks for a deer gun soon


He better hunt with an adidas tracksuit on
Oct 28 2020 10:31PM
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ASSholebomber22
Posts: 6594 - Karma: 69,700
TheMoostafianDo you guys eat the deer heart? How do you prepare it?

This is my first year eating it raw. I made tartare, it was so fucking good. Only complaint is I used too big of an egg yolk.




That looks wild man. I've never really hunted before and never really dressed/prepared an animal that wasn't a fish. How was this prepared? What's the taste like?
Oct 28 2020 10:35PM
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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,438
BiffbarfThat looks wild man. I've never really hunted before and never really dressed/prepared an animal that wasn't a fish. How was this prepared? What's the taste like?


I trimmed off everything that was fatty or veiny, to the point that it was all uniform texture (probably cut off half the heart). Then I diced it really small and mixed in a bowl with salt, pepper, chopped capers, lemon juice and worstershire sauce. Then I put an egg yolk on top. Thats a pretty traditional way to make beef tartare.

It tasted like the best, most tender and flavorful beef tartare I've ever had. Very good.
Oct 28 2020 10:40PM
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danbrown
Posts: 11932 - Karma: 21,775
TheMoostafianDo you guys eat the deer heart? How do you prepare it?

This is my first year eating it raw. I made tartare, it was so fucking good. Only complaint is I used too big of an egg yolk.




this looks absolutely unreal
Oct 28 2020 11:07PM
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Sdot.
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 4,430
danbrownthis looks absolutely unreal


Seriously, that sounds and looks amazing!

We usually slice the hearts into thin strips, season with salt, pepper, and a little garlic, and then sear them in a cast iron skillet. So tender, so good. I highly recommend this recipe, too:
https://www.themeateater.com/cook/recipes/seared-venison-heart-with-whiskey-butter-recipe
Oct 29 2020 12:59PM
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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,438
safarisamLooks great. We usually do a grill right near the kill site. I shot right then the heart and destroyed it though this year. Jealous.


Heart shots are kinda bittersweet - best shot you can take and the best death for the animal, but you destroy the heart meat.
Oct 29 2020 4:29PM
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Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2298 - Karma: -11,017
I decided to cut my losses yesterday and be done with this rifle season after losing 2 deer. No blood trails found on either one but the first one was shot from 30 yards and I saw the impact on 2nd one and saw it jump and run so I'm pretty certain they're both dead. Not sure how I lost either one but I'll chalk it up to a few things. On the first one, buck fever played a role and I didn't notice a small tree branch a yard or so in front of me. I'm hoping I hit the branch and it was enough to cause me to miss completely but I'm not sure. I also didn't watch the deer for long enough as it ran off and I was too quick to chase after it. On the 2nd I feel that I hit it a little too high in the lungs and may have been in the dead zone with my shot placement. My rifle is sighted to hit 2 inches above my point of aim at 100 yards and this shot was about 150 aiming center mass behind the shoulder. I watched this deer run behind some trees and due to inexperience assumed it ran off to die. In actuality, it circled back around and came into view again where I could have easily made a follow up shot but didn't because I assumed it was a different deer. I would say that if you are a first time deer hunter like myself, you will be a lot better off hunting with a partner especially if you are hunting timber where your view will be obstructed. You're also better off placing your shot more forward on deer around the heart or possibly trying to break the scapula if you're using a bullet with good penetration. Hopefully, this post saves someone from making the same mistakes as I did so they don't learn this stuff the hard way. For now, I'm going to focus on my upcoming elk hunt in November and reflect on the things I've learned.
Oct 29 2020 5:25PM
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SendyMcSendyface
Posts: 2453 - Karma: 20,000
TheMoostafianDo you guys eat the deer heart? How do you prepare it?

This is my first year eating it raw. I made tartare, it was so fucking good. Only complaint is I used too big of an egg yolk.




Holy damn that looks good
Oct 29 2020 6:10PM
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Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2298 - Karma: -11,017
You guys may have had deer meat but have you ever had...



