Post by: Rainier10 on September 14, 2017, 03:07:04 PM
I'll post more later but didn't want to derail the muzzy hunt thread.
Post by: Duckslayer89 on September 14, 2017, 03:24:57 PM
Was going to do this thread after the hunt. Really figured I'd be done by now. I've actually had some good opportunities that just didn't work for one reason or another.
I'll post more later but didn't want to derail the muzzy hunt thread.
Good luck man following post some pics of the hunt so far
Post by: jstone on September 14, 2017, 03:37:49 PM
Post by: Woodchuck on September 14, 2017, 03:39:15 PM
He can do that after dark. I am about to ban him so he can concentrate. :tup:Was going to do this thread after the hunt. Really figured I'd be done by now. I've actually had some good opportunities that just didn't work for one reason or another.
I'll post more later but didn't want to derail the muzzy hunt thread.
Good luck man following post some pics of the hunt so far
Post by: Duckslayer89 on September 14, 2017, 03:39:46 PM
He can do that after dark. I am about to ban him so he can concentrate. :tup:Was going to do this thread after the hunt. Really figured I'd be done by now. I've actually had some good opportunities that just didn't work for one reason or another.
I'll post more later but didn't want to derail the muzzy hunt thread.
Good luck man following post some pics of the hunt so far
:chuckle:
Post by: Jpmiller on September 14, 2017, 07:40:33 PM
He can do that after dark. I am about to ban him so he can concentrate. :tup:Was going to do this thread after the hunt. Really figured I'd be done by now. I've actually had some good opportunities that just didn't work for one reason or another.
I'll post more later but didn't want to derail the muzzy hunt thread.
Good luck man following post some pics of the hunt so far
It's for his own good! Can't wait to hear more.
Post by: Rainier10 on September 14, 2017, 08:46:55 PM
Anyways we hunt the colockum every year and always have a blast. We know the area around the cabin well and are very familiar with the areas the elk hang. For 27 years I have only put the colockum down on my permit app. It was this hunt or nothing as far as I was concerned.
This past year was a ctazy one with my father passing and my sister quitting the family business. That put a lot on my plate. I seriously thought about just doing ghost points with 17 points figuring this was the one year I didn't have time for this hunt.
I did put in and on draw day I checked results as they were being posted and my daughter was the only one that showed a draw for a muzzy cow tag in the colockum. I was shocked that 17 points didn't get me drawn but was happy at the same time as I really didn't have time for the tag.
When I got to work I heard rumors of the results coming out in phases. I checked again and whammo, I had drawn. What an amazing feeling. Lots of phone calls and texts. All my hunting partners were excited to be able to help.
The plan was to hunt with my friends and family where we always hunt and to go for a 300" bull. Not the biggest in the unit not even the biggest in the area I hunt, just a solid 300" bull. I watched a ton of videos on field judging and feel super confident that I know what 300" looks like.
More in a bit gonna eat some tacos to fuel up for tomorrow's big hike.
Post by: cmiller85 on September 14, 2017, 11:13:49 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on September 15, 2017, 01:59:16 AM
Good luck Ranier! I hope you stick a pig! Sounds like your hunt has been a success so far! Keep us posted! :tup::yeah:
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 15, 2017, 04:51:52 AM
Your just lucky I'm not a mod, or you would be banned. :ban:
Your sense of time is surely not on par with most of ours. :lol4:
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on September 15, 2017, 05:04:22 AM
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 15, 2017, 06:39:54 AM
Post by: shootem on September 15, 2017, 11:43:34 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 15, 2017, 12:55:58 PM
I wasn't going to do this thread at all until this hunt was over. Kind of surprised I'm still hunting. I really that this would be easier.
I am having a blast and will post when I can.
Today's big hike went out the window when a 7x6 out my front window caught my eye but that story will have to wait. I still have Day one details to go over first. Gonna eat lunch and try to post some more after that. I also have some work to try to get done.
Post by: Woodchuck on September 15, 2017, 12:58:18 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 15, 2017, 01:20:02 PM
Forget work, I'll call your boss and get it covered. :tup::chuckle:
Post by: Rainier10 on September 18, 2017, 01:04:16 PM
Not sure if I will have any bull pics to post when it is all over but I will have an awesome story of hunts shared with family and good friends.
What a ride this has been, highs and lows of here comes my opportunity to there goes my opportunity and right back up with another opportunity. I think that is the toughest part of a hunt like this.
