Hunting Elk in Colorado with Hornady’s Micah Sirek

By Hornady Manufacturing | The Hole Story

Published: March 11, 2019

An Authentic Wilderness Adventure

It was mid-October when Micah Sirek, Hornady’s marketing department employee, received a last-minute invitation to hunt elk in Colorado with his friends from the UK, Selena and Simon K Barr. This was an iconic western big game hunt, the kind Micah had always dreamed about since his early years of deer hunting with his dad.

Preparing for the Hunt

This was Micah’s second time elk hunting. Two years prior, he had gone on a 10-day, do-it-yourself bow hunt, where he encountered several bears, including a large one that he made sure to avoid by moving his food higher into the trees. Although he didn’t harvest an elk on that trip, he learned a lot about wilderness hunting and couldn’t wait for his next opportunity.

Hunting in the San Isabel National Forest

For this hunt, Micah and his friends were hunting over-the-counter, second rifle season in Colorado, with Full Draw Outfitters, a husband-and-wife team, Fred and Michele Eichler, who are good friends of Hornady. The group hunted on public land, including the breathtaking San Isabel National Forest, with its rugged Rocky Mountain tops capped in light snow and mixed forestation that had started changing color for the fall.

Glassing and Tracking the Elk

Each morning and afternoon, the group would go out to their glassing spots to search for elk. Micah’s guide, Zach Workman, explained the importance of understanding the thermals and wind shifts when hunting in the mountains, something Micah, who grew up hunting flat lands and rolling plains, had to quickly learn.

Taking the Shot

On the first morning, Micah and Zach spotted a legal bull elk within 15 minutes of legal shooting light, about 250 yards away. They maneuvered into a better position, with Micah setting up on a tripod for a stable shot. At 175 yards, Zach cow-called to stop the bull, and Micah took the shot, using Hornady’s new 300 PRC cartridge with a 212-gr ELD-X bullet. Though the bull was tough, the well-placed shot brought him down.

Conclusion

Micah’s elk hunting experience in the Colorado wilderness was a dream come true, filled with challenges and excitement. This authentic, wilderness adventure in the San Isabel National Forest provided Micah with memories that will last a lifetime.

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