2 for 3 in peaches

[Cascade]

Pic of camp on the little naches

We had a good, fun 2 weeks of hunting.  We hunted deer in the area to help with our scouting and to get to know the unit even more.  We had 5 big bulls pinned in 3 differnt canyons.  Of course, opening morning they were no where to be found.  In fact we never saw these bulls again.  My brother, short on time decided he was going to shoot the first bull he saw.  At 9:30 opening morning he took this big bodied spike.


Over the next week we saw lots of elk but not any that my buddy and I wanted to go after.  We were starting to get a little worried.  With the weather we had had and the pressure that was coming from the general opener, we were having that kind of luck.  The kind where we were either a few hours late or a day early.  Several big bulls were killed in spots that we had either just hunted or had just arrived at.  Finally, percistence and (mostly luck) paid off.  We were cutting across the bottom of a clear cut and suddenly this small 4x5 burst out of the brush 100yds in front of me and started running straight away.  The only shot I had was a Texas heart shot.  I held on him and finally right before he disappeared he quarted to the right.  I hit him hard but not enough to put him down.  Long story short, the bull ran straight down a canyon and I tracked him for 1.5 miles (gps is great) until catching up to him and putting him down.  This is my first bull and I am extremely excited about it.  He is a true trophy to the one person that matters.  Thanks for the help Mike.
Sorry for the long story and the rambling...and also the quality of this pic with the gut pile.


The celebration back at camp.

[Buckshot Bill]

Congrats and Great job!  No apologies needed.  Love to read the stories that go with these pics.

[Cougeyes]

Awsome camp, that's how I like to do it as well, live in luxury for sure!  That spike's body is huge!  Awsome first bulls.  Did you guys ever jump over and try to hunt actual Peaches Ridge or that far north? 

[Slider]

Were you guys up there sellin firewood? LOL. Just kidden congrats on the Elk. Should be some really good eats. Good Luick

[Craig]

Were you hunting or clear cutting the forest? just kidding. Nice looking camp and I bet you stayed warm. Good looking bulls. Did you get any snow at camp?

[Cascade]

Yeah, we are somewhat of self-proclaimed wood whores!  We were up there for three weeks and didn't want to be cutting wood during the elk hunt so we cut it all the day before deer season and then a few days after the deer opener. 
Cougeyes, No we didn't make it over to the actual Peaches ridge.  Pretty much stayed to the little naches drainages and Bald mt area.

[boneaddict]

  (about the wood comments)  I'm glad I'm not the only one that cuts a winters worth of wood while in hunting camp.

Great story and pics, no apologies needed.  Thanks for sharing. 

[HuntingFanatic]

Nice story and pics. I always enjoy seeing blood stained hands.

[Michelle_Nelson]

  Great stories and great pic's.  Thanks for sharing.  Congrats on 2 nice bulls!

[wazzu99]

Unfortunately I was the last of the 3 not to tag out on this hunt.  However, had a great time with some great friends, great meals around the fire, and even passed on a couple smaller bulls trying to find a bigger one but no such luck!  But we got the elk hunting rookies a couple of bulls and managed to create more feed for the elk during our deforestation project!   

Wazzu99

[Cascade]

"Our deforestation project!"  That is too funny and so true! 
By the way, It is too frustrating to watch the Hawks anymore.  I'm getting ulcers.

[Ridgerunner]

Good job on filling those tags.  Elk hunters sure love to have lots of wood, I saw a camp up there last year that had a considerable more amount than you guys had.

[FWilliams]

nice job! thanks for sharing your stories, ..love that area.

we have a saying in our camp about the elk camps in that area..."it's all about the wood"


Fred

[Wea300mag]

Excellent hunt/pics/story. What do you charge for setting up camps? You guys are professionals when it comes to making a comfortable camp. That wood stack rocks!!!

[SptnStlk]

Your camp looks like a Cabelas ad! The wood pile is awesome, but I have to comment on the organization and straightness of your tent. Not seen much better.  Great job on your bulls too! congrats