Mt. View Unit

[JWEBB]

Cloudy no precip last night in the misery area. Saw 4 wolves at 8:30 this mornin within 1/2 mile of misery CG. About 100yds away

Suckers are all over up there!

[Samloffler]

It was pretty warm over labor day on grouse flats. Truck thermometer was saying mid 70s-80, but it sure felt hotter. Zero precip.

There were a few camps set up along FS 40 and on the state ground at grouse flats. Didn't see or hear n elk all weekend, but I know at least one guy got into some.

It was my first time in the area, so I could have been wandering around the wrong places. I spent all my time in elk area 1013, as that's where I drew a cow tag.

[iahunter]

Hey Shawn,

How is the hunting going? I have been on a couple tag-along hunts in Mountain View the past two years (friends got lucky in the draw back to back years). We got into some very nice bulls in there, some not all that far down either. I would be happy to share some information, but it sounds like you have already had plenty of advice and based on the trail cam pictures you already found some nice bulls.

In general, I personally didn't think Mountain View was all that bad. There is certainly steep places in there, but we took a slow methodical all day approach. Definitely would be tired by the end of the day, but well worth it.

[iahunter]

Picked up my pictures from 2 cameras.  One had been opened and turned on the tree so that it just faced the hillside.  Got a nice up-close picture of some fur as a bear brushed by the camera!  However, the area had increased elk sign.

Second camera had some good pics.  One is a definite shooter for me.

Anybody know what is up with the "blue" marks on that small 6 pt's butt?  Several elk had that look.

Once again, the unit proved to be rugged. I accessed it from Rd. 40/Mt. Road at the Lake Ridge trial head, headed east on the trail, then near Monument Ridge dropped down to where the guard station trail hits the bottom, turned northeast, up stream to the big fork in the creek, then west about half way back to the road, then south and uphill through really steep country, to hook back up with the Lake Ridge trail.  About 8 miles of mostly off trail travel.

That is a hell of a hike but you are in the right area   That first bull looks VERY familiar. We called in a big 6X7 a couple years ago in that area. I wish I could put in for Mountain View but Washington makes it pretty expensive for NR to build PP. I wouldn't think twice about going on another tag along hunt out there though. I love it out there!

[rosscrazyelk]

Picked up my pictures from 2 cameras.  One had been opened and turned on the tree so that it just faced the hillside.  Got a nice up-close picture of some fur as a bear brushed by the camera!  However, the area had increased elk sign.

Second camera had some good pics.  One is a definite shooter for me.

Anybody know what is up with the "blue" marks on that small 6 pt's butt?  Several elk had that look.

Once again, the unit proved to be rugged. I accessed it from Rd. 40/Mt. Road at the Lake Ridge trial head, headed east on the trail, then near Monument Ridge dropped down to where the guard station trail hits the bottom, turned northeast, up stream to the big fork in the creek, then west about half way back to the road, then south and uphill through really steep country, to hook back up with the Lake Ridge trail.  About 8 miles of mostly off trail travel.

No way that's mt. View. To flat 

[Shawn Ryan]

Hunting has been pretty great. Didn't start hunting until Tuesday evening. Lots of bugling. Was on 4 good bulls in the first 24 hours:  6x6 310, 6x8 320, 7x7 310+, 8x7 340. Presently, trading insults with a bull below me.

[Timberstalker]

Nice, glad you are in them.  Best of luck.

[Shawn Ryan]

Pics are too large to post with my limited service. Don't know how to resize them on my phone.

[Jonathan_S]

You can just crop them down

[Shawn Ryan]

This place is awesome. Been into lots of bulls. Bulls are bugling, but not responsive to calls. (Each tag holder I've spoken with is having similar experiences:  lots of bulls, just not ready to respond like they were opening weekend.)

Tonight I sneaked to within 50 yards of a bedded 7x7. A 320 6x6 was 60 yards to the left raking a tree for 15 minutes. Cows mewing around him. Bull bugling off to the right several hundred yards away. 7x7 would bugle from his bed in immediate reaponse to the far off bugles, but didn't care about the 320 raking the tree or the cows. Finally busted me, but just walked off. Elk here don't go far when they bust us.

About an hour later, I chased another bull (thought it was the same one). To a lower bench. Got to within 15 yards of him: a huge 7x8. At least 370. Broadside, but lower on the steep hill and could only see 1/4 of his body, shoulders, neck, and head. Busted me, barked, walked away. I barked back, he turned, I whistled with my reed. We talked back and forth as we both walked farther down the increasingly steep canyon. Very little cover, mostly terrain keeping us apart. Got to within 20 yards. Took a step and he was broadside again. Leaned to the right to cover my draw behind a tree. Leaned back out and he was still there. But small, leafless brush covered his vitals. The brush is short, woody, and stout. I wanted to launch the arrow so badly. I tried to stand taller to get my pin on his vitals above the brush. He turned and walked again. My next view of him was at 40-50 yards as he turned back-and-forth, then over the edge. By then there was no cover and he was down below me, steeply.

I'll be replaying that scene for awhile, wondering if my arrow would have made it through the brush. The brush was close to him, so the arc would not have taken it over and down. Ugh! Magnificent animal.

[huntnnw]

oh man! that's tough. sounds a lot like our hunt down there. We could get bulls to bugle back , but getting them into archery range was tough, 70-100 yards was the norm and getting any closer was hard. Sept 17 there was a noticeable change in the rut as it amped up. 
Good luck!

liking the updates and super eager for my muzzy hunt!

[elkrack]

Great write up keep the excitement coming! Good luck tomorrow 

[stew pidasso]

Lots of action, keep it up. Good luck

[2MANY]

Enjoy your time.
It goes quick!!!

[Shawn Ryan]

Last night's hunt was the best so far, but not that unusual. This morning two 6x6's were sparing on a sharp ridge with a much bigger 6x7 coming up from below. I tried to sneak down the opposite side of the ridge, thinking the bigger bull would want to intimidate the smaller bulls from just above them on the ridge top.

My plan was to intercept him at that higher point. Terrain was too steep and noisy and I'm sure the sound of my descent spooked the larger bull. By the time I peaked over the top, the two 6x6's were looking up at me and the 6x7 never showed up. Later he bugled from the timber across the canyon. In the first hour, I had busted 3 good bulls.

Kept heading down, even though the bugling was almost non-existent. Headed out to the point were I blew the 7x8 last night. 800+ yards across the canyon was a 7x7 with a 2-3" sticker making him a 7x8 with two cows and a 5x5 below him. Huge Bull with only two cows. That's how this country is: 2-3 times as many bulls as cows.

That bull exhibited the first herding behavior I've seen from a big bull. He wouldn't let those two cows off the steep, barren face. He stayed directly above them, matching their lateral moves. Finally, one cow trotted off, he gave chase, ending in a dead run as she tried to get around the corner of the ridge. They both stopped at the ridge edge; to check for danger around the corner is my guess.

He was a tank.  His body is massively larger than the 5x5 and the cows. I'll post a poor hand-held-digiscope pic when I get better service.

Typical hunt as well in that I end up 1,500' below the truck about 3 miles away.