Mt View archery elk hunt.( Updated 9-22)

[huntnnw]

 Ill also add that people applying for this unit should drive there and look at it...I bet over half or more couldnt physically hunt most of the nat'l forest. Horses will do nothing for you if you think you will use stock. Alot of the areas with the big bulls were in places there are no trails near.Mtman and myself were the only people I saw up high in the natl forest.  This hunt was BY FAR the most physically demanding hunts I have ever done EVER!! it was insane steep and most of the time when your hiking you are litterally fearing either for your life or falling and being crippled out there. I trained alot for this hunt and it beat me down I put in 8 months of olympic lifts, stairclimbing,running and weighted hikes and hiking 3-5 days a week.I have never had a knee issues my whole life..As I sit here writing this I can barely squat down from the pain in my knees my ankles are still swollen from the insane amount of sidehilling. I am not trying to steer people from not applying here, but seeing people down there in shock of how steep it was and gave up and went home.

[bowhunterforever]

Sounds like an exciting hunt, Congrats filling your tag

[huntnnw]

6X7 that wasnt big enough.. poor video was using my phone.

http://youtu.be/lJxa_OmPHfo

[ELKBURGER]

It was the toughest but the best hunt I've been on! I agree that pack horses could only get halfway to a downed animal. It didnt look like any pack animals have been down the west fork trail for years. I guess the forest service didnt have time to clear that one. Maybe they were too busy keeping your camp toilet cleaned. Great meeting you guys!

[huntnnw]

HAHAHA! They kept it fully stocked of TP

[Elkterd]

Agreed, HuntNW, at 57 yrs old I could not hunt the Nat. Forest on the upper end, one look and I knew I was destined for the lower end and my knees still gave me fits!, congrats on sticking it out, you r an animal, nice meeting you and just think u r young enough u may draw this tag again! WoooHooo

[huntnnw]

To give you an idea where the majority of the big bulls were in this country... the top left ridgeline I was parked out of the picture and the far right of pic in canyon bottom is where the majority of big bulls were..the center of pic in the timbered bottoms is another spot I got into bulls. There is 0 pack trails in this area. I figured 2 days to get a bull out with 2 guys





Almost in the bottom of Ranger creek here





This was a real crap hole!  2250 down hill 1,250 up hill and 600ft down to where alot of bulls were..it was 4 hrs to get in here






one of the bulls I just about got

[Elkterd]

Very nice pics of the country, everyone should take notice of your writings and pics as they are a very good synopsis of this unit, lots of Bulls though throughout, a very good unit.

[MtnMuley]

You gave it your best and never quit. Nothing but respect for the bull you ended up with.

[BULLBLASTER]

Awesome write up shane! Glad you connected and stuck it out! You eere correct it was truely a hunt of a lifetime for me as well! An experience i want to have again one day... just maybe on more friendly terrain! 

[SnakeEyes]

Nice job! Thanks for sharing the story and photos.

[X-Force]

That unit looks unforgiving. Great writeup and congrats on the success.

[SnakeEyes]

The first video link you posted says it is private.

[Slimdog350]

You are right about that unit. It's not for the faint of heart! My bro in law and I drew a spring bear tag in that unit and we had a blast. We didn't make it as far down as you did though! Congrats on a fun hunt!

[mtman]

Way to stick it out. Sounds like you did the right thing. Held out for a big one as long as you could and still came home with some meat. Way to close the deal in the end. It takes a lot to get everything to aline in that country with the stick and string. Would be nice for some of the tag holders to have a shot close to the road. But If I were in elk over there close to the road I would be in the bed of an Indians truck.