Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: need2huntmor on September 25, 2014, 03:26:04 PM

Title: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: need2huntmor on September 25, 2014, 03:26:04 PM: I have talked for years about getting up into the Goat Rocks Wilderness hike around. After getting drawn for rifle permit this year, I couldn't just talk about it anymore. Having never been up there, it is a hard place to learn in just one year, due to the steep rugged country and the fact that you aren't even able to gert up there until usually into July. With online research, maps, a few backpacking trips, and the help of some members on this site, I got a general understanding of the area by the opener. Due to family obligations, I knew that the season would series of hunt a few days, home a few days. I would get as many hunt days in as I could.

Long story short, the first few days that I could hunt, I passed on one 5 point at about 50 yards. I was hoping for better, even though it was bigger than any bull I have shot before. Heard a few far off bugles and had one more that I just couldn't get to come in for me to see. (Being a rifle hunter, bugling is also new to me. Never hunted them in the rut before.)

After being home a few days, I headed back up, to a different area. I got up there in the early afternoon and set up camp at the edge of a meadow. I hiked up the basin for an evening hunt. Right at dark I got a bugle, butit wouldn't move, and I didn't have enough light to go after him. I'd try tomorrow.

Next morning I'm hearing bugles before I'm even out of the tent. One is pretty close, but it's too dark to see yet. I wait til light and start up the basin. I get to the edge of the meadow and bugle. I get one response accross the caynon and then one right behind me. I cow call and the one right behind me bugles again. I decide to go after this one (big mistake). I don't get more than 20 yards and here he is, coming straight at me through the brush at about 40 yards. I never get a clear view of his antlers, but decide this one is big enough for me. Unfortunately he sees me and busts back up the hill where he came. I blew that one!

Later in the day, just before dark, I have one way up the basin, up above some cliffs, bugling almost nonstop. I can't figure out where he is, when through the fog, I finally spot 7-8 cows. I never see the bull, but figure this has got to be where he is. Again though, not enough time to get there tonight. It will be a good climb to get to his location.

My attitude is going down hill fast at this point. I'm thinking maybe I should have shot the 5 point on opening day. I blew another chance at a nice bull. I'm tired of putting on wet clothes every day. I'm tired. I decide I will try to make it up above the cliffs where that herd is in the morning. If that doesn't work out, I'm packing up and heading home.

Tthe next morning I head up the basin again. I figure a way to work my way up above the cliffs to where the herd was the night before. Nothing. I try calling. Nothing. I don't know where the went, but they aren't here anymore. On my way back to camp, I don't hear any bugles. I get to camp, have a little food and start taking camp down. since it's still raining, I do most my packing in the tent to keep things dry. All I have left to do is take the tent down and strap it to my pack and head for the truck. Just as I'm about to start taking the tent down, I hear a bugle from the meadow I'm camped next to. I can't believe it. I grab my rifle and my calls and head to the edge of the meadow. As I'm calling back and forth with this bull, I can tell he's getting closer. I know he's in the meadow (which has some trees) so I know he doesn't need to be too close for me to see him. After about 5 minutes of calling, he steps out in the open at about 200 yards. At this point, I don't care how big he is, I'm stooting him. After my first shot he disappears behind a tree. I start running out through the meadow to try to locate him. I finally see him slowly walking away from me. One more shot and he's down. I finally make my way to him (accross streams, marshes and bogs) and if I wasn't all wet before, I was now. He's is not a "trophy" like I had hoped for, but he is the biggest elk I have shot and I am happy with him.

With the help on modern technology I was able to notify a friend and with the help on three good friends, we had the whole elk and my camp back to the truck by 10 PM.

