collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: st helens trip  (Read 4045 times)

Offline heavy hauler

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 1366
  • Location: t90
st helens trip
« on: January 31, 2009, 06:27:03 PM »
i made a trip there today.the road was closed just past elk rock view point.lots of guys with snow machines .past there.i saw a bunch of elk in the valley (duh)  i broke out the spotter and there was alot of bulls with horns. i did see one , one horned bull.  i hope people stay out of the valley for awhile.sheds arent worth the cost this time of year
you cant eat the horns, but backstraps look like crap on my wall!!!!

Offline bow4elk

  • Pacific Northwest Bowhunting
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 3412
  • Location: Olympia, WA
  • Contact me at: tom@pnwbowhunting.com
    • https://www.facebook.com/pacific.northwest.bowhunting/
    • Pacific Northwest Bowhunting
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2009, 09:49:15 PM »
A bit early for elk...shouldn't be dropping till March/April.  And people should stay the hell out of winter range until then or later, preferably later. :bash:
Official Measurer: Pope and Young Club, NW Big Game Inc., National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Oregon Shed Hunters
First Hunt Foundation mentor
Washington State R3 Coordinator

Pacific Northwest Bowhunting http://www.pnwbowhunting.com

Offline bucklucky

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 9541
  • Location: Skookumchuck Wa.
    • Charlie Smith
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2009, 11:22:33 PM »
Anything real big Curtis? See any other critters?

Offline heavy hauler

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 1366
  • Location: t90
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2009, 09:20:24 AM »
i never got off the highway, so some of the elk i was looking at were a mile plus away.i did see some people with horses heading down into the valley.i saw one real stand out bull with real long swords.i also saw a ton of the st helens 5 pointers.
you cant eat the horns, but backstraps look like crap on my wall!!!!

Offline rackattack

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 657
  • Location: Battle Ground
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2009, 09:31:56 AM »
Isn't the valley closed to public entry until April 1st for the wintering elk? :dunno:  You should have gotten some license numbers, could have been some points for you.

Offline blindpig

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 2524
  • Location: Western WA
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2009, 10:41:32 AM »
Thanks, for the info.  I would love to go there with you sometime.   :devil:

Offline huntnphool

  • Chance favors the prepared mind!
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+15)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 32892
  • Location: Pacific NorthWest
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2009, 10:45:30 AM »
Its been several years since I've been down there but we used to go down about this time every year and take pics, I don't know if you can still get in there this time of year without getting in trouble :dunno:
The things that come to those who wait, may be the things left by those who got there first!

Offline Skinner

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 494
  • Location: Castle Rock, Wa
  • 2007 Methow bear
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2009, 11:43:56 AM »
Its closed until april 1st.  Its posted on the right side below the forest learning center!
IAFF Local 828

Offline JoeVon

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2007
  • Posts: 644
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2009, 01:03:35 PM »
Heavy Hauler, I saw a bull down there a couple weeks ago with one horn, the other was broke off right above the pedicle...wonder if it was the same one?

Offline heavy hauler

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 1366
  • Location: t90
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2009, 03:17:13 PM »
awe man ,  i wish i could remember which side was missing.he was ALONG ways away. i know it is real early for them to be dropping.no license plate numbers, i totaly spaced it :bash: :bash:
you cant eat the horns, but backstraps look like crap on my wall!!!!

Offline bow4elk

  • Pacific Northwest Bowhunting
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 3412
  • Location: Olympia, WA
  • Contact me at: tom@pnwbowhunting.com
    • https://www.facebook.com/pacific.northwest.bowhunting/
    • Pacific Northwest Bowhunting
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2009, 07:07:50 PM »
He most likely hadn't shed.  Instead he may have been a one-antlered bull (defect?) or broke it off at the pedicle.  I've seen that a few times.  They shouldn't be shedding any sooner than late March but the timing always fluctuates depending on the health of the animals and photo period.
Official Measurer: Pope and Young Club, NW Big Game Inc., National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Oregon Shed Hunters
First Hunt Foundation mentor
Washington State R3 Coordinator

Pacific Northwest Bowhunting http://www.pnwbowhunting.com

Offline heavy hauler

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 1366
  • Location: t90
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2009, 08:15:05 PM »
what causes the elk to shed there antlers when they do?  i have  watched them for years and i am not sure.i will make a return trip asap and see if i can get a better look at the one horned bull.
you cant eat the horns, but backstraps look like crap on my wall!!!!

Offline bow4elk

  • Pacific Northwest Bowhunting
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 3412
  • Location: Olympia, WA
  • Contact me at: tom@pnwbowhunting.com
    • https://www.facebook.com/pacific.northwest.bowhunting/
    • Pacific Northwest Bowhunting
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #12 on: February 01, 2009, 08:21:55 PM »
The photo period is the main cause.  The length of daylight in a day = Photo Period.  When light levels hit a certain point it triggers the release of a hormone that slowly deteriorates the bonding layer between the top of the pedicle and base of the antler.  Health of a given animal may affect this process some but generally, unless you're dealing with a stag (never sheds) abnormality, elk will drop around the end of March or beginning of April.  I'm no expert but I've always been facinated by antlers, so I read a lot about the physiology of ungulates, especially elk.

Some good reading: "Elk of North America".  It's the bible of the elk world.
Official Measurer: Pope and Young Club, NW Big Game Inc., National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Oregon Shed Hunters
First Hunt Foundation mentor
Washington State R3 Coordinator

Pacific Northwest Bowhunting http://www.pnwbowhunting.com

Offline heavy hauler

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 1366
  • Location: t90
Re: st helens trip
« Reply #13 on: February 01, 2009, 08:59:47 PM »
awesome thanks
you cant eat the horns, but backstraps look like crap on my wall!!!!

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

2025 Draw Results by stackemup
[Today at 02:07:15 PM]


Hoof Rot by Tinmaniac
[Today at 01:55:56 PM]


2025 OILS! by scottfrick
[Today at 01:54:43 PM]


My wife drew quality deer DESERT rifle 10/18-10/26!!!!! by scottfrick
[Today at 01:48:04 PM]


No Draw! Good luck! by BEARHUNTER1
[Today at 01:24:33 PM]


Unknown Suppressors - Whisper Pickle by Antlershed
[Today at 01:24:12 PM]


Great Starter Home in Lakewood by pianoman9701
[Today at 12:35:40 PM]


quality colockum late rifle by outdooraddict
[Today at 12:16:15 PM]


The time clock has started.....and go. by shotguunar
[Today at 11:59:42 AM]


Pearygin Quality by X-Force
[Today at 11:50:15 AM]


Share your out of state experience by pianoman9701
[Today at 11:16:18 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal