First of all, I would like to thank everyone for the welcome to this site.
So here's the story: it all started back when they posted the permit results online. As I scrolled through, seeing "not selected" over and over, I was disappointed once again. I never thought I was a glutton for punishment, but I had to scroll back up - just to make sure. !! SELECTED !! There it was, Peaches Ridge. That made my year.
Now keep in mind that I have never hunted elk before, so along with the excitement came the realization that I had my work cut out for me. I started calling family and friends who had some experience and got quite a few good tips. Then comes time to do a little scouting -- thanks to a GREAT FRIEND -- who knew the country well, and had some friends who were more than willing to lend a hand and share their knowledge. Our first trip was on the Taneum side, and we saw some sign, and a few dirtbikes. Then we took a run down to the Little Nachees side.
We went Labor Day weekend. Had NO IDEA what a popular 4-wheelin' place it was. Now we know.
Anyway, a game warden friend of mine from home used to work down there and knows the area very well. Said it would be a good spot to hunt, but I never made it down there during the season. When I found I was drawn, it seemed so far away, but it was here before I knew it. I wasn't sure that I had everything I needed to get this done, but I did have the tag, and my gun was sighted in.
My girlfriend was only able to spend a few days, so she chose the first ones. Well, opening day comes and goes, and we don't see anything. Got lots of exercise, and spent some time glassing. There was sign, but we just couldn't find the critters. It was cold, and windy. Early afternoon it had started snowing. Figured that was good, we could find some tracks and follow up. We did find some fresh tracks, but by then the fog had rolled in, and it was late enough in the day that we figured we'd better head for the truck.
The next morning was c-c-c-oold and the snow was L O U D - crunchy. But, we ran into a guy who said he'd seen some the day before when he was scouting for spikes...so we kept on. About two hours later it was coming up light, and we were just in the edge of the timber overlooking a clearing. We heard 2 shots. Not 20 minutes later, a fella came up the clearing just below us, packing a head and horns - 4 point. We sat there and watched him drag it past us and over the hill towards his camp. I suggested we take the rest of the day and hunt the black timber real slow and just make a day of it. Good idea?
Turns out, it wasn't. By now, I'm starting to get a little discouraged, thinking maybe I bit off more than I can chew -- I just can't find these things. We were getting to within 30 yards of mule deer, but weren't seeing any Elk.
We get back to "camp" - a travel trailer my girlfriend bought just in time for the trip. Nicer than a wall tent, for sure. Anyway, I called a friend of mine who lives in Ellensburg, and asked him if he was sure that there were Elk in this country, or if that was just a myth?
He reassures me that they do exist, and I just needed to be patient.
I also called and talked to my step-dad, who grew up in the area. He says "tomorrow is the day". Boy, that is a good piece of information to have. Wednesday morning. Debated about changing locations entirely, heading towards Easton where some other friends would be settin' up their camp for the general season. After a cup of coffee, I chose to stay with what I "knew", or had at least come to know recently. 4 AM we're rolling towards what we hope will be a good spot. We hiked for about 2 hours with the headlamps on, up and around the ridge. Once again, didn't see ANYTHING.
Just kidding!! At first light, a big bull is headed across the flat straight towards us.
We hustle down the hill, thinking we could intercept him. It was not to be. He disappeared, and we never saw him again. There were some cows below us, so we figured we'll just watch them and maybe see something good. There was a spike and a 4-point in the herd. By 10 AM, that 4 point was dangerously close to feeling the punishment of my 7 mag. Girlfriend says "no". Something about waiting 9 years, and he wasn't worth it, blah blah. She takes a nap. I sent a quick text to a friend and my brothers. Two more "no's" and one "burn him down!". I wait. Decide that it's got to have at least 5 points. She wakes up, wonders what the heck I'm doing texting when I'm supposed to be hunting. What? I needed a second, third, opinion. Three o'clock rolls around. My turn for a nap. We'd talked it over, and figured nothing was going to happen for at least another hour. I'm out less than 10 minutes, when she says "wake up very slowly...there's a cow RIGHT behind us". !! Damn. They had us spotted. We had been well hid from the herd in front, but these guys came in 70 yards behind us. Cow, cow, bull! 4x5. That makes my cut. Wait, here's a 5x6 - ah, patience is good. I put him in the crosshairs, and before I can squeeze the trigger he steps behind a tree and they're gone.
The herd in front get up and start feeding out. My girlfriend has got to head back to work tomorrow, so it's time to start working our way back to the truck. We slip out a little draw, and get to the top of the ridge. She needs a snack. Crinkles open a Cliff Bar. Don't get me wrong, it's a good snack...it just comes in a loud package. Do you hear that? She asks. An Elk bugled. Yeah, it's neat to hear these little guys scream, but it's really something when you hear a big boy. As if he heard my request, we hear HIM. Work will have to wait, she's not making it home tonight. Just then, they come pouring out of the timber below us. There must have been 50 of them. As they're filing out to feed, we see a few spikes, some rag horns, and then my bull steps out. He runs out of the timber 60 or 70 yards into a clearing about 300 yards below us. The crosshairs settle in, and the 7 mag barks. Thwap! He's down. Sounded like a good hit, we're beside ourselves with excitement. As we're starting to celebrate, he stands up, shakes it off, takes a glance over his shoulder at us, and steps over the ridge and drops out of sight! I drop my pack and take off after him - hollering back at my girlfrind to grab it and meet me somewhere. Running down the hill, I call my buddy and let him know I knocked one down and was trying to catch up to him.
I do manage to catch up with him down in the bottom, and he was wounded but I can tell through the binocs that the shot was a little too far back. I took a good steady rest, and put two more in him. Man, they are tough creatures. I have alot of respect for these animals. Now, he's really down and the hard work starts. By the time it was all said and done, it was 1:30 AM and I had a big bull down.
Thanks again to the two guys who helped pack it out. And to the girlfriend, she was there to pack it out, but more importantly, she typed this. In fact, I'm still dictating this to her. I had it started, but it was all one long paragraph.