Kentucky fried squirrel legs?
Dec 6 2020 10:45PM
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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,438
Craw_DaddyYou guys may have had deer meat but have you ever had...



Kentucky fried squirrel legs?


Yeeaaaaaaaaah buddy
Dec 6 2020 10:46PM
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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,438





From a few days ago
Dec 6 2020 10:48PM
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galardogod
Posts: 1693 - Karma: 5,115
Craw_DaddyYou guys may have had deer meat but have you ever had...



Kentucky fried squirrel legs?


I do mine in a skillet with some bacon grease and then I eat it with a biscuit and gravy. Boy oh boy is it good.
Dec 6 2020 11:02PM
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Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2298 - Karma: -11,017
galardogodI do mine in a skillet with some bacon grease and then I eat it with a biscuit and gravy. Boy oh boy is it good.


I whipped up a mountain house biscuits and gravy meal to go with them haha
Dec 6 2020 11:11PM
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_Garagely_
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 3,198

I ended up getting this buck Mule Deer and a doe Pronghorn. Might still do shoulder season hunts for elk.
Dec 7 2020 2:42AM
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ronders_
Posts: 568 - Karma: 2,325
Said I’d post a picture of my m39 a while ago so here it is



struck out for deer season this year, the family hunting shack ended up being a germ factory with people from five different states all sharing liquor, cigars and an outhouse for a week straight. Couldn’t risk infecting certain members of my family so unfortunately called it off. Most of the older guys did as well.
here’s to next season
Dec 13 2020 9:45PM
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galardogod
Posts: 1693 - Karma: 5,115
Went duck hunting for the first time on Saturday, it was fun we only shot at 1 duck and put 5 rounds at it and some how missed all . Also saw 3 flocks of geese and didn’t shoot because we where not paying attention. To be honest this got me into it. But it’s expensive
Dec 14 2020 8:13AM
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steeze_louise
Posts: 548 - Karma: 2,094
galardogodWent duck hunting for the first time on Saturday, it was fun we only shot at 1 duck and put 5 rounds at it and some how missed all . Also saw 3 flocks of geese and didn’t shoot because we where not paying attention. To be honest this got me into it. But it’s expensive


just got into it this year, i can tell you right now im gonna be hunting for the rest of my life, shit is so fucking fun. Its expensive but if you can get the big expenses out of the way than it is not that bad long term.
Dec 14 2020 10:57AM
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iFlip
Posts: 4541 - Karma: 19,088
I_Bohrmannjust got into it this year, i can tell you right now im gonna be hunting for the rest of my life, shit is so fucking fun. Its expensive but if you can get the big expenses out of the way than it is not that bad long term.


Waterfowling is an amazing type of hunting. While I hunt pretty much everything, and in all styles, waterfowling is likely my favorite. If you really get into it, yes, it’s expensive. The more gear you acquire, the richer and more fulfilling the experience becomes.

In addition to the money, the gear itself takes up a massive amount of room. One of my waterfowling partners asked me last week how much I’ve spent on gear specific to waterfowling. I had to think for a while but I believe I’m at around $15k in waterfowling gear. Thankfully at this point there isn’t much more I need. Unless I get seriously into diver hunting and need a layout boat and a spread of 100-200 divers...but that’s not in my immediate plans.
Dec 14 2020 6:05PM
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galardogod
Posts: 1693 - Karma: 5,115
iFlipWaterfowling is an amazing type of hunting. While I hunt pretty much everything, and in all styles, waterfowling is likely my favorite. If you really get into it, yes, it’s expensive. The more gear you acquire, the richer and more fulfilling the experience becomes.

In addition to the money, the gear itself takes up a massive amount of room. One of my waterfowling partners asked me last week how much I’ve spent on gear specific to waterfowling. I had to think for a while but I believe I’m at around $15k in waterfowling gear. Thankfully at this point there isn’t much more I need. Unless I get seriously into diver hunting and need a layout boat and a spread of 100-200 divers...but that’s not in my immediate plans.

