Committing to Washington once again

[Mr Mykiss]

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Happy Birthday

[RadSav]

Not until August.  But my NWT sheep hunt was scheduled to be on my birthday.  Last time my big caribou was taken on my birthday.

[lokidog]

I thought my ears were burning... good luck on your draws.  I haven't even thought about tags yet this year, although I know one I won't be putting in for.        My big adventure for this year, so far, is a trip to Ohio for rutting WT's with my bow in November.

[RadSav]

Brrrrrrrr Cold!


Better start thinking of your tags soon.  May 18 coming quick!

[RadSav]

Wouldn't that Just be awesome!  This year should be great you're drawing bull permits just like me and you get a sheep tag.  Just remember I have a pack frame and will travel.

If you draw the tag, Lorraine and I draw the tag, and CL joins in on our group tag...your elk camp will never be the same.    Us old farts like first class these days.  We might need to hire a camp chef and a masseuse! 

[kentrek]

Thank god your not going for toutle again  that was scary....


Good luck on the draws 

[RadSav]

Thank god your not going for toutle again  that was scary....
Good luck on the draws 

Thank you for the wish of good luck!

I'm sure last year will not be the last time I put in for Toutle.  We always see descent bulls in there.  Was actually surprised how many we saw last year.  Of course we weren't the ones with the tags.  And I did not see anything that would exceed 300 last year.  Fun place to hunt!  What was scary about Toutle? 

I was surprised to see the success rate of Toutle Bull bowhunters last year.  Much higher than I expected.  Almost eight points higher rate than Peaches, 10 points higher than Observatory.  The two season chance must really help.

[D-Rock425]

Wouldn't that Just be awesome!  This year should be great you're drawing bull permits just like me and you get a sheep tag.  Just remember I have a pack frame and will travel.

If you draw the tag, Lorraine and I draw the tag, and CL joins in on our group tag...your elk camp will never be the same.    Us old farts like first class these days.  We might need to hire a camp chef and a masseuse! 

we have Dinker he's always in camp so we can make him camp cook.  He comes back to camp early everyday because most mornings he leaves late.

[RadSav]

we have Dinker he's always in camp so we can make him camp cook.  He comes back to camp early everyday because most mornings he leaves late.

How does he do with ribeyes?  Need a chef that knows the difference between kosher salt, iodized salt, table pepper, tellicherry, med-rare and well done.

[kentrek]

Thank god your not going for toutle again  that was scary....
Good luck on the draws 

Thank you for the wish of good luck!

I'm sure last year will not be the last time I put in for Toutle.  We always see descent bulls in there.  Was actually surprised how many we saw last year.  Of course we weren't the ones with the tags.  And I did not see anything that would exceed 300 last year.  Fun place to hunt!  What was scary about Toutle? 

I was surprised to see the success rate of Toutle Bull bowhunters last year.  Much higher than I expected.  Almost eight points higher rate than Peaches, 10 points higher than Observatory.  The two season chance must really help.

Im just kind of a negative Nancy toward the toutle, just don't think it's the kind of experience a guy waits that long for.....for me the mudflow has the best hunting experience in that area...what an awesome area to hunt !! Same cool looking bulls, older age class,& your not hunting logging country ! I know every unit is what you make it and you have a long history in the toutle but from my experience the last few years the mudflow is hands down the better adventure....the place is down right addicting !

Those east side units can be pretty good too tho 

[RadSav]

Just a lot of people in most of those eastside units. 

I liked the Toutle back in the days when bull hunters got a big head start before all the cow hunters.  The hunts I had with tag holders back then was fantastic.  The very first time I bugled during season in there we had four bulls come in at the same time.  Of course that is unlikely to happen these days, but there are elk in just about every type of hunt condition you could want in Toutle.  Makes it fun.  But definitely not what it used to be, for sure.

I've never stepped foot in the Mudflow area.  Might have to do that some day.  Though since I never draw anything...what's the point?

[kentrek]

I've never stepped foot in the Mudflow area.  Might have to do that some day.  Though since I never draw anything...what's the point?

Maybe your looking at it all wrong, you haven't drawn because you've been putting in for the wrong tag....the tag gods realized your situation and have actually been helping you out by not letting you draw an inferior tag

Seems obvious the mudflow is calling you

[RadSav]

Maybe your looking at it all wrong, you haven't drawn because you've been putting in for the wrong tag....the tag gods realized your situation and have actually been helping you out by not letting you draw an inferior tag

Seems obvious the mudflow is calling you

That very well could be.

But those are the same elk we hunt in the late season (not me, but family/friends WDFW doesn't hate).  And instead of a seven day season in September you get a 15 day season in December.  That gives you northern Loo-Wit/Mudflow and Toutle bulls all together with twice the time to pass up a few.

Cool part about December is that those bulls use the same routes, same trails, same skid roads they have the past 15-20 years.  If hunters don't abandon the game plan for that area success is extremely high.  Even with the reduced numbers of late.  September seasons can be a lot of fun, but December is when you really get to see the Toutle come alive.  And for me...I hunt three times harder in the cold weather than the heat of early fall.

Last time the wife had a cow tag she could have killed a large 5 or 6 every single day of that late hunt.  I went off chasing a P&Y blacktail and could have taken my pick of three bulls within ten minutes of leaving the truck...all 300+ class.  Coming out in the dark that night we had one of the very few legit 345-350 class bulls I've seen on the north end block the road.  We sat there for almost five minutes while he decided which side of the road he wanted to use to get out of there.  Healthy with no limp either.

So it really depends on how you like to hunt.  September bugle or December still hunt.  Myself I like to hunt solo so December Toutle is right in my wheelhouse.  Though it definitely won't be this year.  And if we draw eastside, probably won't be for another 20 years.

[RadSav]

Headed into the longest 30 days of the year.  I try to keep my hopes low / expectations in check.  But like having a lotto ticket in my pocket I can't help but dream of "What would it be like?"  All those darn points are squared in the agony of broken dreams like the brutally slow torture of slowly removing a band-aide off hairy skin.  In three days the voice in my head will be screaming, "Rip it off already!!"

[kentrek]

Well it sounds like you have elk and bear determined..and we know the oils are already determined  ...what about deer in washington?  I've been patiently waiting the last few year's for the perfect snow storm to hit to chase late season blacktails with a bow in the deep snow...but holly heck it's starting to look like the snow will just never be there ! Its Hard to build excitement for washington deer when idaho is just next door...