Westside Rag Horns

[RaffleMule]

Here are a couple of small rag horns my cousin and I were able to notch this weekend. 

We knew the general vicinity of the elk so we decided to have one person come in from the top and the other start in the bottom.  Of course, I had to come out of the bottom where you can't see 10 ft. and it's full of Devil's Club.  It's only about 200 yds of climbing to get into the old growth where things opened up but it's slow going so it took me about 10 minutes to get about half way in when I hear the elk take off.  I found the highway they created through the "dog hair" so I kicked it into gear and made it into the timber where you have great visibility and see three or four butts go over a knob when I hear "boom." 

Elk down....I get up there and look at this ugly thing and start laughing at his dink 4x4 my cousin had shot.  He said they the rest of the elk all split but he didn't see any other legal bulls so I decided I would head back out and get my kids (8, 6, and 4 yrs old) and a machete to clear a trail and bring him out through the bottom.

Got the kids but quickly realized I couldn't get the four year old up the hill. 

We just made it back through the jungle and I look up and a bull and cow are standing broadside at 30 yds.  From experience (going back to help pack out and see another elk), I still had my rifle so I quickly take aim and as I find him in the scope my 6 yr old behind me is climbing the hill with his head down and walks right into the back of me.  I turn around and tell him and my daughter to "freeze."  Elk takes off but I luckily get a shot and put him down.  Kids about crap their pants.........Pretty lucky hunt but most are.

His elk is really a 4x4 (the drop side has two nobs on top and the drop tine forks at the end)

[SemperFidelis97]

Fantastic, that is awesome your young ones were able to share in the hunt as well as the chores.

[Woodchuck]

  Nicely done.

[blackveltbowhunter]

WTG

[Yelm hunter]

Nice Elk... Were did you harvest those guys at? Winston Unit by chance?

[big J]

nice work!! definately a unique bull but its all about the meat anyways

[elkoholic1]

    congrtas

[C-Money]

Congrats! To me, any branch bull or elk, in this state is a real jewel!

[RB]

Heck yeah that will do! 

[RaffleMule]

No, not in the Winston. 

It's been seven years in a row excluding 2010 when I didn't elk hunt because I had the deer raffle tag.  So, unless you follow me next year it'll be my little secret.   

[Skyvalhunter]

 

[jackelope]

No, not in the Winston. 

It's been seven years in a row excluding 2010 when I didn't elk hunt because I had the deer raffle tag.  So, unless you follow me next year it'll be my little secret.   

You made up for that missed year last year though.

Congrats on scoring some good eats!!

[FSTaxidermy]

Congrats guys!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Good job!  Great education for the youngins!

[Kioti]

Thats a nice elk...strange drop tine on the one....good job!..