To top it all off I closed on a new house this week, I can't even move in until I am done hunting.
I promise to post when the season is over.
Post by: Bob33 on September 18, 2017, 01:29:04 PM
Things have been crazy trying to get this done. I promise to post about it after the season. Back at work today to do payroll and a couple of other things then back at it tonight.The permit allows for a quality hunt, not necessarily a quality animal, and it sounds like it's delivered on that. :tup:
Not sure if I will have any bull pics to post when it is all over but I will have an awesome story of hunts shared with family and good friends.
What a ride this has been, highs and lows of here comes my opportunity to there goes my opportunity and right back up with another opportunity. I think that is the toughest part of a hunt like this.
To top it all off I closed on a new house this week, I can't even move in until I am done hunting.
I promise to post when the season is over.
Post by: cmiller85 on September 18, 2017, 01:34:12 PM
Things have been crazy trying to get this done. I promise to post about it after the season. Back at work today to do payroll and a couple of other things then back at it tonight.
Not sure if I will have any bull pics to post when it is all over but I will have an awesome story of hunts shared with family and good friends.
What a ride this has been, highs and lows of here comes my opportunity to there goes my opportunity and right back up with another opportunity. I think that is the toughest part of a hunt like this.
To top it all off I closed on a new house this week, I can't even move in until I am done hunting.
I promise to post when the season is over.
That's a lot going on! My advice would be just to relax and have fun and don't pressure yourself to "Get" one. You've got plenty of time, just enjoy the ride. I know how frustrating elk hunting can be without also feeling the pressures of notching a special tag.
It is kind of like being late to an event. IF you stress and worry about it you'll likely hit every red light on the way there AND will be impeded by an army of grandma-drivers who insist on getting in your way at every turn... Don't give a crap and you'll get there 10 minutes early. It's like magic, I swear. :chuckle:
Post by: Rainier10 on September 18, 2017, 01:55:57 PM
I hope each and everyone of you gets to either have a tag like this or tag along with someone that does. My buddy says he is having the time of his life just hiking and calling for me.
We do 14-16 miles one day and then take it easy and only go 8-10 the next day so the body can recover and right back to 14 the following day.
Heading out to get after it soon.
Never give up.
Post by: boneaddict on September 18, 2017, 02:03:02 PM
I am glad you are having a great time
Post by: Falcon on September 18, 2017, 02:56:03 PM
Post by: C-Money on September 18, 2017, 05:02:00 PM
Post by: dfresh96 on September 18, 2017, 06:00:46 PM
Post by: Watimberghost on September 18, 2017, 06:12:34 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on September 18, 2017, 06:25:47 PM
Post by: kellama2001 on September 19, 2017, 06:44:25 AM
Post by: ctwiggs1 on September 19, 2017, 08:11:31 AM
Post by: Gringo31 on September 19, 2017, 09:01:38 AM
LIFE!
Post by: idaho guy on September 19, 2017, 10:23:48 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 20, 2017, 10:38:22 AM
I think today is the day.
Post by: bobcat on September 20, 2017, 10:47:52 AM
Post by: jstone on September 20, 2017, 11:01:08 AM
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 20, 2017, 11:30:37 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 20, 2017, 02:00:40 PM
Still getting after it just had to take a break from hiking and catch my breath.
Post by: OutHouse on September 21, 2017, 03:48:07 PM
Hi. :hello: My name is Rainier10 and I'm addicted to Huntwa. :chuckle:
Still getting after it just had to take a break from hiking and catch my breath.
Hope you fill that tag. It's obvious you're giving it everything you got so either way the hunt is a success but good luck this evening. It often happens during the last minute of the last day.
Post by: Jpmiller on September 21, 2017, 04:33:23 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 22, 2017, 07:57:14 AM
You absolutely nailed it.Hi. :hello: My name is Rainier10 and I'm addicted to Huntwa. :chuckle:
Still getting after it just had to take a break from hiking and catch my breath.
Hope you fill that tag. It's obvious you're giving it everything you got so either way the hunt is a success but good luck this evening. It often happens during the last minute of the last day.
Late night last night, didn't get out until hours after dark. At work now trying to get caught up, this hunt took way more than I thought it would.
I will work this weekend to get the entire story posted beginning to end. What a ride of highs and lows.
