Post by: Chesapeake on October 10, 2012, 10:57:16 AM
I learned some stuff that evening. #1: Don’t take a floorless tent to go camp in an ash pit in a wind storm. #2: Don’t take a floorless tent to go camp in an ash pit in a wind storm.
After having gotten about no sleep, and inhaling a nights worth of ash I left the tent before first light to make my way to my glassing point. At first light I located the elk where I had left them and began my stalk. It’s pretty hard to stalk those elk in the very open terrain. It was a long ordeal of cat and mouse, all the while listening to a barrage of gunfire from the Bear pass/Grizzly lake area uphill from me. Hikers I met on the trail Friday reported 3 tents and several hunters on Bear Pass. The morning gunfire seemed to confirm. By after a little more than 3 hours I had worked into 142 yards of the herd and that was all I was going to get. I picked the boss out and then realized he had 2 brow tines broke off on one side, so I lined up on number 2. My first shot felt good, but the elk didn’t act hit and there was no blood. I quickly reloaded and as I got on him again he took off on a dead run. I tried to swing on him for number 2 but missed. He fell over a log dead after maybe a 30 yard run. My first shot was true. A little high and forward in the shoulder blade, but it got the job done.
It took me a few hours to get him boned out and hung in the shade. I loaded up the horns and smallest meat bag and headed for camp. I tore down camp and packed the entire works out to my truck where I met my Dad and a few friends. We hiked back in Sunday and packed out the rest of the meat.
It was 73° on my GPS as I boned out my elk, but all day Friday the shaded moist spots on the north facing slopes had stayed frozen. It gave me some confidence the meat would be good. We put it in coolers on ice at the truck and took it home to the walk in cooler. I cut and wrapped it Monday and Tuesday and was pleased to find there was no spoilage at all. The high daytime temps had me concerned but it worked out.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1084.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj411%2FDieselchessy%2FNet1.jpg&hash=8c6cc7e8ac3f1ede69491f9fc78204e0ac85b879)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1084.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj411%2FDieselchessy%2FNetpack2.jpg&hash=4b76a7222c2524e7334fd173d97bdc236a487fec)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1084.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj411%2FDieselchessy%2FNethike3.jpg&hash=d88e176f51f6eddca54a4495ab8998952803e2ea)
Post by: buglebuster on October 10, 2012, 11:00:05 AM
Post by: stickbuck on October 10, 2012, 11:11:46 AM
Post by: bucklucky on October 10, 2012, 11:31:01 AM
Post by: ellensburgpo on October 10, 2012, 11:33:11 AM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 10, 2012, 11:34:50 AM
Post by: X-Force on October 10, 2012, 11:38:36 AM
Post by: sirmissalot on October 10, 2012, 11:41:35 AM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 10, 2012, 11:42:41 AM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on October 10, 2012, 11:46:26 AM
Post by: Dan-o on October 10, 2012, 11:48:20 AM
Greatly appreciated!
thanks for sharing.
Post by: JPhelps on October 10, 2012, 12:09:20 PM
Post by: arrowflinger on October 10, 2012, 12:11:38 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on October 10, 2012, 12:32:28 PM
Post by: muzbuster on October 10, 2012, 12:37:33 PM
Post by: Ridgerunner on October 10, 2012, 01:36:36 PM
Post by: FSTaxidermy on October 10, 2012, 01:44:36 PM
Post by: Chesapeake on October 10, 2012, 02:46:47 PM
Post by: Bluesdude on October 11, 2012, 07:36:23 AM
Todd
Post by: Bluesdude on October 11, 2012, 07:39:19 AM
Thank you all for the compliments. It was a great hunt that was aided by information provided by some of the great folks on this site.
we are going in this weekend and then again on the 19th for a week. it is going to be a little wetter and colder than your hunt! haha
Post by: Chesapeake on October 11, 2012, 08:32:53 AM
we are going in this weekend and then again on the 19th for a week. it is going to be a little wetter and colder than your hunt! haha
I could have used some wet and cold. I'm still picking dust buggers and spitting mud.... The rifle tag holders should have a unique oportunity. They will be the first group of hunters allowed into the timberlands of the unit. They will get to hunt a ton of elk that have suffered no pressure yet this year.
I'd say its a darn good year to have the Margaret rifle tag. Here's to you boys putting down some wall hangers!
Post by: Huntbear on October 11, 2012, 08:45:31 AM
Way to get er done!!!! Sounds like one hell of a hunt. Nice Bull too.
Post by: PAW66 on October 11, 2012, 08:52:27 AM
Post by: Killercolin on October 11, 2012, 11:28:05 AM
Post by: RClare1223 on October 12, 2012, 01:40:57 PM
Post by: Ghost Hunter on October 24, 2012, 09:32:09 AM
Post by: Huntbear on October 24, 2012, 09:42:32 AM
Post by: sagewalker on October 24, 2012, 11:10:28 AM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on October 24, 2012, 11:25:53 AM