Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Timberstalker on September 28, 2012, 08:04:39 PM

Title: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: Timberstalker on September 28, 2012, 08:04:39 PM: Here are some pictures of my little 5-point bull I killed on opening day. I had scouted 4 weekends in the unit and did not have a very good lead on any elk. I knew where I wanted to be on opening day, but I had very little confidence. The elk just weren't in my GMU like they usually are. I made it to the drainage I wanted to be in on opening morning and started glassing. About 30 minutes in to the day I spotted this bull feeding on a little finger. He had 2 cows with him and he was in a decent spot to sneak on. I knew I had a chance to close the distance and possibly get a shot. I left my ridge at 7:00am and headed down into the canyon. The bull was approximately 1 mile from me, but 90% of the pursuit would be easy ground to cover. At 8:30am I was about 200 yards from the Bull. He had bedded along with the cows. The wind was good and the land provided me an opportunity to shave the distance off. I got to 121 yards and noticed that the cows were up and feeding. The bull was still in his bed and didnt seem to care. The problem was, the cows were walking right at me. I had a small disaster brewing. I laid down, all the way down, on my back as the cows started to feed my way. At 12 yards I figured the rodeo would start for sure . Luckily the cows fed by and jumped the fencline I was on. They fed down and out of sight. My next problem was the bull had bedded right behind a 5 foot tall piece of Sage. I had no shot whatsover. I continued to sneak the bull and started to get close, crazy close. At 41 yards I could see a softball size portion of his vitals and knew I could kill him. I was fine up untill this point, adrenaline was good and I really hadnt started to worry about the shot. It all changed as soon as I rolled the hammer back and heard it lock. The nerves kicked in, I could hear my heart thumping. I took one last look at the bull and at that point knew I how real it was; the bull's eyes were closed and his head was tucked in his shoulder. He didn't have a clue in the world I was there. No idea whatsoever. I took the shot and couldnt believe my eyes when the smoke cleared. The damn bull was running up the hill. I didn't know if I should cry or scream. How could I have missed him at 41 yards. I reached for a speed loader and started to reload. For a split second I looked up; the bull was coming over backwards. What the hell? He hit the ground stone dead. I couldnt believe it.
I had some work in front of me and it was close to 10:00am. After skinning, gutting and packing the first load of meat to the truck, I knew I would need help to get him out. It was going to be a long night. I called my Dad and he came up to help. We got the last load of meat and the head to the truck and 10:30pm. It was a great day.
Also, BLUEBULLS-THANK YOU.
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: ellensburgpo on September 28, 2012, 08:09:03 PM: Sweet, sounds like a Fun hunt.
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 28, 2012, 08:11:26 PM: Congrats!

I hate that feeling when you pull the trigger and don't know what happened when the smoke is all around you :chuckle: I did it last year and was sick until the smoke cleared and I saw then buck rolling down the hill. Then the screaming of oh stop! hit me as he was boucning down the canyon to the bottom :chuckle:
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: bucklucky on September 28, 2012, 08:13:58 PM: Nice Job
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: wackum on September 28, 2012, 08:17:50 PM: Sounds like a great hunt and congrats.
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: WenHunter on September 28, 2012, 08:20:40 PM: Great job and congrats on a nice bull !!!!!!
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: bearhunter99 on September 28, 2012, 08:49:46 PM: Congratulations! Looks like a nice bull! :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: Greenhorn on September 28, 2012, 09:29:49 PM: Nice bull, congratulations! :tup:
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 28, 2012, 09:47:41 PM: Good Job!
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: coachcw on September 28, 2012, 10:10:24 PM: sounds like a great stalk congrats !
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: buck man on September 28, 2012, 10:57:32 PM: :tup:Congrats.
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: SniperDanWA on September 29, 2012, 07:51:32 AM: Oh yeah! Nothing like the rush. Congrats on the sneak in and kill.
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: combs338 on September 29, 2012, 08:40:46 AM: Nice work!! Great stalk
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: ribka on September 29, 2012, 08:48:46 AM: Great job
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: h2ofowlr on September 29, 2012, 09:02:00 AM: Congrats! Nice write up!
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: FSTaxidermy on September 29, 2012, 09:25:11 AM: Nice bull, Congrats :tup:
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: 400out on September 29, 2012, 09:29:14 AM: way to go! :tup:
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: BLUEBULLS on September 29, 2012, 11:35:20 AM: Good deal!

wish I coulda been there! I know how excited you get :)
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: couesbitten on October 05, 2012, 06:05:08 PM: Good looking bull Dan, shoulda given me a call, I'm always willing to help, your dad and I could have come up together.
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 05, 2012, 07:33:25 PM: Awesome Bull!! WTG :tup:
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on October 05, 2012, 07:41:01 PM: Right on ...congrats ! :tup:
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: jrod on October 06, 2012, 02:45:52 PM: Must be an Idaho bull? :dunno:
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: Timberstalker on October 06, 2012, 06:36:07 PM: Nope, it is a Washington bull.
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: jackelope on October 06, 2012, 06:42:28 PM: Quote from: jrod on October 06, 2012, 02:45:52 PM
Must be an Idaho bull? :dunno:

Huh?
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 06, 2012, 06:45:46 PM: He must have thought there was no season open in washington I guess.
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: jrod on October 06, 2012, 08:13:49 PM: Figured it out!! Ya musta had ALKALI tag!!! Nice bull!!!
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: couesbitten on October 06, 2012, 10:40:00 PM: Quote from: jrod on October 06, 2012, 08:13:49 PM
Ya musta had ALKALI tag!!!

:tup:
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: runningboard on October 06, 2012, 11:55:24 PM: congrats on a great stalk, well written story, good job :tup:
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: Widgeondeke on October 07, 2012, 01:27:06 AM: saweet bull & write up
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: mtndew on October 07, 2012, 05:25:32 AM: Very nice! Congratulations!!
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: C-Money on March 23, 2013, 06:58:10 PM: Awesome Bull! Nice meeting you the other day. :tup:
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: EyeTooth on March 23, 2013, 08:04:18 PM: Nice shot and story! Thanks!
Title: Re: Eastside Bull Down
Post by: Timberstalker on March 24, 2013, 09:38:12 PM: Thanks for the comments. It was nice meeting you Corey. Hope to see you at at few other upcoming shoots.