Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Shawn Ryan on May 28, 2018, 02:43:59 PM
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Hoping to draw East Wenaha for quality archery, but applied for Mt. View as my second choice for the first time. I'm familiar with the Blues and its steep, rugged country. I've driven the perimeter roads, but have not hiked the unit. I've read every Mt. View post on the forum that I could find through a search. I've pm'd over a dozen guys who have posted about their experience in the unit. Thanks Bullblaster, heronblu, and Elkburger for your responses: Incredibly helpful and encouraging. Good to know that members are willing to share so much.
I'm intending to spend time in the unit over the next few months--more if I get drawn. I'm interested in the USFS steep ground in the NW part of the unit, but will consider hunting the other open areas of the unit.
If you have anything to share from your experience in the unit, I would appreciate your words.
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Glad to share some pointers. :tup: I’m far from an expert on the area but hope it helped. Hopefully you can pull a tag!
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Fingers crossed for you buddy!
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Bullblaster, it did help.
Thanks Karl.
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Clear you inbox! I tried to pm you
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Clear you inbox! I tried to pm you
:yeah:
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Cleared about 3 pages worth. Thanks for the pm's.
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Hit me up when you are over there, I have hunted the West Wen, Dayton and Tucanon, but haven't scouted the mountain view unit. All with a bow, I love chasing spikes and looking at the big bulls all while hoping one day to draw a tag down there. I live in Seattle but my dad lives down there in Dayton and I visit him and go up in the mountains quite frequently so just let me when you are over there and we could meetup.
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Fingers crossed for you buddy!
Thanks, Karl. It worked! Thanks to all the guys who shared their advice; I really appreciate it. That sharing is what I like best about this forum. I've been doing my happy dance all night. Can't wait to get over there.
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:yike: :yike: :yike: well hot dang!
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That's awesome! Congratulations
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
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Congrats! I drew a cow tag in there from oct 27th- 4th. Maybe we can help each other a bit if close enough. I see your in BG, we should meet up.
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Congrats to you...can't wait to follow the hunt. Dayton is my first pic for archery, 20 points and didn't draw. You're gonna have a great hunt.
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I didn't pay close enough attention to it being archery. We should still meet up being we're so close.
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May run into you scouting , i have the muzzy bull tag
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Can I get in on the Mountain View info as well?!!
PM sent.
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Can I get in on the Mountain View info as well?!!
PM sent.
See that big hole? The elk are down there! :chuckle:
What tag did you get?
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My buddy drew Mountain View archery elk. Any info would be greatly appreciated. The unit does not sound like a cake walk..
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My buddy drew Mountain View archery elk. Any info would be greatly appreciated. The unit does not sound like a cake walk..
that could be the greatest understatement I've ever read :chuckle:
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Expect flat, rolling hills.
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Expect flat, rolling hills.
give or take a few degrees of slope angle :chuckle:
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Expect flat, rolling hills.
You guys got me all scared. :chuckle:
not looking for anyone's honey hole or GPS tracks, just some general info.
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Expect flat, rolling hills.
You guys got me all scared. :chuckle:
not looking for anyone's honey hole or GPS tracks, just some general info.
we all joke a bit but I'm being dead serious when I say biggest issue with mountain view is being man enough to go and do what it takes to kill AND RETREIVE an elk out of where they call home. Most are way down the mountain and most all the access is from up top. It's all day to get in and out and multiple trips with meat in a day is a tall order. If your buddy doesn't have some fit friends I'd recommend him having a packer lined out. Some cranker bulls to be had in there
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Be brave enough to go all the way down :tup: Someday I'll draw it myself.
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You either have to camp out in the hole or hunt down each day. Lots of hunting time is limited by thermals Either way you look at it.
Basically any drainage in there will hold elk. The advice doesn’t get much more than that in that unit. North and east facing aspect in sept.
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Here’s a pic looking across the main canyon in the unit. The very top of the mountain in this pic is where the road is.
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That picture does zero Justice to the size and steepness of that country. ALMOST makes me want to go elk hunting there :chuckle: I'm gonna be super sad when the Jon draws that tag and I have to go pack :chuckle:
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Yeah that makes it look like a golf course :chuckle: have fun Mt View tag holders :tup:
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Another tidbit would be to make some cut charts for your setup so when you have to take 39 degree slope shot you know where your arrows going to hit :chuckle:
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Here’s a tidbit. Sept 2014 there was a rather large bull right where my finger was pointing. I hauled butt over there and heard him bugling but never did see him before it got dark.
This is a picture of the mtn view honeyhole. :tup:
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Congrats! I drew a cow tag in there from oct 27th- 4th. Maybe we can help each other a bit if close enough. I see your in BG, we should meet up.
