Post by: cle elum bowhunter on June 11, 2016, 09:46:29 AM
Post by: buddy01 on June 11, 2016, 09:53:22 AM
Post by: MADMAX on June 11, 2016, 09:57:10 AM
Post by: rtspring on June 11, 2016, 09:58:11 AM
Take it all in, a bull is just a bonus..
Post by: Rainier10 on June 11, 2016, 10:10:13 AM
Post by: X-Force on June 11, 2016, 10:29:46 AM
Post by: danderson on June 11, 2016, 02:28:09 PM
Post by: coachcw on June 11, 2016, 04:05:49 PM
Post by: jackelope on June 11, 2016, 04:15:49 PM
Post by: jackmaster on June 11, 2016, 04:19:52 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on June 11, 2016, 04:26:10 PM
Post by: Falcon on June 11, 2016, 04:51:17 PM
Post by: ffbowhunter on June 11, 2016, 04:56:59 PM
Post by: jason stevens on June 11, 2016, 05:41:22 PM
Post by: C-Money on June 11, 2016, 06:15:58 PM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on June 12, 2016, 09:16:06 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on June 12, 2016, 09:34:05 PM
Post by: mfswallace on June 12, 2016, 09:36:35 PM
Post by: Buck Rub Jr on June 12, 2016, 10:13:40 PM
Post by: muleyslayer on June 13, 2016, 05:48:48 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on June 13, 2016, 06:28:44 AM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on June 13, 2016, 06:34:46 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on June 13, 2016, 06:59:53 AM
Post by: Whitpirate on June 13, 2016, 08:01:38 AM
Post by: jstone on June 14, 2016, 07:38:12 AM
Post by: outdooraddict on June 14, 2016, 09:30:28 AM
Post by: Gringo31 on June 14, 2016, 09:36:45 AM
Quote
Not to thread jack
Then don't.
:tup:
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on June 14, 2016, 09:41:42 AM
Post by: cle elum bowhunter on June 14, 2016, 10:45:08 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on June 14, 2016, 10:51:16 AM
Seattle FireThanks! met one of your brethren during archery elk years ago when WDFW was collecting condition data from hearts.
Post by: coachcw on June 14, 2016, 11:18:10 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on June 14, 2016, 03:47:22 PM
that may have been blake cody . I believe he moved up north somewhere .Thanks Coach!
Post by: cle elum bowhunter on July 24, 2016, 11:01:57 PM
Post by: coachcw on July 25, 2016, 06:28:01 AM
Post by: MtnMuley on July 25, 2016, 10:11:32 PM
Post by: stewcamp on July 29, 2016, 02:03:21 PM
Post by: cle elum bowhunter on August 11, 2016, 05:47:43 PM
Day 2 and 3 of the season were spent moving in on bulls and passing on probably 15-20 small 5 and 6 points. So hard to let a bull walk by at 10 yards but with all the bugling and activity, I was trying to hold out. Day 3 my son came back and was going to spend a few day afield with me. He was good luck evidently, I am actually calling him the elk whisperer now. Kid, got into 5 and 6 points every time we separated. 15 yards, 6 yards 20 yards, he even watched 2 6 points fight for like 5 minutes while he was sneaking up a ridge, had a 40 yard show. Anyhow, the 4th day found us sneaking down the drainage at day break with bugles all around us. We decided to push up into a side ridge towards one particular bull with a nice gravelly tone. After crossing the creek we had gone no more than 30 yards when we heard elk coming down the trail above us. We dropped to our knees and watched 20 cows come straight at us with a nice bull pushing them. We thought we were busted until the lead cow dropped off the trail through the timber to cross the creek right above us. We let all the cows walk by at 25 yards and finally the bull came down through the timber tipping his head back and forth to fit between the tight timber. As he went behind a tree I drew, followed the sweet spot and then a cow spotted us and he stopped with his vitals almost covered. I released and watched in horror as my arrow hit perfect height but outside the chest cavity. It is the first time I have ever not had a quick clean kill on an elk and I have harvested many since 1984, my first year bow hunting. I think in reflection I must have push a little left to give clearance for the tree and just blew it. We let him go and then began a 5 hour search, which when the blood stopped turned into grid searching. At about 1300, I sent my son back to the truck for more food and water while I made another sweep in what we thought was his last direction. On my way back to the truck, I was about 200 feet from the road according to gps when all the sudden there he was 5 yards away bedded and looking at me. By the time I nocked and arrow and pulled up, he was off and running. There was blood in the bed but not enough. We took up the chase again and after about another 90 minutes, having last seen him crossing a ridge, I decided to leave him.
