Peaches

[fishngamereaper]

Its almost game time.
Tempurature is changing
Leaves are turning
Cams have been working overtime
Boots to the ground every two weeks since June
Plan A, B and C are in place.
Bowtech is tuned
Easton FMJ's are flying straight out to 60yds. (self imposed limit)
Rad broadheads are tuning well, probably start with the Rival but the Madman 4 flys true to.
Base camp is being organized.
Spike camp will be ready on standbye for a high mountain death march if necassary.
Calling practice while driving is going good.
At this point Im rolling solo, its going to be a blast....12 days, Im going to feel like Jeremiah Johnson by the end of the season.

[fishngamereaper]

Options

[fishngamereaper]

 

[jagermiester]

Oh man have fun. Wish you luck!

[bowhunterforever]

Heck ya, good luck on your hunt

[fishngamereaper]

Checking cows a couple days ago

[fishngamereaper]

Wont be friends for long

[WAElkhunter89]

Tagging along for this, can't wait to see the outcome, good luck fishngamereaper!

[fishngamereaper]

  In the background....

[fishngamereaper]

I cant sleep..

[WAElkhunter89]

Still kills me that I ate this tag a few years ago during MF, one day I will draw again 

[hunterofelk]

Beautiful bulls. 

[elkoholic1]

 

[MADMAX]

Still kills me that I ate this tag a few years ago during MF, one day I will draw again 

me too and quite a few others on here did the same that year 2015 for bowhunt , hard to hunt if they dont bugle

[X-Force]

Tagging... cant wait for an update

[fishngamereaper]

What a grind. 7 days, over 60 miles on foot, climbed Everest twice, well over 200 bugles from at least 20 different bull's, elk everyday, spikes broadside, 3 big bull's under 50 yds, two broadside with blocked vitals and one monster at 30 yds quartering to me with head down... . And I had worked him for 7 hours and 8 miles that day...

I'm doing this solo and the bulls are hanging up on me..I call, run forward, range, clip release, wait and repeat.. first world problems I know...

I'm out of the hills for a shower, family time and re charge the batteries. Back at it Sunday afternoon..man I wish I had an elknut...

Good time's though...

[slowhand]

Hard work pays off. Keep it up.
Tag

[Jonathan_S]

Hard work pays off. Keep it up.
Tag

Not always in the elk woods but what else can we do?

Good luck!

[Hoythunter]

Keep it up, we’re living vicariously through you!  Keep at it and can’t wait to hear the next update.

[N7XW]

Don't quit.  It will pay off 

[fishngamereaper]

Listening to Elknut podcast on the way home I think Ive figured out whats going on..but on the other hand I was a combine 3.5 steps from killing 3 big  bulls...

And Im having nightmares about bulges

[Jonathan_S]

And Im having nightmares about bulges

Yikes bro

[fishngamereaper]

And Im having nightmares about bulges

Yikes bro

 
Bugles......   Im so dang tired today..

[drk9988]

Your inbox is full

[fishngamereaper]

Your inbox is full

Cleaned, I think.

[jagermiester]

And Im having nightmares about bulges
[/quote]

Dude those aren’t the nightmares. The nightmares are the nights you don’t hear bugles in your sleep 

[Vandal44]

I was up there for 6 days helping two buddies out that had this tag.  I wish they would have done some scouting but we had a good time.  One of my buddies shot his first elk with a bow, it was a spike on his last day to hunt before he had to go back to work.

Best of luck to you 

[fishngamereaper]

Heading back over shortly. Give them big bulls a couple more days then Ill be in legal elk mode..Ive had like 6 spikes in bow range, so when they become fair game Im sure they will not come into range. 

[4fletch]

When your fairly close to them point your grunt tube bugle  behind you and he'll think the cow is farther away then where you are and walk past you

[fishngamereaper]

Successful ??


No, sadly I did not fill this tag. I sit here, the last day of the season drinking a cup of coffee at home, eating humble pie and licking my wounds. Obligations would of made it nearly impossible to chase bulls today and get home when I needed to be.