Sorry to keep you guys waiting but I have to get some work done first.
Post by: Gringo31 on September 22, 2017, 08:40:50 AM
Post by: Jpmiller on September 22, 2017, 09:30:38 AM
Post by: Southpole on September 22, 2017, 10:16:15 AM
Post by: luvmystang67 on September 22, 2017, 10:30:55 AM
Post by: jstone on September 22, 2017, 10:35:21 AM
Post by: Timberstalker on September 22, 2017, 11:21:22 AM
:tup:
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 22, 2017, 01:01:19 PM
Post by: GUscottie on September 22, 2017, 01:02:54 PM
Post by: Woodchuck on September 22, 2017, 01:31:12 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on September 22, 2017, 01:32:12 PM
Post by: wsucowboy on September 22, 2017, 01:34:22 PM
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Post by: Woodchuck on September 22, 2017, 01:50:54 PM
Post by: takethetime on September 22, 2017, 02:59:55 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 22, 2017, 08:48:46 PM
I really thought it would only take a few days and there was good chance it would happen opening day. That is definitely the best day to fill a tag. There is nothing better than opening day.
I got to my cabin Friday afternoon and headed up to see what the elk activity was doing. Just as I was arriving to my spot I noticed elk off to the side of the road. A few cows and a bull, the bull was singing away and I thought everything is falling right into place.
Opening morning we head out and get to the spot but no elk in sight, it seemed odd but we hiked on. About 7 am we hear our first bugle and it is close. I try to get setup as a group of 30 cows starts filtering by at 100 yards and just beyond them is a nice 6x6 bull. They are on the move pushed by someone and there is no stopping them. Off I go to get ahead of them. Some how they give me the slip and I run into another hunting that asks if I have seen a wounded cow. I say no and that I was following a herd and had a bull tag. Of course he shows me video of a bull that has spent the morning just roaming around and practically licking his face. :bash:
He points me in the direction of the bull and off we go. We get setup and do a bit of calling and immediately a group of four cows comes running with a spike by two. The small bull walks right up to 25.5 yards and stands broadside. Of course I pass and my buddy gives me all kinds of grief. He says I am one of the only guys on the mountain that can shoot a 2x1 in a true spike area. He goes on to say how good it would taste and how fun it would be to drive around a true spike area showing off a 2x1. Guaranteed visit from the game warden.
We move on and about an hour or so later hear a bugle in the distance. Off I go with my buddy calling behind me. I see two cows coming and they pass by me on the left as I see a great 6x6 coming in screaming his lungs out. I range him at 68 yards and can see that he is going to cross in front of me at 40 yards. When he gets to the 40 yard mark he just disappears behind some brush I assume on the same path as the cows. I wait and he never appears. No idea where he went. No biggie, it's opening day we will find another one and just like that we hear another bugle off in the distance.
We start moving towards it and it won't budge. No worries I will just take it to him. It's 1:30 maybe he is just bed down and bugling from his bed. My buddy keeps cow calling and bugling as the bull keeps responding I move in. I come up on a bedded elk but it is a true spike. No way was this the elk that was bugling. Right then I hear the elk bugle again to my right. I back away from the spike and move closer to the bugle. I come around a tree and right there at 45 yards is an awesome 7x7 destroying a tree and bugling. Problem is there is a bush covering most of his vitals. As I am trying to figure out how to get a shot he notices me. Bit of a standoff and then he goes back to manicuring this poor tree. My buddy hasn't bugled for 10 minutes and this bull is now focussed on the tree. I thought about dropping to a knee to see if I could slip one under the brush. I decided to just wait for my buddy to bugle and get this elk on the move to a clear shot. I waited for what seemed like an eternity and finally decided to just try to make a move to a clearer shot. That was all it took, the bull spooked and was in the Blues I think before I could blink.
Moving on we decide to sit on a wallow for the afternoon, why not, it's 83 degrees or something like that. I have the patience of a two year old so 20 minutes into that I am ready to move on. As I stand up my buddy grabs me and says look at that. A solid 6x6 is headed straight to the wallow. He drops into the 5 foot deep hole and disappears. I make my move down the hill through the brush and pop up over the top of the hole and no elk. What the heck?! Did these elk go to magic class or what? I see tracks out of the wallow and ask my buddy what happened. He says he has no idea. My guess is he thought he would get a quick game of candy crush in while I was stalking in. He has a worse attention span than I do.
