Zachary,
As promised, I am posting up recent elk hunt in CO. Saw about 50 elk, cows and small bulls. Never got king kong in front of cross hairs but by far my most successful hunt to date. I ate my either or tag but that was by choice. First night in drop camp we had herds of elk migrate through our campsite all hours of night. Animals drank out of spring next to tent and then bulls would bugle literally 10' from tent. Chills from toes to hair (what's left anyway...) Bulls kept us up all night...gee wasn't that too bad!!4 hour horseback ride to camp through prettiest scenery man can lay eyes onto. Tough hunting at 10,650'. Too warm during day up to 65 and down to 15 at night. Hunted down into canyons to find bulls but just couldn't get what I wanted so I will have to wait to next year. Here is an interesting point, I carried a Remington Sendero 300 WM all day and it didn't bother me one bit. I also carried an external frame backpack of about 40#'s so I can't see how loosing a pound or 2 on a rifle would make any difference to me at all. I prefer a rifle that is stable and has the ability to reach out even off-hand. The Sendero gives me that platform. Plus I am shooting Nosler 200 gr. Accubond at 2950 fps so the extra weight helps tame recoil a bit. I sometimes think the weight of a rifle is over exaggerated in comparison to rest of weight you are carrying. Lots of 6x6 bulls taken in this area but all were rookies and not the bruiser I was after. One animal I hunted was rubbing trees over 6' off ground and I have pics to prove it since I am standing next them and I am over 6'4". Same critter was breaking 4" diameter trees in half. Hopefully he will be still there next year since I reserved same drop camp for 2004. Drove 3012 miles round trip, averaged 9.6 mpg with PU camper and towing box trailer behind my 97 RAM 2500 5.9L with 4:10 gears so it did well even with 113,000 miles on it. $502 gas, 315 gallons at an average of $1.59/gallon. If anyone is interested, I have name and contacts for the outfitter. I was pleased with everything they did for us.
Muddyboots
