Observatory here I come!

[JColony]

Got drawn for my first Quality Elk tag!   Going to be stomping around the Observatory from Oct 1-10th with the old smokepole.  Hunting season can't come soon enough.  Hope the wife is OK with changing all our camping plans into scouting trips.  Anybody else out there get this tag?

[JColony]

Anybody wanna share some pics of Observatory Bulls??  Just curious whats come out of there in the past.  Being that I've never connected on an elk, I'm not going to be overly selective, but would like an idea of what kind of possibilities I am looking at.  Plus, lets be honest, who doesn't like drooling over big bulls.

[coyotewallace]

that was my first choice...didnt get it! drew rimrock the same time.
good luck to you though

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Pray for snow! thats my advice

[Hilltop123]

How bout some Observatory shed.

[JColony]

Hilltop,  Thanks for posting the pic.  Those sheds are ridiculous!  I noticed you live in that area, is that size typical for that area or the exception?  Thanks again, definately getting excited for this.

[cem3434]

That is probably the typical size of a mature bull in that area.  I am sure the elk will still be rutting the first week of October, so you should have a great hunt. 

I went in there after last season and got on the elk a couple of different times.  There were a couple 330"-360" studs in there.  I also heard of a couple pigs that were pushing 400", but I never seen them myself.

Scout, scout and scout some more because you will probably never have that tag again! Good luck and shoot straight.

[JColony]

Cem,
Man, you got my heart pumping with that response!  I can only wish to be so lucky to have an opportunity at a 350" bull.  My buddy and I (who drew an Umtanum Cow tag) are already planning a few trips over that way to do some scouting.  The hope is to be able to set up camp on the border of the two units to he's by his tag and i can go either way.  We're looking at an area around the 1701 S.E of Manastash lake.  From good old Google Earth, looks like it might have some promising land near by. 

[JColony]

T-minus 2 weeks and counting!  Headed out after today to go do some scouting.  Hoping to be able to get my eyes on some bulls.  The buzzer rings at 3:30, then its into the truck for drive west.  Man, this hunt can't come quick enough!!!

[losdaddy7]

Good luck!  You have a great tag.  I would only suggest patience...  I see monster bulls every year in Observatory, but have never been drawn for a tag.....  You WILL cross paths with them.

[nailbender]

Good tag.. heres my 09 bull from there. 407 gross  Have fun and good luck to ya!

[Recurve-Elk]

I saw a huge 6x6, raghorn 5x5, and a 2x3 this season.  All with in 20 yards... Did I have a branched permit? No, last year I did haha. 

[cem3434]

I saw a huge 6x6, raghorn 5x5, and a 2x3 this season.  All with in 20 yards... Did I have a branched permit? No, last year I did haha.

Did you get a bull last year?

[Recurve-Elk]

Nope, none in range, but I had a very good looking 5x5 at about 70 yards.  I think it grew to the 6x6 I saw this year. 

[elkonastick]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,79581.0.html
these came from there also

[muleyslayer#1]

was up in that area saturday lots of bulls bugling Good luck

[nailbender]

i had that bull at 2 yards during archery but no tag. we hauled him out whole for you, saved you from packing him back up the hill the way you came in. all i wanted was a copy of the video and i never got it. you broke my heart nailbender. but yes many good bulls up there. they are very vocal at night but quiet down well before sun up. get on them in the dark and DO NOT BUGLE.

Way cool to see your post!  Now I can get back in touch with you. I'm gonna send you a PM. Yes, you save me a bunch!! I have that video for ya.. get back with me through the PM so we can hook up

[Recurve-Elk]

i had that bull at 2 yards during archery but no tag. we hauled him out whole for you, saved you from packing him back up the hill the way you came in. all i wanted was a copy of the video and i never got it. you broke my heart nailbender. but yes many good bulls up there. they are very vocal at night but quiet down well before sun up. get on them in the dark and DO NOT BUGLE.

Its how you bugle* I rarely do an aggressive bugle.  I tend to stick to spike bugles and locators.  Bugling can be very effective if done right.

[hunter-4-life]

John, hurry up and get back with pics and a scouting update.

[JColony]

Well, not what I was hoping for.  Tip for the newbies of the hunting world.  If you plan on scouting an area a ways away from where you live, be sure that the first time you get there in the daylight.  I spent 2 stupid hours driving a giant loop Friday night.  Needless to say, I didn't make it to where I wanted to go.  As it turns out, my topo maps that I have don't appear to be completely accurate when it comes to that area, other yes, the Manastash NO!  Got up early Sat. and made my way up to the top where trail 694 starts (big thanks go out to Con (sp?) and Frank for directions.  If you're on here, thanks a ton!) only to find 6 jeeps getting ready to go for a trail cleaning ride.  My plan at this point was to get to the trail that winds down to Manastash lake and hike down into the basin there and poke around a bit.  Well, as I was getting to that trail head, 3 bikes pop up off the trail.  As I'm talking to them, 5 other bikes come up and go down the trail.      At this point, I'm beyond frustrated, so I decide to continue on the 694 and try and get further and hike down into the Tripod Flats area.  Mile or so up, come around a corner, what do I find, about 15 more jeeps!   One of the guys came up as they were getting ready to leave and we chatted for second.  I asked which way they were headed and they said further west up to a place he called Moon Rocks.  At that point I told myself "screw it, I need to find a different area"  So back the way I came I went.  Basically to save you all a bunch of wasted reading.  The rest of my day went about the same.  Got up this morning, hiked around where I was camped, which was somewhere along N. Fork of Wenas Creek, just as the road turns off it up the hill.  Found a very heavily used creek crossing about a half mile up the canyon, some small rubs, a lot of poo, and of course reeked of pee.  Followed the trail up a bit and as it cleared the draw it branched out quite a bit.  So, I guess it wasn't a total loss, did find a couple potential spots, just really wanted to get my eyes on a big boy.  Oh well, I guess its more important to see them come Oct 1st, right?
John C.