We decide to follow the tracks and catch up to him quickly but even though we spike his interest with cow calls he won't commit. He finally blows out and we hear another bugle ahead of us. As we get closer my buddy says they are right on the other side of the hill. Maybe I should just take a peak and see where they are. Wrong move. They were coming right over the top and I blew them right out of there. Rookie move.
Day one is in the books and I am feeling great about the opportunities I had and just know that this won't take more than a day or two. My buddy is so stoked about what a great first day we had.
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 22, 2017, 08:58:46 PM
Post by: bracer40 on September 22, 2017, 09:35:48 PM
Post by: jackelope on September 22, 2017, 10:33:34 PM
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Post by: Mossyoak on September 22, 2017, 11:13:20 PM
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 23, 2017, 12:10:23 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 23, 2017, 12:39:53 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 23, 2017, 01:33:38 PM
The suspense... :bash: :chuckle:
Your one to talk.
:chuckle:
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 23, 2017, 02:11:44 PM
The suspense... :bash: :chuckle:
Your one to talk.
:chuckle:
:dunno: :dunno: :dunno:
What could you possibly mean???
Post by: teanawayslayer on September 23, 2017, 02:45:23 PM
You missed a lot of punctuation in that story. I mean a lot.:yike:. Critic :chuckle:
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Post by: Jpmiller on September 23, 2017, 03:55:54 PM
Post by: jackelope on September 23, 2017, 08:28:19 PM
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Post by: fishngamereaper on September 23, 2017, 08:50:52 PM
The suspense... :bash: :chuckle:
Your one to talk.
:chuckle:
:dunno: :dunno: :dunno:
What could you possibly mean???
:rolleyes:
Was it 8 or 9 pages.....
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 23, 2017, 10:28:31 PM
The suspense... :bash: :chuckle:
Your one to talk.
:chuckle:
:dunno: :dunno: :dunno:
What could you possibly mean???
:rolleyes:
Was it 8 or 9 pages.....
I almost forgot, you did mean "you're" right? As in "you're one to talk"?
And by 8 or 9 pages, whatever do you mean? Who would put others through such cruel, pain and animosity of telling a story 1 post a day at a time. :dunno:
Not I says Plat. :bdid: :chuckle:
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 05:33:10 PM
So day two and three, Sunday and Monday, were super slow. Covered tons of ground and heard very little and actually didn't see an elk.
On my hike out at the two mile mark before I got to the truck I ran into a hunter on an unlicensed quad. He said he was a disabled hunter. He had a crossbow. I knew he was in the area. Day one he was close to the area we parked. After talking to him he said that he hadn't seen any elk so he was moving his blind again. I asked him if he thought his quad driving was affecting the elk in the area. He said no and that the elk were there each time he moved deeper into the woods. He would drive in at dark and the elk were in his headlights but at sun up they weren't around. He would then spend midday driving around checking his game cameras and they all showed elk. He would then drive back in for the evening hunt. I then asked him about the fact that the area was closed to motor vehicles. He said it was open to everyone, that is why they cut the barbed wire fence, to allow access. :bash:
Frustrating for sure but once I could see that he was pushing deeper and deeper I decided I needed to move to another area. I did take down his information and sent it in to verify that he was legal to be accessing the area with an unlicensed quad.
Post by: Stein on September 24, 2017, 05:40:29 PM
Take some pics and text them to WDFW. If he's legit, no harm.
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 05:56:31 PM
The scramble was on. I am super familiar with the elk around my place and the paths that they like to take. I hightailed it to an ambush point and patiently waited. From 300 yards out I saw the elk come over the horizon on a be line for me. The cows in front, the bull lagging way behind. After the cows passed I prepared for my shot. What I didn't realize was that all the bugling had brought in some other cows from behind me that I hadn't seen. My motion drew their attention and the bull noticed them and started their way. I had to adjust my shot and in my haste I ranged him again and misread my rangefinder or had it on brush, I'm not exactly sure what happened but I know that I was steady for the shot but the arrow sailed high over his back.
He ran off with the second group of cows. Knowing that there was now 10 cows with him but 20 that he had lost I figured later in the day he would be looking for those cows.
I had some errands to run in town so I headed in to take care of those and be back for the afternoon hunt.
