Successful Elk Hunt: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

My buddy and I went out to hunt area 578 for elk with muzzleloader. I wasn't able to make it out there to scout, so we were pretty much guessing where to go. We found a section of national forest bordered by state land. It was as good as any to give it a try.
The first night, I saw a spike bull. He never gave me the opportunity to shoot. All I ever saw was his horns and top of his head. Day Two: My buddy goes into a clear-cut and finds another spike with three cows about 300 yds away. He sneaks within 75 yds and pulls the trigger. The cap goes off but the gun doesn't fire. The elk see him but aren't spooked. He manages to get another cap on and misses.

Day three: We spend the entire day in camp. The rain is coming down so hard that it isn't worth the pain. My buddy is missing momma and wants to get home.He is ready to pack up and leave without any animals. I talk him into doing the morning hunt with the option of staying later if the weather is good and we see elk.
Day 4: The weather is beautiful. We sit and watch a clear-cut for a couple of hours with no signs of life. My buddy starts heading out to pack up. I tell him that I am going to take a walk through the woods following one of the trails I have seen them use.
As soon as I get in there, I smell

. A few more steps was enough to scare them. I didn't get a shot though because of the woods being too thick. I continue down the trail and hear more

. I realize that I probably just spooked them into another clear-cut and was waiting for someone to shoot. Well, no shots, so I head into the clear cut. I glass it over and see nothing. Well, after the trek I am a little tired so I take in the beauty of a snow covered Mt Adams. Below me, I hear more noise. It is a big cow coming through a thicket with her neck straight out, eyes winde open and nostrils flaring. I figure if I don't take this elk we go home empty handed. As soon as her front shoulder came out, BOOM. Perfect hit. She still manages to run downhill. She is now followed by a raghorn and three more cows. Dang, horn envy. I quickly reload, just in case. The rest of the herd is running in circles, not knowing what to do. My cow is pointed towards the trees and on her feet. I shoot at her again to be safe. That is when I realize that she was standing dead. She was leaning on a branch of a fallen tree. This was definately the lead cow. She was HUGE.