Tags, sheds, news: all about Elk

[grayghost]

Anyone want to post something about drawing tags, finding sheds, getting your mount back from the Taxidermist or anything about Elk, go ahead. I'll start: again Tennessee will open our Elk tags to all. Go to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to find out how to enter the draw. Last year I think it was $10 to enter and we have some BIG bulls. Be aware: it's no cake walk. Our Elk live in some rough and rugged parts of the State (East) but all 5 tag holders scored bulls.. Good luck, grayghost

[Goody]

Do elk loose there antlers? There are two places here in Western NY not five miles from my house that raise elk. All of them still have antlers.
Goody

[ColoHunter]

I saw a nice bull yesterday while shed hunting that still had his antlers attached (around 320" bull). Very nice to see.

Here is my best bull (2006) Colorado OTC bull.




And my bull and my brothers 2004 archery Colorado OTC bull

[Dan Morris]

CH, those are impressive heads!!!!!Perhaps I should folliow you!!LOL
Dan

[ColoHunter]

Thanks Dan ! Something about chasing elk you just have to do every year.

[grayghost]

Goody: yes, all antlered game shed their antlers in late winter to early spring. They soon begin regrowing a new set soon thereafter. That's why we talk about them being in velvet during the spring and summer, which begins to dry and strip off in early fall. Good question to ask.
Only our Pronghorn Antelope of the western States shed their horns. To my knowledge, they are the only horned animal in the world that does this, and they are indigenous only to North America, stretching from N. Mexico (Sonoran Pronghorn Antelope) to Montana. I'm not sure if southern Canada has any, but maybe some of our neighbors to the north can answer that???

CH; as Dan says, those are two great looking bulls! Congrats to you and your brother!
gg

[ColoHunter]

gg,
Thanks and you are absolutely correct about the antelope. They are the only horned animal that shed there horns every year.

Now back to elk ! Colorado has a few changes this year, the biggest being no more statewide muzzleloader tags. You must pick a particular unit and there is know telling how many PP's it will take to draw some units. Another big change is the lengthening of third season, it went from seven to nine days. All the rifle seasons are starting six days later this year also which is bad for the first rilfe season elk hunters, but very good for the third rifle season muley hunters.

To be a successful elk hunter takes alot of hard work and putting yourself in the right area to find elk. People put in for years for trophy units to find that bull of a lifetime, but the key is to learn a unit that holds elk and LEARN IT VERY WELL !!!! (Better than your own back yard) I have ran into guys where I hunt, and have hunted my whole life, from other states that have been hunting the same unit as long as I have coming back year after year and do very well.

[MtnMike2]

Great trophies! I hear you on learning an area. I changed areas a few years ago and have been concentrating on learning it. I'm tempted to hunt muzzle loader season this year but think my odds are better in first season - I'll hunt again between Hayden and Steamboat Lake SP.

Mike

[Goody]

Thanks grayghost. Will check it out to see when they loose them here.
Goody

[ColoHunter]

Thought I would throw up some elk hunting pics to get everyones blood pumping for the up and coming elk hunting season.

My very first bull 1988 (I was 18) Colorado

My 2006 Colorado bull

My brothers 2004 Colorado bull

My nephews 2008 Colorado bull

Me with my buddies 2007 Colorado bull

My 2005 Colorado bull

My brothers 2003 Colorado bull

The Colorado bull I helped my taxidermist find 2007

My buddy Barrets 2004 Colorado bull

My meat cutters 2008 Colorado bull

The first Colorado bull I seen my father take 1976


I hope this gets the blood pumping !

[Dan Morris]

Dang nice heads....that gin pole rig on that Power Wagon sure brings back memories!!!!LOL
Dan

[grayghost]

Nice pics, thanks for posting!

[ColoHunter]

Thanks guys ! My brother and I went out shed hunting today (instead of working ) and we found one of the biggest elk sheds we have ever found.

[scalerman]

Lots of antelope in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. Found some antelope shed while deer hunting last fall.

[grayghost]

What a toad shed Colorado. Just think, that bull is probably still around. Would be nice to see you guys put a tag on him. Good hunting this year! gg