On my way back from town I found the elk just 115 yards off of the road to my cabin. I parked the truck and waited for the bull to step behind some bushes. I got out of the truck and slowly began to close the distance in my blues jeans and teal blue t shirt. What a site that must have been for the cows. They slowly meandered off but the bull never came out of the tall brush. I waited for only about 10 minutes and I heard him stand in the trees as his antlers rattled on the branches. He popped his head out of the brush and he was only 23 yards away. Absolute chip shot, as he stepped out of the trees he dropped into a hole and all that I could see was his head and antlers, no view of his vitals. At that point he realized that his cows were gone and I was up to no good. He bolted away. I called my buddy at the cabin and told him the bull was headed that way and for him to watch.
When I got to the cabin he told me that he had seen the bull and the cows. He showed me the cows in the spotting scope and the brush that he had seen the bull go into.
I changed my shirt into a camo one but stayed in my Levi's. 40 minutes later I was at the brush and as I approached again the cows just moved away but the bull didn't move. When I got to 26 yards from the clump of trees I could see the bull bedded through a small opening in the brush. Over the next two hours I stood and watched as he put his head down to sleep and raise back up every couple of minutes. At one point I thought I was going to get a shot but he just repositioned himself and laid back down. At this point his hind end was exposed in the opening and it appeared that a well placed shot just over the hind quarter to find it's mark just behind the ribs and into the boiler room. I wasn't 100% sure that it would work and so I decided to wait for the bull to stand and give me a better shot. Unfortunately the wind started to swirl and the bull jumped to his feet and ran out the other side of the brush.
It was an amazing day with three different opportunities at the same bull.
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 06:14:19 PM
We didn't get into either bull but on the next ridge over from where we were we spotted a group of 60 cows and one giant bull. At this point we were whooped and just wanted a good meal and stiff drink. My buddy said "there is no way you can walk away from that elk, you have to try." I agreed but the odds seemed impossible. It was quite a hike and once I arrived there were so many eyes. I just didn't see how he would respond to a bugle, I figured he would just take his ladies and go and cow calls wouldn't work, he had plenty of cows as it was.
After making the trek to get into position I noticed there was a guy with horses just above the elk. I hiked up and asked if he had someone hunting the elk below. He was oblivious to the elk just below him and said that he had a friend just over the other side of the ridge cow hunting. I told him I had the bull tag and was going to make a move on the elk below him. He said good luck and if it didn't work there was nice 6x6 and a 6x7 working the ridge top that he had his buddy on for the night. He said I should try that the next day. I said thanks and moved on to the elk below.
I had seen that there was a skidder road going out to the elk and as I approached I could see that the elk were on the move. The cows were out front going away from me and the bull was lagging behind. I could only get to 100 yards but as they went over the ridge and around the corner I figured I would be able to catch them on the other side.
I came over the top and found the cows but the bull was now below them and bugling away. We had moved closer to my buddy and he could see all that was happening and was headed our way. I could hear cow calling coming from down the road and all of a sudden all of the cows started heading that way. I was amazed it was working. All of a sudden the bull appeared at 120 yards and was following the cows. I started to head that way to cut them off as they headed towards my buddy. Unfortunately he had lost track of where the elk were and was cow calling as he was walking up the road. He bumped into them before I could get into position and they busted down over the hill.
Another close call that actually almost worked on an amazing bull.
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 06:24:49 PM
I was able to get around and in front of them one more time but something seemed wrong as they moved away from me. I texted my buddy who was still in the cabin and he said you better come up here and take a look. I headed back to the cabin and took a good look at the bull now bedded in the sage below m place.
He was huge, gigantic body. His left side was enormous, 7 points total. His right however was really weak, only 4 points. My buddy says you can do whatever you want but you said you wanted a 300" bull and although that will gross 300" it won't net it. I agreed so we just let him lay there and we headed out after other elk.
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 06:36:10 PM
We proceeded up to the lookout and found two different groups setting up camp at the landing. We talked to both camps about our plans for the morning and they both agreed to let us pass through on our way to our destination.
The next day was super quiet but about 3pm my buddies heard a bugle and actually saw a nice 6x6, a 4x4 and a true spike. They passed on the true spike and waited for us to arrive to where they were. As soon as we arrived the bull bugled and we set up. My buddy was 70 yards behind and to my right calling. I wasn't exactly sure where my other buddies were but they had to be close. Immediately I saw the bull coming my way and I began to look for shooting lanes based on his approach. That is when I saw my other buddies, they were in some brush not 30 yards from me between me and my caller. Unfortunately I felt that took away my option to wait for the bull to pass and draw at that point. There was a bush that I thought I could draw at and shoot him at 16 yards.