That’s crazy man, right now I need a shotgun, waders and decoys and I think I will be ready for my first independent outing, kind of afraid of getting killed on public land but it’s the risk you take
Dec 14 2020 6:11PM
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iFlip
Posts: 4541 - Karma: 19,088
galardogodThat’s crazy man, right now I need a shotgun, waders and decoys and I think I will be ready for my first independent outing, kind of afraid of getting killed on public land but it’s the risk you take


That's a good start. Don't forget hearing protection. Those old timers don't use it, but with the amount of shooting that waterfowling can bring, I think hearing protection is absolutely necessary. I have a really good pair of electronic hearing protection that I like a lot. It doesn't amplify the wind and I can still run a duck or goose call.

You also need a boat of some kind. A canoe or a kayak will do. Heck, I actually have used a $6 inflatable rubber pool raft for one of the spots I hunt that is a very long hike in.

I hunt public a lot. Just make sure you aren't setting up right next to someone else and try to not sky bust. Birds over the decoys, feet down, is what it's all about.
Dec 14 2020 7:16PM
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SendyMcSendyface
Posts: 2453 - Karma: 20,000
galardogodThat’s crazy man, right now I need a shotgun, waders and decoys and I think I will be ready for my first independent outing, kind of afraid of getting killed on public land but it’s the risk you take


Don't skimp on hearing protection, you can get a good set of active ears for around $50.
Dec 14 2020 8:21PM
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_IRRELEVANT_
Posts: 944 - Karma: 4,423
From experience deer hunting I’d wait Atleast a half hour before you look and if your blood trail doesn’t look good when you follow it a leave and come back in couple hours so it has chance to bed and die chasing wounded deer around is no fun also I’d check into if your state has tracking dogs available
Craw_DaddyI decided to cut my losses yesterday and be done with this rifle season after losing 2 deer. No blood trails found on either one but the first one was shot from 30 yards and I saw the impact on 2nd one and saw it jump and run so I'm pretty certain they're both dead. Not sure how I lost either one but I'll chalk it up to a few things. On the first one, buck fever played a role and I didn't notice a small tree branch a yard or so in front of me. I'm hoping I hit the branch and it was enough to cause me to miss completely but I'm not sure. I also didn't watch the deer for long enough as it ran off and I was too quick to chase after it. On the 2nd I feel that I hit it a little too high in the lungs and may have been in the dead zone with my shot placement. My rifle is sighted to hit 2 inches above my point of aim at 100 yards and this shot was about 150 aiming center mass behind the shoulder. I watched this deer run behind some trees and due to inexperience assumed it ran off to die. In actuality, it circled back around and came into view again where I could have easily made a follow up shot but didn't because I assumed it was a different deer. I would say that if you are a first time deer hunter like myself, you will be a lot better off hunting with a partner especially if you are hunting timber where your view will be obstructed. You're also better off placing your shot more forward on deer around the heart or possibly trying to break the scapula if you're using a bullet with good penetration. Hopefully, this post saves someone from making the same mistakes as I did so they don't learn this stuff the hard way. For now, I'm going to focus on my upcoming elk hunt in November and reflect on the things I've learned.
Dec 14 2020 10:13PM
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SSteezle
Posts: 9221 - Karma: 9,939
Just got a bow and hoping to get out next season once I practice shooting more. Cool to see other NS hunters
Dec 15 2020 9:31AM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Thanks to the good advice amongst the NS hunting and firearms threads this summer I got my first elk this year. Lots of work, very rewarding, and an enormous amount of meat!
Dec 15 2020 12:55PM
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_IRRELEVANT_
Posts: 944 - Karma: 4,423
Guys the squirrels are driving me crazy but I hate to take any animal and not use it. But every time I’ve tried to eat them they’ve been horrid. What’s your expirence/solution
Jan 10 2021 10:01AM
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iFlip
Posts: 4541 - Karma: 19,088
_IRRELEVANT_Guys the squirrels are driving me crazy but I hate to take any animal and not use it. But every time I’ve tried to eat them they’ve been horrid. What’s your expirence/solution