Dang, the Blue Mtn. draw gods were good to you this year--spring bear and elk. You must have pleased them with whatever your burnt offering was! ;) Happy to share whatever I know/learn. I'll send you a PM about meeting up.
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May run into you scouting , i have the muzzy bull tag
Do you have scouting plans, yet? I know you have hunted it before and know a lot more about the unit than I do. I don't have dates figured out, but I first want to run the trail from the guard station to the bottom, then up to Indian Tom Corral and then the Mt. Horrible/Lake Ridge trail to the West Wenatchee trail up back to the road. I'd like to do those both the same day. Thinking of dropping a couple cameras and salt/mineral blocks along the way. Camera drop locations may impede getting both runs done the same day, but time is short!
I figure running those trails lets me see a lot of the unit very quickly. Not really scouting animals on that trip, just seeing country. If you (or anyone else) are interested in the run, let me know.
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Karl, Bullblaster, Timberstalker, Hormhunter, Jonathan, you all have me regretting my draw...NOT! :IBCOOL: Seriously though, I appreciate what you all are posting. Just gets me more pumped for that hunt. Going to have to step up my game, which is great motivation for an old duffer like me!
I'm already trying to figure out how to get all 20 days in the hole. I doubt I can make that happen, but that would be epic and a check-off on the bucket list.
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We're excited for you. You seem like an animal and I'm sure you'll have a good time.
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We're excited for you. You seem like an animal and I'm sure you'll have a good time.
This. I can't wait to see what you drum up, Shawn.
:tup:
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We're excited for you. You seem like an animal and I'm sure you'll have a good time.
This. I can't wait to see what you drum up, Shawn.
:tup:
x3. With or without a punched tag you'll do it justice I have no doubt.
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Thanks. Now I feel no pressure. None at all.
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Congrats on the tag Shawn. Looks like a great hunt coming up, err, down ;).
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Thanks, RJ. "Down" is without the load; "up," well, I've just decided to not think about that until I have to! ;) Any drawing for you? Or do the Idaho elk need to hide?
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Congrats.....After seeing your backside quickly disappearing in front of me a couple of years ago, I'm sure the elk are already getting worried!!!
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Thanks, RJ. "Down" is without the load; "up," well, I've just decided to not think about that until I have to! ;) Any drawing for you? Or do the Idaho elk need to hide?
No WA draws for me bud. Gonna hit the spud state the last two weeks of SEP with, wait for it....., a rifle in a wilderness area. Should be a hoot ;) Congrats again on the tag; anxious to hear how it all shakes out.
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Thanks, RJ. "Down" is without the load; "up," well, I've just decided to not think about that until I have to! ;) Any drawing for you? Or do the Idaho elk need to hide?
No WA draws for me bud. Gonna hit the spud state the last two weeks of SEP with, wait for it....., a rifle in a wilderness area. Should be a hoot ;) Congrats again on the tag; anxious to hear how it all shakes out.
Wow! I assume that is a draw, not OTC. Do you have an expectation of size or just really monstrous?
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Congrats.....After seeing your backside quickly disappearing in front of me a couple of years ago, I'm sure the elk are already getting worried!!!
Worried that my carcass will stink up the hillside, maybe!! :yike:
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Congrats on the draw!!! Super envious. Was in there a couple years back. PM me. You'll get a masher for sure.
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Thanks, RJ. "Down" is without the load; "up," well, I've just decided to not think about that until I have to! ;) Any drawing for you? Or do the Idaho elk need to hide?
No WA draws for me bud. Gonna hit the spud state the last two weeks of SEP with, wait for it....., a rifle in a wilderness area. Should be a hoot ;) Congrats again on the tag; anxious to hear how it all shakes out.
Wow! I assume that is a draw, not OTC. Do you have an expectation of size or just really monstrous?
OTC with a quantity cap. Heading over end of July to put BOG.
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Thanks much for the input. I really appreciate being able to ask questions on this forum.
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Bro-in-law drew archery tag. Last bull i killed down there took 12 hours to pack my quarter out. But yeah, there are big bulls down there.
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Congrats! I drew a cow tag in there from oct 27th- 4th. Maybe we can help each other a bit if close enough. I see your in BG, we should meet up.
Except your cow tag is only for the private ground in the south end of the unit. And i am sure he will be in the northern part of the the unit where the big bulls hang and only men that have the balls will get them
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
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I’d totally run it with you, Shawn, But I broke a shoe lace on my running shoes and don’t see myself being able to get it put back together in time to make it. Sorry. I’m sure someone else will want to trail run it with you.
:yike:
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I’d totally run it with you, Shawn, But I broke a shoe lace on my running shoes and don’t see myself being able to get it put back together in time to make it. Sorry. I’m sure someone else will want to trail run it with you.
:yike:
I'm in!
I ran between two meetings last week, so I'm already warmed up.