He stopped at about 40 and started raking a tree but didn't give me a shot. As my buddy kept calling the bull continued his approach. When he got to the bush I drew and he caught my motion and spooked. He busted out and the jig was up but what an encounter.
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 06:38:09 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 06:47:13 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 06:49:03 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 06:51:37 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 07:00:50 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 07:12:18 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 07:32:30 PM
We decided it was getting late and so we decided to hunt our way out. On our way out it started to rain and hail, no fun. Off in the distance about a mile out of our way we heard a bugle. Last day, last two hours....yep, gotta go for it. We took the detour and it paid off, we found three different bulls all with cows. I worked my way towards where I had seen them last and towards the bugles. I was moving with purpose as I was running out of time. I actually passed by the elk and when they bugled again they were to my right and behind me. I caught a cow headed uphill to where I had just come down the ridge. I quickly scanned around and saw a great elk facing right at me about 130 yards away. His antlers were sticking out from either side of the tree, it looked like he might not be able to see me so I just started walking right at him. I got to 80 yards and he finally caught my motion. He turned to go away from me but I knew he would follow the cows. I headed uphill towards the cows and came over the top with a cow moving to my right at 60 yards. Another cow followed, then a decent 6x6 stopped right at 60 yards but I could see the big boy coming right behind. I got greedy and decided to pass the 6x6. Next was a rag horn and then the big guy. I couldn't believe it I had hunted for 12 days hard and now with only 90 minutes left in my season I was about to tag out. I drew as the bull stepped into my opening. I cow called and he stopped broadside. This was really going to happen, 60 yards on the money, chip shot. Just as I center my pin, level my sight and hit the trigger on my release the whole world slows down and goes all "Matrix" and Keauno Reeves on me. The cows turn and come running right back at the bull, he spooks and starts to turn. My arrow is now going straight for his neck. He keeps spinning and it is going to miss just to his left but now one of the cows is going to step right into the arrow. As I am trying to process everything that is happening my cell phone that is blue toothed to my hearing aids starts ringing. Luckily the arrow passes by the cow clean miss and all the elk head south. I follow the elk for the next 90 minutes but they don't stop until I think they got to blues and home of Bigfoot.
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 07:33:38 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 07:46:24 PM
I got the most amazing experience. Everyday and after every experience that didn't work out when I was down about not closing the deal my buddy would say " yeah but that was awesome and we don't have to pack anything out of that hole." He was right, every time was amazing.
Here's the other thing. I am not a huge church guy but I do truly believe that everything happens for a reason. Even my first short lived terrible marriage had a purpose.
During this hunt there were so many close calls where one small thing or another happened that threw filling a tag out the window I realize that for whatever reason I was just not supposed to fill this tag.
It was from the very beginning about the experience and in the end that is all it ended up being about. It wasn't about inches of antlers on the wall, it was time spent in the woods with my best friends and family.
To all those that help and shared the experience either in the field, via text, via PM or via this this thread, I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did.
To my wife and daughters, thank you for letting me spend so much time away. I promise to not miss another volleyball game for the rest of the season.
To my youngest, dad is in great shape for your deer hunt next weekend. And too my oldest we are going to give those cows heck come muzzy season the week after that.
Maybe the whole point was "how much wild game does one guy need?" If my kids fill their tags it will be so much sweeter than if I would have filled mine and if they just have the same great experience that I had that will be just as sweet as well.
Sorry the story took so long to get out, I hope you enjoyed it half as much as I did.
Post by: High Climber on September 24, 2017, 08:06:00 PM
Post by: jstone on September 24, 2017, 08:07:17 PM
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 24, 2017, 08:15:52 PM
Post by: jackelope on September 24, 2017, 08:16:45 PM
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Post by: jackelope on September 24, 2017, 08:19:00 PM
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Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 08:28:08 PM
Teal shirt?The field photos would have been epic. Not sure it would have erased the memory or @coachcw but they would have been epic.
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Post by: Rainier10 on September 24, 2017, 08:34:26 PM
If I second guess my decisions I will just drive myself crazy after waiting and dreaming of this tag for so long.
