Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: face on January 29, 2016, 11:57:26 AM
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I've always enjoyed all the hunting stories successful or not. So I figured I would share mine. My Quest began when I finally drew a branched bull permit in the Observatory unit. I had hunted deer all over in these units,so I had a pretty good idea where I could start looking for bulls. Being 2 units was a large area to hunt,but I live about 4 miles away from an area that I knew held large groups of elk. Figuring most hunters will head to the timber, I'm going to stay close to home and hunt the sage. All summer long I would get off work,come home,change clothes, grab spotting scope and binos and head either to the backyard picnic table or the 4 miles to a place that I figure I would hunt. I had my wife meowing at me all the time trying to get some attention and telling me I need help for this new addiction. I seen some really nice bulls out scouting all summer long. There were 3 dandy bulls that I tried to keep tabs on. 1 bull in particular was a 6x7 when he would put his head down to eat his back tips touch his hind end kind of bull and another 6x6 that I named Swords for his tips were like swords. Archery ended and muzzy was up next Oct.3rd I'm up early go out to picnic table and watching from afar.9 hunters had walked thru an area that I had been watching. In the morning I had seen the 6x7 take his cows into some tall sagebrush, lay all his cows down and he layed in the middle.Its amazing how an animal this big can go "POOF" gone. Never heard any shots that opening morning. On and off over the next few weeks when I had time I would look for elk. General deer season starts and is way to warm to be hunting deer. In the week of hunting deer I seen about 40 does and 4 small bucks all the while looking for elk. Finally Oct.26 arrives its time to look for my first bull.At 43 years young I can't believe I hadn't killed an elk. The time was now. I went to my picnic table in the backyard to look to see if i could see any elk. Nope just deer hunters as the season was on for a couple more days.I went on a drive stopping and glassing all day long. Just before it started to get dark I spotted a herd of about 60 elk with some dandy bulls ,raghorns,spikes,and cows.The second day is here and I have a friend with me.We head out to where I had seen the elk. We did not see anything so we decided to hike into an area that I had seen elk during deer season. We decide to take a break and as were eating some snacks I look back at my truck and across from my truck theirs that herd of elk up in a big basin.Trying to figure if we can get on these elk. We had to try as it was later in the afternoon.Back to the truck,drive up around elk trying to figure out which basin there in.We find it.With the light fading ,off the mountain we go and this is steep and getting steeper. We slide on our hines for it seemed like 70 yrds or so.If we stand we fall kind of steep. The only shot I had was on a big wide 5x5 with a couple of tips broke off. The other big bulls had moved farther away. Could've,would've,should've I wish we had more of the day left to hunt. So back up the mountain we go. I felt like I was getting brain freeze as the wind was cold and hard.We figure they would probably be in the same area in the morning. The next three days we never see or hear from this herd again. We see other little herds with smaller bulls.Still look everywhere,take long,steep,up,down,walks all over this big canyon. I've never worked so hard for an animal, this was a tough hunt. By friday morning I was mentally and physically spent.I hunted half of the day as I had prior comittments to make.Opening day for spikes is here and theirs hunters everywhere, hoping some spikes will get moved around and I will get a chance at a branched bull. All the hunters drove right past the place I had seen elk. I didnt see anything all day long,so I'm getting a little discouraged, the thought of not filling my tag was starting to set in, as my vacation was ending in a couple of days. Sunday I wake up late,too many of "hitting the snooze button". I get my stuff together and off I go. Driving up to the place I was to going to hunt I came up over a little hill and in the middle of the road were 9 cows, 1 spike , and a branched bull. I hop out of my truck grab my rangefinder and I can't get a range on the bull.So back in truck I back up a little ways and park, grab my backpack, rifle, and shooting sticks and start at a slow jog toward the last place I had seen them. I see the herd and the bull and their 528 yrds. So I stayed low and slowly made my way to the herd. At 330 yards the herd started to run, I got a little excited and took an off-handed shot at the bull,whoomp the sound of a gut shot . The elk went over a little hill and I couldn't see them anymore. So I started to jog a bit more towards the last place I seen them and next thing I see is the lead cow coming back towards me. I lay my shooting sticks out in front of me and just wait.Here they come one by one at a slow gallop the bull is the last one. At about 250yards I take careful aim at the front shoulder "BOOM " whop he just stand there so I jack in another round "BOOM" whop he's down. He's a 5x6 with pretty weird eyeguards, not the monster I had seen,but for my first elk I am super happy and eating good. I would like to thank first of all my wife Heather you "ROCK" she even came out to help me pack out my bull and to my friends Jay and Shane I probably could have packed all the quarters out myself but I'm glad you guys were there. Man that makes my back hurt just thinking about it. Thanks again.
"Good Times"
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Good work. There is nothing more addicting than elk hunting. Now it's in your blood
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Congrats!
those are definitely eye guards. Unique
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Happy hunter !! Good job !!! Man that's got to be something looking for elk out in the sage ...to trees to be found !
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Any evidence that the big one is still alive? Have you seen any at feed station or up in the hills? Great bull by the way...he does look delicious.
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Great story! It is amazing how many times hard work eventually pays off. Thanks for sharing.
Sure wish WDFW would figure out a better way to manage bull tags in E WA.
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Nice!
Thanks for sharing.
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Great story thanks for sharing! :tup:
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Great story...nice bull :tup:
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Great story...nice bull :tup:
:yeah:
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Congrats! Everyone always over looks the sage. That's where we got my father in laws bull over by BBQ flats!
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Perfect first bull IMO. Be happy with that dude anytime, congrats :tup:
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Congrats !
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Congrats! :tup:
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great job ,liked your story
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Congrats!
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Any evidence that the big one is still alive? Have you seen any at feed station or up in the hills? Great bull by the way...he does look delicious.
I seen him this morning with 6 other bulls. I have several blurry pics not worth posting,but I will try again in the morning. There are several hundred elk on the hill . Here's one
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Thanks for the nice replies.
