Rimrock Spike Bull Hunt

[Fish4Fun]

Keep up the tradition of Pumpkin Camp.  My elk camp tradition kinda died over there when my ole man passed, but still make it over every once and a while.  Good luck and can't wait to see bull #34 

Say no more, when the Old Man passed away my brother and I stayed off the mountain for a while too. It was his Elk Camp and it was his way or the highway, no discussions. But, you know your Dad like ours would want you back up there just like ours would want us back. We were gone from the elk country for 15 years. Our first year back on the mountain we bumped into guys that didn't recognize John or I. They were a little confussed that they had hunted in there for several years and had never seen the 2 of us.They knew something was up because we killed an elk in the first 30 minutes of dayslight. As they talked to us they noticed we knew every trail and crossing. Then when we would tell them who we were, it was like we had never left. The old guys were glad to see the 2 brothers that they had seen grow up back on the mountain. I was 25 when we got the snow in 85', I remember it like yesterday too. In 1969 when I was 9, I killed my first bull in the North Fork of Oak Creek. I turned 50 this August, the passion is back and so is Pumpkin Camp. with a group that the Old Man would have totally approved of. We have killed 4 elk in the last 3 seasons, we still have it and so do you if you come back too.

[FWilliams]

Keep up the tradition of Pumpkin Camp.  My elk camp tradition kinda died over there when my ole man passed, but still make it over every once and a while.  Good luck and can't wait to see bull #34 

Say no more, when the Old Man passed away my brother and I stayed off the mountain for a while too. It was his Elk Camp and it was his way or the highway, no discussions. But, you know your Dad like ours would want you back up there just like ours would want us back. We were gone from the elk country for 15 years. Our first year back on the mountain we bumped into guys that didn't recognize John or I. They were a little confussed that they had hunted in there for several years and had never seen the 2 of us.They knew something was up because we killed an elk in the first 30 minutes of dayslight. As they talked to us they noticed we knew every trail and crossing. Then when we would tell them who we were, it was like we had never left. The old guys were glad to see the 2 brothers that they had seen grow up back on the mountain. I was 25 when we got the snow in 85', I remember it like yesterday too. In 1969 when I was 9, I killed my first bull in the North Fork of Oak Creek. I turned 50 this August, the passion is back and so is Pumpkin Camp. with a group that the Old Man would have totally approved of. We have killed 4 elk in the last 3 seasons, we still have it and so do you if you come back too.

love this stuff...thanks for sharing it.......

[Glockster]

Thanks the walk down Bethel Ridge memory lane Fish 4! 

To the OP: I hope you find some good family elk hunting grounds of your own in the Rimrock Unit.  Sounds like your sons will be of age shortly and trust me; when they're ready to tag along with the old man they'll be looking forward to it ALL year.  When they know it takes good grades to go hunting they'll get them.  When they've earned the awesome responsibility of holding a rifle in their hands, they'll be anxious to prove worthy of the trust you put in them.  When they make their first kills, there will be no prouder moment.   When they mature, the men they become will not to a small extent be shaped by time they spent with the old man and his friends in elk camp.

There would be a lot less problems in the world if more boys got to go to elk camp.

[Fish4Fun]

There would be a lot less problems in the world if more boys got to go to elk camp.

That is one of the best lines I have read in a long time, and such a true statement.   

[elkhuntindad]

That is an awesome statement  and they get to tag along during whitetail season now here on the east side because it's not so rough, but i think next year my 8yr old Hunter with go but 6yr old Gunnar is prob gonna be a bit upset, but he'll see what it takes i can't wait to get them both out in the woods with me and Papa before he can't hunt much longer, plus getting ready to get over there and work hard and hopefully bag a big spikey

[Fish4Fun]

Never too early to get them involved, my Dad and Uncle would piggy back carry my brother and I, when we were only 5 and 6 through the woods. Never slowed those guys down a bit, and they would kill animals with us clinging on like little animals. We were in Elk Camp at age 9 and both of us were shooting lever action .32 Win Specials. Start them young and right and you will have hunting buddies for life.