To keep myself sane I am just going to be happy have had the opportunity and will relish all of the experiences that I got to share with my buddies. Good news is they are still building points, hopefully one of them will draw soon.
Post by: cmiller85 on September 24, 2017, 08:51:36 PM
Post by: Jpmiller on September 24, 2017, 08:53:50 PM
Post by: Brushbuster on September 24, 2017, 08:59:29 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on September 25, 2017, 02:07:31 AM
Great Hunt. You gave it an excellent effort! Thank you for taking the time to share your story!:yeah: :tup:
Post by: Gringo31 on September 25, 2017, 11:03:25 AM
Awesome and Thx! :tup:
Post by: elkrack on September 25, 2017, 11:07:27 AM
Post by: 2MANY on September 25, 2017, 11:09:15 AM
I had a similar experience with my East Wenaha tag a few years ago.
Shoot and you go home.
Screw that...............It's about time in the woods and being out there.
Horns are nice but memories are forever.
Way to go.
Post by: de0827 on September 25, 2017, 12:31:25 PM
Post by: cedarriver on September 25, 2017, 01:47:44 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 25, 2017, 02:09:39 PM
One of the issues I had to deal with was pressure from other hunters. This unit is still open to otc cow harvest so that puts a lot of guys in the area. One of the spots that the elk like to retreat to when under pressure is quite a hike to get to. Like I said in my story we would do the long hike one day and then give that area and our bodies a rest the next day. There were three camps that I know of for sure and 8 guys that actually set up camp in that area to shorten the hike. Great idea in theory and I am sure that they did fairly well. The problem is the elk don't ever get a break, even at night they have pressure from the guys in camp so they end up pushing even further back into deeper holes.
This pressure really messed with the elk and that made it tougher to find them each day. Just one of the drawbacks of public land hunting. Luckily for me I also had my own private land to hunt and generally there were elk on it when the public land hunting was slow.
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on September 27, 2017, 03:09:45 AM
Post by: Vandal44 on September 27, 2017, 06:52:19 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 27, 2017, 07:28:48 AM
Great read! Congratz on an epic season!Thanks but this was just the beginning of my epic season. This weekend is muzzy deer for my youngest, the next weekend is a muzzy cow tag for my oldest, then late archery deer at Swakane (hope to see you there) followed up by late archery elk at my cabin where I hope to take out some frustration on a tasty cow and final hunt of the year will be a cougar hunt with Bearpaw in Idaho.
Hopefully there will be many more stories to come.
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on September 27, 2017, 09:40:52 AM
Most people (even on this forum) have never heard and seen the majestic fall events that you did and were willing to share.
Awesome and Thx! :tup:
:yeah: Reminds me back in '05 four of us drew that tag. Other three guys could only hunt for so long. I had the whole hunt time off work. I'd shot at 8 different bulls and all clean misses. Bull feaver??????? Anyhow I connected on the 12th evening on a great bull. It was just me and the old man in camp. He said out of all the years rifle elk hunting I have never heard elk bugle and talk. Where we camped at ended up being complete rut fest all around camp those last couple days. Somthing every elk Hunter should get to experience!!!!!!! :IBCOOL:
Post by: Rainier10 on October 02, 2017, 11:31:44 AM
I will say the more removed from the hunt the more I realize that I really have no regrets. I gave this hunt as much effort as I could. When I was tired but there was bull over the next ridge I pushed myself to get there. When I was down because of a missed opportunity my friends motivated to move forward looking for the next opportunity. When I had bulls in my sights that were less than where I had set my personal goal at I passed.
I think had I given up, had I settled for a lesser bull than my goal I would have regrets. I am thankful that I can say I have no regrets.
Now second guessing moves that I made.....that is a tougher pill to swallow but I really do think that I made the right choices but because those choices didn't work I will always wonder what if I would have (blank) instead of (blank)?
Bulls were still bugling and going nuts this past weekend and I am really looking forward to hunting with my daughter next weekend for her muzzy cow tag.
Stay tuned.....
Post by: cmiller85 on October 03, 2017, 11:22:04 AM
I think if you "settle" and shoot anything other than what you have predetermined your goal to be that you will have regrets unless it is on the last day (or around the end of the hunt). Otherwise there will always be what might have been. The problem is that, in my experience, opportunities don't usually come on the last day. :chuckle:
Looking forward to hearing about your daughter's cow hunt!