Who can't take it?

[400out]

Alright I can't take it anymore who else is completely caught up in their special tag this year? I can't keep my mind off it!  where I'll go first, what I'll do at the moment of first sight, how I'll deal with certain obstacles, ect. I have tried curbing this excitement with spending more time in the hills and checking traim cam, talking to locals but to be honest I think it's making things worse  I can't even drive down the road without drifting off in fantasy land  and oh my god there is another situation where the last thing on my mind should be hunting elk but I'll be damned there it is again!  I love the feeling of having a bull tag but I didn't realize how overwhelming it is!   Tell me what your doing to curb you enthusiasm? 

[Hunter Dug]

I hear you 400 I draw a good western tag for elk and it has been my life and keeps empting my wallet new this new that, scout here scout there, where to camp, hunt the north part of the unit, no maybe the south part.  rrrrrrrr help.

[400out]

Have faith that your scouting will pay off! what weapon did you draw?

[carpsniperg2]

i spend a lot of time on the range with what ever weapon i am going to be using. but i do that with even general season tags.

[Hunter Dug]

Archery Toutle, going to hunt with Joe " BLKBEARKLR" should be fun.

[400out]

Archery Toutle, going to hunt with Joe " BLKBEARKLR" should be fun.

WOW sounds like a hunt for the books!

[Hunter Dug]

Im not holding out for a big bull a good 4 of 5 would be nice. I sould say Ill be camping with Joe and his brother, wether we hunt together we'll see.  I know this though it will be fun camping with a fellow Infantryman none the less.  I go for the meat mostly but horns are nice never know may call in a toad first day.   

[jimkrueg]

i DIDN'T GET DRAWN FOR ANY THING BUT I CAN'T WAIT EITHER. I'M WATCHING HUNTING VIDEOS AND GOING OUT THIS AFTERNOON TO PRACTICE SHOOTING OUT OF MY TREE STAND. IT'S DRIVING MY WIFE CRAZY. I WENT TO DICKS SPORTING GOODS LAST NIGHT AND GOING TO CABELAS TOMORROW. MY BOW IS ALL TUNED UP, ARROWS BOUGHT, JUST WAITING FOR THE SEVENTH. GOOD LUCK TO ALL.

JIM

[BLKBEARKLR]

Im not holding out for a big bull a good 4 of 5 would be nice. I sould say Ill be camping with Joe and his brother, wether we hunt together we'll see.  I know this though it will be fun camping with a fellow Infantryman none the less.  I go for the meat mostly but horns are nice never know may call in a toad first day.   

Scott,

I am going to hunt with you the first couple of days and call for you if that is ok. I still have a full elk in the freezer from last year. Would rather help you get your bull since you are not holding out for a trophy. I have the time I can wait and hold out. But just get ready I am known to call them into top pin range.

Joe

[400out]

Im not holding out for a big bull a good 4 of 5 would be nice. I sould say Ill be camping with Joe and his brother, wether we hunt together we'll see.  I know this though it will be fun camping with a fellow Infantryman none the less.  I go for the meat mostly but horns are nice never know may call in a toad first day.   

Scott,

I am going to hunt with you the first couple of days and call for you if that is ok. I still have a full elk in the freezer from last year. Would rather help you get your bull since you are not holding out for a trophy. I have the time I can wait and hold out. But just get ready I am known to call them into top pin range.

Joe

Sounds like a welcomed challenge 

[Deer slayer]

I am there. I am constantly thinking about the hunt. I wake up and look at this site. Thinking about it at work. Watching the outdoor channel daily wanting to look at photos of elk. Bought the hunting the west book by eastmans. It is consuming me. Working to get in shape.

[NWBREW]

I didn't get drawn for anything but more points......so I can wait about 1 year. 

[jameslong]

I can't wait either. I've watched pretty much every hunting video I can get my hands on, getting in shape, studying maps, books, etc. I would recommend any trophy mule deer hunter to watch Mike Eastman's video on field judging mule deer. It's a great tool. Just over a month to go and you can find me in the Hoback.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I just got home from the hospital, my 7th angiogram and 5th coronary artery stent.  Except for the pain in my groin, as soon as the 10lb lifting restriction comes off I am going to try to kill a bear (my wife really wants a rug).  I realize this is the elk forum, but I am relating to the subject.  Thoughts of hunting got me up and walking in the hospital the day of the heart catheterization, and 3 days later I walked my first mile.  I only have about a 12-16" stride, and hunting is my motivator to recover as well and as soon as possible.  I won't be able to get into the wilderness where I know where to find bears, but will be hunting close to roads.  