[Glockster]

I was 6 when I first got to tag along.  Deer hunting bored the #$@ out of me...mostly because my dad didn't know the good areas or what he was doing so we never saw squat.  But I loved being with him so I went whenever he offered.  Along came his new brother in law in the mid 70's....he knew how to hunt.  This guy had the magic 'game eye'...and got a deer every year.  He took us duck hunting up at Skagit and I got to see my dad get his first kill; a small hen bufflehead.  I remember how soft the feathers were and how earthy and sweet she smelled.  At that point I was hooked.  Under the Uncle's teaching, dad started to kill deer and bear up above Darrington.  I carried a bb gun.

I took hunter ed at 13 and this was the first year we started deer and elk camps in the Bethel unit.  I almost cried when I saw this country for the first time,...it was dry, open forest and there were no clearcuts or blacktails.. This was 1984.  Opening day Dad shot a nice two point that I and another hunting buddy walked right past in some thick scrub oaks.  (Lesson learned!)

Next year '85, after the morning's hunt, Dad said he was gonna go to town to call Mom (which was also an excuse to get more beer) and if i 'wanted' i could hunt on my own that afternoon...I was 14.  I think I was half way down the mountain before he finished his sentence.  LOL.

Anyway, I ended up shooting a deer that afternoon, probably the most unluckiest deer to ever roam Bethel Ridge.  I didn't know the first thing about field dressing except to 'get the guts out'.   Some nice guys near the road heard the commotion and came to investigate.  These guys finished gutting the deer, carried it to the road and even offered to drive me to camp.  I respectfully declined and said one of my dad's friends would be along shortly.  I hid in some bushes and as soon as I spotted the big blue Powerwagon, I jumped into the road and and nearly gave my dad's friend a heart attack as I was covered in blood he thought I had hurt myself. LOL  My dad's friend raced me back to camp and I asked why are we driving so fast.  He said I want this deer hung before your old man gets back....you'll know why this is important years from now.

Well we made it back in time and get the thing hung.  Greg said, do not announce you got it.  Let him ask who got the deer.  Dad comes rolling in and we play cool.  I got to tell him myself when he asked.  He said I'm proud of you son. 

[elkhuntindad]

getting ready day by day, got some maps of the area so i have been reviewing them as much as i can, will find out exactly where base camp is and hopefully will see some of you in the field 

[elkhuntindad]

not much longer, and thank you google earth for valuble scouting and topo maps, can't wait but for now just gonna focus on the whitetails down south of spokane

[DeerThug]

Go up the lost lake road till you are near the top.  The road bends tot he right and it will get thick timber on your left.   There is a big ridge to the east .  Pick an elk trail and sneak back in there.  there are spikes in this area.  Just GPs the truck so you can find it. 

Good Luck
DeerThug

[elkhuntindad]

will check that out, going to be camping about 4mi east of lost lake, should be easy to make it up there

[elkhuntindad]

not much longer to go TG!  Thursday night is going to be like Christmas Eve all over, just waiting for Friday morning to load all the gear up and head to Rimrock and hopefully find a nice fat spikey.  Hope to see some of you out in the field and best of luck and be safe!!   

[sporked horn]

This post is what hunting and the outdoors should be about, sharing stories and history, showing respect to others and helping where you can.  I love this site, just wish I was out hunting with you all this year, started a new job and can't take time off

[Hungry Horse]

Very well said  Sporked Horn,  sportsman helping  others to enjoy the sport and having enjoyable hunts. 

[Wyoming08]

This is an awesome post.  I got invited by my wifes cousin last year to go hunt up there. So we had a great camp. We had grandpas, uncles, cousins, sons, nephews, and a couple friends. We camp by the creek about 5 miles in.  Past the water spring. We had 2 trailers, and 2 big canvas tents. It was such a great couple of weekends. It was truly what a hunting camp was all about. We already set up the canvas tent last weekend, and I think the trailers went up today?? I Can't wait until Friday.  And there is already SNOW!!!!!!!!!! Goat wilderness here I come.... YEEEHAAAHHHH