The next morning we were back in the drainage listening to bulls and decided to work out way up the ridge towards a few bulls with the intent to resume the grid work before in got warm. As we were sneaking up the ridge and getting close to a few screaming bulls, I happened to look up ahead and see antler tip. After a few more steps I realized that the antler I was looking at 20 yards away way on its side, cautiously I lowered my bow and grab the binos, low and behold there was my arrow and he was not breathing. After saying thanks to Aaron or whomever lead me to him, the camera came out and I was overcome with relief that I had actually found him almost 24 hours after the initial shot. I had a lot of concern about the quality of the meat but the carcass was still warm and the temps were in the mid 30's that morning so we think he probably expired very shortly before we found him. I caped him, completely boned him out and feel extremely fortunate that the meat seems to be find. Of the first pack of Steaks for dinner a few night ago, there does not seem to be any adverse taste to the meat. Although he was not the big bull from day 2, he is a beautiful 6x7 that a few folks and my taxidermist think might go around 310"ish. All in all it was a great season, from my son not being sure if he wanted to hunt anymore after all the years of no success and now being hooked, to having him by my side for the entire experience with my bull, it was a season I will always remember. As we were packing out the last load of meat and the cape, my son who is way to wise for a 19yo said "Ya know dad, this was a really great lesson on how important it is to make a good shot with archery". Gotta love the kid for putting a positive spin onto a hunt that I was really not proud of. Hopefully neither he nor I ever make that kind of a shooting mistake again. Hopefully I have not bored you all. More pictures on page 3 too.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 11, 2016, 05:52:11 PM
Post by: jstone on August 11, 2016, 06:38:40 PM
Post by: coachcw on August 11, 2016, 08:58:21 PM
Post by: wheels on August 11, 2016, 10:33:16 PM
Post by: coachcw on August 11, 2016, 10:50:00 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on August 12, 2016, 07:05:25 AM
With a stick that bull would be tough to pass .
For sure. :yeah:
Post by: Rainier10 on August 12, 2016, 07:39:17 AM
:yeah: :yeah:With a stick that bull would be tough to pass .
For sure. :yeah:
If I had the tag and saw that bull 2 minutes into opening day and had a shot I know I would take the shot. If I passed and didn't get another opportunity I would kick myself for the rest of my life.
You have the tag however so it is your choice. I hope you get everything out of the hunt that you are looking for.
I know a guy that had the tag last year and it was fun to talk to him throughout the hunt. Looking forward to following along with your hunt.
Post by: bowhunterforever on August 13, 2016, 08:04:28 PM
Post by: 400gross on August 14, 2016, 07:40:24 PM
Post by: coachcw on August 22, 2016, 02:51:39 PM
Post by: jstone on September 19, 2016, 10:27:58 AM
Post by: danderson on September 19, 2016, 02:17:32 PM
Post by: jackelope on September 19, 2016, 02:30:36 PM
He filled his tag on a nice bull, might take him awhile to post the story, its a good one
:tup:
Can't wait to see how this played out.
Post by: coachcw on September 19, 2016, 03:29:00 PM
Post by: rosscrazyelk on September 19, 2016, 04:44:50 PM
Post by: cle elum bowhunter on October 05, 2016, 01:47:02 AM
Post by: coachcw on October 05, 2016, 06:10:29 AM
Post by: SniperDanWA on October 05, 2016, 06:19:31 AM
Post by: jstone on October 05, 2016, 08:09:45 AM
Post by: 4fletch on October 05, 2016, 08:56:54 AM
Post by: Thefishguy77 on October 05, 2016, 08:57:51 AM
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Post by: elkrack on October 05, 2016, 09:19:51 AM
great pics too looks like he's got good long main beams
Post by: MtnMuley on October 05, 2016, 10:13:52 AM
Post by: jackelope on October 05, 2016, 10:43:41 AM
Post by: ffbowhunter on October 05, 2016, 10:51:07 AM
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 06, 2016, 01:44:03 PM
Post by: westside Elkhunter on October 06, 2016, 01:50:09 PM
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Post by: squires14 on October 06, 2016, 03:40:53 PM
Post by: Gonehuntin01 on October 06, 2016, 05:53:53 PM
Post by: MADMAX on October 08, 2016, 10:01:52 AM
Post by: Muleyslyr on October 08, 2016, 03:52:40 PM