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I also ran to my car after work the other night because I was late. There’s a pothole in the parking lot which I jumped over.
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Then, we're on! Warmed up helps and I'll bring an extra shoe lace: and as a bonus for joining me when you don't have a tag, I'll even lace your shoe for you! :chuckle:
Seriously, I think about hunting those elk every day. The tag has given me motivation to increase my training and do all the little projects for the hunt that usually get left to late August.
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Let me know when you're headed over, I'd like to try to make something work. Love to help with the cameras.
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Let me know when you're headed over, I'd like to try to make something work. Love to help with the cameras.
Great offer! Josh is top notch!
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During our archery hunt there was almost no elk near Indian Tom or Wenatchee guard station trail. It was a way to get down. The country on that side of the canyon is dry, pretty open . Saw 1 bull off those trails and it was a raghorn cruising around looking for cows. Never heard a bugle either on those trails in middle of night. Hiring a packer for myself would do nothing as horses cannot get into allot of that country . It will be a solo event for me :chuckle:
I’ll be down in a few weeks, already hung a camera off lake ridge. More or less just going down to glass and look at bulls. We learned with tag last time that scouting for elk was useless come opener you go to where you hear or see bulls. Best scouting would be the weekend before it opens .
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Huntnnw, thanks for the update. My intent to run the trails is just to see country, not scout animals. Its a way for me to see a lot of country in my limited time and get access to hang cameras. The east side of the canyon is not a priority for me and so may revise the run to come back up the Guard Station trail. I'm not even sure of the value of my cameras in that unit, but wish I had them hanging already!
From listening to tag holders, it seems that being mobile and going where the elk are is a viable method. As well as hunting the deepest, nastiest hole I can find where I'll need a team to get the meat out in time. :o
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This is a pic up and over lake ridge and down the other side quite aways
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This is down to bottom of Indian Tom and climbed up other side looking south
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In 14', I dropped down in on the west fork Wenatchee creek trail. It would not have been accessible by horses. It had been years since the forest service cleared that trail. Lots of blow downs blocking the trail and some wash outs in the switchbacks.
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Huntnnw, in your first picture, is the Guard Station on the far horizon? Picture taken from just east of the Pomeroy-Grouse Flats Rd.? In the second picture, is the trail in the draw below you? Thanks for posting the pictures.
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Fantastic looking country
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First pic is couple miles in lake trail then hiked up and over ridge and down towards menatchee creek.. guard station is on horizon
2nd pic the trail would be below.. never hiked it along creek.. always got off trail at bottom. Some of those canyon bottoms are unreal thick and some are so steep you can’t climb them. I passed a 310-315” 6x7 down in there knowing what I had hiked thru to get that bull out would be a nightmare .. wasn’t big enough to deal with that crap. :chuckle:
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Made it over to Mt. View to set a couple cameras. The Wenatchee trail is located substantially different than the FS or USGS map shows. Both maps show the trail following the creek down. There is a trail down there, but I could only find it about 2% of the time. There is a much better, 1930's era-CCC-type trail, 6' wide, with cut banks, level trail tread, and easy grade that is just north of the trail on the maps, and just up hill from the map trail. It is overgrown, but the trail cut is visible for 1/2 mile, at least. I ran that trail down about half way, then went down to the bottom of the feeder-creek to find the map trail. What a mistake! I'd have no issue taking horses or mules down that better trail.
I was wearing Hoka running shoes, or as I call them: clown shoes. They are great for running trails, with their 3/4" of foam soles, but they have zero lateral support. I was off trail for the bottom half of the descent and about 1/3 of the ascent. That was horrible. Side-hilling on those slopes was a bit difficult in those shoes.
I left the guard station a little after 4:00 p.m., made the bottom to drop a camera on a game trail just on the other side of Wenatchee Creek, and then up and out. GPS says 7.5 miles, 2,235' of loss and gain in elevation, in and out in 4:15. Good day, except I was stung by a hornet near my arm pit while busting brush near the creek on the way down and I have a bad reaction to that. My arm is still swollen down to the wrist.
I was surprised at how huntable that area appears. I've spent time in the Wenaha and Mt. View is very similar. Rugged to look at, but definitely huntable.
Sunday morning I headed out the Lake Ridge trial. Very different trail than the Wenatchee Guard Station trail. Hardly any elevation change until you get to Lake Ridge, where the trail heads down. I was expecting it to be a substantially better trail. It is a 1970's-era FS built trail. Very little cut bank, sloped trail tread; basically a good game trail after the first 1.5 miles or so. Easy to lose in the places it traverses open hill sides. Not runnable mostly after the first 1/2 mile or so. From a hiking perspective, super easy trail out to Monument Ridge/Lake Ridge were it heads down. I headed east from there, cross-country--still in my clown shoes. Set a camera in a drainage north of Monument Ridge. Was planning to set that camera down in a drainage off Lake Ridge, but decided I didn't like the south-facing slopes. Also wished I wasn't wearing clown shoes. I peaked over the Mt. Horrible Ridge to see the north and east facing canyons. They look fairly awesome for hunting.
