Finally got drawn for elk.

[Lennyjoe]

Had to go to antlerless in order to get a tag but hey, no matter how long you cook them horns, their still hard to chew.

Figures that I'd get drawn on the year that I'm retiring and possibly moving out of Arizona. Might just buy a lifetime license while I'm here so I can put in for elk tags in the future. Don't know where I'll end up later on this year but I plan on coming back in Oct to fill the freezer with a nice elk.

Sumpnz, looking forward to hunting with you in the future.

I'm working up 180gr loads as I type for the -06. Right now I'm using Barnes X and Nosler Partition bullets and IMR 4350 powder to see which one works best. Also going to try the Barnes Triple Shock bullets as well.

Anyone else got suggestions on deep penetrating bullets/loads for an -06?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I like either a 180 or 165 grain Nosler Partition Jacket loaded ahead of a max charge of H414 or Reloader 22 for elk.

 

[Steve H]

I use the 160 gr. Barnes X out of my 7 mag for elk. 58.0 grs. of 4350 works good on cows in Utah.

 

[oregonhunter]

I like the factory 180gr core-lokts.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Vern, did you recover any bullets post shot and if so, how fragmented were they?

 

[waffentomas]

Barnes and fail safes are what all the elk hunters in my camp use. They have been efficient killers every year. I use the 180gr Barnes in my .308.

Tom

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Vern, did you recover any bullets post shot and if so, how fragmented were they?

The only Nosler PJs I've recovered exhibit the classic Nosler "fan" -- the front core is gone, the front jacket material sticking out and trailing behind like fan blades. Mostly, all the Noslers leave is one big through-and-through hole.

My most memorable was when I shot a bull elk with my .35 Brown-Whelen (in this case a 225 Nosler PJ). The left front leg fell off when skinning, and there was about a .60 hole in the chest. Rolling the elk over and skinning out the right side, the right leg fell off -- and the chest exit hole was about .60 again. The bullet disappeared downrange, and for all I know the crater is still radioactive.

 

[Bwana John]

Lennyjoe,
Congratulations! Are you a little happer about the AZ draw this year?

Are you hunting unit 9 early season? I spend quite a bit of time in this area, and took a cow during late season last year. It was REALLY cold late season last year!

If you have any questions about the unit PM me, Id be happy to talk about terrain, its a great area with everything from heavy timber to PJ forest, to open sagebrush. The most important thing is to watch out for the boundry of Grand Canyon National Park (Thou shall not hunt the Kings elk!)

Again, Congrats!

PS-the lack of antlers on their heads just make um taste better!

 

[Lennyjoe]

A bit happier but its going to most likely be my last year hunting in Arizona with me retiring in Oct from the Air Force.

Sumpnz hunted area 9 the last two years and he's given me some good intel as well. Russell tank seems to be a good area if I recall our conversations in the past. Will be breaking out the maps and such doing some pre-season scouting. I plan on getting up there in June/August/Sept prior to the hunt to see what's going on.

Any other intel is definitely appreciated.

 

[Lennyjoe]

A bit happier but its going to most likely be my last year hunting in Arizona with me retiring in Oct from the Air Force.

Sumpnz hunted area 9 the last two years and he's given me some good intel as well. Russell tank seems to be a good area if I recall our conversations in the past. Will be breaking out the maps and such doing some pre-season scouting. I plan on getting up there in June/August/Sept prior to the hunt to see what's going on.

Any other intel is definitely appreciated.

 

[sumpnz]

Hey Lenny - I haven't been over here in a little while. Definitely looking forward to hunting with you. I'll be bringing probably both of my CZ 550's. The one in 6.5x55 I used to kill the elk you tasted, and the 9.3x62 I recently acquired. Can't wait to get a scope for it and sight it in. It came with some 286gr PJ's at 2400fps. I'm thinking though of trying out the 250 and 286gr TSX's, though I've got some 250gr Ballistic Tips and 286gr Prvi Partizans along with a few 270gr Speers that I can play with too.