Thanks again to all the people who helped me along the way. It is greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: HighCountryHunter88 on September 25, 2014, 03:27:12 PM: any elks a trophy! great story
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: X-Force on September 25, 2014, 03:32:34 PM: No shame in that bull. Congrats :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: 180-GRAIN on September 25, 2014, 03:33:41 PM: 6x6 is a good bull in my book! congrats on what sounded like a fun hunt.
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: elkoholic1 on September 25, 2014, 03:37:18 PM: :tup: there all trophy's if you ask me!!
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: 724wd on September 25, 2014, 03:56:16 PM: good stuff!!!! :tup: :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 25, 2014, 04:08:54 PM: No shame in that bull, you earned him. :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: boneaddict on September 25, 2014, 04:12:41 PM: Sounds and looks like a trophy to me. :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Hockeyhunter on September 25, 2014, 04:23:32 PM: Awesome!!!! :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Watimberghost on September 25, 2014, 04:34:17 PM: That's a great bull! Congrats!
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on September 25, 2014, 04:34:52 PM: I would be happy with that one congrats :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: MLBowhunting on September 25, 2014, 04:49:31 PM: Awesome bull. :drool: :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Eli346 on September 25, 2014, 05:17:41 PM: Any elk is a good elk! Great story and great bull.
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: BENCHLEG on September 25, 2014, 05:21:06 PM: Great way to get it done.
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: GUscottie on September 25, 2014, 05:29:24 PM: Great story. Glad you got a nice bull.
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: zackmioli on September 25, 2014, 06:22:57 PM: Gorgeous bull! Congrats!
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: SniperDanWA on September 25, 2014, 07:27:58 PM: I agree with zackmioli!
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: mfswallace on September 25, 2014, 07:30:36 PM: Great hair color pattern!!!
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Alan K on September 25, 2014, 07:43:32 PM: Great bull! :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: jasnt on September 25, 2014, 07:47:20 PM: Beautiful bull I wouldn't even think twice
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Hunterman on September 25, 2014, 07:55:11 PM: That's a TROPHY plus in my book. Great job :tup:

Hunterman(Tony)
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Jingles on September 25, 2014, 07:58:29 PM: Not always is the size of the rack the trophy more often times it is the hunt and the memories the hunt will have. Being able to share the experience with friends and family a spike would be a trophy for me as long as I had someone to share the experience with.
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: muleyslayer on September 25, 2014, 08:12:27 PM: :yeah: nice bull!
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: tgray on September 25, 2014, 08:35:09 PM: Beautiful bull! Nice job, way to stick with it
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Beargravy on September 25, 2014, 08:43:28 PM: Dandy,awesome country :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: The scout on September 25, 2014, 09:08:41 PM: so I is that the one tag they gave out for west goat rocks. either way nice bull
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: hunting4sanity on September 25, 2014, 09:37:34 PM: Very nice bull, congratulations!
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: iRem on September 25, 2014, 09:54:36 PM: Great job on the hunt, love the color, great looking Bull and what nice trophy with a nice story to go with it! Well Done!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: kevinlisa06 on September 25, 2014, 10:49:25 PM: Great bull! Sounds like you had a great hunt congrats!

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Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: rover758 on September 26, 2014, 04:06:56 AM: :tup: Thanks for the write up. Great story and great bull. :drool:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: RadSav on September 26, 2014, 04:29:10 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on September 25, 2014, 04:12:41 PM
Sounds and looks like a trophy to me. :tup:

:yeah:

No book will ever tell me what a trophy is! A trophy to me is a combination of species representation, the experience, my personal challenge and what that particular hunt meant to me personally. When I think back to all the animals I've taken. Only two that the "book" tells me is a "trophy" rate in my top ten. And my second best animal as far as "Book" standing doesn't even rate in my personal top 20.

That is one heck of a nice animal. Nice story. If that is a trophy to you, I'm with you 100%!! Congratulations! :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Natures Way on September 26, 2014, 05:03:32 AM: :yeah:Nice bull! Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: workstohunt on September 26, 2014, 07:46:54 AM: Way to go!!! :tup:
Glad you had such a great hunt., and a Bull to go with it.
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Old Man Yager on September 26, 2014, 07:57:55 AM: Looks like a trophy to me, after all you went through, give yourself a pat on the back, you done good!!
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Woodchuck on September 26, 2014, 08:01:41 AM: Looks like an awesome trophy to me, well done. :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on September 26, 2014, 12:45:27 PM: Looks like a well deserved and hard won bull. Way to stick it out and get it done. Congrats! :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: R2Rcoulee on September 26, 2014, 11:52:13 PM: Great bull! :tup:
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Falcon on September 27, 2014, 12:43:51 AM: Great story and a awesome ending.

A job well done!!!'
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Elkfever on September 28, 2014, 07:04:15 PM: Thanks for the story and the pictures. That's a terrific bull, way to get it done. Sounds like a DIY, no horse hunt? Impressive. Maybe 17 pts. will finally get me that W. Goat Rocks hunt next year...fingers crossed!
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: TheHunt on September 28, 2014, 07:14:16 PM: Any bull that is your biggest is a good bull. Now you have that sized up you are ready for next year. You just need to keep knocking them down..

Thank you for sharing and congratulations.
Title: Re: Not a trophy, but my biggest.
Post by: Shawn Ryan on September 29, 2014, 01:24:04 PM: Glad it worked out for you with the on-and-off hunting schedule. You put in the effort before and during the season. Hope the memories of the season encourage future seasons. And by the way, I've always wanted a bull with that color. Beautiful.