Found a cross "monument" out on Monument Ridge. I can't read most of the writing, but its a dedication to a guy named Willie. Anybody know the story? Hope I have good buddies who would place a cross for me 3 miles out in an area I love.
May have changed my hunt plans, but I've still got more to learn.
(Edit: Don't know how to rotate those pics. They are vertical on my PC. Could someone with better skills fix that?)
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Cool. Willie was one of my best hunting partners. He was like a grandfather to me while growing up. He hunted the area since the 70s and always had great stories to tell. He passed at cabin saddle in 2005 sadly the week before opening rifle deer. As a tribute to him, my mom and I built a cross and laminted a picture I took the last week he was alive. About 12 of us hunting friends hiked the trail the summer of 2006 and spread his ashes at bell canyon. We hung up the cross, and left him a Budweiser. Every year will still hike out there to see Willie. Bears have torn up the bottom of the cross a bit
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I met his hunting buddies my last day of my last archery hunt. I slept near that cross one night. Theres another memorial with a rock etched with name along with beer cans, bullets and other things on few ridges northwest of there.
I hunted the entire hunt in Solomon speed cross shoes they did amazingly well for 19 days of hiking with 0 foot issues, but when I packed my bull out the last day is when they went :chuckle: crushed the soles and most of the tread was gone
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that's an awesome story and a great tribute! thanks for sharing
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JWebb, Thank you. I was hoping for a story just like that. I hope I die at a place like Cabin Saddle.
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Don't wish what you hope for :chuckle:
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Very cool, thanks for the update.
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JWebb, Thank you. I was hoping for a story just like that. I hope I die at a place like Cabin Saddle.
Your welcome! Yeah I was surprised to see that pic on here. Definitely a pretty good hike that most wont take to get there. We are always at cabin saddle the week before rifle deer till the end of rifle elk. If anyone of you passes through stop in a say hi. My dad and a couple other good old boys always have the best stories to tell
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Last couple day shooter
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Nice. Looks like you got down to check your cameras. Hope you found a pig to start watching.
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You better have your big boy panties and bull pack with you if your planning on getting a bull out of there before it spoils...... I've seen many guys come over and hunt that unit and bite off a little more than they can chew.
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It's not that steep.
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No doubt the country is steep and rugged. But IME, its not more difficult terrain than ground I've hunted in Goat Rocks, William O., Norse Peak, or some Gifford Pinchot terrain. Its hotter and dryer, so meat care will be a bit more of an issue, but I do have a plan. Gotta get a bull on the ground, though; and I don't think that will be easy.
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You better have your big boy panties and bull pack with you if your planning on getting a bull out of there before it spoils...... I've seen many guys come over and hunt that unit and bite off a little more than they can chew.
Shawn seems like a pretty tough dude to me, I'm sure he'll be just fine.
Really have to screw up bad to waste meat anyway, especially with those cooler nights
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I look forward to see what you guys pull out of there, Shawn and huntnw.
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It's not that steep.
:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
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Nice. Looks like you got down to check your cameras. Hope you found a pig to start watching.
nothing to exciting...I am not running any cams where the big bulls are.. that cam is 2.5 mi in and on a natural lick I was wanting to see what is hitting it cause its always loaded with tracks. Cam stopped working after 7 days was out 3 weeks! :bash: no idea why it shut off. I wont start getting excited about potential prospects till Sept 21 when I start glassing and trying to turn up a giant.
Problem with this unit is 80-90% who draw this tag never hunt where the big mature bulls reside in this unit during the rut. Sure you can get into elk up higher and we did, but it was raghorns and cows, bach groups of rags. When I had the archery tag I hunted the full 19 days, plus many days scouting in summer right up to the opener and never layed eyes on what I called a big mature bull (340"+) anywhere up near the top of any ridge. Hunter reporting also reflects this too last year 10 archers reported 1 kill.
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It's not that steep. :chuckle:
That's why 80% to 90% wont go were the big boys rut.
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I'm trying to keep my expectations realistic about tagging a bull in the unit. I'm willing to go a lot of places that are steep or far away, but I'll also try to be realistic about my abilities, shot angles, approach, and shot opportunities. I think I'm willing to eat this tag as I hold out for the bull I want, but it won't be because I wasn't willing to go somewhere or don't have the legs and lungs for it. Lots of other reasons to blow opportunities.
I've received lots of really great advice from guys who know the unit. I really appreciate all the help. Its the main reason I like this forum.
