Author Topic: The highs and lows of Peaches (Read 11002 times)

Ghost Hunter · « **on:** September 30, 2015, 04:52:13 PM »

Some know I drew Peaches Ridge early rifle tag (without ever seeing the unit, for those that it bothers

). I have been watching success numbers, odds, my age, and having been rolling the dice on long odds the last 3-4 years. My lucky year, I drew with 15 points. This was the final catalyst to make my decision to retire.
I managed 3 scouting trips to try to learn the area. Tips and suggestions were coming in from a few helpful individuals. Some choose to complain about anyone applying not knowing the area, I respect that opinion. For those, read no further if you are concerned with the outcome and any further stress

, none of us know the outcome yet. For those that have provided tips and assistance to someone you had never met I have a different level if respect for.
Normally, I would have my son, and recently son in law to hunt with. Circumstances have prevented that from happening which makes it a bit of a bitter/sweet experience.
One of the last days of scouting, I dropped by another HW member YellowDog and his brother camp, and was invited to see an area they were hunting. We spotted elk and I watches those while they pursued some that were bugling close by. The offer was extended to help me get mine.
Using my scouting info and relying on the wealth of info from HW members, I have seen a lot of country. I have passed on a couple that didn't get the blood pumping.
I confess I did tap out one afternoon. I had checked. on a lead from hunters who were leaving, regarding a good bull they had seen. It required a hike of a few hundred yards thru blowdown, and then dro]ING a 300-400 ft down a rocky ridge to overlook a clearing. I think Rtspring tried to steer me clear of this. To avoid the Sunday crowd I decided to return. The closest and best view required dropping a little further down the ridge, to a large rock outcropping with a large notch big enough to set in. When I got to it, it became evident the last 6 feet horizontal and 4 ' vertical was highly questionable. I sat and debated my options. A viewpoint 20' to the side offered a view of 1/2 the clearing below, or the rock notch. If I chose the notch, I knew the 1st step before proceeding would be to deploy my personnal locator beacon. Seeing how that would appear premeditated, I chose the lesser view. Then I had time to study the options if I actually killed an elk in that hole. Not knowing if a trail even existed (none on a map), another 400' in steep elevation drop, a mile to nearest road, dark coming, warm nights, 70 degree days. 15 minutes before the magic time, I turned and climbed out of the hole.
More to come, gotta go play.

Gringo31 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2015, 05:03:36 PM »

Enjoy, share and be safe!

Big6bull · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2015, 05:04:00 PM »

Good luck!

enjoy every minute of it

Pete112288 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2015, 05:27:20 PM »

Good luck!

Watimberghost · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2015, 05:57:58 PM »

Hope you get your bull!! Keep at it!

spikehunter · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2015, 06:08:59 PM »

"go big or go home " sounds like you got a lot of help out here including me , be safe ,don't get hurt & harvest a monster

Dan-o · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2015, 06:22:33 PM »

Best of luck.

There are always good guys on this site willing to help.

And it kind of cracks me up when people complain because you drew a tag in a new area. Like that's some kind of criteria.

mrkraft · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2015, 07:46:39 PM »

I got your message and hoping to be in the area in the am. Sounds like you should try that area again. Good luck I'll be looking for you tomorrow or Friday.

tgray · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2015, 07:48:51 PM »

Best of luck to you sir.

dfresh96 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2015, 07:56:14 PM »

good luck

willapawapiti · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2015, 08:00:52 PM »

I know that viewpoint and outcropping, beauty of a view from there! I've heard the trail exists - lol. Good luck, keep at it, it'll happen!!

Mossyoak · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2015, 08:22:52 PM »

Good luck on your tag. I am hoping to get one up there late October! I am glad you found the elk! That's what's great about Hunt WA...there are some truly great people on here!

coachcw · « **Reply #12 on:** September 30, 2015, 08:48:59 PM »

Stay alert any moment it could happen ! You will prevail

WAElkhunter89 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 01, 2015, 03:49:12 AM »

Good luck to you sir, I can say the same thing about asking for information from members on this site. I too drew peaches ridge after never hunting the area before, what makes it difficult for me is I'm unable to scout the area due to being deployed overseas. I've received some helpful tips, but more are always appreciated if anyone is willing. Don't mean to bump in on your thread Ghost Hunter, hope you don't mind! Good luck to you, hope to see you fill your tag sir!

Ghost Hunter · « **Reply #14 on:** October 01, 2015, 12:20:48 PM »

Quote from: willapawapiti on September 30, 2015, 08:00:52 PM

I know that viewpoint and outcropping, beauty of a view from there! I've heard the trail exists - lol. Good luck, keep at it, it'll happen!!

I bumped into a boy scout leader who said they packed an old cache barrel out of there. He wasn't sure if it was still maintained. My footing isn't as good as it used to be and I've begun to accept that. I'd hate to have the HW crew pack me out.

WAnoob · « **Reply #15 on:** October 01, 2015, 12:27:31 PM »

I say more power to you, congrats on drawing that tag. The same thing happened to me when I lived in Alaska, I drew a premier sheep tag area and only had a couple times to scout and decided to go Moose hunting before hand so I only had a few days to hunt the tag. It was my choice and of course there are always people out there with the negative opinions when someone draws a tag. I say congrats and enjoy every minute of it, not all of us have a schedule that lets our hunts go according to planned or how we would like.

Bob33 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 01, 2015, 12:27:45 PM »

What an exciting time for you. I hope you enjoy every minute of the journey. I'm sure there are some members on here that can give you a bit of helpful info.

