Tuccanon D (archery)

[scroder]

We're off! Tomorrow 5:30 am for a six hour drive then a four hour hike to get into camp. We will get camp set up then head out to scout for a bit before dark. Monday we will scout all day and then Tuesday I hope to kill a giant. Hopefully I will have a great story for all of you as well as some awesome pictures. Wish us well.

Thanks

[Austrian Hunter]

Good Luck and have Fun!  Can't wait to se your pics!

[Jackjr]

Hey dont forget to pick me up

[Todd_ID]

Good luck boys!  Have fun, and shoot the first one that makes you wet your pants!

[ridgefire]

best of luck and hope to see some cool pics

[jasfireman]

Good luck! Can't wait to see the results of all your hard work.

[sjhgraysage]

I was in the unit yesterday, and saw 5 bulls including a really nice 6x6 with a herd of 9 cows and calves. Not much that I heard in the bugling department, but the herd bull was definitely acting very possesive and keeping the cows away from the smaller bulls in his area. It was warm and dry, hope it rains some.

[EastWaViking]

What's the latest Scroder?  Any Luck??  I'm anxious to hear your stories!

[257 Wby Mag]

Jason, Jack, how'd you guys do? Lets see some pics.

[mtncook]

Jason was taking the family on a trip this week.  I talked to him Saturday night. Probably not by a computer,

mtncook

[EastWaViking]

Come on Scroder!  Tell us the story!

[scroder]

To put it simply I failed. I have been losing sleep over it ever since. On day one we saw 19 branched antler bulls, three of which I would have shot had the opportunity worked out. Day two was nearly silent and we saw a few smaller bulls. On day three, after working a bull for about an hour and a half, I had a broadside shot at about thirty yards through a small window between some trees and missed. The arrow hit a small branch and turned skyward. We watched the bull push his cows down and across a canyon. We did not work him any more in the hopes that he would still be around the next day to try again. We judged him to be in the 350-360 range. On day four we were headed back to look for the bull from the previous day, when a bull that I think we had seen on the first day caught our attention so we headed in the other direction. It turned out to not be what I was after. However, another bull kept bugling so we headed that direction to check him out. When we got to where we thought we were close, I went out ahead of my buddies about 50 yards. I almost gave myself a heart attack when I saw him. From where I was I could see him, but Jack and B.J., my hunting buddies, could not. He had his head down and was facing in the opposite direction. He was sixty-four yards away with the wind blowing from him to me. I ranged several points in the area then held my cow call up and motioned for Jack and B.J. to call. They blew the cow call and he whirled around in an instant and started coming toward me. He let out an enraged bugle as he came. He stopped at 18 yards facing almost straight on. Now Jack and B.J could see him and they tried to call him again to get his attention off of me. I drew, anchored my pin, and released the arrow. The arrow hit exactly where I had aimed just inside the point of his right shoulder. He whirled around and ran about forty yards and stopped broadside. I could see that the arrow had penetrated 3/4 of the way. I knocked another arrow but misjudged and missed. He staggered a bit then walked off. Jack and B.J. came up to where I was and said,"Holy SH**! That thing was huge!". We walked to where he was standing when I shot him and found blood immediately. We decided to wait 45 minutes before we went after him. As we waited we tried to estimate how he would score and all felt that it should go near 380". We then started to follow the blood trail. It looked as if someone had dipped a paint brush into a pail of red paint the flung it to the ground as they went dipping it repeatedly. We were feeling good about the outcome. We found a spot where he had stopped for a while and he left a pool of blood that was about 12" by 18". After trailing some more, we found a spot that looked like he had tried to lay down. There were three smaller matted blood spots on the ground. After that, the blood trail had dried up within about fifty yards. We spent the next five hours searching in circles and crisscross patterns without finding him. I was depressed as we headed to camp.  I did not sleep well that night. The guys tried to boost my spirits and said that it sucks but that it happens sometimes. We half- heartedly went out in the morning, but I kept thinking about that bull so we went to look some more to no avail. Again another near sleepless night. On Saturday, we broke camp and packed out because the guys had to go back to work. Sunday morning they left and I tried to hunt near Tallow Flats but kept thinking about that bull. On Monday morning I headed back up to where we had lost the trail. I spent the rest of my time searching the area where I had lost the bull. I have second guessed my shot and gone over the entire thing a thousand times in my mind. Some of you may feel the need to blast me for this, go ahead I've got broad shoulders.  You can't beat me up any more than I have beaten myself over this.

I would like to thank everyone  that helped me on this hunt.
Thank you. you know who you are.

[EastWaViking]

The main thing is you went back and kept looking for him for several days.  You didn't fail, you did the best you could with what was a bummer situation.  CHIN UP!!!

[Fishhunt223]

The main thing is you went back and kept looking for him for several days.  You didn't fail, you did the best you could with what was a bummer situation.  CHIN UP!!!

Way to stick with it instead of just giving up and sticking another bull.

[3dvapor]

i liked hearing you story i just wish it had a different ending.  draw it again next year.  thanks for posting do you have any pictures of camp or terrain?