Peaches Ridge Bull Tag and Taneun Cow Tag (story of my dream season) 2013

[slowhand]

Hear is my Story,
I have been on and off this site for many years now and post only on the occasion to pat someone on the back.
This will be My first attempt to do something more, so please be kind when I make a mistake hear and there. I am human after all.
I started out a bow hunter at the age of 10. My father was a rookie bow hunter then as well, he switched from modern firearm when  three or four bullets came down within three feet of him as another hunter was spraying the woods after a nice buck. Never again I remember him saying when he came home that year.
I spent the next many years as a mule deer hunter chasing does in teanaway. Saw many a monster mule deer just never in bow range (way back then it way any deer)
335 was all I knew until a friend of my dad suggested we try black tail deer over in mossyrock 505 There are way more deer overhear. I have to admit there were more deer over in 505,510, and 667. (little guys and very sneaky)
Tryed my hand at elk over in 352 nile never had the chance to pull my bow back.
My grand father and my uncle were die hard modern elk hunters in 328 every year and brought home many elk over the years not every year but many times, old uncle kevin even got a monster 5x5 one year.
My grand father was getting to the age and health that I made the decision to go elk hunting in the famous 328 that they had talked about for all my life. saw more elk than i had in all my days of walking the forest.
now I will say that the number of hunters was overwhelming wow!!!  Man those elk move a hole lot faster when its rifle season, always running!!!!
Grandpa has left us and my uncle kevin said he was retired from hunting with out grandpa.
Well my dad and I made him a deal he picks the elk special permits we all put in for and He would go one last year even though grandpa is gone. (Don't tell him but it is a plot to get him back on the horse, he took the loss of grandpa quite hard)
So years of putting in for bow special permits gets used for modern. Well I think grandpa must have had a hand in this but some how we group permit peaches ridge any bull tag oct 21-nov 3 and taneum cow tag oct 3-nov 3. Thanks Grandpa (I think he may be telling uncle kevin to keep hunting)
I am a hard core scouter so lots of plans for scouting this year leading up to the start of our tags.
I will post what I learn and what I see.
I have never got an elk before. Shot a spike in 328 My second year rifle it was stumbling down a hill when another guy came out of the woods across from me and shot him six or more times.
By the time I got there He was filling out his tag.
This could be the year !!!!
Dream season !!!!

[elk247]

I can dig it. Cool story. Family is what its all about. With a peaches tag this year its , peaches bull, seahawks, fishing. In that order. Best of luck to you, dad and uncle kevin. 

[jason stevens]

If you neef any help with your taneum cow tag ill be there on the wednesday opener that's an east one.pm me.

[Skyvalhunter]

You should do fine on your hunt especially since you will be scouting it hard.. Congrats on your permit.

[slowhand]

PM SENT

[slowhand]

Planning the first scouting trip of the year for this Sunday. Weather looks good so far.
Taking my Wife and three boys Mountain biking/Hiking.  (scouting  )
Going to check out the taneum (336) . Never Been there before myself. one of my Uncles old hunting areas
Anything I need to know.
Bringing the Nikon D60 so hopefully will be posting pics when I Return.
Just want to get the feel for the area and look around.
Thinking about purchasing a Trail camera. Do I have to purchase a really expensive one or is there a quality budget model you could recommend?
 

[bobcat]

You can get good results without spending a lot of money on a trail camera. Personally I like to keep the price under $100.

I would recommend this Tasco:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003QWRXOU

It seems to be a lot of camera for the price, although I've only had mine for about 6 months so I have yet to see how it will hold up over time.

If you want color pictures at night there aren't many options anymore. But a good one is the Moultrie L50 which you can get for $75 or sometimes as low as $50.

[bobcat]

Another good deal, Bushnell "demo" model, 8mp, from Natchez Shooters Supply. I don't have one of these but Bushnell has a good reputation and for $80 you can't go wrong. (Or $70 each of you buy two)

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=BH119435C&src=tpSlrHm

[slowhand]

Thanks bobcat I am going to get one or maybe more.
Really appreciate the great advise.

