Little Naches Muzzle Bull

[M_ray]

Thank you to Ridgerunner & Lemondog for turning me onto this site and both have encouraged me to post my hunt so here goes!
 It all started with the WDFW debacle of a first draw which BTW I thought I drew a muzzle deer tag in either the Desert or the Chiwawa
But I soon learned that I would trade my Desert blues & 10 points into dreams of big Peaches Ridge bulls


I spent the next 10 weekends scouting and made at least 5 weeknight trips mostly in the Taneum side of the two units because I didn't know it as well and in the Little Naches I would have to share with 15 rifle tags. Well scouting the Taneum did nothing for me but eliminate spots to hunt so it was back to the Little Naches and I started finding elk.


The move back to the Little Naches proved to be the right one as we had bulls bugling all around camp as we were trying to set up and one that came into a couple 100yrds to rake a tree.

After a sleepless night we got into bulls right out of camp and had several worked up coming into cow calls but we had very unstable winds and it's only a matter of time before you are busted! We did have one that sprinted in to about 40-50 yards but I couldn't get a shot before he too winded us and that was the last we saw of him.
About a mile and a half later and in the next drainage over we heard 2 bulls bugling in their beds from across a big bowl and this time I was able to go up around the top of the ridge with steady wind. They were only bugling every 4-5 minutes so we actually made more ground than we expected and after about 6 or 7 bugles we were only 30 yards from him. Unfortunately I still couldn't see his horns. Before this hunt my goal was a mature 6 point so I didn't want to screw up and shoot a 3 or 4 point but a good 6 point satellite would fit the bill.
Well he sensed something wasn't right and stood up but I still couldn't see him well and he ran right out in front of us all I was able to count was 4th 5th & 6Th's and saw that black beard and I knew he fit my goal at the start of this hunt. My buddie Marcello was able to stop him with a cow call at 75 yards quartering slightly and I made a off hand shot that double lunged him. He ran straight away from us right down the ridge about another 80 yards or so and he stopped for about 10 seconds and then tipped over, Totally cool!


10 years and many miles scouting were defiantly worth it!
He was shot at 11:40 in the morning on the opener Oct. 1st and we were back at camp celebrating at 8 at night. Thanks to my buddies Marcello and Casey for helping me we had a blast!

Some Stats-
Score: Dont know what he scores and I dont care!
Gun: I shoot a Thompson Center Firehawk (I know its old but so am I! I have a new Black Diamond but I shoot this one better why change?)
Bullet: 310grn Knight Sabot
Powder: Triple Seven loose FFG (100 grns)
Pack: Badlands new 2800 pack/pack board with the bat wings- it's comfy!
Shooter: 44 year old geezer from Black Diamond, WA.

Thanks for letting me share and good luck to those who have hunts left!

[Ray]

What a great looking bull and it was better to read about it. Welcome 

[Ridgerunner]

Thanks for posting up the photos and the whole story.  A great bull.  I sent you a pm.

[cipryan]

Congrats.  I like the mass on that old boy.

[GoldTip]

Excellent bull and story, congrats to the Geezer! 

[boneaddict]

Perfect guess on the score.
Double thumbs.....seems like I must have caught this on the other site whatever that one is since I rarely go there, but the pictures on this site are much better.  Congrats again.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Congrats, that is why i want the any season permit...That tag right there.
 I have never hunted it, but if i get drawn i will be there alot...

[M_ray]

Perfect guess on the score.
Double thumbs.....seems like I must have caught this on the other site whatever that one is since I rarely go there, but the pictures on this site are much better.  Congrats again.

Ya it's on a couple sites but ridgerunner and lemondog urged me to join this one since I'm from WA. and post my story and so I came over to check it out and thought well if I'm going to join may as well post the 1st time with a topic! I went into more detail for the WA guys too. Heres another one that is not on "That Site"

O.K.  I guess it's on that site too, see I told you I am a geezer I have CRS!
MB

[one more]

WOW !!!  He's BEAUTIFUL !!!
Great story!  Thanks!
Diane

[Machias]

Thanks a bunch for the story and the photos.  Congrats on a beautiful bull.

[Michelle_Nelson]

That is one beautiful bull.  Congrats!

[bucklucky]

Now see, that last picture is what I like seeing! Hes packing out the whole cape! Sorry its a taxidermist thing . Dandy bull and congrats! Nice pics too!!

[huntingnut]

Excellent bull, congrats on a nice kill.

[jimkirk]

great story and thanks for posting. proof that your hard scouting work paid off. how far was the pack out? congrats on scoring with that tough-to-get tag!

[M_ray]

jimkirk,
 Fortunately it was only about a mile to a mile and a half to where we could get a truck ... I say ONLY it felt like 10!



As you can see on this last photo it's getting dark ... thank god for the rino gps!