As for meat packing and field care, one of my main concerns is keeping it cool enough once on top while I'm packing more loads up. But I have a plan.
My other main concern is the amount of time I'll get to scout and hunt. I'm working on getting all 20 days to hunt, but...
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20 days to hunt!
Great oogly moogly!
Good for you.
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20 days to hunt!
Great oogly moogly!
Good for you.
I don't have all that time, yet. I'm still working on making that happen.
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I wish you the best.
I’m glad someone that will do the tag justice, drew it.
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I wish you the best.
I’m glad someone that will do the tag justice, drew it.
Thanks. I hope I do it justice and don't disappoint.
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you will have a blast on the full 20 off the amount of elk you will see and bugling. It was the best elk hunt I have ever been on to this day insane amount of bugling.
I dunno what your camping situation is, but there are pay showers at field springs state park
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you will have a blast on the full 20 off the amount of elk you will see and bugling. It was the best elk hunt I have ever been on to this day insane amount of bugling.
I dunno what your camping situation is, but there are pay showers at field springs state park
I love bugling, so I'm hoping for lots!
Thanks for the shower tip about FSSP. I usually just wash in the creek, but if I'm on top and near the truck, I may just do that.
I'm still revising my hunt plan/areas based on good advice I'm getting.
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You will have a blast. Soak it all in and don't let the pressure of the tag get to you. Practice shooting at extreme angles up and down hill. Have fun!
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you will have a blast on the full 20 off the amount of elk you will see and bugling. It was the best elk hunt I have ever been on to this day insane amount of bugling.
I dunno what your camping situation is, but there are pay showers at field springs state park
I love bugling, so I'm hoping for lots!
Thanks for the shower tip about FSSP. I usually just wash in the creek, but if I'm on top and near the truck, I may just do that.
if you go past lake ridge trail head a little bit theres a big spring on the side of the road filling a trough. I used that to shower once ask Bullblaster about that :chuckle: it was frigid
I'm still revising my hunt plan/areas based on good advice I'm getting.
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I drew a rifle cow tag for elk area 1013, which is the south half of mountain view. Mostly private ground, but does anyone know if grouse flats or that section of school ground hold any critters? How about the blm stuff south of the river?
I've never hunted there before so I'm hoping some of the land owners will be receptive to thinning their cow populations. Planning on spending a few weekends grouse and bear hunting in september /early October too to look around.
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a family member of mine had a muzzy bull tag in there a few years back it is a physical hunt but bulls can be found traveling the ridge tops the tag holder i was with passed on a few smaller bulls and ended up shooting a good bull mid week. travel the trails in the nw corner and glass off the ridges we located some bulls driving the upper road and glass everything you could see then tried to figure out how to get to them we did see more bulls higher up on the ridges when we were scouting during the archery season that was probably just because we didnt have a archery tag though and they were just teasing us. if have any questions shoot me a PM I will try and give any info that could help you.
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Sounds like you will be hunting the same tag as a fellow work friend Greg he as well has the archery tag good luck and stay safe
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Good luck to you!! Should be a fun hunt
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Picked up my pictures from 2 cameras. One had been opened and turned on the tree so that it just faced the hillside. Got a nice up-close picture of some fur as a bear brushed by the camera! However, the area had increased elk sign.
Second camera had some good pics. One is a definite shooter for me.
Anybody know what is up with the "blue" marks on that small 6 pt's butt? Several elk had that look.
Once again, the unit proved to be rugged. I accessed it from Rd. 40/Mt. Road at the Lake Ridge trial head, headed east on the trail, then near Monument Ridge dropped down to where the guard station trail hits the bottom, turned northeast, up stream to the big fork in the creek, then west about half way back to the road, then south and uphill through really steep country, to hook back up with the Lake Ridge trail. About 8 miles of mostly off trail travel.
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Must be why they call it the Blues.
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that's a good hike for that area. Getting close :tup:
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The first bull is a shooter.
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Turkeyman, yes on both counts. The area I came up in was incredibly steep and the cedars grow like slide alders: I hate slide alders. Tons of hornets. But I found some good elky areas, beds, trails, small benches, high water, and rubs.
That 6x7 looks like a large-bodied, old bull to me. His ivories should have a lot of color.
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The hornets are terrible this year. They love those small benches towards the bottom. You will have fun.
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Awesome! I know Willie will appreciate them :tup:
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Spruce Springs Snotel says 2" of snow and .8" of rain in the past couple days. Anybody up that way to see what was happening the past few days?
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I'll be around grouse flats this weekend and report back.
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Got some rain Monday and Tuesday morning.
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Cloudy no precip last night in the misery area. Saw 4 wolves at 8:30 this mornin within 1/2 mile of misery CG. About 100yds away
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Cloudy no precip last night in the misery area. Saw 4 wolves at 8:30 this mornin within 1/2 mile of misery CG. About 100yds away
Suckers are all over up there!
