Worst opener ever.....

[NataSS]

I swear i dont know why i put myself through this every year only to come up empty handed.

Got to our spot and had no one else anyone near us.  It then proceeded to go to a monsoon level rain storm.  got camp set up and called it a night.

woke up before sun up and started hiking into our spot, the weather broke long enough for us to get there.  As soon as what i would loosely refer to as "the sun" started to break....so did the weather.  another torential downpour.  With in minutes I was soaked to the bone.  Spent the entire day watching areas I had seen sign in the past.  But there was absolutely nothing and if there was, the rain was washing it away.  Headed back to camp and broke for another location where I had seen alot of bear sign in the past.  Upon arrival, I was shocked to see that there were berries still on the bushes.  The rain broke for us long enough to start calling and find a spot burried deep in the berry bushes to hide.  Good thing was on the way in, we found a nice fresh, steaming pile of blueberry filled poop.  Called for about an hour and then as if it were some kind of sick joke the worst hail/rain just started dumping on us.  We moved while calling for bear under some large trees to provide us with some cover.  Only to have a tree squirell start mocking us by running back and forth in front of us.  when he got bored with that he ran up a tree and started litterally throwing pieces of pine cone at us.  I knew once the squirell was mocking us it was time to pull chalks.

Out of total frustration we headed to the dry side of the mountians to set up camp.  EVERYWHERE we went were other hunters.  Tried to get as much altitude as possible only to find another hunter camp.  Talked with a number of other hunters that hadnt seen anything.  We saw 5 doe in a area marked "no tresspassing" a little later.  Once we finally found a spot to set up camp without anyone in the area....yup, fricken monsoon.  I got so frustrated, I just said "bag it" and headed home.

Over the entire weekend I only heard 1 shot fired and if was anyone like me, it had to have been out of frustration. 

If I dont get something in the near future, I am going to have a hard time justifying the expense to the wife for me heading out to hunt. 

[Buschingc]

Over here on the "dry" side of the mountian, it gets hunted hard... It seems that every year there are more and more hunters out there.. Its dangerous out there nowadays.. Sorry about your luck man.. Hopefully soon you'll get a deer..

[Schmalzfam]

Gotta love Washington weather.  It rained everywhere opening morning... I hope you can fill your tag and have a better time the rest of the season.

[TEX-X]

Oct 31st we are heading to ellensburg to hunt the opening elk...i got a spot open in my truck if you can hunt a few days...let me know
dustin

[boneaddict]

Nice offer.


Sorry you are frustrated.  Justifying the expense is always a hard sell, because you can't.   But then again justify the expense of cable, cell phones, movie or dinner out. 

[WDFW-SUX]

Just enjoy in the time in the field... sometimes its just nice to get out and enjoy the experiance.  If cost is an issue for meat Id stick to the grocery store.. its much cheaper same with roadkill.

[TEX-X]

i think you said you were a jar head..you can hunt with us as long as you don't mind hanging out with a bunch of sailors....the offers open if you want a descent chance at harvesting a little bull...there are a few big bulls in the area....but you'll see a lot more spikes...  plus hunting it last year i saw bear tracks in the snow...and a nice little buck...  been hunting there for 2 years and have got a bull both years...

[luvtohnt]

I swear i dont know why i put myself through this every year only to come up empty handed.

Got to our spot and had no one else anyone near us.  It then proceeded to go to a monsoon level rain storm.  got camp set up and called it a night.

woke up before sun up and started hiking into our spot, the weather broke long enough for us to get there.  As soon as what i would loosely refer to as "the sun" started to break....so did the weather.  another torential downpour.  With in minutes I was soaked to the bone.  Spent the entire day watching areas I had seen sign in the past.  But there was absolutely nothing and if there was, the rain was washing it away.  Headed back to camp and broke for another location where I had seen alot of bear sign in the past.  Upon arrival, I was shocked to see that there were berries still on the bushes.  The rain broke for us long enough to start calling and find a spot burried deep in the berry bushes to hide.  Good thing was on the way in, we found a nice fresh, steaming pile of blueberry filled poop.  Called for about an hour and then as if it were some kind of sick joke the worst hail/rain just started dumping on us.  We moved while calling for bear under some large trees to provide us with some cover.  Only to have a tree squirell start mocking us by running back and forth in front of us.  when he got bored with that he ran up a tree and started litterally throwing pieces of pine cone at us.  I knew once the squirell was mocking us it was time to pull chalks.

Out of total frustration we headed to the dry side of the mountians to set up camp.  EVERYWHERE we went were other hunters.  Tried to get as much altitude as possible only to find another hunter camp.  Talked with a number of other hunters that hadnt seen anything.  We saw 5 doe in a area marked "no tresspassing" a little later.  Once we finally found a spot to set up camp without anyone in the area....yup, fricken monsoon.  I got so frustrated, I just said "bag it" and headed home.

Over the entire weekend I only heard 1 shot fired and if was anyone like me, it had to have been out of frustration. 

If I dont get something in the near future, I am going to have a hard time justifying the expense to the wife for me heading out to hunt.

I know your frustrations, you just need to stick with it and don't give up. Your time will come to harvest an animal. I think the only thing I woul dhave done different would be too stay in the original area. If and when the rain gave up then the deer might have started moving. Hope you have better luck next weekend.

Brandon

[runamuk]

Well you tell a good tale and the mocking sqwirrel had me laughing  ....I would rather spend money on hunting over satellite any day....when home alone I rarely even turn on the tv.....why should you need to justify it  doesn't she do things as hobbies just for the fun of it 

[elkaholic_74]

I was actually excited like a kid on christmas morning that we had rain on opening day. That always makes the hunting better in my opinion but also makes for lousy camping. Good luck to you.

[NataSS]

Thanks for the offer Tex, I'll shoot you a PM.

The "justifying the expense" was kind of a joke.  The wife is real good about letting me have time up in the hills.  Deer season is all but over for me due to my schedule with my kids.  I knew if i didnt get something on opening weekend, it was over for me since I have my kids the following weekend.  No worries though, bear and lion are still open and elk is right around the corner.