USA: Unbelievable Success x4 An Epic Hunting Season

Stetsonham

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Well, folks, I thought I’d write up just one of these hunts. But I couldn’t help myself this season was simply too unreal not to share the whole story. What a fall it’s been, with unforgettable adventures, jaw-dropping success, and family memories I’ll cherish forever. So let’s dive in.

The Hunt of a Decade: Colorado Elk
The year started with a bang when my brother drew a coveted Colorado elk tag – one that took him ten years to get. Naturally, we didn’t take it lightly. We scouted, packed up the truck, and settled in for eleven intense days of hunting. The first few days we camped out in the truck, roughing it.
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Then, we upgraded to a wall tent to really dig in for the long haul. Close encounter after close encounter, we saw over 100 bulls
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but it was on day 12 that the stars aligned. I called in a bull to 65 yards, and my brother made a perfect shot, ending his ten-year wait with a stunning 6x6 bull, grossing around 335.
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My wife even tagged along for a few days, and our dad watched from 200 yards away, glassing from the rocks. Seeing my brother take that shot after all these years was something special.
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The Exclusive Utah Adventure
Next up, I got a once-in-a-lifetime invite to hunt on a private ranch in Utah – 26,000 acres all to ourselves. Let me tell you, this place was next-level. Four days to hunt, low fence, in peak rut. Bulls everywhere, and big ones.
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We stayed in a cabin so exclusive even George Bush Jr. had been there four times. Seriously! It all came down to the wire ten minutes left on day four, and my friend took the shot. An incredible bull, netting right around 363. I’ll probably never hunt a place like that again, but I’m glad I got to be part of it.
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Colorado Rifle Season with My Better Half
Just when I thought things couldn’t get better, it was time for third rifle season in Colorado. This time, my wife had a buck tag, and I had an elk tag. We spent the first couple of days tracking a wily buck who kept slipping away,
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but on day three, we spotted a unique, tall buck. It was go time. With my brother glassing from a distance, my wife and I snuck in for the shot.
At 200 yards, she made a perfect heart shot (off sticks) and took down her best buck yet – a 9x6 mule deer, her biggest and most unique trophy.
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To top it all off, earlier that morning, I bagged a 5x5 to fill the freezer.
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It was one for the books, and she’s thrilled to hang that buck on the wall.


Now, here I am with a freezer packed to the brim and a good 50 pounds of meat sticks to hand out to friends and family. This fall has been nothing short of magical, and some days I have to pinch myself it doesn’t get better than this. Next up? A March hunt with Jaco NWKE and the whole family, where I’ll be chasing a big eland. I can hardly wait.

Thanks for sharing in my unbelievable fall. Here’s to the memories, the meat in the freezer, and the family who makes it all worth it. Cheers!
 

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Excellent. I have 18 or so Colorado elk points that i need to use at some point in the next 1-3 years.
 
I’m open to any good unit that won’t be overrun with people. Would like a quality area with good access. I know the NW trophy units (1, 2, 10, 201) were hit hard with winter kill in 2022-23.
 
Great for you!!!

I'm trying to get it done in Wyoming, but it will be several years before I build up enough PP's to get drawn for elk again.

We had an epic year in Wyoming in 2015 when my son was a senior in high school.
3 pronghorn, several grouse, several ducks, and many post-spawn brown trout on streamers.

The most successful trip I've ever been on.

Everything was DIY!
 
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Congratulations on your success. You are going to live hunting with Jaco and NKWE next spring. I shot a big eland bull with them this past summer after a long tracking hunt
 
Congratulations! Seems like it was a year you will never forget. Good luck on your Eland hunt.
 
@Stetsonham congratulations to you and all your family members on wonderful hunts and trophies. I am particularly impressed with your brother taking an archery bull at 65 yards. That is quite a shot! What was the bow and arrow set up he was using? It was quite effective.
 
I have got to say you had an incredible season. Well done. Nice pictures too. Congrats on your hunts!
Bruce
 
Wow, that is a fall that you will never forget, well done-
 
Those are some great adventures, congratulations to you and your family. Great eating and some taxidermy to remind you of those hunts for decades to come
 
Heck yeah!
That’s what adventure is all about success
 
Awesome. Just awesome!
What a great combination of experiences, and I love the passion you exude in your recounting for other’s hunts and successes, not just your own. That to me is the real passion of being outdoors. Just the experience of being there is more than enough to get the juices flowing. Again, congrats to all!
 
@Stetsonham congratulations to you and all your family members on wonderful hunts and trophies. I am particularly impressed with your brother taking an archery bull at 65 yards. That is quite a shot! What was the bow and arrow set up he was using? It was quite effective.
His set up I believe is
Prime bow that’s 62lbs
Lighter arrow low 400 grains
100 grain 2 blade 2” beast broadhead expandable
Almost a pass through.
My brother is a great shot spent most of his time practicing between 70-80 yards this summer.
 
Awesome. Just awesome!
What a great combination of experiences, and I love the passion you exude in your recounting for other’s hunts and successes, not just your own. That to me is the real passion of being outdoors. Just the experience of being there is more than enough to get the juices flowing. Again, congrats to all!
Yeah yes sir I very much enjoy helping get my people on great animals! My favorite photo is the one of me and my brother grabbing hands over his bull, my father took that purely in the moment and I didn’t even know he had taken it till couple days later. Pure joy in my face if you zoom in haha
 
Great for you!!!

I'm trying to get it done in Wyoming, but it will be several years before I build up enough PP's to get drawn for elk again.

We had an epic year in Wyoming in 2015 when my son was a senior in high school.
3 pronghorn, several grouse, several ducks, and many post-spawn brown trout on streamers.

The most successful trip I've ever been on.

Everything was DIY!
That awesome! DIY can be a struggle but rewarding
 
Congrats on a great season with your family.

Now go get that eland, and hold out for an old one :D Cheers:
 

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