BIGMIKE got lucky!!! Quality bull at Blue Creek!!!( Bull Down):)MOUNT COMPLETE

[Woodchuck]

I asked about the pickup because it was that year I talked briefly to a guy who's daughter had gotten a bull in an area I frequent and there was already a truckload of antlers in there and the young lady that was packing could put a lot of men to shame.

[Elkstuffer]

Very generous of you dvolmer! Great info from someone that just recently joined the forum. Some other guys on here aren't so forthcoming and could learn a thing or two from you. Setting a great example.

[BIGMIKE]

 :)Thanks Dvolmer, I cant wait to see your motivational photos of success. Sounds like you guys know what you are doing and willing to share some info. That is awesome and I am greatfull. My first scout/ ask permission will be July 8-10. My goal is to ask permission on the houses/ owners in the unit. I will start low and work my way up.  I already have a premade sheet asking permission. It contains the following....


My name, Address, phone number, my hunting buddies that might accompany me (4 on the list), my truck info, the dates I will be hunting which is pretty much the whole season,  target species, My signature block.

Land owner name and signature block, #of acres and general location(street, town, coordinates).
special rules from the land owner block:

I also added on the bottom that I will repect the land, properties, landowner like a Soldier would do.

Is there any thing else I need to add. This is my first rodeo when it comes to asking permission that is on paper. Any info will be appreciated. an example would be perfect.

[Pathfinder101]

Congrats Mike!  Even though you drew it with 4 points, this tag couldn't have happened to a better guy   I'll help out all I can.

[Elkstuffer]

The permission sheet that has always worked well for me has included a copy of my drivers license and also my hunting license. I also included the different organizations that I belong to : SCI, RMEF and so on.

Good luck. Sounds like you are ready to put your whole heart and sole into it. It should be a terrific hunt no matter the outcome.

[BIGMIKE]

thanks Pathfinder . I am just blessed and I feel lucky. I will do everything to fill the tag. Any bull that is danger close might get lucky and experience a hearth felt intruduction I will let him meet my 100 grain Montec G5 . Man!!! Im pumped. :IBCOOL:see you at camp.

[dvolmer]

posted some elk pictures in the elk section and some big buck pictures in the deer section.  Enjoy and get pumped!

[coachcw]

The permission sheet that has always worked well for me has included a copy of my drivers license and also my hunting license. I also included the different organizations that I belong to : SCI, RMEF and so on.

Good luck. Sounds like you are ready to put your whole heart and sole into it. It should be a terrific hunt no matter the outcome.

Allong with a smoked salmon !

[BIGMIKE]

Smoke Salmon??? I live 40 yards from the puyallup river and I only keep what we need for my family. I guess this year will be different. I always catch my limit before going to work in the morning.  :IBCOOL:Smoke Salmon it is.

[deerdog]

Congrats on your tag big mike! A co worker from work had the tag a few years ago and shot a nice bull. Sorry I don't have a picture but he said it was an awesome hunt and seen several nice bulls before he found the one he wanted. Will be watching this thread this fall to see how you did. Best of luck this fall.

[BIGMIKE]

I will miss the opening morning of this hunt , i just found out last Friday that I will be going to Air Assault School and the last day is 31 August. I dont fly in until 11 pm. I have to pull my trailer from tacoma all the way to the east side. If everything lines up perfect then I should be hunting the first evening. :tup:It's all hunting and chasing bulls after that. Thanks for all the info and help so far. I willl be scouting on 8-9 July. I am hoping to come back with permission slips and if I see elk I will try to take photos to keep you guys updated.  . Oh, I was wondering what size of elk I should wait for. I am thinking 300" will be my minimum for the first week and then any 5 point or better the second week. My buddy is saying I shoud save the special tag for an exceptional bull. I dont know if I can keep my arrows in my quiver if a bull is standing boadside 20 yards away. What are your techniques on passing a bull if you dont want to stick it? This is going to be very hard for someone who has not tag a bull in his lifetime like myself. anything???

[400out]

. What are your techniques on passing a bull if you dont want to stick it? This is going to be very hard for someone who has not tag a bull in his lifetime like myself. anything???