[gasman]

How bout some Observatory shed.

Saw those the other day when I stoped in with Ribka to talk with Jim. Those are an awsome set. Wish I would have had found that bull while I was up there 

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Not trying to be a downer but it's a great tag if there is snow it's a migration hunt. There are a few resident bulls but it can be a great hunt or a very crappy hunt

[gasman]

Not trying to be a downer but it's a great tag if there is snow it's a migration hunt. There are a few resident bulls but it can be a great hunt or a very crappy hunt

So true, and early archery was crappy............

[muledeer78]

I am hope for snow on Oct 23, the day before my any bull tag start there. I will be making a trip this weekend to see what's still walking around.

[Lambaster]

I am hoping for some colder weather with some snow flying by Oct. 23rd as well for my any bull tag.  I am planning a trip over this weekend as well to see what is still alive and kicking over there.  Not interestered in tag stew at the end of October. 

[ribka]

Not trying to be a downer but it's a great tag if there is snow it's a migration hunt. There are a few resident bulls but it can be a great hunt or a very crappy hunt

So true, and early archery was crappy............

Pete I took road motorcycle for a ride after work tonite and I hate to say but saw a pretty nice 6x6 right at dark
Not far from area you were hunting

[gasman]

Not trying to be a downer but it's a great tag if there is snow it's a migration hunt. There are a few resident bulls but it can be a great hunt or a very crappy hunt

So true, and early archery was crappy............

Pete I took road motorcycle for a ride after work tonite and I hate to say but saw a pretty nice 6x6 right at dark
Not far from area you were hunting

I told you that was going to happen 

You will find them rutting over at Peter and Gails by the weekend also 

Go Figure 

[elkonastick]

i had that bull at 2 yards during archery but no tag. we hauled him out whole for you, saved you from packing him back up the hill the way you came in. all i wanted was a copy of the video and i never got it. you broke my heart nailbender. but yes many good bulls up there. they are very vocal at night but quiet down well before sun up. get on them in the dark and DO NOT BUGLE.

Its how you bugle* I rarely do an aggressive bugle.  I tend to stick to spike bugles and locators.  Bugling can be very effective if done right.

i agree with that mid september but by october to many mature observatory bulls anything less than a familiar bugle is an alarm. every elk is different and bugle if you will but for a bull like nailbenders you might tone back and leave your location to be discovered by scent or smell, or hopefully a big puff of smoke! not by a plastic bugle.

[buglebuster]

i had that bull at 2 yards during archery but no tag. we hauled him out whole for you, saved you from packing him back up the hill the way you came in. all i wanted was a copy of the video and i never got it. you broke my heart nailbender. but yes many good bulls up there. they are very vocal at night but quiet down well before sun up. get on them in the dark and DO NOT BUGLE.

Its how you bugle* I rarely do an aggressive bugle.  I tend to stick to spike bugles and locators.  Bugling can be very effective if done right.

i agree with that mid september but by october to many mature observatory bulls anything less than a familiar bugle is an alarm. every elk is different and bugle if you will but for a bull like nailbenders you might tone back and leave your location to be discovered by scent or smell, or hopefully a big puff of smoke! not by a plastic bugle.

I totally disagree! I have called in more bulls the first ten days of October than any other time! They are almost always extremely agressive seeing as how most cows are bred, they are willing to fight for the remaining cows. Try agressive bugles with lots of cow calls, if you don't feel comfortable being agressive try a high pitch bugle with grunts.

[elkonastick]

i had that bull at 2 yards during archery but no tag. we hauled him out whole for you, saved you from packing him back up the hill the way you came in. all i wanted was a copy of the video and i never got it. you broke my heart nailbender. but yes many good bulls up there. they are very vocal at night but quiet down well before sun up. get on them in the dark and DO NOT BUGLE.

Its how you bugle* I rarely do an aggressive bugle.  I tend to stick to spike bugles and locators.  Bugling can be very effective if done right.

i agree with that mid september but by october to many mature observatory bulls anything less than a familiar bugle is an alarm. every elk is different and bugle if you will but for a bull like nailbenders you might tone back and leave your location to be discovered by scent or smell, or hopefully a big puff of smoke! not by a plastic bugle.

I totally disagree! I have called in more bulls the first ten days of October than any other time! They are almost always extremely agressive seeing as how most cows are bred, they are willing to fight for the remaining cows. Try agressive bugles with lots of cow calls, if you don't feel comfortable being agressive try a high pitch bugle with grunts.

like i said all elk are different with the hot crap weather now you will be into rutting bulls in october yes, but for a BIG mature bull especially in an area like he is talking of scouting which more than likely has been hunted fairly hard already, they will be bugling at eachother already if you dont mind sitting and listening...in the dark... and then when the sun comes up and you are within striking distance you can slip in and smack him. he might come to calls, but if he is big and old because he knows the game he might run. the bulls that people cant call are out there and they are BIG