Post by: Watimberghost on November 02, 2015, 06:16:09 PM
Fast forward through all the scouting and sleepless nights and it brings us to the Sunday before the opener. Jake crept into an area that we have been seeing elk all year for the slight chance to hear a bull, or two, still bugling. He was in luck. He was able to hear 3 different bulls in the same general area bugling the day before the opener! We were beyond jacked for the sun to set and rise again!! Opening morning found us in the timber in search of one of these love sick bulls. The wet, on and off, rainy conditions made it ideal to slip through the woods silently. We did our best to keep the wind at our face and even played around with some calling. Unfortunately the first day came and went with only a couple run ins with cows. Still... it was a fantastic day to be in the elk woods. The expectation of seeing a big bull around every corner is a massive thrill in itself. But to be able to spend the day doing what we love, in amazing elk country was what really made that special.
My mother was able to meet us for a good portion of day 1 and was there to hunt with us on day 2. (By the way, my family is amazing!! I just love spending time with them. And there's no better bonding then hunting). Sorry, back to day 2. Day two was spent working from the top of a massive ridge, all the way down to the bottom. Oh, and back up to the top. Again, another great hunt that just didn't result in a bull... yet... Upon climbing out of that hell hole and back to the car my mother listened to a voicemail from a great friend of ours, Les. Les had glassed up a nice bull across canyon and thought we should come take a look. Ummmm, OK!!!! We fly over to his location just in time to watch a great Peaches bull walk from the thick reprod into his Timber patch(home). With light fading fast we decided to let him be until morning. With the remaining minutes of light we went up to another ridge and glassed up another bull, and multiple cows. A sleepless night ensued...
The morning of day 3 found my brother making his way to the timber patch that we saw the bull from the night before. I set up across canyon to see if I could locate him. The sun started to reveal the beautiful landscape only to reveal no bull. Jake got the wind right and was about to make his stalk into the bulls bedroom. Then the radio sounded off, "I got a bull located." My mother was on the ridge above me glassing the backside. She had located a very nice 5pt pushing two cows up the hill. I made it up to her with my spotter and we decided this bull was worth going after. We began talking strategy as we were waiting for my brother to get up where we were at. Then with my naked eye I see a huge blonde patch on the opposite hill side. I say, "that cant be an elk?!" I was wrong. It was. I put the spotter on him and the first thing I saw was the sun hitting his backs. I could see clearly that were looking at a GREAT 6x6 mountain bull!!!!!
Post by: Odell on November 02, 2015, 06:27:27 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 02, 2015, 06:29:21 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on November 02, 2015, 06:30:18 PM
Post by: Skillet on November 02, 2015, 06:31:11 PM
Post by: Pinetar on November 02, 2015, 06:32:03 PM
Post by: pd on November 02, 2015, 06:36:07 PM
In for the long haul. Hurry up, dinner is waiting. :tup:
Post by: Watimberghost on November 02, 2015, 06:37:59 PM
Turns out my brother's view and experience was even better than mine, haha. As he entered the timber he glanced up and noticed the yound spike locked onto him 50 yards above his location. Even with a good wind and silent movements, those elk can still bust you. Jake could not see the big bull at this point. He put his head down and took two very slow steps forward, revealing a big white wapiti butt! two more steps and the massive shoulder of this great bull was revealed. The first shot, slightly quartered to, hit one lung. the second shot, seconds later, hit almost the same spot. The spike ran uphill and the big bull ran down. Jake went to the scene of the crime and quickly found the bull tracks, and thank God, blood. He followed the tracks slowly and on full alert. The bull was hidden below him and blew out straight downhill. He pursued immediately. The bull was hurt bad and tried to hide his massive body and antlers by laying down behind a big tree. Jake got to where he could see him, and with a quiet, respectful apology, he put one more in him. The bull reared up on his hind legs and turned toward my brother!!! Jake jumped back.... not what he expected, haha. The bull then spun and rolled past a few jack pines and out of sight. Jake wasted no time and bolted after his downed bull. This is when he found out why the bull decided to lay down where he did. Jake was now sliding down a 30' near vertical rock face. There was just enough of a slope and just enough moss on the rock to help him semi slide down the rock. (If he had a go pro this would have been epic... Last of the Mohicans meets Indiana Jones, haha). He landed feet down just feet away from his bull. And in that moment he got to see/feel his bull exhale his last breath.
The radio sounded, "He is down." At this point I am a basketcase. I scream across the canyon! My brother responds with a war cry of his own. And not to be out done by my mother's Victory yell!! It was and still is one of my most favorite and memorable God given moments on the mountain. Thank you Jesus!
Post by: Watimberghost on November 02, 2015, 06:40:06 PM
Post by: Watimberghost on November 02, 2015, 06:45:52 PM
Post by: JJB11B on November 02, 2015, 06:47:47 PM
Post by: Pinetar on November 02, 2015, 06:48:21 PM
Ok your killing me, pics hehe. This family has the coolest mother you will ever meet and she will hunt right along side any of us.
Post by: Watimberghost on November 02, 2015, 06:50:39 PM
Great Story!!!:yeah:
Ok your killing me, pics hehe. This family has the coolest mother you will ever meet and she will hunt right along side any of us.
And my father is a machine in the woods. Very blessed to have them as parents!
