Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: EastWaViking on August 14, 2008, 01:49:20 PM

Title: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: EastWaViking on August 14, 2008, 01:49:20 PM: I'm scouting elk area 1014 in a few days. I only have an evening and half of the next day to spend down there.
Where should I go first?

Thanks
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: ThePascoKid on August 14, 2008, 01:57:43 PM: The Frontier Too in Dayton nice cold beer
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: EastWaViking on August 14, 2008, 02:17:39 PM: Ok, after that where?

I don't expect you to give away your secret spot, but, I have one of the trophy bull tags so I am not going after spikes, and really could use some advice on general areas to concentrate my scouting.

thanks
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: ThePascoKid on August 14, 2008, 02:28:17 PM: Just being a smartass but seriously, I'd head out Patit Rd from Dayton then up Maloney Mt road into the Umatilla forest if your tag is everything west of the Tucannon river this area should be open The big ones should be up high but not necessarily I saw a very nice 6 pt bull 2 weekends ago down by Hwy 12 between Waitsburg and Walla Walla.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: bucklucky on August 14, 2008, 02:31:41 PM: Get in there and learn the boundries a bit , find the most remote area in there and hike into it, up high is whaere I would look ;) . Look for a good consentration of nice rubs from previouse years, check the drainages with water and look for wallows.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: ThePascoKid on August 14, 2008, 04:32:21 PM: assuming you have an archery tag, once the elk are in rut I don't think you'll have a problem finding them, I would definitely be a bit picky with that tag there are some hogs in there. Good Luck!
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: yelp on August 14, 2008, 05:19:44 PM: I suggest going up to Godman trailhead and hike out to the East out those trails. Stop by ranger district in Pomeroy...I rented one of the guard station cabins as my base camp the year I drew. Try Big turkey tail, Jelly Spring, also...
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: Dadbear on August 14, 2008, 09:44:56 PM: I'd try it up around Bob's Lake. ;)
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: EastWaViking on August 16, 2008, 05:02:29 PM: Just got back from a quick overnight scouting trip. Great looking country, and the bulls are bugling! Here are a couple of pictures. The bull was a long ways off taken through my spotting
scope towards the sunrise, but hopefully you get the idea.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: yelp on August 16, 2008, 05:35:10 PM: where did you go...what drainage...details man!
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: BC CHASER on August 16, 2008, 05:39:30 PM: Bad pic but it looks like he is a good bull.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: EastWaViking on August 16, 2008, 06:38:43 PM: Yeah, bad pic, but I was shooting at 1/20th of a second through my spotting scope at about 600 yards.

SE of Meadow creek...If I get a bull in there I am bringing a fork, because it would be easier
to eat it on the spot than pack it out!
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: yelp on August 16, 2008, 06:59:14 PM: Bring two forks. :chuckle:..the racks are worth it!!
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: yelp on August 16, 2008, 07:01:01 PM: OH YEAH...DID YOU SEE ANY WHITEYS...HOW DOES THE AREA THAT BURNED LOOK. I HEAR IT IS COMING BACK NICELY.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: EastWaViking on August 16, 2008, 07:25:52 PM: I saw a few white tails, one real nice buck. I could attach a picture of him, but it is worse than
the bull picture because it was just getting light and he was about 100 yards away. He was about
20" and at least 6 points to a side. He was on the sky line road near godman cg.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: yelp on August 16, 2008, 07:33:32 PM: I gotta a Blue mtn A tag with his name on it... :chuckle: :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: piledup on August 16, 2008, 07:42:43 PM: That looks like a nice bull. It's good to hear the bulls are bugling. Was the bull out of velvet already? Couldn't tell by the picture.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: EastWaViking on August 16, 2008, 07:58:13 PM: He was out of the velvet.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: EastWaViking on August 16, 2008, 08:01:16 PM: Quote from: yelp on August 16, 2008, 07:33:32 PM
I gotta a Blue mtn A tag with his name on it... :chuckle: :IBCOOL:

...Unless I get him during archery season with my C tag!

He actually wasn't that big, maybe 280-300.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: yelp on August 16, 2008, 08:03:59 PM: Did you see any bears or sign of any...I usually see a few in there. Meadow Creek is a good place to look.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: EastWaViking on August 16, 2008, 09:49:19 PM: No bears, some old sign here and there.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: piledup on August 16, 2008, 10:07:17 PM: Quote from: EastWaViking on August 16, 2008, 08:01:16 PM
Quote from: yelp on August 16, 2008, 07:33:32 PM
I gotta a Blue mtn A tag with his name on it... :chuckle: :IBCOOL:

...Unless I get him during archery season with my C tag!

