Peaches Ridge Bull....

[matlockmike]

Before I start my story I want to thank all the members that are willing to share any info on any hunting areas.  If it wasn't for these people this site won't be as great as it is.  Thank you.

Pulled into camp on Wednesday night.  Setup camp right at dark so I didn't really get any chance to try and locate something for the morning.  My hunting partner was going to join me on Friday night for the weekend so I was hunting solo until then. Didn't really have a game plan to hunt solo so I was going to wing it and see what happens.  I had 11 days to kill a bull, 6 point or better was my goal.

Left camp at 530 in the dark and figure I would hike a 10mile loop trail that would run the edge of the wilderness.  First 45mins where in the dark mainly calling and listening for something.  As I hiked along I ran into another hunter, not exactly what I wanted to see.  Talk with him briefly and then continued on.  Once I got to the wilderness border that is when things started picking up.  I bumped a group right off the bat.  I could see them but instead of using some patients I stumbled right into the group and down over the ridge into the wilderness they ran.

I was bummed but it was my own fault so I continued on and started doing some calling.  I knew the basin below me was steep and had held elk but I wanted to wait for my hunting partner to be with me to go in there.  I continued on the trail at the top of the ridge for about a half a mile when I got a half hearted bugle from below.  The thermas weren't right though, so I slipped pass the finger he was on and traveled down the next one.  About halfway down the hillside I setup and did my calling,  brush was breaking right on the other finger but the elk just weren't responding.  So I waited about  30mins without hearing anything and made my way for their finger.  Somewhere I must have misjudged their location because about 60yrds from my setup I bump a bull coming in silent.

Elk 2  Mike 0 is what I tell myself at this point.  But all isn't lost because the bull and a handful of cows run over to the next finger stop and the bull screams at me, so I scream back.  Things get quite after that for awhile and so I take about a 30min break and get a snack to eat.  Mean while pondering what am I going to do if I kill something down hear by myself. 

I start calling again and working myself down and over to get below the elk.  Every now and again the bull is giving away his location.  Im getting deep into this basin and soon I'm near the bottom and have worked my way below them but have now noticed that between them and me is a huge rock wall the I cannot go up.  At this point I make the decision to leave these elk where the are and work my way around the bottom of this basin and explore. 

Cow calling once and awhile and working the elk trails is my style of hunting.  It works well for me so this is what I do, I don't have the patients to sit and call and sit.  You can see this from the blown setup earlier.  So I make my way along the trail when I hear branches breaking.  They are on the other side of a small opening in the trees but I cannot see any elk.  I make a gut decision to slip across the opening and hide behind a large pine tree.  I hear the brush breaking but still cannot see elk so I make my cow calls in the direction from which I came from.  I get an immediate chuckle, not 20yrd in front of the tree I'm standing behind so I hit him with a bulge and hook my release.  I see movement through the small trees in front of my large pine, He has horns and is working back to the trail I'm on.  I draw and wait, He holds up for 30secs behind the pine, then steps out, He takes three steps, stops quartering to me, I count 6 on one side, settled my 20 pin behind the front shoulder and release. He didn't go 50yrds and piled up.    Such a rush of emotions to kill a nice bull in the wilderness by myself.

Lucky enough that is was fairly cool that day and was able to quarter him up and hang him in a cool shady area with a nice breeze blowing on the meat.  Loaded my day pack with the neck meat and tenderloins and headed for help.  It took me a little over an hour just to hike up out of the  basin to the trail where I could get cell service to call for help. Then I may the three mile walk back to camp with meat in my pack.

Not the biggest bull but he is my biggest and I'm proud of him.  "Deep and Steep" that was what one member told me and it was so true.
Pictures

[wildmanoutdoors]

Awesome!!!!!!! Way to geter done!

[matlockmike]

Big shout out to my buddies that helped me pack it out Sean, Gene, and Brian.  Without those guys I'd still be down there eating it on the spot.

[h2ofowlr]

Congrats, looks like a nice one.

