Post by: Elkfever on October 15, 2017, 10:35:18 PM
As the draw results posted in early June, with it revealed that I had been selected for one of the Peaches Ridge muzzleloader tags. I had drawn my one and only choice for my 19 quality points and was thrilled. Several gracious forum members gave me some starting points through PM's and phone calls, google earth was flown over daily and the puzzle pieces started falling in place.
I had finally made it out for a three day scouting trip in August with my two year old son but the next week, lightening strikes across the state created a 55,000 acre wild fire in the Norse Peak wilderness. What area that wasn't on fire was soon closed down to public access and with that, my ability to access some of our states finest elk country. My dad and best bud, Cory had made the commitment prior to join me and be a part of the experience, help call and if things went to plan, help pack. Come late September, things weren't looking good. I was contemplating exchanging my tag for my points back or hunting the Taneum, leaving the hunt in jeopardy until a weather front blew in and dumped rain and snow across the northwest. With that change in weather, the fire growth stalled and kept from extending out of the wilderness. Literally days before the hunt was to open, the forest service opened up the national forest outside the wilderness and immediately, we all three scrambled to fall back to our original plan. This was easier said than done with my dad flying back from Vegas for work and Cory rearranging child care and vacation plans but a few days later, somehow, we were all three heading east.
Post by: Elkfever on October 15, 2017, 10:39:14 PM
We scouted Thursday night and all of Friday leading up to the opener on Saturday. Most areas we went to check out not only held Elk but bugling bulls and in some cases 2-3 bugling bulls. On numerous occasions, we would bugle from the road and without much prompting, bulls would start bugling their way over to us. I can recall retreating back to the truck, smiling at cory sarcastically, "This isn't going to be any fun." It was hard to sleep Friday night, not just because there was a bull bugling outside our tent but because the excitement of knowing that the next day was "game day."
Post by: Crunchy on October 15, 2017, 10:43:27 PM
Post by: Elkfever on October 15, 2017, 10:49:58 PM
Post by: Elkfever on October 15, 2017, 11:00:19 PM
Post by: Elkfever on October 15, 2017, 11:08:11 PM
Post by: Elkfever on October 15, 2017, 11:13:08 PM
It was a cold morning with everything covered in a layer of frost but with not a cloud in the sky, the sun was already peaking up over the distant mountains. Nearing where I was going to park the truck, a big six point bull and his herd ran across the rutted up road and down into the reprod where I would hopefully have a chance at him later in the morning. I kept driving around the corner and parked the truck. As I got out, my dad and I could hear what sounded like Jurassic Park in the drainage below us. There were at least two bulls lip bawling and bugling back and forth. Knowing there was a big Meadow and creek down in the drainage, we slung on our packs, loaded my muzzleloader and sprinted down the ridge. As we neared the edge of the meadow, dad stayed inside the tree line and began to bugle and rake a tree. With cow elk filtering though the timber on the other side of the Meadow and bulls screaming back and forth, I snuck up next to a tree in the middle of the Meadow and rested my gun across the top of my pack for a rest. With my dad calling behind me, I could hear hoofed steps coming toward me and with the flash of antler tine through the trees, I knew this was it. At twenty yards, the bull bugled a challenge in our direction but with too many tree branches blocking his vitals, I waited for a clear shot. I could see the bull's hot breath lofting up from his bugle when after a moment of hesitation, the bull walked around a clump of pine trees and came to my left, broadside and at eleven yards! Just as he slowed to stop and look around, I put one shot behind the shoulder. Through the cloud of black powder and shaky hands reloading, I watched the bull only run about 15 yards and stop, quartering away. One more shot to insure a quick kill and the bull was down and done. I looked behind me to see my dad standing at the edge of the meadow, smiling. After watching to make sure the bull wasn't going to resurrect, we shared in the moment together that was quiet, respectful and somewhat emotional. Neither of us enjoy killing but we do enjoy the hunt, the commaradery and successfully harvesting our own. After a few pics, we trimmed off every bit of meat and put it all into game bags to keep the meat clean and the bugs off. Then, three heavy trips later, my dad and I had packed out all the meat and antlers to the truck. Seven hours from shooting the bull till we were pulling away in the truck. What a productive day!
Post by: Elkfever on October 15, 2017, 11:14:39 PM
Post by: Elkfever on October 15, 2017, 11:15:31 PM
Post by: Elkfever on October 15, 2017, 11:18:55 PM
Post by: Elkfever on October 15, 2017, 11:23:22 PM
Post by: Elkfever on October 15, 2017, 11:29:14 PM
First and foremost, thank you to my dad, Elksnout and my best bud, Cory for making it the priority to share his hunt with me. Big thank you to several forum members for their advice, especially Teanawayslayer. Heath, your offers to help and provide answers to my questions really inspire me to pay it forward someday.