What kind of squirrel?
Jan 10 2021 10:32AM
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ModMommy
Posts: 10719 - Karma: 55,324
_IRRELEVANT_Guys the squirrels are driving me crazy but I hate to take any animal and not use it. But every time I’ve tried to eat them they’ve been horrid. What’s your expirence/solution

ngl I’ve killed a few as pest control and not used them, though fried legs have been pretty good. My last place we’d pop a few of, use the pelts, and then Todd them since they just started awful.
Jan 10 2021 11:36AM
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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,438
_IRRELEVANT_Guys the squirrels are driving me crazy but I hate to take any animal and not use it. But every time I’ve tried to eat them they’ve been horrid. What’s your expirence/solution


Fried legs or just take all the meat off a bunch of them and make pulled bbq sandwiches.
Jan 10 2021 1:46PM
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galardogod
Posts: 1693 - Karma: 5,115
_IRRELEVANT_Guys the squirrels are driving me crazy but I hate to take any animal and not use it. But every time I’ve tried to eat them they’ve been horrid. What’s your expirence/solution


Cookem in some bacon grease and eat as a brunch with a biscuit and gravy. Very good meal. If you really don’t like them, the foxes, coyotes and crows do and have no problem with you feeding them
Jan 10 2021 2:07PM
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_IRRELEVANT_
Posts: 944 - Karma: 4,423
iFlipWhat kind of squirrel?

Majority are grey squirrels
Jan 10 2021 5:49PM
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iFlip
Posts: 4541 - Karma: 19,088
_IRRELEVANT_Majority are grey squirrels


Those should eat quite well. Plenty of easy recipes online. Or, if you know anyone who is into fly fishing and ties their own flies, their tails are great for that. Of course you can cook them and still save the tails.
Jan 10 2021 6:23PM
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.frenchy
Posts: 18212 - Karma: 12,257
ahhhhh i just found this thread and im about to read it all. got a few ducks this year but nothing crazy. wood ducks and teal from some private land farm pond i have permission to hunt in CT

let too many deer walk by and by the last week of season they were nowhere to be found. gonna try for coyote this winter and into the summer
Jan 10 2021 8:53PM
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MaimHelp
Posts: 1685 - Karma: 13,242
Had a decent deer season, got a deer with my new bow in late season too. I usually don’t shoot 6 points but it was a 3 up and at 20 yards at 1pm, I had to take the shot



Jan 10 2021 9:47PM
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SendyMcSendyface
Posts: 2453 - Karma: 20,000
Well since seasons are shutting down in Ontario, looks like I'm eating tag soup. Learned some good shit though, firstly, don't live in Southern Ontario, cause it is crowded as fuck, and theres no public land for hours. At least I'm moving way up north in the fall, so hopefully will have better luck out there. Grats to yall that managed to fill freezers!
Jan 10 2021 11:02PM
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Sdot.
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 4,430
What tags did everyone put in for this year?

If anyone is from Alaska (or hunts here) I can give locations for the ones we put in for, but as far as species go, we did our usual Dall's sheep, bison, caribou, and moose. We skipped on the Alaska elk tags this year (we have an archery elk hunt in New Mexico already planned this fall, assuming we draw), and you don't need draw tags to hunt deer where we'd go.
Jan 11 2021 2:37PM
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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,438
Sdot.What tags did everyone put in for this year?

If anyone is from Alaska (or hunts here) I can give locations for the ones we put in for, but as far as species go, we did our usual Dall's sheep, bison, caribou, and moose. We skipped on the Alaska elk tags this year (we have an archery elk hunt in New Mexico already planned this fall, assuming we draw), and you don't need draw tags to hunt deer where we'd go.


