Watershed 2023

[elkoholic]

My 2023 Watershed bull. Left the truck at around 4:45 and started down the intake trail. Jumped off at the top of Deadman ridge and slowly worked our way down waiting for daylight. As daylight finally arrived we spotted 2 bulls way down off of Green Peak, They were bugling and we could hear another growly bull on our side so we worked our way down to pretty much the bottom. We could hear the growly bull on the opposite ridge and caught glimpses of his cows moving around in the timber but could never get eyes on him. We started calling and he would respond every time we cow called or bugled. Finally the herd moved out into the open at 450 yards and it contained 15 cows/calves a spike and a smaller 5x7 bull. We cow called but this bull shut up and would now not respond. I was not going to shoot the bull thinking there was no way the little 5x7 was the growly bull. After about 30 minutes watching the herd in the open I heard a branch break below is in the canyon so I let out a wheezy cow call and the growler responded. He dropped to the bottom and we could hear him working his way up to us. He stepped out at 60 yards and I told my hunting partner I don't think I'm gonna shoot him so I set my rifle down and took video of him at 40 yards for 3 minutes. He spooked but I cow called and he came charging right back and bugled right in our face on video. I was talking with my partner about how cool this was and said you know what let's just do it. 7mm PRC barked and it was all over. He ended up in the very bottom next to the creek. When I said I wasn't going to shoot him I didn't realize just how big his body or headgear was. He is pretty much a heavy 5x5 with small split to make him a 6x6. We got to work breaking him down and hanging meat bags. We each grabbed a load and headed back toward the top arriving at the truck around 10:30. The next morning we headed down and came out extra heavy so we could get it done before the snow started to fly. By far that hardest pack out I have ever done. Special thanks to My friends that helped get him out of that nasty hole I could not have done it without them. 

[duckmen1]

Sweet bull and sounds like an awesome experience. Congrats

[full choke]

Great bull! 
Cool story, and thanks for sharing!

[LDennis24]

Awesome! He looks heavy beamed! I'm glad you found success.  It seems like that place is going way downhill just like everywhere else around the state. Great job!

[elkchaser54]

Those old 5 points of the Blues are some of my favorite bulls around!!!!

[bearhunter99]

Congrats on a heavy old brute!

[ShaneTyTrey]

Pretty cool man, congrats!

[sjhgraysage]

congrats!!

[tgomez]

Great bull, congratulations

[dvolmer]

Most excellent!!! I have a buddy that has been hunting up there in the watershed also and got snowed in for three days! He finally got out of there last night. Good job for getting it done early.

[carpsniperg2]

Excellent congrats!!!

[Klickitatsteelie]

That’s what a special tag is all about. People get mixed up in the score and all the nonsense instead of the experience. Calling a bull in, watching and listening to them , having a unique deep growl, and shooting him in a hell hole with a good buddy is what you will forever remember. Congrats on a great hunt and for taking advantage of a great special hunt tag.

[elksnout]

Beautiful bull. Thanks for sharing.


elksnout

[HerdBullH20]

Very cool- You earned it...
That unit is amazing the packing out aspect not so much. Congrats!!

[Gentrys]

Would be awesome to know how old he was.  Congrats!