Ramblings of an insomniac elk hunter

[Ripper]

So here I am wide awake thinking about elk season that starts tomorrow. Been laying here for a couple hours now, drifting in and out of consciousness. Dreaming about where I want to go, what I might see. My thoughts go back to prior hunts, what went well, what I should have done.........Anyone else out there in a similar situation! I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[Ripper]

So, later on this morning when I get off work, early of course, myself and another member of the forum will be heading down to the Castle Rock area. I'm sure we'll be alone since no one else knows there are elk down that way. We'll scout out some area's we've hunted before, then look for new spot's that may be worth a shot. Going to be down that way for 3 day's, then if we end up without an animal I'll be headed back next weekend. I drive a big red Chevy truck with a matching canopy, so so if you see one with 2 bald guy's in it come on over and say hi. I'll pull out my Coleman stove and brew a pot of coffee. Of course this can only happen mid day, otherwise I'll be in the thick stuff or watching the edge of a clear cut.

[Selkirk]

I've been losing sleep lately thinking about late whitetail hunting in unit 113.  I saw a real trophy last year and he's been messing with my mind.  Good luck.

[shoot-em-dead]

UGhh I can't say that I've had insomnia- but elk fever has set in for me. Good luck

[Ripper]

These last few days before the opener are always the worst! I wish all my fellow hunters out there good luck, and a reminder to be safe. Nothing is worth risking your life or the life of others. DO NOT USE YOUR RIFLE SCOPE AS BINOCULARS!!!! I see it every year and it makes me cringe.

[jtw]

I've been waking up in the middle of the night thinking, "Did I pack my X" then remembering I did and going back to sleep.
I'm taking off after work today to meet up with my dad in the Gifford Pinchot. He's camping out there today to get us a good spot.

[billjr64]

 I`ll be in the Coweeman as well, it`s going to be a tough hunt this year as I have not been seeing many bulls like in years past. I think the 2500+ cow tags the WDFW has been giving out is finally having the effect they were looking for. Good luck out there. Bill

[jtw]

Almost forgot, good luck everyone!

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

save a few for me ripper as i still have a few days to go hunt late season archery.     Good luck!

[RifleRidge]

Almost forgot, good luck everyone!

 , Good luck to all !

[Ripper]

Maybe I'll see you out there Billjr. We usually split our time between Coweeman and Winston. Last year we saw elk everywhere but could never get a good shot. I'm sure the big boy's are around, you just have get in the thick of things and find them! I have 2 1/2 hours to go before I can leave work. Come on Come on................Oh man......I think is slow................. So let's start an unofficial pole for the people who stop by this thread. Given a choice, would you rather take a nice typical or a gnarly non typical? I know most people would say either but that's not a choice here. I like a lot of character in deer racks, but there is something very regal about a big perfectly symmetrical elk rack. So I'm going with typical.

[Elkrunner]

I can never sleep until I am sleeping in the fresh air of the mountains.  The last week prior to a hunt is horrible for my sleep patterns.

[Button Nubbs]

Oh I feel for ya ripper. 2 years in a row my elk season ended on opening day. I guess I shouldn't complain but 5.5 hours of elk hunting in 2 years just aint enough for an addict. I am already frothing at the mouth for sept to roll back around  

On the typical/non typical thing I'd have to say typical unless it a true non-typical TOAD! But to be honest "3" is fine with me!

Good luck to all you mf hunters! I hope to see some toads!

[Elkrunner]

Oh I feel for ya ripper. 2 years in a row my elk season ended on opening day. I guess I shouldn't complain but 5.5 hours of elk hunting in 2 years just aint enough for an addict. I am already frothing at the mouth for sept to roll back around  

On the typical/non typical thing I'd have to say typical unless it a true non-typical TOAD! But to be honest "3" is fine with me!

Good luck to all you mf hunters! I hope to see some toads!

I wish I had the problem..want to trade next year?