Shedcrazy's sweet color phase pics really got me jazzed up, especially since it's a local bear.  Although my wife wants a shiny black one ...    

[Deer slayer]

Good luck on a fast recovery Doublelung!!

[denali]

Hope all is well doublung   our prayers are for a speedy recovery !

[Deer slayer]

Doublelung I have to ask what your picture is.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Doublelung,

Wish you a speedy recovery don't know where you are,  but if you need some helping packing let me know.

Joe

[DOUBLELUNG]

Doublelung I have to ask what your picture is.

Slayer, that is the cut marks of a Thunderhead broadhead through the lungs of a mule deer.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Doublelung,

Wish you a speedy recovery don't know where you are,  but if you need some helping packing let me know.

Joe

Thanks Joe - Wenatchee is home.  I'm blessed to have several good friends willing to play pack mule, if i can get to where i can kill a bear and get it ready to be packed.

[Deer slayer]

Doublelung I have to ask what your picture is.

Slayer, that is the cut marks of a Thunderhead broadhead through the lungs of a mule deer.

I see it now.

[MichaelD]

I hear ya 400out!  Was just up there today looking around and talking to as many people as I can.  Pretty much updated all of my gear I thought.  I pulled out my little "bowhunting" range finder last night and the dang thing won't range past 40 yards. .
I have a huge Bushnell that are as big as a pair of huge binoculars that works well, but to lift them up I will likely have to use 2 hands which may not work for staying stealth.  Working on the boss to see if we can find a way for a new finder in the next couple of weeks!

Other than that......just thinking, dreaming, watching, reading, listening, and hoping elk!!!   I know it will be the experience of a lifetime.....just seems like a lifetime till it gets here!

Michael

[Hunter Dug]

Well thanks Joe top pin would be nice.  Ive been known to call em in pretty close myself so we may be flipping a coin. Sounds to me like we got it covered I'll get the video camera ready maybe we can get it on film.  Going to be fun.

[coachcw]

I'm so excited for my son this year. It;s his second year of archery hunting. been putting him in for bull permits since he was ten .six points and a bull permit is his . last year I killed a good 340 bull in the same unit . i really hope I can call a good bull into his lap for a memerable hunt . I'm confindent he'll make the shot . in the past he's only hunted the weekends except for a three generation idaho hunt . this year we are taking the first week atleast , the teachers are gonna just have to deal with it. good luck to the rest of you and thank god for our health and the abillity to get out and hunt.

[400out]

I'm so excited for my son this year. It;s his second year of archery hunting. been putting him in for bull permits since he was ten .six points and a bull permit is his . last year I killed a good 340 bull in the same unit . i really hope I can call a good bull into his lap for a memerable hunt . I'm confindent he'll make the shot . in the past he's only hunted the weekends except for a three generation idaho hunt . this year we are taking the first week atleast , the teachers are gonna just have to deal with it. good luck to the rest of you and thank god for our health and the abillity to get out and hunt.

OH MAN I wish your son the best!  The only thing better then doing it yourself is doing it for a loved one!

[PA BEN]

I drew GMUs 602, 607, 612, rifle tag, only one tag, Sept.20th to 24th. I haven't gotten to excited so far. I spent some money on new calls and sent. I've bow hunted for many years and have call in some big bulls but couldn't draw a tag. I lost all my points 6 years ago on a muzzle loader cow tag. I've moved to the wet side 5 yrs ago and have hunted a little with rifle for elk. (no time to bow hunt). There's lots of elk out here and w/my scouting it should pay off. Now when I drew my moose tag in '08 it was no sleep for 3 months. I'm trying not to get to worked up about this tag like I did w/my moose tag. 

[MIKEXRAY]

I had the " FEVER " in 08 when I had my bull tag, it is agonizing !   No tag this year, just now getting excited. Marriage is doing better this year with no tag. Good luck to all this season and good luck with those tags. I'll post pictures of my spike. Mike

[bowhuntersd]

I drew an Eastside tag this year and feel the same as the rest of you...... Completely Obsessed. Tuning my bow, going through and laying out all of my gear, looking at maps, making scouting trips, and spending alot of $$$$. All-in-All , my wife completely HATES and wants to KILL me to say the least.

[PA BEN]

I've been married for 24 years now. My wife knows how important hunting is to me. It hasn't been EZ over the years. I have 5 daughters and all have killed deer and my wife too. That's all we ate for meat. She knows how important this tag is. She rides bikes and I'm getting her involved in my scouting. Bike riding behind gates. Honey does are real important right now. Do your thing around the house and include her in your scouting. BTW, sex in the woods is great.    