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It was pretty warm over labor day on grouse flats. Truck thermometer was saying mid 70s-80, but it sure felt hotter. Zero precip.
There were a few camps set up along FS 40 and on the state ground at grouse flats. Didn't see or hear n elk all weekend, but I know at least one guy got into some.
It was my first time in the area, so I could have been wandering around the wrong places. I spent all my time in elk area 1013, as that's where I drew a cow tag.
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Hey Shawn,
How is the hunting going? I have been on a couple tag-along hunts in Mountain View the past two years (friends got lucky in the draw back to back years). We got into some very nice bulls in there, some not all that far down either. I would be happy to share some information, but it sounds like you have already had plenty of advice and based on the trail cam pictures you already found some nice bulls.
In general, I personally didn't think Mountain View was all that bad. There is certainly steep places in there, but we took a slow methodical all day approach. Definitely would be tired by the end of the day, but well worth it.
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Picked up my pictures from 2 cameras. One had been opened and turned on the tree so that it just faced the hillside. Got a nice up-close picture of some fur as a bear brushed by the camera! However, the area had increased elk sign.
Second camera had some good pics. One is a definite shooter for me.
Anybody know what is up with the "blue" marks on that small 6 pt's butt? Several elk had that look.
Once again, the unit proved to be rugged. I accessed it from Rd. 40/Mt. Road at the Lake Ridge trial head, headed east on the trail, then near Monument Ridge dropped down to where the guard station trail hits the bottom, turned northeast, up stream to the big fork in the creek, then west about half way back to the road, then south and uphill through really steep country, to hook back up with the Lake Ridge trail. About 8 miles of mostly off trail travel.
That is a hell of a hike but you are in the right area :) That first bull looks VERY familiar. We called in a big 6X7 a couple years ago in that area. I wish I could put in for Mountain View but Washington makes it pretty expensive for NR to build PP. I wouldn't think twice about going on another tag along hunt out there though. I love it out there!
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Picked up my pictures from 2 cameras. One had been opened and turned on the tree so that it just faced the hillside. Got a nice up-close picture of some fur as a bear brushed by the camera! However, the area had increased elk sign.
Second camera had some good pics. One is a definite shooter for me.
Anybody know what is up with the "blue" marks on that small 6 pt's butt? Several elk had that look.
Once again, the unit proved to be rugged. I accessed it from Rd. 40/Mt. Road at the Lake Ridge trial head, headed east on the trail, then near Monument Ridge dropped down to where the guard station trail hits the bottom, turned northeast, up stream to the big fork in the creek, then west about half way back to the road, then south and uphill through really steep country, to hook back up with the Lake Ridge trail. About 8 miles of mostly off trail travel.
No way that's mt. View. To flat
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Hunting has been pretty great. Didn't start hunting until Tuesday evening. Lots of bugling. Was on 4 good bulls in the first 24 hours: 6x6 310, 6x8 320, 7x7 310+, 8x7 340. Presently, trading insults with a bull below me.
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Nice, glad you are in them. Best of luck.
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Pics are too large to post with my limited service. Don't know how to resize them on my phone.
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You can just crop them down
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This place is awesome. Been into lots of bulls. Bulls are bugling, but not responsive to calls. (Each tag holder I've spoken with is having similar experiences: lots of bulls, just not ready to respond like they were opening weekend.)
Tonight I sneaked to within 50 yards of a bedded 7x7. A 320 6x6 was 60 yards to the left raking a tree for 15 minutes. Cows mewing around him. Bull bugling off to the right several hundred yards away. 7x7 would bugle from his bed in immediate reaponse to the far off bugles, but didn't care about the 320 raking the tree or the cows. Finally busted me, but just walked off. Elk here don't go far when they bust us.
About an hour later, I chased another bull (thought it was the same one). To a lower bench. Got to within 15 yards of him: a huge 7x8. At least 370. Broadside, but lower on the steep hill and could only see 1/4 of his body, shoulders, neck, and head. Busted me, barked, walked away. I barked back, he turned, I whistled with my reed. We talked back and forth as we both walked farther down the increasingly steep canyon. Very little cover, mostly terrain keeping us apart. Got to within 20 yards. Took a step and he was broadside again. Leaned to the right to cover my draw behind a tree. Leaned back out and he was still there. But small, leafless brush covered his vitals. The brush is short, woody, and stout. I wanted to launch the arrow so badly. I tried to stand taller to get my pin on his vitals above the brush. He turned and walked again. My next view of him was at 40-50 yards as he turned back-and-forth, then over the edge. By then there was no cover and he was down below me, steeply.
I'll be replaying that scene for awhile, wondering if my arrow would have made it through the brush. The brush was close to him, so the arc would not have taken it over and down. Ugh! Magnificent animal.