[billjr64]

 I`m a meat hunter so any legal bull for me{3 point or better}. Of coarse if I have a choice I`ll take the legal bull with the biggest body, horns just go on the pile with the rest of them, I find alot of shed horns every year, and kill my share of bucks and bulls. My pickup is easy to recognize, red 06 tacoma with a work box in back{fire extinguisher and spill kit decals}, usually you`ll only see my truck parked at an intersection somewhere near my hunt, although I have no problem shooting them from the road.

[Screaminreelz]

It's almost being like a little kid on Xmas eve waiting until you can get up earlier enough to catch a peek at Santa, hoping he brought you everything you've ever wanted.... tonight i might reach REM but doubtful.... I LOVE ELK SEASON!!!!

[762Armo]

Maybe I'll see you out there Billjr. We usually split our time between Coweeman and Winston. Last year we saw elk everywhere but could never get a good shot. I'm sure the big boy's are around, you just have get in the thick of things and find them! I have 2 1/2 hours to go before I can leave work. Come on Come on................Oh man......I think is slow................. So let's start an unofficial pole for the people who stop by this thread. Given a choice, would you rather take a nice typical or a gnarly non typical? I know most people would say either but that's not a choice here. I like a lot of character in deer racks, but there is something very regal about a big perfectly symmetrical elk rack. So I'm going with typical.

hey Ripper, do you happen to know if the gates open at Coweeman?

[billjr64]

 Raghorn dreams waking me when I should be sleeping, I see a mid day nap in my hunt may be appropriate. I`m worried about the area I plan on hunting at daylight, it`s always so crowded that even the drive to get there can be unnerving. But there are plenty of elk there. Part of my problem with nailing down a specific area to hunt is that I have been cruising timber on the tree farm for many years now, too many little honey holes that I told myself to hunt when I found them, too short of a season to hunt them all. If I could get just a couple more hours sleep I`ll be ready to roll. Good luck out there. Bill

[BOWHUNTER45]

  Hope you all bag up one ... yEAH I can remember as a kid back in Pa waiting up all night to go deer hunting ..Hell I think a couple times I slept with half my hunting clothes on  Fresh smell of coffee and making my favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches and a fresh chunk of pepperoni to naw on threw out the day ...Tell ya what when it is 10 to 15 degrees outside and snowing ,there is nothen that tastes better than a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich and a hot cup of coffe while your sitting on a deer stand ...I can still smell the air from those days and still taste those peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches and that fresh stick of pepperoni 

[Ripper]

Here we sit, parked at the skidder road we are going to hunt. It's an hour before legal shooting ligbt. Going to finish this cup of coffee, and eat a protein bar then head out. It's raining lightly, the wind is ok, not perfect. Hasn't been any traffic on the road we came in on so that's good. Anticipation is in the air, I'm stoked! The gates to Coweeman are open 762, at least the one across the bridge on 4700 rd is. I drove up there yesterday. I'm up in the Winston this morning, we'll see how it goes. Good luck everyone, I'm looking forward to some pics later on. Maybe we'll even have something to post!

[singleshot12]

Good luck Ripper.. you've had a good year so far and it would be nice to finish it with an elk

[Ripper]

Yes it would! Well time to roll!

[billjr64]

 Pumpkins bouncing through the fog.

[Ripper]

You got it right Bill, not only pumpkins but more road runnin rigs than I've ever seen. Saw 2cows and 2 deer yesterday. We're hopeing for better today. Wish the temp would drop 10-15 degrees!

[Ripper]

Well opening weekend came and went without success, the killing kind anyway! Hunted hard dawn till dusk 3 day's in a row. Sat on clear cuts early and late each day. Mid day's were spent either in the thick timber or looking for new places to hunt. We never left the tree farm during the days. I have never seen so few elk or as many deer as we saw this last weekend! Deer were and deer sign was everywhere we went! Elk and elk sign, no where! We were in the lower Winston, off of 4400 and 4500 rds, and in the Coweeman off of 4700, 200, 1300 and 1600 road systems. only saw one rag horn bull in the back of a truck all weekend. Everyone I talked to said it was slower than ever and no one was seeing much of anything. I know some people have said in other threads that they had success or saw success from others but not us. I want to go give it another shot this Friday and Saturday. Anybody else going to be down that way that want's to buddy up and hunt?