[bankwalker]

Awesome bull!

[Elkterd]

Nice Bull, congrats, and thanks for the story....

[rosscrazyelk]

Congrats.  Nice bull. .

[Elvis]

Great Story, Nice Bull anywhere...

[MLBowhunting]

Great bull and nice story.  Love it 

[washelkhunter]

Awesome! A bull to be proud of. Congrats!

[Ranger91298]

Great story, thank you for taking the time to share it... congrats on a great Bull!!!

[C-Money]

Very nice bull. Glad you were able to get a dandy!

[pd]

Congratulations, and alone, to boot!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Good job Mike! Real nice bull elk!

[wooltie]

Awesome story....awesome bull...be proud of gettin' it done solo! 

[lamrith]

Great job and great story!

[elkoholic1]

 

[Watimberghost]

Very cool man, congrats!

[MikeC]

I think what is great about this successful hunt is giving credit to the Hunt WA members that helpedto make your hunt a success. People never like to give up their secret spots but in our state where it can take 5-20 years just to draw an any bull tag other hunters willing to share good places to go is an awesome deal!  Congrats on your trophy 

[rtspring]

I know exactly where you were!! ha ha  that rock face is a pain in the butt, if your in the bottom and look up and can get up just to the right of the vertical face. but it is easier to go further to the right and the road is right there once you get up..   

Did you hunt the meadow down in the bottow that has a beaver pond in it?   when its hot they love that place..

congrats and great job... STEEP AND DEEP always does the trick..

RTSPRING

[Fullabull]

Well done, nice bull and story!

[SCRUBS]

Congrats and great story, thanks for sharing it.

[matlockmike]

Didn't get quite to the pond.  I was more towards the camp spot and closer to the creek.  The gps said I was only quarter of a mile from the trail......but over 800ft straight down.  I'd go back down there in a second.   

Thank you rtspring for confirming my thoughts on that place.  You can't find it from the road.

[rtspring]

Didn't get quite to the pond.  I was more towards the camp spot and closer to the creek.  The gps said I was only quarter of a mile from the trail......but over 800ft straight down.  I'd go back down there in a second.   

Thank you rtspring for confirming my thoughts on that place.  You can't find it from the road.

I call that hell hill....  Climbed it many of times!  Just keep the place a secret... 

[rsrobins]

Congratulations on a fine looking bull!! Counting the day's till I get to chase them around over there

[Greenhorn]

Great hunt and bull,  congratulations!

[de0827]

Congrats on a great bull!!!

[vfilbert]

Just Awsome!! Way to go in the wilderness

[shooter581]

Congrats on your bull; great memories

[SniperDanWA]

Worth the effort, worth the hike and worth the result.  Good job and congrats on getting him out of there.

[Turner89]

nice job good write up!

[zackmioli]

Congrats!! That's a beauty!!

[bowhunterforever]

Great write up and bull Congrats

[teanawayslayer]

Great bull! You have done what most haven't. Kill a bull. I was up Saturday scouting and didn't see many hunters. Way to stick with it! Congrats!

[bearpaw]

sweet, congrats to you 

[Widgeondeke]

great write up. Congrats to you and enjoy them eats.   

[ShaneTyTrey]

Nice work, congrats!!!

[wackum]

Great Bull!

[iRem]

Well Done! Great write up, thanks for sharing! 

[FordGuy]

That is a dandy bull!  Congrats!  Loved the story as well!

[ridge line]

 

[bowhiker]

That last picture is awesome. The pain train! Nice looking wilderness bull. Your the man!

[X-Force]

How did I miss this story? lol

Congrats on your trophy and achieving your goal.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Nice job ...The Run & Gun approach is always exciting 

[Elkpiss]

Good work duder... Nice bull

[cjensen]

Nice work man -- way to go where you needed to go to get one!

[Elk Plain Taxidermy]

Nice bull! Congrats

[camanofishn]

Congratulations, very nice bull and I enjoyed the story.  Enjoy he meat.