We don't have to buy tickets for special hunt raffles here in WA until July, but im gonna go for the 3 deer tag this year and I might also put in for the mountain goat hunt. Moose is kind of pointless because they only issue 2 tags for the entire state - I think almost 7000 people bought tickets for that raffle last year.

Regardless of whether or not I get drawn for those, ill get a deer, elk, bear and cougar tag like every other year. I want to make an effort to get a deer, elk and black bear this year. Then I'm going to California for turkey in the spring.

I've always wanted to hunt caribou, moose, dalls sheep and bison. Sounds fucking cool. Those are all expensive trips though.
Jan 11 2021 6:41PM
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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,438





I recently figured out that I can leave my house, get a rabbit, be home and have it skinned and gutted faster than I can go to the grocery store and buy a chicken.
Jan 24 2021 5:00PM
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_IRRELEVANT_
Posts: 944 - Karma: 4,423
How do you even find enough rabbit to shoot with your bow. In nh it’s almost impossible to hunt them without dogs muchless a bow.
TheMoostafian





I recently figured out that I can leave my house, get a rabbit, be home and have it skinned and gutted faster than I can go to the grocery store and buy a chicken.
Jan 24 2021 6:59PM
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katrina
Posts: 2395 - Karma: 15,177
Elk (mainly cow) for meat, and also grouse.

270 win
30-06
22 LR (for grouse)

Want to try bow hunting but haven't yet.

Mostly hunt high alpine wilderness land out of a backpack with hubby.
Jan 24 2021 7:55PM
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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,438
_IRRELEVANT_How do you even find enough rabbit to shoot with your bow. In nh it’s almost impossible to hunt them without dogs muchless a bow.


These are different than wild cotton tails. The town I live in had a ton of rabbits escape from the fairgrounds like 10 years ago and they bred with wild rabbits. There are now thousands of them in like a 5 sq mile area.

There are plenty of cotton tails in the woods, but it takes me a full day to get 4 or 5.
Jan 24 2021 8:08PM
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dompuch
Posts: 1446 - Karma: 1,167
I live and hunt in Colorado- i use a 300 Win Mag and have harvested a deer and 2 antelope this season. Last year i got an elk! Nothing like knowing where your food comes from!
Jan 27 2021 10:44AM
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katrina
Posts: 2395 - Karma: 15,177
dompuchI live and hunt in Colorado- i use a 300 Win Mag and have harvested a deer and 2 antelope this season. Last year i got an elk! Nothing like knowing where your food comes from!


What's your gmu?
Jan 27 2021 10:56AM
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dompuch
Posts: 1446 - Karma: 1,167
katrinaWhat's your gmu?


500 and 501
Jan 27 2021 12:10PM
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katrina
Posts: 2395 - Karma: 15,177
dompuch500 and 501


Oh nice! I've been hunting 371/37 and 211/11 saving up points. Hoping to pull 44/45 this year for elk.
Jan 27 2021 1:02PM
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Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2298 - Karma: -11,017
I'm thinking of trying out muzzleloader elk hunting next season up near Granby. Hunting during the rut looks so damn fun. I just have to practice my calls because right now they sound like a cross between a dying cat and an ambulance siren
Jan 27 2021 5:20PM
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dompuch
Posts: 1446 - Karma: 1,167
katrinaOh nice! I've been hunting 371/37 and 211/11 saving up points. Hoping to pull 44/45 this year for elk.


Good luck!! Its been taking me 2-3 years to get an elk tag but im closer to the front range and the secret is out!
Jan 27 2021 5:25PM
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katrina
Posts: 2395 - Karma: 15,177
Craw_DaddyI'm thinking of trying out muzzleloader elk hunting next season up near Granby. Hunting during the rut looks so damn fun. I just have to practice my calls because right now they sound like a cross between a dying cat and an ambulance siren


To be fair though that's kind of what elk sound like
Jan 27 2021 5:38PM
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