Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: DeathMarch on July 06, 2016, 05:18:12 PM

Title: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: DeathMarch on July 06, 2016, 05:18:12 PM: Hi Guys,

I just wanted to start a thread for those of you who drew an archery tag for observatory. I am familiar with the lower areas of the unit and have seen some nice bulls in there. I plan on going up there this weekend to hang some game cameras and get started scouted.

Please feel free to PM me if you have a tag and we can share some information on what areas we are seeing elk in. That way we can pattern them. No reason why we all cant be successful.

I'll post some of my trail cam pictures in here the coming weeks.

If anyone has trail cam or harvest pictures from years past, please post them on here. I would love to see them.

Good luck to everyone!
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: coachcw on July 06, 2016, 05:28:37 PM: my avitar
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: JKEEN33 on July 06, 2016, 06:47:11 PM: Do you have the tag too? Which unit are you hanging cameras in? I have the tag. Have cameras in Manastash. I have several elk on the cameras, but you never know where they will be in September.
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: coachcw on July 06, 2016, 08:32:51 PM: One thing I will say is guys make two mistakes in hunting cameras . First they hang them in easy to get to locations , once they get pressure they drop into the crap . Second is if you see a bachelor group of bulls expect them to move up or atleast break apart come season. One year only I killed a bull out of a bachelor group and it was a really hot year like upper 90 s the bulls where still bunched up . I know a spot in 340 that all ways holdo a bull but is a tough spot to kill one.
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: DeathMarch on July 06, 2016, 10:54:42 PM: Yeah I finally drew a tag. First time in 12 years. I am pumped to get in the woods with my dad and good buddies. I'll be putting my cameras in the manastash unit in the bottom and in the top as well. I agree with you coachcw. where we see them now is not where they will take cover once the pressure sets in. I am physically capable and more then willing to go deep into the thick nasty stuff. I plan to familiarize myself with umtanum over the next month as well. Any recommendations to the two units is well appreciated.

Thanks for the insight

Jkeen, glad to hear you drew too. Let's keep in touch
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: DeathMarch on July 06, 2016, 10:56:53 PM: Coachcw, awesome avatar pic. That's what it is all about. What a beast.
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: coachcw on July 07, 2016, 06:38:20 AM: Just a old bull that liked sage . (archery bull )
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: Gringo31 on July 07, 2016, 01:27:16 PM: Quote
No reason why we all cant be successful.

I love the positive outlook but just a reminder that last year there were only 12 successful archery tag holders in a unit that gave out 133 tags. The odds are against you. One of the successful tag holders shot a spike and one a 3 pt.
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: ffbowhunter on July 07, 2016, 04:57:25 PM: Quote from: Gringo31 on July 07, 2016, 01:27:16 PM
Quote
No reason why we all cant be successful.

I love the positive outlook but just a reminder that last year there were only 12 successful archery tag holders in a unit that gave out 133 tags. The odds are against you. One of the successful tag holders shot a spike and one a 3 pt.

I guess I'm an optimist...my father in law got a decent bull and we were in elk with some nice Bulls everyday towards the end of the season. There were no hunters either, most likely due to them driving right past the area headed to the top.
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: coachcw on July 07, 2016, 07:04:44 PM: Ten percent kill ninety percent so those numbers line up. I have never hunted that unit for a season and not killed or had opputtunitys.
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: PlateauNDN on July 07, 2016, 08:09:01 PM: Quote from: coachcw on July 07, 2016, 07:04:44 PM
Ten percent kill ninety percent so those numbers line up. I have never hunted that unit for a season and not killed or had opputtunitys.

Pics or it didn't happen. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: coachcw on July 08, 2016, 06:08:46 AM: Right , Sorry the Indians shot all the elk there .....
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: MADMAX on July 08, 2016, 06:29:49 AM: Son in law has the tag
we are scouting it and I think the 340 end of its a better choice IMO
couldnt find much water in umtaneum
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: longrangekiller on July 11, 2016, 02:48:32 PM: My wife drew the tag

I'm running 8 cameras right now got one good bull so far I'm gonna try keeping a eye on should be a good hunt. Going to add another one to the mix really soon

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Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: SticknString on July 12, 2016, 07:36:30 PM: I drew this tag for 2016 as well. Thankfully just uprooted and moved my family to Ellensburg which should make things a bit easier come September. Have had the tag before and been in the elk but still haven't put a bull in the dirt. Looking forward to spending a fair amount of time in the woods and hoping to make it happen!!! Been hunting the Manashtash for more than 10 years now and want to kill a decent 6 point in this unit. Good luck to everyone else that has the tag!

-Andrew
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: Gringo31 on July 13, 2016, 07:24:16 AM: Welcome to the site
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: ribka on July 13, 2016, 08:08:10 PM: It's been a fairly cool summer with some rain

Seeing decent bulls still in 342

Just something to consider
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: Griz231 on July 16, 2016, 09:46:06 PM: We'll get em deathmarch!!

The 340 is the greenest and wettest I've seen it in quite some time. There are places that are usually dried up dirt by now that are full of water still. 3 cams went up last weekend and more this next weekend. Looking forward to the season

We had 3 bull tags last year in camp. All three guys had opportunities and we had a great year! Even if we didn't fill the freezer we always have a blast.

