2018 Elk Hunt
I wanted to give all of you a recap of the 2018 December Elk
Hunt here at Canada Creek Ranch.
The week prior to the hunt we brushed trails and opened
cables clearing all the snowmobile trails on the ranch getting
ready for the Elk Hunt.
The week of the hunt, our shooting range opened on
Thursday prior to opening day. The team at the range did an
excellent job getting the hunters ready. Each hunter was run
through a series of shots trying to establish a pattern and
then a 100-yard gong shot. Thank you for your hard work
guys we appreciate your efforts getting the hunters ready.
On Friday all the hunters gathered in Johannesburg for their
orientation to the hunt given by the DNR. Then our very
own guides and scouts meeting that evening at the Ranch
House. We had over 75 CCR Members that volunteered to
help with the hunt this year. Wow, what a great turnout. You
could feel the anticipation building as the meeting ended.
After a restless night behind all of us we gathered again in
the Ranch House with all the hunters and their companions
for a great breakfast and some quick field notes before going
into the woods.
The hunt started with animals being sighted everywhere on
the ranch and within the first hour reports were coming in
about successful hunters wanting an animal pick up from
the ranch staff. We had a great lunch in the woods at our
riffle range. everyone out there had a story to tell. By the end
of the day we had an amazing 9 elk tagged, filling the Elk
Pole in front of the ranch house. The opening day tally was 6
cows and 3 Bulls (1) 5x5, (1) 6x6 and (1) 6x7.
Day 2 – started much like opening day with breakfast and
animals everywhere on the club. Lunchtime was a buzz once
again this day we were having trouble getting the guns in
the right spot and by the end of the day we only filled 3 cow
tags.
Day 3 we were back on our game again and with the weather
warming up we were having trouble tracking animals. In
the morning we took a beautiful 6x6 and then nothing until the evening when we finally connected with another 5x5 bull
and 3 cows. Only one animal was taken inside our wire on
this day.
Day 4 the weather was 45* but we still did great taking 5
animals 2 cow and 3 bulls (1) 4x5 taken on a farm in Joburg,
(1) 5x5 off Shinglemill Rd. and (1) 6x6 taken off Roth Rd.
Day 5 the weather remained warm taking only (1) cow. The
animals on the ranch were now very skittish and it was
increasingly harder to approach them.
Day 6 the weather was warm in the morning and as the day
progressed the temp dropped with a front moving in and
seeing some misty rain, we were only able to tag (1) cow.
Day 7 we got skunked…. This was a long hard day, not that
we did not see animals we just could not get a gun in the
right place at the right time. Then at the end of the day we
finally got a shot on an animal. However, the we had a bad
shot placement and the animal walked away leaving us to
track until 8:30 pm.
Day 8 We resumed our tracking of the wounded animal all
day until dark again. We were not successful finding that
animal. However, we filled 2 more tags (1) Bull tag in Joburg
and (1) cow tag off Roth Rd. We continued to hunt the rest of
the day until darkness fell upon us. After the hunt we
gathered at the ranch house, we found out that the last two
hunters we were going home. Concluding the 2018 CCR Elk
Hunt.
Thank you, to each and every one of you, for your hard work
and commitment to our Elk Herd Management. Without you
we would not be nearly as successful as we are.
Don’t forget to fill out your nominations for the spring
banquet. If you’re not sure who to vote for ask a friend for
details.
It was a great week and as always great seeing all of you.
Chuck C3 Whitmire
Elk Hunt Coordinator
Canada Creek Ranch
John Gaylord bagged a nice cow with help
from Guide Chris Williams. John Zerfas is happy with his nice bull, guided by Rob Wilson.
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