Colorado Elk Camp

For the past 7 years I’ve been going to Colorado to hunt the wild and elusive wapiti. One of the main reasons I choose to return each year is the comradery among everyone there at Elk Camp. It’s a camp full of friends and family. And this year was no different from the rest.

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This year I rolled into camp to meet family and my friend Nick.  This would be Nick’s first elk hunt and he was chomping at the bit to hit the hills with rifle in hand. He was using a 7mm Rem Mag firing HSM Trophy Gold ammunition loaded with a Berger VLD 168 grain bullet. This combo has proven deadly on elk and I was determined to get him an opportunity over the coming days.

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Opening morning found us 6 miles from camp, with the sky flooding with light as we set up looking out over a pond. There were already some cows getting water, so we sat patiently in hopes of seeing a bull.

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An hour after sunrise Nick spotted more elk moving up the ravine. “Good bull in the back” he whispered. I knew his heart had to be pounding as the bull stepped into the open. BOOM! The report of the 7 mag rang out in the early morning air. “Good hit” I hissed.

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He turned around with a big grin across his face. My knees were shaking and I didn’t even shoot. In that moment I was so excited to be apart of his first elk kill.

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We made it down to the bull and I could easily see the excitement, respect and admiration of his first bull. That look everyone has on their first kill is truly something special to see.

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Soon we had the bull quartered up and ready to load on the horses, but the day wasn’t over. A cow stepped out across the ridge and with hands still covered in blood I set the crosshairs of the rifle on her and squeezed the trigger. She took a quick tumble and that was it. Cow tag filled!

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The rest of the trip was great. Our camp put down 5 bulls and 3 cows. My dad shot his biggest bull to date which I couldn’t have been happier to be there to help him skin it out.

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With the end of the season came time to leave Colorado once again and all the wonderful memories that were made. Lord willing we’ll be back next year to enjoy all the great things of Elk Camp.

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– Jay Siske