Author Topic: My "Perfect" Peaches Bull (Read 17956 times)

willapawapiti · « **on:** October 26, 2014, 03:59:35 PM »

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.

elkoholic1 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2014, 04:13:25 PM »

bowhunterwa87 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 26, 2014, 04:20:41 PM »

That's a good bull and good buck. Good job guys!

cedarriver · « **Reply #3 on:** October 26, 2014, 04:34:46 PM »

Great bull! Doesn't get much better than family time in the woods! Congrats on many levels.

kramer · « **Reply #4 on:** October 26, 2014, 04:41:09 PM »

Good job. That's a nice bull. Also a real nice buck. Congrats

CAMPMEAT · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2014, 04:42:50 PM »

Double nice job............

PlateauNDN · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2014, 04:46:33 PM »

Nice bull and congrats.

scottcrb · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2014, 04:53:44 PM »

Great bull and awesome buck. Congrats guys,.

Watimberghost · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2014, 07:17:54 PM »

Congrats to you

great write up, great bull, great buck!!

boneaddict · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2014, 07:22:05 PM »

Gorgeous critters. I'm glad to see you get them on here. Congrats

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2014, 07:32:06 PM »

teanawayslayer · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2014, 07:40:18 PM »

Great bull! Thanks for sharing!

HUNTINCOUPLE · « **Reply #12 on:** October 26, 2014, 08:29:41 PM »

Real nice animals!!!!

tgomez · « **Reply #13 on:** October 26, 2014, 08:37:07 PM »

Nice dark chocolate antlers on those very nice animals.

TheHunt · « **Reply #14 on:** October 26, 2014, 09:05:16 PM »

Congrats, that is a very nice bull.

DUGANDEER · « **Reply #15 on:** October 26, 2014, 10:27:11 PM »

Great bull congrats!

deerhunter_98520 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 26, 2014, 10:33:22 PM »

Your family has had a great year for elk...congrats on a great bull

Katmai Guy · « **Reply #17 on:** October 26, 2014, 10:57:20 PM »

Great bull, congrats! If the road is just off your elks butt, I know exactly where you're at. I started my elk hunting career in that meadow 38 yrs ago. The quality of bulls up there has improved so much over the years, its fantastic to see.
I still bowhunt elk on that and the upper road late archery, exclusively. Your partner is lucky, there's more deer up there than there used to be but still not a lot. That is a great buck.

oneshot12 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 27, 2014, 04:33:15 AM »

real nice bull congrats

willapawapiti · « **Reply #19 on:** October 27, 2014, 09:37:48 PM »

Katmai - that's cool to hear you've witnessed such improvement. After my scouting & exploring, I am still amazed at the quality & quantity of elk in the area, truly a special valley.

bowhunterforever · « **Reply #20 on:** October 27, 2014, 10:09:06 PM »

Great bull and buck

Gongrats

Katmai Guy · « **Reply #21 on:** October 27, 2014, 10:23:42 PM »

Quote from: willapawapiti on October 27, 2014, 09:37:48 PM

Katmai - that's cool to hear you've witnessed such improvement. After my scouting & exploring, I am still amazed at the quality & quantity of elk in the area, truly a special valley.

WW, go camping up there after July 4th and go for a drive a couple hours before dark. Our record is 9 bulls over 4pt spotted before dark. It's awesome.

BIGMIKE · « **Reply #22 on:** October 28, 2014, 07:24:19 AM »

That is awesome bull and buck. Great going gang! Congrats all.

pianoman9701 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 28, 2014, 07:35:16 AM »

Thanks for the story. Great animals down!

TopOfTheFoodChain · « **Reply #24 on:** October 28, 2014, 08:02:15 AM »

Awesome! Way to fill the freezer and make memories!

Rob · « **Reply #25 on:** October 29, 2014, 09:57:54 PM »

Outstanding Bull! Congratulations!!

mkcj · « **Reply #26 on:** October 29, 2014, 10:10:01 PM »

Great Bull and Buck! way to get it done.

blackveltbowhunter · « **Reply #27 on:** October 30, 2014, 10:45:51 AM »

Nice Bull!! Congratz!

Wyoming08 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 30, 2014, 10:58:30 AM »

Congrats on a great Bull. Thanks for sharing!

rsrobins · « **Reply #29 on:** October 30, 2014, 11:03:53 AM »

Congratulations on a great bull!! I might have seen this bull two days before the opener. It wasn't far from where you got it. Sorry ,I had to tweak your subject heading for my bull

willapawapiti · « **Reply #30 on:** October 30, 2014, 12:41:19 PM »

LOL, love it!, I was hoping people would read my story realizing the "perfect" was in quotes because it met my minimum personal goal, not really perfect by any means!

elkoholic1 · « **Reply #31 on:** October 30, 2014, 12:56:56 PM »

perfect is in the eye of the beholder and I believe alot of people would agree that that is a perfect elk and a great rep of the species !!!!

willapawapiti · « **Reply #32 on:** October 30, 2014, 07:21:59 PM »

Thanks

LittleKiller · « **Reply #33 on:** October 30, 2014, 09:46:13 PM »

First time logging on here in 1.5 billion years, all because of you and your bull. CONGRATS PADRE!

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #34 on:** October 30, 2014, 09:54:35 PM »

Glad it all worked out ...No better feeling than putting a good bull on the ground ...taking my wife this weekend ...I would love to see her get a shot at any elk

Good job

gee_unit360 · « **Reply #35 on:** October 31, 2014, 09:27:39 AM »

Excellent animals! So, it's open for deer at the same time your peaches ridge modern tag is in effect? That would be cool!

willapawapiti · « **Reply #36 on:** October 31, 2014, 04:27:45 PM »

Gee - General deer season ended on 19th, elk opened on 20th. He got it while "elk scouting" and deer hunting on the 17th.

rtspring · « **Reply #37 on:** November 03, 2014, 07:01:49 AM »

Absolutely a dandy peaches bull.. You deserved it !!! Glad I could help in any way I could...

Getsum

kisfish · « **Reply #38 on:** November 10, 2014, 11:58:24 PM »

Nice job. Great bull

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