Maybe you'll have that same bull that stood in front of you last year come say hi again :tup:
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: longrangekiller on August 06, 2016, 09:43:19 AM: Well after checking the cams and another full day of scouting Thursday its looking better and better as the time is getting closer

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Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: MerriamMagician on September 07, 2016, 03:19:54 PM: Let the games begin! I'm heading up tomorrow night to hunt the first weekend of the season. How are all you others with Archery bull tags doing with scouting? I was up for 3 days last weekend, didn't observe a whole lot of elk activity. Saw a few herds right at dawn and just before dusk. Didn't hear any bugles yet. I did locate 2 nice 6 points, a big bull way in the distance and some rag horns. Hopefully the action will pick up a bit in the next few days. I was mostly in the mid to higher areas on the Manastash side.
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: longrangekiller on September 07, 2016, 04:56:23 PM: They were talking this morning a little heard 5 all in different spots of the same canyon

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Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: elkfins on September 09, 2016, 10:04:15 AM: Here's the Observatory bull we're after tomorrow morning.
Go get 'em fellas.
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: Griz231 on September 12, 2016, 09:17:18 AM: Deathmarch and I along with a buddy hit it hard this weekend. No luck. We'll be back up on Wed night though. We have quite a few bulls on camera that are wallowing around and acting rutty so we did some cow calling without any response and didn't hear one bugle all weekend. We are down low on the Taneum side around 2700 ft.

Does anyone have any reports from up high on the activity? I'm curious if they are talking up high. Deathmarch only gets four more days to hunt and we'd love to get him on a bull!

Any other tips for calling sequences or anything would be appreciated. Like anyone, I get frustrated with these bulls, but that's elk hunting and we will stick with it and get after them!!

here's a few pics from the cams
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: pd on September 12, 2016, 09:30:17 AM: ElkFins, that 3rd picture is a classic!

I feel your pain. Elk hunting just sucks sometimes, doesn't it! But you are in the right place---keep at it.
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: MerriamMagician on September 12, 2016, 12:49:28 PM: Friday night and Saturday morning we had several bulls bugling hard. First thing Saturday morning we called one in to 40 yards, and my arrow was flying dead on till it deflected off a branch and way over his back. :'( When the wind picked up that afternoon it seemed to shut the elk up. We didn't hear or see a elk for the rest of the weekend. This was around the 4500 feet elevation.
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: longrangekiller on September 18, 2016, 05:30:41 PM: ATTENTION: Our friend Ted is missing please let me know if you see him hahaha

We have been watching this guy sense the beginning of August he's one hell of a mover I had him on one camera one day with a couple more Bulls and the next day a few miles away wallowing with a heard of cows. The wife caught a glimpse of him just before dark the other day hopefully we can seal the deal when I get over there tomorrow

P.s. The wife named him Ted haha

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160919%2Fcd4edaf1a3d4c6db83fa5aa8407c9d76.jpg&hash=ea774ed4d8f9f385590477a5fba70a1323926087)

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Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: longrangekiller on September 18, 2016, 05:31:52 PM: (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160919%2Fa125eb0b7e4e673ea2ba1a21375e3ada.jpg&hash=35290b8f84251763b48c1ec8517f529a1332dd16)

Another of him he's in the front

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Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: longrangekiller on September 18, 2016, 05:33:11 PM: (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160919%2F2c54506595b4a4fc9357481cea9ed9b7.jpg&hash=d1d926a3b03d534de4b43184b68aea75daee138d)

And one more
These three pictures are quite a few ridges and miles apart

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Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: sled on September 18, 2016, 05:41:49 PM: Curious of the time between each set of pics. How long did it take between showings?
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: kirkl on September 18, 2016, 06:15:33 PM: Here's a couple
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: longrangekiller on September 18, 2016, 06:17:15 PM: Quote from: sled on September 18, 2016, 05:41:49 PM
Curious of the time between each set of pics. How long did it take between showings?

8-17-16
8-2-16
8-31-16

That's the dates of the three pictures above I have a lot more of him in between those dates and some more of him in late August I just don't have them saved on my phone. My lap top is with the wife in the hills I'll load the other pictures after Thursday when we get back for you to see

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Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: longrangekiller on September 18, 2016, 06:19:45 PM: Quote from: sled on September 18, 2016, 05:41:49 PM
Curious of the time between each set of pics. How long did it take between showings?

The sad thing is I watched him on sept. 8 bugle and chase his cows though I had him pinned for opener so the wife could stick him and ............ There were 2 camps set up right were he was hanging come Saturday and didn't see him sense till just 2 days ago agin

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Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: coachcw on September 18, 2016, 06:31:36 PM: Those bulls can flat during the rut . I've heard of bulls traveling fiffty miles. Good luck
Title: Re: Observatory Archery Quality Elk
Post by: longrangekiller on September 18, 2016, 07:37:41 PM: Quote from: coachcw on September 18, 2016, 06:31:36 PM
Those bulls can flat during the rut . I've heard of bulls traveling fiffty miles. Good luck

Ya that's for sure I knew all the Bulls I had early this year were gonna disappear but I just thought it was ironic that this guy popped up on 5 of my cameras all a ways away fro each other

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