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oh man! that's tough. sounds a lot like our hunt down there. We could get bulls to bugle back , but getting them into archery range was tough, 70-100 yards was the norm and getting any closer was hard. Sept 17 there was a noticeable change in the rut as it amped up.
Good luck!
liking the updates and super eager for my muzzy hunt!
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Great write up keep the excitement coming! Good luck tomorrow :tup:
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Lots of action, keep it up. Good luck
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Enjoy your time.
It goes quick!!!
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Last night's hunt was the best so far, but not that unusual. This morning two 6x6's were sparing on a sharp ridge with a much bigger 6x7 coming up from below. I tried to sneak down the opposite side of the ridge, thinking the bigger bull would want to intimidate the smaller bulls from just above them on the ridge top.
My plan was to intercept him at that higher point. Terrain was too steep and noisy and I'm sure the sound of my descent spooked the larger bull. By the time I peaked over the top, the two 6x6's were looking up at me and the 6x7 never showed up. Later he bugled from the timber across the canyon. In the first hour, I had busted 3 good bulls.
Kept heading down, even though the bugling was almost non-existent. Headed out to the point were I blew the 7x8 last night. 800+ yards across the canyon was a 7x7 with a 2-3" sticker making him a 7x8 with two cows and a 5x5 below him. Huge Bull with only two cows. That's how this country is: 2-3 times as many bulls as cows.
That bull exhibited the first herding behavior I've seen from a big bull. He wouldn't let those two cows off the steep, barren face. He stayed directly above them, matching their lateral moves. Finally, one cow trotted off, he gave chase, ending in a dead run as she tried to get around the corner of the ridge. They both stopped at the ridge edge; to check for danger around the corner is my guess.
He was a tank. His body is massively larger than the 5x5 and the cows. I'll post a poor hand-held-digiscope pic when I get better service.
Typical hunt as well in that I end up 1,500' below the truck about 3 miles away.
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Weird on the cows. Most herds I chased 4 years ago avg 12-17 cows and 2 were over 30.
Keep grinding it will happen
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Aim small.
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Shot a small 6x6 in Wenatchee Creek canyon last night. Meat cooling by a creek. Lots of packing to do.
If you want to pack meat, I'll be packing to Cabin Saddle. Text my cell at 360-601-7291 or inReach at 310-905-5869.
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:tup: Cant wait to see pics! Also eat a couple boxes of Wheaties or somthing.................
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Congrats ! And ugh! On the packout from there.
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Congrats Shawn!
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Been really fun following your journey. Congrats on the bull!
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sweet! congrats, I hope you get some help packing, if I was closer and my knee wasn't messed up I'd help.
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Congrats on the success :tup:
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Congrats Shawn on the bull it was good meeting you down there thanks for stopping by camp
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Sounds awesome. Cannot wait to see what a small 6x6 is in your book :tup: :tup:
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Pics or it didn't happen :chuckle:
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shoulda waited a couple more days as I will be down later this week :chuckle:
look forward to pics
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:tup:
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All meat packed to camp. Body is sore, but the bacon-wrapped tenderloin last night was delicious.
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Congrats on a tough hunt.
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Congrats!! Pics
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pics
impatiently waiting lol
Congrats on getting your bull!
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(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yRegw757v2kK6xFyGUrc1uUC3v7cx84ASRyKE0rf5c0pRFqvZCYAHA7ahfh87Jccis21GURSOswDkZNMvNWYh6jzoavlYDZvbjtUna5wruKW0dXLsWWEBP-al0I8weZYMllQ315eChlV_fCzPkWqhVijaVNFJaI9ChBQM5SLv1urii9-CNntuB6E-Au70Bc6oa1svO0g82E6XvkPPdx1bZ4xkr-C0saI3iqWISuW98nQxVKncnI9FlBNV8PV8EG1561dj92fcQiZXC7SEY2Va7hIAbzKNa2jwfKpVaG8c2aqkDGE14t7TPuBDFabtUOmuqhtSffKYNUb1CGrQrPc-hhMO_Zud1nCdewc78911__a9BUmIMEDi80C_HbSSFrQrX089LYfy8jWaVRXDSMp9WXL9IdHhFO3pP5qs1CExRNu0hdCELkF-_TusTjWXlFoHcYB14qngstQvDckViGfa2i_WhBSQiQ7pq_ksGVXVRt7OCGeHuklYGBKk2Ea9rQ_LhPx6ZMChLfonZ2h5uz07MswNnXlRJKY_HbOAPrPxq5Ms4w-NK3nBJFO8ue9CmJrGfyEJSEJIfINBWt6mBg-DfzJW7Fk-k-k9fdc83d7CSjEEyPhUC2GUu8DWIJQGw=w832-h468-no)What a great hunt. I hunted/saw a lot of big bulls. Before the season and into the season, I contemplated eating this tag by holding out for a "big" bull. I asked guys who hunted it what to expect and had my own expectations from seeing large bulls in the Lick Creek unit. I knew that the decision on what to shoot would ultimately be decided in the moment.