Post by: Watimberghost on November 02, 2015, 06:52:03 PM
Post by: hirshey on November 02, 2015, 06:55:00 PM
Post by: Mark251 on November 02, 2015, 06:57:55 PM
Post by: Watimberghost on November 02, 2015, 07:01:07 PM
Post by: sternwarning on November 02, 2015, 07:01:23 PM
Post by: hirshey on November 02, 2015, 07:03:28 PM
Those whale tails are amazing! Looks like they might make traversing a little hazardous on that pack frame!
Post by: hunting4sanity on November 02, 2015, 07:05:38 PM
Post by: ELKBURGER on November 02, 2015, 07:07:33 PM
Post by: Pinetar on November 02, 2015, 07:08:31 PM
Post by: clearwater on November 02, 2015, 07:09:25 PM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: mfswallace on November 02, 2015, 07:10:56 PM
Post by: GUscottie on November 02, 2015, 07:13:26 PM
Post by: scottfrick on November 02, 2015, 07:14:04 PM
Post by: The Fin on November 02, 2015, 07:16:59 PM
Post by: muleyslayer on November 02, 2015, 07:29:21 PM
Post by: JJB11B on November 02, 2015, 07:34:33 PM
Post by: Watimberghost on November 02, 2015, 07:43:05 PM
Post by: Skillet on November 02, 2015, 07:46:40 PM
Post by: teanawayslayer on November 02, 2015, 08:00:11 PM
Post by: coachcw on November 02, 2015, 08:08:04 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 02, 2015, 08:15:58 PM
He's a brute for sure. Shoulder mount maybe?
Post by: Watimberghost on November 02, 2015, 08:20:48 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on November 02, 2015, 08:22:12 PM
Post by: elkrack on November 02, 2015, 09:10:12 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 02, 2015, 09:14:46 PM
Post by: autodink13 on November 02, 2015, 09:17:21 PM
Post by: h2ofowlr on November 02, 2015, 09:20:10 PM
Post by: lonedave on November 02, 2015, 09:22:12 PM
Post by: Fullabull on November 02, 2015, 09:26:16 PM
Post by: wheels on November 02, 2015, 09:33:12 PM
Post by: pd on November 02, 2015, 09:40:55 PM
Big dog! No long arming there look his arm is bent :drool:
That's exactly what I thought. No need for the 5' forearm. Beautiful creature.
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on November 02, 2015, 09:45:03 PM
Post by: mkcj on November 02, 2015, 09:47:57 PM
Post by: Natures Way on November 02, 2015, 09:59:06 PM
Post by: Whitenuckles on November 03, 2015, 07:28:11 AM
Post by: kellama2001 on November 03, 2015, 07:43:36 AM
Post by: kycarsydad on November 03, 2015, 08:46:25 AM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Watimberghost on November 03, 2015, 08:59:49 AM
Post by: X-Force on November 03, 2015, 09:09:46 AM
Great bull. Cool Family Adventure.
Post by: Gringo31 on November 03, 2015, 09:49:07 AM
:tup:
Post by: PA BEN on November 03, 2015, 12:15:54 PM
Post by: MADMAX on November 03, 2015, 12:18:04 PM
Milk creek rd perhaps ?
Post by: Widgeondeke on November 03, 2015, 03:20:59 PM
Post by: de0827 on November 03, 2015, 03:53:52 PM
Post by: johnsc6 on November 03, 2015, 04:08:51 PM
Great write up and a fantastic bull!!:yeah:
Post by: willapawapiti on November 03, 2015, 05:21:27 PM
Post by: Watimberghost on November 03, 2015, 05:42:23 PM
A dandy for sure.
Milk creek rd perhaps ?
Hmmm... I'm probably going to stay away from mentioning any locations. But I will say, we spent a lot of time in both peaches GMU's and there are good bulls to be had in both. I have also spent a great deal of time in the manastash as well. A lot of elk in that entire area, and some of my favorite elk country I've ever stepped foot in.
Post by: bracer40 on November 03, 2015, 06:35:05 PM
Post by: M_ray on November 03, 2015, 06:57:21 PM
Post by: Mossyoak on November 03, 2015, 10:39:41 PM
Post by: MADMAX on November 04, 2015, 04:57:13 AM
A dandy for sure.
Milk creek rd perhaps ?
Hmmm... I'm probably going to stay away from mentioning any locations. But I will say, we spent a lot of time in both peaches GMU's and there are good bulls to be had in both. I have also spent a great deal of time in the manastash as well. A lot of elk in that entire area, and some of my favorite elk country I've ever stepped foot in.
I looked for him during archery season
saw him scouting
Post by: Watimberghost on November 04, 2015, 05:45:10 AM
Post by: 400gross on November 04, 2015, 06:23:01 AM
Post by: bugs n bones on November 04, 2015, 06:24:38 AM
Post by: snake on November 05, 2015, 07:19:46 PM
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on November 05, 2015, 09:14:45 PM
Post by: mrtimturner on November 06, 2015, 12:48:40 PM
Post by: Watimberghost on November 06, 2015, 05:49:39 PM
what did it score
Green score, and we are not pros. But it's got to be fairly close to this...
Post by: Birdguy on November 06, 2015, 07:18:34 PM
Post by: Watimberghost on November 07, 2015, 09:09:11 AM
Post by: BullMagnet76 on November 07, 2015, 09:35:23 AM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on November 07, 2015, 09:52:35 AM