[GoPlayOutside]

I've had "true spike only" fever for months now

[400out]

I've been married for 24 years now. My wife knows how important hunting is to me. It hasn't been EZ over the years. I have 5 daughters and all have killed deer and my wife too. That's all we ate for meat. She knows how important this tag is. She rides bikes and I'm getting her involved in my scouting. Bike riding behind gates. Honey does are real important right now. Do your thing around the house and include her in your scouting. BTW, sex in the woods is great.    

Good advise ! LOL 

[deadyote]

I'm going out of my mind as well.  I have spent tons of mornings and evenings looking for the elk of a lifetime.  I got drawn for one of the best westside elk tags and it is on my mind 24/7.  My wife isn't real happy about me being gone a lot, but she is coming around.  This is going to be a good year, great elk hunt and having our third boy about a month later.  I have seen some real monsters already this year and it just makes it worse for me.  I am just doing everything I can to prepare, exercising, shooting, and fine tuning all the little things.  This is the first year I am muzzleload elk hunting, so I get to see how my calling techniques work or not.  I am also trying to get better at field judging elk because there are 350" plus bulls in the unit.    Good luck to all you out there and lets see pictures when they hit the ground.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I've been married for 24 years now. My wife knows how important hunting is to me. It hasn't been EZ over the years. I have 5 daughters and all have killed deer and my wife too. That's all we ate for meat. She knows how important this tag is. She rides bikes and I'm getting her involved in my scouting. Bike riding behind gates. Honey does are real important right now. Do your thing around the house and include her in your scouting. BTW, sex in the woods is great.    

Good advise ! LOL 

Amen that!  The only thing better than being in the woods in September with a tag and a weapon, listening to the elk bugle as the late afternoon light filters through the trees - is doing all of that while taking a break from the hunt with your busty, blond hunting partner!  (She was a raging b*tch when she wasn't happy, the ex, and I don't miss her - but she had her moments!).

[PA BEN]

I'm going out of my mind as well.  I have spent tons of mornings and evenings looking for the elk of a lifetime.  I got drawn for one of the best westside elk tags and it is on my mind 24/7.  My wife isn't real happy about me being gone a lot, but she is coming around.  This is going to be a good year, great elk hunt and having our third boy about a month later.  I have seen some real monsters already this year and it just makes it worse for me.  I am just doing everything I can to prepare, exercising, shooting, and fine tuning all the little things.  This is the first year I am muzzleload elk hunting, so I get to see how my calling techniques work or not.  I am also trying to get better at field judging elk because there are 350" plus bulls in the unit.    Good luck to all you out there and lets see pictures when they hit the ground.

What Unit?

[Caretaker]

Scouted Lick Creek last weekend for modern fire, have talked to many people / authorities familiar with the area.  Plan many more trips before my season opens Oct 25th.  It's exciting, treating this like an OIL tag, for me it is.  I still ponder if I see a 330 - 340 bull on opening day if I will take it or hold out for bigger.  Understatement....I'm Stoked!

[nontypical176]

I have been putting in for a bull tag for 19 years and have never drawn.  I only put in for Toutle and Margaret because they are close to home.  I started with archery, then went modern and now muzzle loader.   This year me and my buddy put in as partners and drew the muzzle loader toutle bull.  I started hunting muzzle loader 6 years ago because of my work schedule and the Coweeman unit (my back yard) has a good late muzzle season when I'm usually laid off.  Can't believe I finally got drawn for a tag.  Had to go down and get a new knight big horn and some more elk calls.  Work has been so hectic that scouting is limited to sundays and my dreams, but many of my friends work in the woods and have been keeping me in the loop.

 Lots of bulls to be had this year.............Its gonna be a couple months before I stop twitching.  Did you hear that??  Does any body else smell elk??  Hang on I think theres somethin movin by those trees.

[SirSpencer]

I got the umptaneum hunt, I have had few nights with out elk showing up in my dreams ever since. Luckily I have alot of work to do before the season. I have to get all of my school work completed early as to take the Whole week off, and not be distracted. In preparation though i've been on here looking at maps doing some scouting and some working out to guarantee I will be in shape. Hopefully this year I will get my first Elk. If not the opportunity is always nice just to get out in the woods, plus i also got drawn for a regular season cow tag as a fall back hahaha.

[deadyote]

PA BEN -
I got drawn for the Hancock Timberlands Elk hunt.  I went out yesterday and saw a monster.  He was with a decent 6X6 who I was watching and then Bruiser poped out of the alder thicket and dwarfed the 6X6.  Like I said before, I'm not good at judging elk but he was the biggest elk I've ever seen.  My buddy shot a 354" bull out of Alkali a few years back and this bull was as big if not bigger. 
I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!