A Weekend of Elk Calling

[6x6in6]

Been a few years since me and my hunting partner had taken a weekend to go call the elk.  After the regs came out we decided this was the weekend and the Naneum Basin was the place.  No full on open season so we would not be fouling up any hunts, except for maybe a special bull hunt of some sort.

Worked out quite well.  Rolled in Friday afternoon and set up camp.  Spent Friday night listening only as to where we would set out for Saturday morning to plan for afternoon of seeing what we could call in.  As it ended up, we managed to get into what we were fairly certain was an area where there were 7-8 bulls talking in various locations and all withing 500-600 yards.  We ended up calling in 2 bulls with me on the bugle and my partner on the cow call, a 6x6 and 6x7.  The x7 had 24 cows with him and the x6 had over 30.  Once the x7 stepped out into the meadow we quit calling since we knew the x6 was on his way.  Sure enough, about 20 minutes later he popped out on a dead run into the meadow.  He charged straight on over to where the x7 was at and they went at it for better than 20 minutes.  The sod was flying like crazy.  All this and we were a mere 50 yards away with the wind right in our face.  When it was all said and done, the x6 got his butt handed to him and left with a cow and calf in tow and nothing else.  The x7 let out a couple more victory bugles and laid down right in the middle of his ladies for about a half hour.  He got up, grazed for a bit and started calling again.  We let out one bugle and he came a running straight towards us.  Stopped about 10 yards away from us.  Seriously though he was gonna run us over on his way to go find this other bull bugling.  He doubled back around in mid run and walked right on back to the herd.  We left him alone from this point and let him do what he wanted.  An hour or so later he wandered off with the herd back into the timber.  We took off shortly thereafter as we had a 2+ hour hike and light was thinning on us pretty quickly.  We heard him calling almost all the way back to camp.  What a great day and a great show.

My buddy's going through the pics tonight and is going to edit the video too.  Both of these bulls were 350+ bulls with the x7 possibly a 375.  I'll post these up as soon as I get them from him, hopefully tonight.

Nice to know a couple big bulls still hang in the Clock.  The best part, really?  Never saw another person the entire weekend.  Not even on the drive in/out.  Well, except the ones shooting at the lower end of Coleman of course.

[mebco09]

Sounds like 'wild kingdom'.  Awesome.

Stories like this show that Washington has the undeserved reputation of being the red-headed step child of the west when it comes to big game hunting.  Genetically we have good stock and habitat is pretty good, some areas are really classic elk country on-par with the best in the west.

Our problem is in the mis-management of the resource......

[bonkellekter]

sweet... can't wait to see the pics

[smitty8202]

Sounds like 'wild kingdom'.  Awesome.

Stories like this show that Washington has the undeserved reputation of being the red-headed step child of the west when it comes to big game hunting.  Genetically we have good stock and habitat is pretty good, some areas are really classic elk country on-par with the best in the west.

Our problem is in the mis-management of the resource......

that is called poaching by the natives.

[bowtech721]

Not disagreeing that that's a part of it but there's been like a billion heated threads on here about that already so let's try not to jack this guys post.... sounded like you guys had some fun can't wait to see some pics!

[Tman]

Always wanted to go call elk in the Rut for some good photos, never had enough time though, too many other critters begging to be hunted..

[mebco09]

Not disagreeing that that's a part of it but there's been like a billion heated threads on here about that already so let's try not to jack this guys post.... sounded like you guys had some fun can't wait to see some pics!

Sorry, not my intention.  I was actually trying to be positive-this story is inspiring as to what you can see right here in our back yard.  Can't wait to see video.

[JackOfAllTrades]

When someone wants to do this next year, please keep me in mind. I'd love to tag along. That sounds like a ton of fun that's worth the hard work getting there.

-Steve

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

What I love about doing this is you get real life practice. I practice at ho
E but it's not the same. I also practice during season but there is no
Pressure on yourself when your not hunting. Can't wait to see some video