Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: sneakyjake on September 07, 2013, 08:27:44 PM

Title: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: sneakyjake on September 07, 2013, 08:27:44 PM: I haven't found time to shoot my bow, my kids are taking over my life, my wife has much for me to do, the tree house isn't finished, the fair started, work is busy, my hunting partner backed out on me, my mule broke when I was getting ready to load it. I'm on my own. I think I'm gonna get lucky, do you ever feel like that? I smell a dead elk.
Title: Re: Everything is lining up
Post by: 2MANY on September 07, 2013, 08:44:33 PM: Love it!!!

Go gettum.
Title: Re: Everything is lining up
Post by: sneakyjake on September 10, 2013, 10:27:47 PM: (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr179%2Fsneakyjake%2FSnapbucket%2FD7E84492_zps31915ae2.jpg&hash=4dd552bc790bb5865f8a6c10491398b26defb9ed) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/sneakyjake/media/Snapbucket/D7E84492_zps31915ae2.jpg.html)

It's a good feeling, especially when it comes true.

And I smell a dead elk.
Title: Re: Everything is lining up
Post by: jasnt on September 10, 2013, 10:37:59 PM: Congrats......story??
Title: Re: Everything is lining up
Post by: steeliedrew on September 11, 2013, 04:12:11 AM: that's awesome!!! I know how you feel. Often times when I'm steelhead fishing solo I have the best days. Way to get it done considering how busy life is for you! I'd love to hear the story. Looks like you got him in some reprod?
Title: Re: Everything is lining up
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on September 11, 2013, 05:04:03 AM: :tup:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up
Post by: MLhunter1 on September 11, 2013, 06:16:28 AM: The best days on the water and in the woods I have ever had were solo.
Title: Re: Everything is lining up
Post by: wiremonkey on September 11, 2013, 06:33:30 AM: Awesome, congratulations. I cant wait to hear the rest of the story. It appears everything took a turn for the best. :)
Title: Re: Everything is lining up
Post by: turkeydancer on September 11, 2013, 07:12:52 AM: Way to go Sneaky (Jeff) .... :tup:

Funny looking turkey thouugh .... :dunno:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up
Post by: sneakyjake on September 11, 2013, 10:19:34 AM: So down the rabbit hole I went. After having some partners switch to the East side, some got too old, others quit. I have one good partner left and he put in for a rifle tag and didnt tell me. Little known fact, you cant switch your east/west tag after you put in for a special permit. Which leaves me hunting alone, whatever, I kill more things when I'm by myself anyway.
Three hour drive, light badlands pack filled for a 3 day hunt. 2 hour backpack to a place I love to hunt. Has been void of animals the last two years, but there is always hope. Set up a little camp, checked my watering hole and of I went. Ten minutes later I made a cow call at 3pm and got a half hearted bugle up the hill from me. I was into elk for the next five hours. Cat and mouse, multiple herds, I got busted by at least 6 cows protecting this bull. Bands of cows hhad split up and some had moved with him to the back side of the mountain where he remained, taunting me occasionally. I tried to gain elevation and use my knowledge of the area to ambush him. I climbed up to the top above the tree level, about 5000'. He quieted down, the dark bowl seemed empty, but I knew he was still down there. I decided to wait until sunset and then try again the next morning. I had a few days, no need to blow them out of the area. I stood up to hike back to my spike camp that I was an hour away from now with no trail. The bugle came on the ridgeline directly behind. I yelled "Oh Yeah, game on M-FR!", I really did, outloud. I know, but I was amped. I took off running down the ridge line looking evverywhere. I peeked over the back side and I could see cows milling around. But where was he? I moved forward again and then heard him bugle maybe 400 yards ahead of me. I crept up and peeked over the craggy rocks and saw a massive herd, not the same ones from the other side. It was getting dark and there was no approach through the low huckleberry. I would wait them out then come back. As I was watching them, 20 yard to my right a sat bull came trotting by and stopped broadside next to me in the open and put his head down to feed. I just said to myself "really? 10 years and this is how it is going to happen" I took about 5 steps towards him drew, he kept his head down and I shot. It made that sound I heve heard about, like a watermellon, bloop. I dropped, cow called, he never saw me. I heard a crash. I tracked him through the huckleberry for 2.5 hours. There was dark blood, then there was lung blood. The trail ended at a cliff. I looked everywhere for more blood, nothing, I guess he went over. I searched the area for another 30 minutes. Decided to come back in the morning. He was 20 feet from where I was standing the next morning, I swear I looked pretty hard. A phone call to my buddy, 5 hours of butchering, 8 hours of packing the meat to the truck, fire, whiskey, mountain house, sleep. Went back in to get my camp the next day and pick some berries for a pie.
BTW why didnt anyone tell me about the bee thing. I got stung over a dozen times. There were thousands of them. uggg
Dad got me this.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr179%2Fsneakyjake%2FSnapbucket%2F4ADCAFFD_zps2995a4a6.jpg&hash=29c88dbdb3bc201b6210ccc1f38db89ebf5667a1) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/sneakyjake/media/Snapbucket/4ADCAFFD_zps2995a4a6.jpg.html)
After the shot, waiting to track
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr179%2Fsneakyjake%2FSnapbucket%2F6B30D16A_zps3bd03d5f.jpg&hash=2b6049cac5550f462666044bcda487e4548c0078) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/sneakyjake/media/Snapbucket/6B30D16A_zps3bd03d5f.jpg.html)
Great country
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr179%2Fsneakyjake%2FSnapbucket%2FB4AF0B3D_zpsfd9a48f9.jpg&hash=2a9101f33bb1aca68689e256c10028cda589cbfc) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/sneakyjake/media/Snapbucket/B4AF0B3D_zpsfd9a48f9.jpg.html)
Double lung pass through
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr179%2Fsneakyjake%2FSnapbucket%2FFB553ACC_zpsb5c7e975.jpg&hash=fa114db2820be391dc1c2d35d2f42df4081558c2) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/sneakyjake/media/Snapbucket/FB553ACC_zpsb5c7e975.jpg.html)
Help arrives
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr179%2Fsneakyjake%2FSnapbucket%2F8875AF86_zps93caca25.jpg&hash=0c071d03243a86962ce5a919554cbdc4df4a0a72) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/sneakyjake/media/Snapbucket/8875AF86_zps93caca25.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr179%2Fsneakyjake%2FSnapbucket%2F1265DFFC_zps15adef17.jpg&hash=b7ceaa3076b0135220113e61155f4a29aab57b4a) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/sneakyjake/media/Snapbucket/1265DFFC_zps15adef17.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr179%2Fsneakyjake%2FSnapbucket%2FFE242899_zps1c716354.jpg&hash=5058310e2602df243fa040c58dc2a55399cf6559) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/sneakyjake/media/Snapbucket/FE242899_zps1c716354.jpg.html)
My sweet wife even took my huckleberries and made me a pie last night
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr179%2Fsneakyjake%2FSnapbucket%2FBDCB0F60_zps4cd1a056.jpg&hash=5356e13cf03952cf2412cb1479d3ae172823d1f4) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/sneakyjake/media/Snapbucket/BDCB0F60_zps4cd1a056.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Everything is lining up
Post by: foambeetle on September 11, 2013, 10:34:13 AM: Nice work getting it done - congrats! :tup:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: Labs07 on September 11, 2013, 11:55:56 AM: Great story and nice Bull! Congrats on a successful hunt!
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: dmv9 on September 11, 2013, 12:04:22 PM: Awesome, congrats!
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: rosscrazyelk on September 11, 2013, 12:07:13 PM: Way to get it done
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: jasnt on September 11, 2013, 12:14:24 PM: I need that shirt! I always do best on my own.
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: Skillet on September 11, 2013, 12:15:05 PM: Awesome story. Way to get it done. :tup:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: sumbeech66 on September 11, 2013, 01:52:20 PM: Great story
great elk
great shirt
and a great looking pie!

