2 years ago, I drew a Blues West Wenaha Tag - at the time, my dream tag. I passed on a couple smaller bulls, then heavy snow hit, I couldn't find another bull. Dejected & depressed, I came home with my Blues tag in my pocket.
Then, I drew a Peaches Tag. A chance at redemption!! I'm up the Little Naches every summer with a big group of fellow firefighters, some police officers, and guys from my church. Quite a combo! It's our annual getaway we call "Mantrip". Sometimes as many as 50 guys attend, most go 4x4'ing. I go exploring & flyfishing most days. I love the lil naches valley. So when I drew this year, I was familiar with the general "lay of the land".
Months of planning, dreaming, several scouting trips, and trailcam adventures ensued. I had a few small bulls on the cams. I was fairly comfortable with my chances at a decent bull but still a bit uneasy. I'm a wetsider, usually toting my Mathews for archery Roosevelt. I did the next logical thing, I connected with RTSpring. I got to know him through the forum. I followed his Oregon hunts & adventures with Coach this year so far. I have only known one other guy who "eats, breathes and lives elk" as much as RT.
I met RTSpring a couple times while over there, at one point he asked "what kind of bull do you want to harvest?" I told him I am not shooting for the stars, I don't expect a monster, I just want a mature, representative, symmetrical 6x6.
My companions for the hunt: My daughter Lisa and dear friend Gus. We arrived 4 days early to do a little deer hunting & scouting. I couldn't believe the bulls were still screaming Thursday morning. We had 4 bulls screaming back & forth in one valley! Could it be possible I can call in a bull late October? Well, that hope died early, the rains hit the next day, the bugling all but quit. Back to RT's original advice: "steep & deep" & "keep covering ground".
The success started early when Gus harvested a heavy mature 4x4 mulie on Saturday. A great way to start the trip, his best buck ever!
We headed high on the elk opening day. It was the timber hunt I had planned & anticipated all summer. The day brought heavy rain, spooked elk, but no eyes on a bull. Day 2 was much of the same, lots of steep ground covered, an amazing amount of fresh sign, and one distant small bull sighting. Day 3's plan was for another high steep timber hunt.
Gus & I left our Crow Creek camp at daylight, another rainy morning. We always check the meadow on the way up. Today was no different, but wait, "Elk!!" A bedded herd, and a bull staring right at us. In a flash, I was out of the truck, 300WSM loaded, and plopped in position next to the road. Gus was above me, glassing, waiting for the bull to turn his head. I kept asking, "Is he 6?, Is he 6?". The bull jumped up, and started his exit from the meadow. Gus said "Six!", my trigger pull was almost simultaneous. He dropped mid-stride! And I bolted into the meadow. To my delight he was bigger than I had expected.
I was beside myself, dancing around my bull, giving thanks to the Man upstairs! My bull was everything I had hoped. He was my symmetrical, mature 6x6. Not near giant status, not a record book bull, score didn't matter at that moment, he was MY "Perfect Bull".
I am sure many of you recognize the meadow where my bull met his demise. And if you drove by that morning, you saw the blue pop-up tent in the middle of that meadow! That was us! My daughter just happened to have a tent in her truck, a bit spoiled yet, but we stayed dry processing that bull during the downpour
Just a few final thank you's. To my daughter Lisa for giving up her week for Dad, college studying in the tent, pushing yourself during our hunts, cooking amazing breakfast, couldn't have done it without you. Gus - thanks for burning your vacation for my hunt, your dedicated support and eternal optimism. And finally RTSpring, thanks for your sharing a bit of your lifelong local knowledge, your friendship and constant encouragement. He truly loves the "Hunt" ........... and loves to see others succeed. A rare breed.