Ghost Hunter · « **Reply #17 on:** October 01, 2015, 12:34:40 PM »

Had one wound up and coming in hard middle of the day yesterday. Would have been a chip shot if he stepped into the open. 30 minutes of that and he baled. What a rush. Back before daylight, 5:30 below grunting. Didn't want to play and headed into the deep and dark at daybreak. Forgot the extra diaphragm for my bugle. My squeeze still get em going. Hope RT is bringing one. For the naysayers, I'm gonna start putting in for peaches archery.

nw_bowhunter · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2015, 12:38:21 PM »

No better way to learn an area is to go check out. . Although I'm sure it would help improve odds of success knowing a unit first before applying I wouldn't personally let it stop me from applying . Glad your taking the challenge and trying to do the tag justice. Good luck

rtspring · « **Reply #19 on:** October 01, 2015, 12:42:20 PM »

Almost there!!! Hang on

MADMAX · « **Reply #20 on:** October 02, 2015, 07:41:36 AM »

Sounds like your in them
hope I see pics
good luck

daddyelk · « **Reply #21 on:** October 03, 2015, 04:48:10 PM »

How did your hunt end up?

Ghost Hunter · « **Reply #22 on:** October 04, 2015, 09:35:26 AM »

Well I'm back home. What an experience!! Where I was the bulls seemed to be in a hot/cold mode. Weather wasn't accomidating. Had one frosty night and a couple nights with sprinkles.
Passed on a bull on the weekend. Hiked in behind a gate on Monday and had one standing in the crosshairs at 30 yards. Couldn't get a clear look at horns and hesitated. The bull didn't. Seen a nice buck further in but was packing the rifle at that point.
Tuesday I decided to go high where I had watched the bulls with YellowDog and his brother. A 10 mile hike with 3000' of elevation gain didn't give me any opportunities other than to stretch my legs.

Wednesday, I was a little slow getting out and decided to scout some other areas. Another member prompted me to relook at an area I had been thru. At 1:30 in the afternoon I was at 5000', blew a bugle and got 3 responses. I concentrated on the closest but couldn't draw him out into the open.
Thursday I was back an before daylight listening to him talk to his ladies. Tried hard to talk him into any little clearing but it wasn't to be. Thursday afternoon Rtspring came up t help and drug me back to "the ridge of impending doom"

He was nice enough to show me a route without all the blowdown to climb over. Nothing showed up so I had the opportunity to show him my route on the way back out.

Friday we decided to return to the bull I had located on Wednesday. The idea was to call him out, kill him, and go have breakfast. The bull and his ladies had other ideas. By 1:00 in the afternoon, we had 3 close encounters from 30 - 50 yards. I had just as well been packing the bow. The bull was hot and mad but had no intentions of stepping into an opening.

The wind was constantly swirling. It would be in your face one minute, and a few seconds later come blasting over your back. We were 5 drainages from the truck when they busted us one last time. We stayed in the area the rest of the day hoping we could catch them. As the sun set, we watched this huge black cloud coming in from the north, hopefully bringing weather and better conditions for the next round.
I never actually seen the bull at any time, and am wondering maybe if it actually was a ghost

I have challenged a couple other hunters to send me a picture when they kill him

So I didn't get my bull, but I did have my quality hunt of a lifetime. I met some great people from HW and had a great time. I can't thank Rtspring and the entire Getsum crew enough. To everyone that offered information and help, I hope I can repay or pass forward a small part of what I received. I fell in love with the area and do plan to be back. Thanks to everyone.

Now I,m repacking and regrouping because I'm late for heading to WY. But that's another story yet to come.....

Bob33 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 04, 2015, 10:34:44 AM »

"So I didn't get my bull, but I did have my quality hunt of a lifetime."

MLBowhunting · « **Reply #24 on:** October 04, 2015, 02:41:29 PM »

Well done sir. RT way to be there

WAElkhunter89 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 04, 2015, 03:20:13 PM »

Sounds like a great time Ghost Hunter, it's all about the memories made! I can't wait for MF to open up in Peaches Ridge, it can't come soon enough!

rtspring · « **Reply #26 on:** October 04, 2015, 06:23:51 PM »

Sorry I could not get you a shot!!! We had a blast, I truly love helping others. Ghosthunter is a heck of a guy. Trust me we left in all on the hill..

Someone please kill that bull...

Igor · « **Reply #27 on:** October 04, 2015, 09:29:50 PM »

Quote from: rtspring on October 04, 2015, 06:23:51 PM

Sorry I could not get you a shot!!! We had a blast, I truly love helping others. Ghosthunter is a heck of a guy. Trust me we left in all on the hill..

Someone please kill that bull...

Hey.........what are you doing on the 26th ??

Just kidding............

daddyelk · « **Reply #28 on:** October 04, 2015, 09:35:15 PM »

I will give it everything I got captain.

WAElkhunter89 · « **Reply #29 on:** October 05, 2015, 04:28:23 AM »

I will give it a "shot" haha see what I did there?

MADMAX · « **Reply #30 on:** October 05, 2015, 08:11:51 AM »

wow
sorry you didnt get your bull
did you see any other tag holders score ?

HUNTINCOUPLE · « **Reply #31 on:** October 05, 2015, 08:52:40 AM »

Ghost Hunter · « **Reply #32 on:** October 05, 2015, 11:38:09 AM »

Quote from: MADMAX on October 05, 2015, 08:11:51 AM

wow
sorry you didnt get your bull
did you see any other tag holders score ?

Haven't anything about the other 2 tags. Still got the multiseasion tag to use when I get back from WY.

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Author Topic: The highs and lows of Peaches (Read 11002 times)

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