Don't open your eyes 

[nwhunter]

Congrats on the tag!Although I dont have any experience in Blue Creek I have spent some time in the Blues during archery and have found that on normal years after Sept 5 is when it gets good. If you start early keep this in mind and dont get frustrated and shoot a smaller bull after 4 or 5 days of hunting because you are just getting to the good time. Its hard to set at home while the season has started but its also easy to lose patience or get worn out when you start your hunt Sept 1st. Talk to some past tag holders and they will probably tell you what your realistic expectations should be but a 5 point should be way late in the season if you have the time to hunt. Good luck nwhunter

[BIGMIKE]

31 August 2012, 2:30 in the morning I had a 45 lbs pack on my back stretching for my last requirement to finish school. I have to complete a 12 mile road march in 3 hours or less. The air was cool but not cold with full moon barely illuminating the trails. I wanted to run the whole course to see if I can do it or not and to my surprise, I finish in 2 hours and 17 minutes. My Air Assault Sergeant met me 200 meters before the finish line and told me “Great Job Air Assault, you made it” after crossing the finish line I was relieved and looking forward to coming home to see my family once again and of course I was thinking about my upcoming elk hunt.

I graduated from air assault school on the 31st August from Boston MA. I did not get home until almost midnight that day. I spent a day with the kids and my beautiful wife while packing the trailer at the same time. I made sure my bow, release and license are loaded first. Then loaded it with my camp clothes and hunting clothes, I picked up a few items from the grocery store for snacks and food for two weeks. I stop by to get ice and pulled my frozen meats, soups etc. from my freezer I prepared two weeks ago. I made sure that the truck is fueled up and with proper tire pressure. I hooked up the trailer and spent the rest of the day with my kids in the park.
    
I kissed my wife and kids goodbye early morning and off I went, heading towards the eastern part of the state. I left home early on the September 2nd knowing that my window of opportunity will get smaller as the season's weather will be warmer than normal and the general season archery hunters will start stirring things up in the mountains. I got to our usual spot around 12 set up camp and was able to hunt that afternoon. I saw a 2 herds before it got dark and the herd bull looks dark horned and a shooter for sure.

September 3, we went back to the same spot where we spotted a herd of elk the previous day. We saw some cows but the bull is nowhere to be found. That afternoon we saw a few bucks but did not see a single elk.

September 4, was really slow day. No elk in sight, no bugle it was slow hunting. But with the last 30 minutes of daylight left in the clock our luck turned for the better. With less than 30 minutes of day light left my buddies and I were glassing a canyon next to our camp when all of a sudden spotted two bulls a mile away climbing their way out of the canyon. Quickly, we got back on the truck and drove 10 minutes on the other side of the canyon to get the wind right and to intercept the bulls. We parked the truck and we rushed to about 400 yards where we saw the bulls last and set up started a series of cow calls. Next thing I saw was this bull was running on a straight path towards the calls and when he got in 70 yards behind a 4 foot pine tree. I drew my bow and tracked the kill zone with my 30 yard pin. He stop a few times directly to my front so I did not have an ethical shot, so I waited for him to make a fatal mistake of taking few more steps towards my kill zone and when he did I released my arrow. The sharp Montec G5 cut on contact broad head of my arrow almost passed thru his chest cavity puncturing both lungs.  This bull came in up close and personal (7 yards) on the second day of the hunt, I could have slapped him if I wanted to. I was looking for something bigger but it's hard to pass up a shot that close especially when this was my first bull tag. He bolted and stopped at 65 yards standing quartering away. I knocked another arrow, aimed towards his opposite shoulder and released, hit him again… perfect. We backed away and waited 2 hours, ate dinner while waiting for him to expire. We found the bull 30 yards from where I shot him the second time. He was not the biggest bull I saw but he was the closest. I hunted for bear and buck the next 4 days but did not want to take a small buck at 30 yards, knowing my freezer will be filled with meat . I wanted to take something special for the wall and to have an excuse to go for deer in the late season in Okanagan . I was looking for a nice whitetail buck spot and stalk with my bow. I saw a Sow with a cub at 90 yards but did not want to fling an arrow towards mama bear thought about shooting the cub for my 3 year old but I know my wife would kill me if I brought the cub home. Close but no cigar on bear and buck.

I wanted to take this opportunity to tank all my hunting buddies that made this hunt successful (can’t have enough buddies when it comes to packing an elk out of the woods), to my boss that approved my leave, and of course to my beautiful, loving and understanding wife who lets me do what I love to do come every September…Do it yourself, fair chase bow hunting. And to my kids that are being so good at school and at home. I am truly blessed with everything I have in my life and with that I am great full. I am calling this bull the "Air Assault Bull of 2012". Happy hunting everyone and I hope that your season is filled with great memories of the outdoors, safe and successful. 

[bearpaw]

congrats, nice bull....