[slowhand]

JUST GOT BACK FROM MY FIRST SCOUTING TRIP. LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE AREA. (TANEUM) STEEP AS HELL !!!!!!!!
LOTS OF ELK AND DEER TRACKS EVERYWHERE.
HERE ARE MY PICS.
6X6 50 YARDS OFF THE ROAD SORRY NIKON GOT FORGOT AT HOME 
NEEDLESS TO SAY THE I-PHONE LET ME DOWN.   
JUST POSTING THE PIC SO YOU KNOW I SAW SOMETHING.
I SWEAR ON MY LIFE HUGE  6X6. THIS GUY WAS FAT AS A PIG. (HUGE BODY)
NOW I HAVE FOUND A PLACE TO START MY SCOUTING.
ALSO SAW THIS NICE TWO POINT MULEY IN VELVET
MUCH BETTER JOB I-PHONE
WON'T FORGET THE CAMERA NEXT TIME. MISSED A GREAT CHANCE FOR A PERFECT PIC.
I WILL KEEP THE REPORTS AND STORY GOING AS IT HAPPENS.

[slowhand]

Got the green light to go up again this weekend. Taneum again
leave sat after work come home tue night. Ah , I love me some scouting 
Taking camera and pistol (just in case)
Going to consentrate efforts lower this time. Need some road suggestions (no honey holes) just road numbers to take a look around on the lower areas.
Any recommendations ??

[cem3434]

I've had good luck with these refurbs: http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=PY63020RC

[slowhand]

Update 
So, I have been scouting about three time since My last update. Really trying to learn the road network (not a road hunter) , lay of the land, and hopefully see an animal or two. Bought a nice Garmin 62c GPS      WOW!!!! are they complicated!! I got a good handle on it now. New to this area so needed to learn everything I could.
Have not seen a lot of elk, but saw two very large mule deer bucks last Sunday. One was size you see in the Magazines "HUGE" Tall tines. Hell the first thing I said was there's a bull. Wait, monster mule deer!
OK, here comes the excuses for not spending as much time up there as I had planned. (Just for the record)
#1 My oldest son Myles is going to Carey a rifle for the first time deer hunting this year. So I have traded many of my available scouting sundays for range days getting him confident in his skills for a clean accurate kill.
#2 I am the sole provider for my family (three boys, wife and me) and was offered a second job on my days off bringing home good money so could not pass it up. I work 4 ten hour days at my first job, 2 eight hour days for the new second job,
and side job when ever there is a request for my services. Busy Busy bee
No more excuses ELKTOBER IS HERE !!!!!!!
I am leaving on the 12Th for blacktail Deer hunting with my cousin, Dad, three boys and myself.
This Sunday is last range day for some confidence building shooting for Myles and Me. Also my youngest Boys Bday the big 10.
I am going to work better on updating this like so many that I have read.
Hey Jason, if your still out there PM ME.
The Story continues

 

[Natures Way]

Good luck!

[slowhand]

Shout out to Rtsprings "Good luck"
and GOHAWKS

[PlateauNDN]

 

[bur04024]

First post, but have been watching this forum for last two years.
I hunted the Taneum last year for Elk and Mule Deer with OTC tags. During general Deer I saw a 6x6 Bull about 150 yrds below me. He was feeding in the open on a shoulder/spine on a super steep mountain side. He was covered in frost and he had antlers that just popped, a nice mahogany/red. My uncle and I stood there looking at him for a few minutes and he decided to walk behind a tree to cover his front quarter(smart animals). He kept periodically looking up the hill at us and probably figured it was better to get out of there so he made his way down the hill. I wonder if that is the same bull you just saw SLOWHAND? I never saw a shooter buck, only a couple of Doe's and young Bucks.
 I have spent a majority of my hunting career up in the Taneum, I go up Woods and Steel, and Peio Point, really you just get to the top and work your way in. Most everyone drives those roads like maniacs and just pull up, hop out and glass for 2 minutes then right back in the rig (even when I am visibly sitting and watching an area and glassing for quite a while )  I hope you fill your tag for a cow, I know they are in there, never actually laid eyes on a live cow. Saw one massive gut pile with the cows hide and head on the trail going up North Taneum creek. Buddy that lives up there says the Elk get on top at night and run the guantlet in the morning headed for the creek and thick trees/brush when hunters start pushing. So my guess is either wait at the bottom and have someone hike down and push them at you, or be the hiker.
Good luck, and sorry for a long post, hopefully it keeps the itch going!