Heck of a job there!! :tup:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: bracer40 on September 11, 2013, 01:59:03 PM: Nicely done on all accounts! Congrats.
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: bowhunterforever on September 11, 2013, 02:07:39 PM: Nicely done, congrats :tup:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: lokidog on September 11, 2013, 02:08:38 PM: Nice, beautiful spot. I'd be happy for a satellite bull any time. :tup:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: h2ofowlr on September 11, 2013, 02:22:58 PM: Great story. Nice write up. :tup:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: Bulldozer77 on September 11, 2013, 03:25:17 PM: Quote from: sumbeech66 on September 11, 2013, 01:52:20 PM
Great story
great elk
great shirt
and a great looking pie!

Heck of a job there!! :tup:
:yeah:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: Rooster1981 on September 11, 2013, 03:51:21 PM: Sounds like you had a great hunt, congrats :tup:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: MtnMuley on September 11, 2013, 03:58:24 PM: Great story, but that huck pie pic put it over the top! :tup:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on September 11, 2013, 04:59:16 PM: Way to get it done!
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: sneakyjake on September 13, 2013, 08:47:38 AM: It's the biggest turkey I ever shot Al. I shot him way above the tree line around 5000'. I was standing in pumice, the bush is all huckleberry. He cooled down nicely because he crashed face first into the hill. Only his belly was touching the ground. This was one of those times that made me wonder about lighted nocks. It would have really cemented the point of impact and I would have been a little more aggressive at tracking him. Surprising how little blood can come out with a double lung pass through (brand new slick tricks, I just switched). Instead I played headgames with myself about getting a single lung hit and backed off. The meat came out perfect though, just luck. My only regret is I wish I would have gotten to see the herd bull. To bad we don't have catch and release elk hunting.
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: turkeydancer on November 21, 2013, 12:26:01 PM: :drool: Congrats Jeff .... good story, pie and elk .... when's the BBQ (just kiddin)? :tup:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on November 22, 2013, 08:47:51 AM: Great bull!! Nice job :tup:
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: TMortensen on November 22, 2013, 09:13:49 AM: Awesome story and congrats on a good bull...There is a product called liquid game bag. works amazing for keeping bees and flies of meat and you.
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: JWhite22 on November 22, 2013, 11:28:36 PM: way to go man! determined...
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: GregE on November 23, 2013, 09:47:28 AM: What a fun read and nice pictures too. That pie has got me drooling.... ;)
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: bracer40 on November 23, 2013, 09:08:32 PM: Well told story. Thank you!
Title: Re: Everything is lining up (story and pics added)
Post by: Pygmy on November 26, 2013, 03:19:34 PM: :rockin: great adventure!