Now c'mon WDFW, give my dad this tag next year so we can go back for round #2!
Post by: Watimberghost on October 16, 2017, 04:32:27 AM
Post by: Elkcollector82 on October 16, 2017, 05:32:51 AM
Post by: fishngamereaper on October 16, 2017, 05:36:41 AM
Post by: full choke on October 16, 2017, 05:52:34 AM
Thanks for sharing!
Post by: trophyhunt on October 16, 2017, 06:24:18 AM
Post by: elkboy on October 16, 2017, 06:33:04 AM
You could stop there, and it would be an awesome hunt. Nothing better than what you described already. Bugling bulls, tag in your pocket, cold beer, wood stove crackling. Wish every month was September.
100% agree. That's heaven on earth.
Post by: elkboy on October 16, 2017, 06:36:47 AM
Post by: renewed on October 16, 2017, 07:11:13 AM
Great Hunt..
And the animal was just the iceing on it all.
Great to hunt with your dad.
That's a great elk by any standard.
Post by: RB on October 16, 2017, 07:38:40 AM
Post by: Elkfever on October 16, 2017, 08:13:17 AM
Post by: Ridgerunner on October 16, 2017, 08:29:35 AM
Post by: mp.hunter on October 16, 2017, 08:50:20 AM
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Post by: Brushbuster on October 16, 2017, 09:09:06 AM
Post by: Bob33 on October 16, 2017, 09:23:25 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 16, 2017, 09:33:21 AM
Post by: camanofishn on October 16, 2017, 10:45:18 AM
Post by: X-Force on October 16, 2017, 10:48:42 AM
Awesome!
Post by: hunterofelk on October 16, 2017, 11:33:54 AM
Post by: gee_unit360 on October 16, 2017, 11:34:29 AM
Post by: bearhunter99 on October 16, 2017, 11:47:49 AM
Congratulations!
Post by: E35alex on October 16, 2017, 02:56:58 PM
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Post by: teanawayslayer on October 16, 2017, 03:40:24 PM
Again, I feel incredibly blessed to have experienced this hunt with my dad and best friend and to fill the freezer of a couple families at the same time. I look forward to thinking back on those 9 days spent elk hunting when I cook up an elk steak dinner or glance at the antlers on the wall.any time Dane! Congrats again on your bull!
First and foremost, thank you to my dad, Elksnout and my best bud, Cory for making it the priority to share his hunt with me. Big thank you to several forum members for their advice, especially Teanawayslayer. Heath, your offers to help and provide answers to my questions really inspire me to pay it forward someday.
Now c'mon WDFW, give my dad this tag next year so we can go back for round #2!
Post by: branches on October 16, 2017, 08:42:05 PM
Post by: elksnout on October 16, 2017, 09:06:20 PM
Thank you to all of the forum members who assisted with information and advise prior to the hunt. It was pure perseverance that got this done and you're all part of that team. Thank you.
I will say this...as a father it doesn't get any better than to watch your young gun harvest an animal no matter the size. I'll never tire of that. I couldn't have been more excited if I had pulled the trigger myself.
Elksnout
Post by: Crunchy on October 16, 2017, 09:40:27 PM
Post by: Gearhead1940 on October 17, 2017, 06:09:23 AM
Post by: Alchase on October 17, 2017, 10:28:53 AM
Post by: 724wd on October 17, 2017, 11:13:19 AM
Post by: lewy on October 17, 2017, 11:17:00 AM
Post by: Igottanewknee on October 17, 2017, 03:26:39 PM
And it's about family and friends!!!!
Post by: Falcon on October 17, 2017, 03:56:49 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 17, 2017, 04:17:03 PM
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Post by: Hoythunter on October 17, 2017, 05:54:36 PM
Post by: deerlick on October 17, 2017, 08:00:09 PM
Post by: Don_D on October 19, 2017, 11:57:21 AM
Post by: slowhand on October 19, 2017, 12:49:59 PM
Post by: dupedc on October 20, 2017, 04:26:09 PM
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Post by: Elkfever on October 20, 2017, 06:16:41 PM
Post by: snake on October 20, 2017, 08:45:37 PM
Post by: Elkfever on October 20, 2017, 09:03:11 PM
Post by: Elkfever on December 28, 2017, 04:44:25 PM
Post by: teanawayslayer on December 28, 2017, 06:41:06 PM
Post by: Calvin Rayborn on December 29, 2017, 11:36:52 AM