Preparing to Hunt Peaches Ridge...My Journey. Updated 9.6

[wlandrum]

Keep the updates coming.   

[nw_bowhunter]

Great job! you taking the right steps toward this tag. Plus its nice that you are being so upfront about your experiences good and bad...keep at it

[Fullabull]

Just got a call for work, so I'm sitting here in my home office at midnight reading this thread. Great stuff, keep it up and good luck. Learn how to use your calls, most people do not and they can really help you hunt when you get into elk 

[Holg3107]

I'm a big fan of the MRE's, heres why. Most calories for the amount of intake as ctwiggs pointed out. Also never pack an entire MRE. There is a ton of unnecessary crap in all of them, you don't need toothpaste and chicklets on your hunt. open it up and put what you need in a 1 gallon ziplock bag before you head out. They aren't the tastiest but they get the job done, take minimal water, and you don't need a stove. The amount of sodium in them can be pretty tough if you don't have a lot of water to drink. Again if you are spending most of your day glassing and not hiking calories won't be as important, but if you are putting 10 miles on your boots per day you need to re-fuel. 

[goat berries]

tag

[jkononen]

Where's the updates? 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Where's the updates?

Whats your up date ? 

[rittem1]

I'm with you on the whole camping out in the middle of nowhere thing alone. No reason you shouldn't be a bit freaked out doing that and on high alert. I will say that you do get used to it and most, if not all, animals will stay away from you while you're asleep. I am enjoying your journey. Your honesty and humility is refreshing and it is great to read all of the positive comments and advice you are getting. I am pulling for you. It sounds like you have learned a ton already which already makes it a successful hunt.

Keep the updates coming! Maybe an update on how much you're improving with your bow?

[de0827]

Odell, what a great thread!!  I look forward to following this one through a successful hunt!

[4fletch]

In 40 yrs camping out never had a problem with animals. If you need not to worry about then try to line the perimeter with moth balls. Works on skunks should work on bigger critters too

[ctwiggs1]

In 40 yrs camping out never had a problem with animals. If you need not to worry about then try to line the perimeter with moth balls. Works on skunks should work on bigger critters too

I've only had a problem with one animal - free range cattle!!!!  I ended up heading back and sleeping in the vehicle that night ;-)

[rtspring]

No reason to freak out being alone at night in the woods.  Fight the fear and after a few days you will find it to be one of the best times you have spent in the woods. Solitude can do great things for the mind. 

[subagang707]

Tagging to follow.  Very interesting thus far and I am definitely pulling for you and your adventure!

[Odell]

Hey All,

Well not as much to update as I had hoped. July was full of work and another family vacation to California. I've been able to drop another 7 pounds and my fitness and ability to haul up Mt Peak was going great until last week. I tore something in my shoulder and tweaked my neck.

Currently I can't draw my bow and I haven't even tried to lift a heavy pack yet. Its been like this for 5 days and I'm pretty concerned.

In July I ditched my WB and got a Ripcord drop away rest. I was really surprised what a difference it made and my groups were looking great. I was just about to start shooting broadheads when I screwed my neck/shoulder up. I'm hoping it will be better in a couple days, if not I'll see a chiro. This morning I was concerned enough about it that I sent an email to WDFW asking what happens if I can't draw my bow and the season gets here…we will see what they say.

I was able to trade my Bivy with Logan on here for his Marmot Pulsar 2p tent. It worked out as a great trade for both of us and I really like this tent.

Headed up tomorrow for more scouting and working on stretching/ice/heat on my neck.

Calling: Well this is NOT going well! I started working on calling and bugling, I feel pretty good about my cow calls with a mellow yellow reed and also a phelps external call. Bugling is another story. If you didn't know what a bugle was and I said "guess what animal this is…" well I think distressed dolphin might be the most common guess. Lots to learn, but its fun to try. No, I won't be posting a youtube video...

Lately things have been so hectic and then adding the injury has me feeling more pressure instead of enjoying the process but I just need to relax a little and trust that putting in the work will pay off and hopefully I heal quickly.

I was able to talk two buddies who don't hunt but are pretty fit and experienced backpackers into joining me the first week. Free pack mules and good company so thats great. Hopefully they get hooked on the whole deal and decide to try hunting sometime in the future. I did get one of them in the duck blind last year and he enjoyed that.

Thanks for the comments and the encouragement, I'll be updating a couple times a week from here on out.

[wildmanoutdoors]

I think your cow call will pay off much better than Bull calls! Too early IMO for challenge talk.