Toutle Archery Bull Journal.

[Hunter Dug]

September 9 Day Three.  Left out of Camp in the early morning hours to hunt an area I had seen the 3 bulls and a cow in on day one.  Hiked all morning, didn't see any fresh sign till about 11:30 while walking I could see the road, about a 100 yards out so basically just b-line to the road when I seen a flack out of the corner of my eye, a good 5 point stood up out of his bed less than 20 yards in front of me then 2 spike, then a cow, only thing that went through my mind was OH *&%^.  well a cow call did not stop these elk, and they came out of there skin.  Headed back to camp, and waited for Joe, (BLKBEARKLR ) to show up to camp, he got there about 2:30, and set up camp.  We headed out to on the bikes about 4:00 and got into some good area. We decided to go down a skid road that was way back in some area that doesn't have much traffic, setup and he started calling with his new Phelps's calls that he had just picked up for the trip, and bam.  Cows start sounding off about a hundred yards away, then a single breaks away from the herd and I see it running through a draw, and bounce up on the road, keep in mind this happened in about 2 minutes.  This calf is less than 10 yards from me, and about 20 feet from Joe and his brother.  I could hear the cows in the distance call and appeared they were moving away so we didn't spend to much time playing with the little one. We hiked a bit more and did some calling but still the bulls were not sounding off. 

[washelkhntr]

Glad to hear that you are at least still on them. Was starting to wonder what happened to ya.

[Hunter Dug]

September 10 Day Four.  We headed out on Bikes to a Warehouse gate.  Got shortly after dark and started the all day hunt we had planned the night before.  After calling all morning and walking no less than 5 miles Joe started to get cranky cause the bulls were not playing fair, and he was hungry so we had to feed the beast.  We continued on and covered another several miles, and decided we had better start working our way back towards the bikes.  We sat down and had a snack, looked at the map, and Joe pulled out the JPPHELPS calls and turned on the light switch, two separate bulls at the bottom of the hill sounded off.  We got a plan, and I headed down the hill. I got set up and Joe and his brother Jessie started callin the one of the bulls would grunt but would not really fire up. We all got down to the corner of the road and Joe and Jessie set up while I circled around.  I get half way down the road and look down in the timber and the bull is coming to the calls, so I circle back to Joe and set up to take the shot if given.  The bull comes in to 44 yards and lets out the most heart stopping bugle ever I mean you could feel it hit you in the chest, and starts racking this tree that was about 16 inches across, unfortunately there was just no shot.  He stood there and racked that tree for nearly 10 minutes before he turned and walked directly away from me and out of view.  He was a good average 5 point.  We pulled ourselves together and headed sown the road.  We moved no more than a quarter of a mile and Joe hit the JPPHELPS cow call again and Bam a bull to our left sounded off.  We walked up the road about a hundred yards to get set up, and before we could even get set up the 4 point bull was within 50 yards and spotted us, he was accomp[anied by two small 3 points. They end up working off and we moved on.  It was getting late so we headed for the main road.  On our was Jessie spots a small herd in the middle of a clear cut with a 3 by5 bull  a spike and 5 cows.I told Joe that I was going to attempt to sneak up on this bull and see if I could get a shot, he said no way but I had other plans.  I head down the road, and coulsd see that the y were feeding to a small landing so thats were I would go, I circled around and crawled within 75 yards of the herd the wind was perfect and all appeared good.  I crawled another 30 feet and thought I was busted by one of the cows, but with the wind perfect she settled down, I crept up another 10 feet and could see the tips of his antlers, I rose  ranged the bull at 60 yards but he was facing me so I had to wait. at that moment on of the cows barked and the bull turned I grunted at him and he stopped perfectly broadside I came to full draw, settled on the spot and released. the arrow was perfect and hit him right behind the elbow blowing completely through, he took off at a slow pace and immediately you could see the show was over he went about 60 yards and piled up.  The whole time Joe and Jessie were across the clear cut watching the show.  Gutted the bull propped him open and headed back towards the bikes. Which were about  4 miles away. Working on Pics.

[chaseace21]

Congrats on the Bull! Can't wait for some pics! 

[testar77]

Way to go man!!!!!!!

[whacker1]

great read - congrats on the bull

[bowhunterforever]

Awsome story and congrats getting a bull

[400out]

that is truly awsome! can't wait for the pics I bet you thought the elk could have heard your heart beating out of you chest!

[unluckyjohn]

One of the coolest things Iv read on this sight! Started following your hunt like a show on TV, great job on the journal. Congrats on your hunt!

[clhutner]

Great story congrats on filling the tag and thanks for the great report fun to read and follow along. Cant wait to get back out into the woods on Thursday myself.

[Hunter Dug]

Wow guys, what a week in the last 4 days I have packed out 3 more elk from my regular hunting partners, with a total of Yes 4 for 4. My 5 a 4 a 3 and a cow. What a year.  Sorry no pics yet having trouble downloading between the short time I have between packing out elk.  One 7 mile round trip, and a 6 mile round trip really puts the hurts on the body. Thanks for the comments, and all the help that I got from this site really helped put this together.  You guys rock.

[bucklucky]

Congrats , nice job !!

[BLKBEARKLR]

Scott,

It was a blast being up there with you, although truth be told you suck, I still have a fricken blister on my heel. I retired from all that walking crap. LMAO.


Joe

[jasfireman]

Congrats! We followed your journal, got a little worried for ya didnt hear from you for a while.  Glad to hear you got yours! It took us the full week we where the but dad got his in the Toutle on the 14th!

[Hunter Dug]

Thanks Joe, it was a blast hangin with you and Jessie, you showed me a whole diffrent type of elk hunting, and we had a couple really good days up there.  Just to bad the elk were so moody up there with the weather.  You know I leave for Wyoming in a couple days I should be bringing you some business, My hunting partner is planning on mounting any buck over 22 inches so i will send him your way.  Happy trails.. Hey if you got any pics of me and my bull would you post them for me. Having trouble on my end.