He actually wasn't that big, maybe 280-300.

You got two tags? :o Lucky you. :tup:
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: EastWaViking on August 17, 2008, 07:13:34 AM: No, I have the archery tag, Yelp has a rifle tag. It sounds like he has had that tag before though.
Am I right Yelp, is this the second time you have gotten drawn?
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: yelp on August 17, 2008, 08:07:01 AM: I was fortunate to get a bull tag in the Mt. View adjacent to the Tucannon in 2001.

My family decendants homesteaded on Pataha Flats out of Pomeroy in the late 1800's I have postcards of relatives that assisted Game dept. with the elk that were brought into Pomeroy via Railroad from Yellowstone. They quarentined the elk in Pomeroy and push the elkon horses like cattle up to the Wenaha...probably via Tucannon etc...It is cool that my relatives were apart of what we see today. It came full circle for me to be able to harvest a bull that my family helped bring into the Blues 100 years ago.

I used to camp at Camp Wooten years ago. I also know several of the locals and I am really good friends with the biologists in that area. That being said one of my friends dad drew the Tucannon Rifle tag last year...he didn't connect...he saw lots of bulls but he had a hard time getting to them...an age related issue. But in talking with my friend he said they hunted east of Godman and then hunted north in those thick north facing slopes (didn't burn in the fire)in upper tucannon and saw a ton of nice bulls in the 320-350 range..He said Anyways the governors tag holder was in that drainage last year and was chasing a 8x9 that would score in the 390's but it was too small for him I guess. anyways I deer hunt all over that area. Another buddy of mine drew 10 years ago and nailed a dandy...6x6.. The common denominator in all of these hunts was getting in the thick areas where these bulls are hanging...especially thick cover next to spring areas where they will wallow. I remember one year I found an area that had 20 wallows and 35-50 rubs....hot spot city....

I drew Blue Mtn A rifle whitetail tag this year.....can't wait.

I hope you get a good one they are in there...
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: bucklucky on August 17, 2008, 10:22:56 AM: Governors tag killed that bull, 387 is what it scored.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: yelp on August 17, 2008, 10:33:06 AM: Do you know the hunter? I don't want to put my foot in my mouth.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: yelp on August 17, 2008, 10:38:21 AM: The reason I say that is I heard rumors that he apparently hired several guys to locate big bulls in Tucannon, Dayton, Wenaha and other GMU's during archery, muzzleloader and rifle seasons? Is this the same guy you know?
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: bucklucky on August 17, 2008, 06:55:33 PM: Ho, Richert? No I dont know him but I do wish he was a Taxidermy customer so I could mount his bulls!! :chuckle: He live near here and had a picture with the score written on it at the archery shop. ;)
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: jackelope on August 17, 2008, 08:16:16 PM: yelp...my wife's family homesteaded on alpowa ridge, and some are buried in the pataha flat cemetery.
small world.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: Opportunist on August 23, 2008, 04:12:19 AM: I ran into my old high school horticulture teacher the other day and found out he has drawn the same tag you have. I'm glad to hear he drew out, I told him to hunt east and north from godman also. So if you run into an old gray haired retired school teacher from Kelso high school go easy on him!

Good luck on the hunt!
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: EastWaViking on August 23, 2008, 07:19:04 AM: Quote from: Opportunist on August 23, 2008, 04:12:19 AM
I ran into my old high school horticulture teacher the other day and found out he has drawn the same tag you have. I'm glad to hear he drew out, I told him to hunt east and north from godman also. So if you run into an old gray haired retired school teacher from Kelso high school go easy on him!

Good luck on the hunt!

I'll be on the lookout for him. Wish him luck for me!

I heard the third archery tag holder is using a guide.
Title: Re: Scouting Tucannon 1014
Post by: Caseyd on August 23, 2008, 02:09:52 PM: Good luck on your hunt! Yes a fork might be your best bet :P my cousin shot one down in the bottom of sawtooth and it took him and my uncle a day and half to get him out :chuckle:

There are plenty of kind people who im sure would be willing to help, depending when you are going to hunt the window there will probably be people setting up camp. My family takes mules up to the cabin on twin buttes and there seems to be quite a few camps with horses and mules too. Twin Buttes is a little farther but i can imagine someone in 1014 will have some too :IBCOOL: