I thought seriously about applying for at least a deer tag in Montana this year but decided that dealing with one would just be too much hassle. And a lot more meat than I need. Shooting a buck certainly wouldn't be a problem! Pretty much on demand. On four different occasions I took four guys out to get their bucks last fall and the longest it took was three hours. Usually saw a dozen to fifty deer a day while hunting pheasants. Would love to shoot one again but I'm satisfied gutting and dragging them out for others. I'm not real thrilled about butchering (though pretty dang good at it) so that's usually left to the shooters. I am thinking seriously about returning to the West Side this fall and hiking up the mountain where I shot most of my elk. Lots of blue grouse up there. It would be nice to see that country one last time before my wheels give out. Hopefully it hasn't changed. Will break my heart if it has. A lot depends on how my daughter makes out with this pregnancy. She's nearly in the barn. They may induce next week. Still no name. I'm leaning towards Ted Williams ... could call him Teddy Bill. He would probably be born with a lip full of chewing tobacco. Ugh!

Congrats WAM! Best of luck to you on your hunt. I like the 7mm Mag for mule deer but if you will be hunting elk at the same time, your .300 Wby sounds pretty good to me with the 7mm as backup. I always like the idea of your .35 Whelen for elk but think it is a little slow for mule deer. I like to be able to crack them on the run and 7mm speed makes it quite predictable.

I'm set with a SW Montana elk tag and a deer tag too. They just came in the mail today and I am sleeping with them for the rest of this month just for the fun of it!

Can I go too?!

I believe I will be lucky enough to draw a tag for the elusive Preference Point in Colorado. Cousin of the elk, but much easier to procure.

This will be my third in a row, so should draw for it's bigger cousin next year if the stars align for a hunt.

By the by...last elk hunt in Colorado I shot a Ruger M77 in 338 Win Mag. Got caught in a late October blizzard, never mad it to elevation, and ended up taking the onliest elk my party saw (until the day I left camp, of course) which was a smallish spike with flesh like butter. Small enough and placed close enough to access that we could hoist it entire into the rear end of my truck (no quartering) and therefore I had the hide tanned as a trophy. I run my fingers across it every morning on the way down the hall, and my boys used to go tell it "thanks" for the meal after finishing their "elkburger helper" or what not.

OH, if you are in the area between Butte and Helena the first week of rifle season or a few days before, stop by for a day or two. Would love to jaw with you any time and I expect the mountains to be a slice of heaven. Sounds like this might be a ways from your happy hunting ground but you never know.

Crapped out on deer, buddy got his. I should be ok on elk (limited draw area archery) and same location/season as my hunting partner. I doubt he will draw an elk so at least we have one of each between us.

We both drew pronghorn in CO (rifle) (backdoor just posted)

CDOW cut tags in a few areas, unfortunately my deer area was one.

I hope WY is good to us.

I have to wait for June 15th to find out for a moose tag in Maine. I drew 3 years ago, so I doubt I'll pull a tag. Although I have my own application this year (after a 2 year wait), plus I'm sub-permittee on 2 others, so my odds are better....though not by much.

WAM
I am low on 22 myself but have a little R25 left and 3 boxes loaded. Still waiting for draw results.

Wam,
I am in the same situation with powder. I have been loading for this dang 38 super and pistol powder is like gold over here.

Thanks but .44 is too much weight. Six inch Highway Patrolman is probably more than I'd want to carry but it'll have to do.

We'll see if I can swing it. I formerly packed horses for USFS in the Avon area. Where abouts are you guys going to be hunting? Has your wrangler ever packed meat before? Or has he ever packed anything? I can certainly get you guys headed in the right direction re the techniques with horses and long before you head west. I can do that long distance easily (though I would sure like to be doing it hands on again). If you get your elk over with quickly it might also be possible to run up to the Hi-Line and take a deer. Can't guarantee a monster buck but shooting something with horns shouldn't be a problem. And certainly nothing wrong with taking a big dry doe muley if worse comes to worse. They eat just fine.

Have not drawn any tags, but I received an envelope full of tickets from Tuscaloosa last Friday, I think they will be enjoyed.

RTR,

Robert

Dakota, I may loop down that way looking for some new bird hunting digs. The three dogs will be in tow so it may not be possible for me to shoot your elk for you. ;-) But I guess I could show you how to do it ... and stick my foot up your poop chute when you muff it. Seriously, it would be great to get out and stretch my legs in the mountains again but will have to wait for my brother to bring my big pistol over from the West Side when he meets me in Havre. I can't carry a big game rifle when bird hunting (or maybe I can but I won't) so I would have to do the unthinkable and strap on the .357 hog-leg. Ugh! Oh well, do what ya gotta do. Actually, I don't think I have ever worn one of my sidearms on my side. The .22 will still go in the backpack. No need to be in a hurry to shoot grouse. Something big and furry with teeth and claws might be a different matter. Also, some of the hunters out and about that first week (especially the partying types!) can be more dangerous than the predacious wildlife.