[Crunch14]

I'll be up there trying for a Spike with a buddy and my Dad.  If you see the 'Order of the Wild Turkey' camp feel free to say hi.  The first year the group went up there we filled 3 Cow tags in one day!  It was a lot of work but totally worth it.

[JJB11B]

First post, but have been watching this forum for last two years.
I hunted the Taneum last year for Elk and Mule Deer with OTC tags. During general Deer I saw a 6x6 Bull about 150 yrds below me. He was feeding in the open on a shoulder/spine on a super steep mountain side. He was covered in frost and he had antlers that just popped, a nice mahogany/red. My uncle and I stood there looking at him for a few minutes and he decided to walk behind a tree to cover his front quarter(smart animals). He kept periodically looking up the hill at us and probably figured it was better to get out of there so he made his way down the hill. I wonder if that is the same bull you just saw SLOWHAND? I never saw a shooter buck, only a couple of Doe's and young Bucks.
 I have spent a majority of my hunting career up in the Taneum, I go up Woods and Steel, and Peio Point, really you just get to the top and work your way in. Most everyone drives those roads like maniacs and just pull up, hop out and glass for 2 minutes then right back in the rig (even when I am visibly sitting and watching an area and glassing for quite a while )  I hope you fill your tag for a cow, I know they are in there, never actually laid eyes on a live cow. Saw one massive gut pile with the cows hide and head on the trail going up North Taneum creek. Buddy that lives up there says the Elk get on top at night and run the guantlet in the morning headed for the creek and thick trees/brush when hunters start pushing. So my guess is either wait at the bottom and have someone hike down and push them at you, or be the hiker.
Good luck, and sorry for a long post, hopefully it keeps the itch going!

That sounds like how it works up on Gold Creek Road

[slowhand]

  Hell Yeah, a fellow Renton hunter. Nice to see some one from my Hood. Graduate Hazen High School class of 1995.
As for the bull you saw, anything is possible. I appreciate your story and info. Counting the days one by one.
Your my boy bur04024 !!!
 Crunch14 I plan on hunting all day but if I see your camp (Sign I am Guessing) I will stop in and say Hi for sure. I love the comradely of hunting maybe you can give me some good advise.
Please keep the stories coming everyone.



 

[bur04024]

Well Im not technically from Renton. I grew up out on the Kitsap Peninsula. I am not even in WA right now. Im in Medical school so it is killing me to be in AZ this time of year. I will be moving to Renton next summer, so hopefully I will have some time to get away next fall. When I get back we should do some scouting and stuff! Drop some elk for me! I need pix, its how I get my fix.

[slowhand]

 
I will try my best to put down a nice Blacktail buck for you this next weekend.  Pics included.
When Your done with school and back home I would love to take you out and show you some of my spots.
My hunting group has deteriorated over the years and it would be great to add a new member.
Six days till I leave and 7 till the Deer opener.
 

 

[Gringo31]

Good Luck!!!

[MADMAX]

I may see you boys up on the Taneum also
I have a cow tag as well
I'll be in a white newer toyota

[slowhand]

Update
As planned got the Oldest boy and Myself some last chance shooting practice up past GreenWater.
Met a couple of really nice Guys Who were sighting in there 338. Big Gun. If I was thinking I should have asked to give it a try.
I wanted to point out the huge mess that keeps getting bigger every time I go up there. 
I try to Bring a trash bag each time and pick up for the others but one man and a boy won't be able to take care of this mess.
Hope the picture shows what I am talking about. ceriously I wish people would at least pick up there own mess.
Hey, MadMax I am a master Toyota tech for the last ten years. Nothing better!!!! I will Keep My eyes out for You and We can swap Info. From What everyone is Saying on here a cow should be a slam dunk. We Shall see. Good luck My friend and shoot a big one.

[MADMAX]

Cool thanks slowhand
I scouted it  a week ago, never saw one cow
so nothing is a slam dunk but I will give it hell
see you over there maybe

[slowhand]

update
My three boys, Cousin, and my self hunted (deer) with no luck up in stormking this last sat and sunday.
My oldest boy was on point with this being the first year behind the gun.
He was really disappointed to not get a shot opportunity. 
I have decided to take him with me for My first day of hunting up in the Naneum (last day of Mule deer)
I spotted two very large bucks up there a couple of weeks ago so maybe he will get that opportunity after all.
 
Little beginners luck, please

[slowhand]

I am back after a 4 year break. Update coming!