Two Washington Bulls in two days

[cle elum bowhunter]

UPDATED:  Ok,  32 years since my last branched antler bull, that was my 2x2 when I was 12.  Yesterday I got a nice 5x6. Exciting, fun and WAY to hot but we got them out and didn't lose any meat I hope.  Had to bone most of it which helped with the cooling.  My buddy got a 350" 7x7 bull about 2 hours into his first WA hunt.  Montana boy that moved here for work.  Said something about all the stories of how bad washington hunting was, difficult to find elk and all.  Now he doesn't believe it.  Will try to post pics later or tomorrow.  UPDATED:  see story below.

[SniperDanWA]

Congratulations.  Fond memories make this one even sweeter, I imagine.

[losdaddy7]

PICS??

[agchawk]

Yea, without pics then it's all just rumors and hearsay.

Oh yea....CONGRATS to you both!

[vaz,,66]

Congrats to both of you

[328-archer]

Congrats Erik!

-Randy

[washingtonmuley]

Nice work!! Can not wait to see pics.

[Huntbear]

Congrats!!!!

but this thread is worthless without pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

[Cougeyes]

Heard about you two earlier from a friend that said he saw the pictures on either your cell phone or your buddies.  Said they were nice bulls!  Good work, looking forward to the pictures and story. 

[wall of wood camp]

we want some pictures!  what unit did they come out of not a specific location just a GMU out of curiosity

[rosscrazyelk]

PICS PICS PICs

[BENCHLEG]

thanks for the teaser , cleelum bowhunter  tell him good work.

[cle elum bowhunter]

Ok, a little of the story.  Weather was probably to hot for elk hunting but ya take what you can.  Didn't get to hunt the opener due to work but 9/8 found us hiking up the trail in the dark.  Got in on our first elk at daybreak, busted by a cow at 54 yards.  I decided to stay put as my buddy went further up to try and work the canyon.  About 10 minutes later I had a 6x6 come by at 120 but no closer.  Last elk I saw that day until my buddy showed up in camp at noon saying he had a little 7x7 down.  1 1/2 hours later of forced march/climb and there he was, all 350" of him.  We spent the rest of the day boning, and packing chunks of meat off the hill to the river where we hung them in a cool breeze.  Just before dark we started out with the cape and about 100 pounds of boned out meat.  We left the quarters for morning and got to sleep late.  At 4:30 we were up and at it with the intent to hunt for the first hour or so of daylight and then go pack his out when our other buddy arrived. 
Right at daybreak, we spotted a cow and then a 6x6 across the valley floor.  We watched them go off into the timber as we were caught in a bad spot.  As soon as they hit the timber I tried to close some distance as my buddy set up with my montana elk decoy and started cow calling.  The 6x never came back out but my 5x6 came down canyon to investgate.  He wandered down and eventually hung up about 120 yards out.  My buddy cow called but the bull started to turn away.  At that time he grabbed the decoy and wiggled it around, moving the brush with a few chirps.  The bull spun and walked right in.  I ranged him at 56 as he went behind a tree and when he came back out he turned slightly away from me, qiving me a quarter shot.  I held for 40 and slid the arrow right behind the near front leg.  It went through the lungs and diaphragm and lodged inside the offside belly.  He spun and went out of view but I could hear labored breathing.  He only went about 120 yards but was difficult to find due to the heavy ground cover.  Took us about 30 minutes once we started looking as the hit was a little high and all the bleeding was internal.  The 100 grain G-5 did a great job cutting big holes thru the lungs and it is ready for a deer now.  I was able to bone him out and get all but the cape out by the time my buddy and another friend packed out his 7x7.  It was a great time, temps were worrysome hot but thankfully my camper has a/c and I was able to keep the meat cool for the few hours it took us to get home.  My feet and legs are KILLING me after packing all that out, but I think I will forget that by next year.   Those of you who know me know where these were taken.  For the rest of you, the tag was general eastern archery up near NO NAME ridge.  Sorry and thanks for all the comments.

[Ranger91298]

Congrats to you both....great looking bulls!

[blindpig]

    HOLY SH!T  nice couple a days.