What a season. I think back on what could of been. Will probably have nightmares about missed opportunities and small bulls I passed on.  But then who am I to say what should of been or could of been. For whatever reason the stars didnt align and It just wasn't meant to be. Chasing animals that can hear better, see better, smell better and move 5 times as fast...….ya, I lost a fair fight.  Maybe someone out there needs a bull more than me and can find success in what I learned in my failures.

I could right a book on my 12 days in the mountains solo. But I will keep it short and to the point, I mean who wants to read about my day to day close encounters right



Cliff notes:

12 days solo
Over 120 miles on foot
Vertical elevation gain and loss (don't ask)
Well over 400 elk encounters.
Probably heard over 1000 bugles( lost my voice towards the end because of bulging back and forth)
I worked in on at least 40 bulls.
Of those about half seemed interested in what I was doing but hung at 100 yds.
Of those I had 8 under 50 yds but no clean shot opportunity. I think with a caller behind me I would of had solid shot opportunities.
Of all those bulls only 1 came in on a string screaming like a maniac.


In the end it was a wild ride. I saw some bulls that probably have never seen a human before. Mashers for sure. Had 3 of them under 40. Sure I could of let arrows fly, but I feel I owe the animal a clean as possible kill. And didnt want to chance chasing a wounded elk.


Things I noted. Half my time was in wilderness areas. The bulls where pretty much screaming all day. My other days I worked areas with no real trails but off random spots in the road. Those bulls went silent after 10 and didnt start again till about an hr before dark. Only a few of the bulls where running cows. Most of them where just wandering around screaming "look at me"....the next two weeks should be awesome for hunting.


I found a lone set of wolf tracks.. Just outside the wilderness. The wilderness elk where really skittish. More so than they should of been.


I didnt see a single person while I was hunting.  Just a lot of guys driving roads before light and after dark.

Well that's it in a nutshell.

Words of wisdom. My calling isn't really that great but it kind of worked I guess, so learn to call really good. Good bulls sometimes are not to far off the road. Set up camp along the river so you can sleep, otherwise the bulls will keep you awake all night(learned that years ago). AND most important ......Friends don't let friends ELK HUNT ALONE. 


In the end success if what you make of it. Did I harvest a bull, NO. Would I have loved to and been one of those guys...heck ya.  But overall I had a quality experience. There are no guarantees in life, escpecially bow hunting.

So ya, I guess I was successful .

Now Ive got some deer tags to fill and still have late season bow for elk if someone would kindly tie up a cow for me it would be much appreciated. 

[fishngamereaper]

Proof I was hunting

[fishngamereaper]

.

[jstone]

Great story. That’s bow hunting

[slowhand]

Thank You for sharing Your adventure.
I have had the peaches Tag just once but during Rifle season. It was an incredible adventure even without filling My tag. I will never forget it. I fully understand how You feel and I can't wait to pull the tag again.

[fishngamereaper]

Thank You for sharing Your adventure.
I have had the peaches Tag just once but during Rifle season. It was an incredible adventure even without filling My tag. I will never forget it. I fully understand how You feel and I can't wait to pull the tag again.

Its only the second draw tag Ive eaten in over 30 years. Guess what the first was......Peaches Bull in 98    Oh the curse of the fruit.

[slowhand]

Thank You for sharing Your adventure.
I have had the peaches Tag just once but during Rifle season. It was an incredible adventure even without filling My tag. I will never forget it. I fully understand how You feel and I can't wait to pull the tag again.

Its only the second draw tag Ive eaten in over 30 years. Guess what the first was......Peaches Bull in 98    Oh the curse of the fruit.

Haha
Oh man that would suck to enjoy peach flavored soup twice.
I guess that's why they call it hunting.

[Birdguy]

Sorry that you did not notch your tag but what a great hunt! Some amazing memories. It was fun to follow your hunt. THanks for sharing it.