East Wenaha Success

[niceshot]

I can remember sitting in my boat with the kids when I got a text saying results are out.  I was praying for a  NOT Selected as my back was in the worst shape it has been and I was scheduled to go see the doc about surgery.  Well the man upstairs had other plans and next to East Wenaha was selected.  It only took 14 years so I figured right then and there to pull on the big boy pants and get my ass in shape. 
From everything that I heard, this was going to be the most strenuous hunt I can do in this state so I thought it wise to hire a guide.  Boy was that the smart thing to do.  Beau Olson of Wilderness Expeditions LLC was the one selected after making a couple calls.  He was a wealth of knowledge and I could not have been happier with my decision. 
We hiked to camp and if anyone tells you that this country is not for the weak you better listen.  I THOUGHT I was in shape but I was no where near Wenaha shape.  There is no setting on a treadmill, stair climber, or any machine that I have found that will get you in the kind of shape you need to be in.  It is doable but man it is some STEEP country.  Once we arrived at camp it was time to chill and relax.  Camp was a huge wall tent with all the creature comforts that one could want.  Later that evening the BULLS started off and it was incredible to hear that many bulls that close.  I can remember waking up to one bugle around 5 in the morning and looking over at Beau and having him say "how about that alarm clock". 
Day two was spent getting gear ready for the hunt and just hydrating for the work that lie ahead.  It was a very long day I can say and that night was even crazier with bugles.  It made for a long sleepless night. 
Day three was the opener and we were eating oatmeal and drinking coffee in the AM planning on what bull to go after.  I was anxious to get after it but Beau was the wise man saying we are not walking out of camp in the dark.  We had Bulls within 100's of yards and he did not want to spook them.  We were on bulls extremely quick.  One that we keep pushing sounded like a beast but he did not want to play.  He would answer a bugle but he just keep creeping away.  Probably on our 3rd bugle we got a different response from a bull that was very close in the next drainage.  We elected to jump over there and pursue this one.  Same thing happened when we got there so we elected to go silent until we thought we were in his back yard.  When we decided to rip of a bugle we were immediately cut off by the bull that was maybe 80-100 yards away.  He was not a happy camper at this point.  He came down the hill and once I found my lane and figured out my draw points it was game on.  He did just as I wanted and when he came behind a thicket I drew.  Unfortunately he stopped directly behind the thicket and decided to bugle and demolish a tree.  After what seemed like hours and me trying to do anything from letting down I had to let down.  This is after me trying everything humanly possible to not do this as it 9/10 leads to animals running into the other country.  This bull had no idea as he was so content on delimbing this tree and bugling that I realized I was in the clear.  He then did an 180 and side hilled in front of me and I found my new draw point and then stopped him directly behind a tree at 40 yards.  In my mind I'm thinking strike three and he is gone.  He was so pinned on the caller that he still had no idea that I was there.  I still was not at full draw and I told myself to not look at the rack and just concentrate on his feet.  When he moved one, draw.  Well he did just that and I came to full draw and he stopped at 40 yards with his leg back.  Killable shot but then by the grace of god he put that front leg forward opening up the perfect shot and the arrow hit its mark.  He crashed for what seemed like a couple seconds and then nothing.  We were giving thumbs up and still being quite when we heard him tip over.  That sound will resonate in my mind for eternity.  We did the right thing and gave him an hour eating everything in our packs to consume the time.  The bull died within seconds of the shot and maybe went 50 yards.  The Rage Hypodermic is one of the most deadly broad heads I have seen and I'm sold on them now.   
Beau asked me how big and I told him an OK 6.  I was so focused on making the shot I did not want to look at his rack.  When we walked up on him boy was I surprised.  He is much nicer than an OK 6 by this guys standards.  It was high-fives, hugs, lots of thanks given to the man up stairs and to my guides.   I would be lying if I said a tear was not shed.  I have been debating on posting this for weeks as some people really come across as boisterous and I am not that type.  By no means is this to brag as I wish each and every one of you the success that I had this year.  We have all heard the phrase "trip of a lifetime", well I'm not sure that even remotely come close to this trip.  I harvested an animal that is truly remarkable and along this journey I gained a wonderful friend, Beau Olson.  I can say if I was eating tag soup right now the last part about gaining a great friend would still be true and the time spent in that county would still be with me until I'm 6 feet under.  Typing this I still have a grin from ear to ear and if it keeps up I'm afraid I will take on the resemblance of the Joker   If you think this trip ends there it does not.  More to come:)

[elkaholic123]

Congrats.....Stud bull for sure 

[ElkBOW79]

Awesome Bull!  Great Job!!

[ryanj]

  nice bull !

[yakimarcher]

What a STUD!!! Congratulations.

[frazierw]

hunted that unit last year, and you are right about the county, it is TOUGH.  Awesome bull, something you should be proud of!

[mfswallace]

Thanks for sharing!!

[SeatoSummit88]

HOLY ELK!  Stud.  Look at his neck!  Healthy animal!  nice job!!!!

[rosscrazyelk]

Congrats nice bull

[floatinghat]

Congrats, great bull and thanks for sharing.

[jmscon]

Awesome bull!!! Congrats! Thanks for sharing the story and the pics!

[jackelope]

Congrats on a great bull and thanks for sharing.

[Gringo31]

Very cool...

Congrats!

[coachcw]

congrats on a great bull .

[carpsniperg2]

Congrats dandy bull