I received a ton of advice and good information. I really appreciate all those who shared their knowledge. I met several tag holders during the hunt and most all shared real-time information about their hunting and the bulls they were seeing. Rob and Ken were especially helpful--Rob even fed me twice when I stopped at his camp late. One night as I was climbing up out of Wenatchee Creek canyon, I see about 5 guys unloading Pelican cases from a black Sprinter van. Turns out Steve Rinella drew the same tag and he and his crew had just pulled in. I shared where I had been hunting and suggested some hunts. We shared some texts and I'm hoping to see his hunt on MeatEater.
A few of the highlights (I was into elk everyday; mostly large bulls): My first hunt was the evening of 9/4. I headed down into West Rattlesnake. Once inside the first "good" draw, I gave a location bugle and got an immediate responsive bugle back. That evening I talked with 6-8 bulls and saw three big bulls: a 310 6x6, a 330 6x8: (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ifPnCMWJvcpLeVnqQus1Ng04Jod2mOgJ2hnE19EVx6rKxG0G6dQl9J41zlbjHWalidMKKZfB6pIE2hmzTD94KtMw2c34x75Xvm5utIOKCXyjjDMJExHDbLFKBD_T-zCVjJFXgI8MQkryaptmVOD2_uiWxH-3wLWnDQ5-0pHI_sS9PK6YFjd3uFlVDvtzIsmokZ9yvxwyml_aS3_LOU9hQAgzU6DJvo4WVLCfdfTRObwFyH1lrWmZiDJQFrSpIGvNr0LJPZzhjjjU-yEgs8ANA1E-75RGMwT5Il1IcueNiNd3tlG0t4uPgbFOfNy2zqMqhX3Hk-pom0n62OGydt1j_Rf0RzApbFc3FTClwXxU2nGowyHq6ABY7GlG6hKLAUyjowCaBhLrmrxDpbxuFWlG8YBCWMWC_fur4ZgfIXksZO53fHBejwtXB3iaWohMrOzBPAA6xb-fZepdsq4fDe8MbiMvBjUJzFMReSNvkkl6t4hcdYnZycvi2dSHsk86DfthmQ990It8PRZWHwrN6C7MWhxHPvIVo4jKmi9xvdbm43l29m9YuH-BVzVMreEDXTDBz4z1peLg81JnnfaUgqMnqgMfkES9w4T-bpDflQzdBKQM0dz7I8zPsYKxOhyKQg=w340-h603-no)
and a 7x7 in this video:
So after that hunt, I was definitely holding out for a big bull. The 7x7 in the video was 40-50 yards away and I thought he was a rag-horn, until he turned to the side and I could see his tops. Wow. There is a set of genes there that produces narrow frames and big tops. This trail camera picture is a good example of that type antler: (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZbJkUWZdGXLJ5L7s7muVq9uy1m6RAoIJSbC8lbIKgRy4WGaIc92ZpsvhRbD2m7OYQCvlYERrLfRGATxPoc2WTfQcoJwgWDa_S6NGWbEU5ANwRhbgGMR52_X7ozGKKe5Wc-QVXjuJisCcZSIx-rkcO6HFrTCXkLefj_Zc9HCCDTyozrzmFX9bn2-0At-Gi1jicVc0kDYhImPPLjbXThGlb1wf1XI4Qv2-YuVOFBuIPIAEKl6u9ORPA9NX8KFiHeJoIwgsxG1IKLVlQ1QfyELLQvgetshzsGlLxNS8wBBt43cPpf0j-Af3yKS48T9ytI5BNVXOER1M4IgjFfnQr3YLBWnwauWkrRpMIKgKzPf-j7owAHOdOUlJ-aBeFXGHe7pFBEkBKfo528CzK2e2pkbe4hl-VcvbpQgMzklAe5kVDfsiKC4iK4fffnvLd1eBCQe7LBpcQ3JrSsKsE51530x9ZAUJ3AzndcDvXZnYNVGzW2w1UTyZxQU5jBNA7Dk7epK4lmTzRUD545eDQyFiVQ-zH3eAPC2edt3jp8ryTT9XpAskbp9g9wAtEf89s5JrrH6D_AllYR3tA_FDBP7XlzSOH7xXaTIleHCCp1zCtNzTD9aWKRqE3Oyu7LUYWyXRtQ=w589-h332-no)
My friend Jes came over for a couple days and we camped in the bottom of Wenatchee Creek canyon. Jes is a beast of a man and a great caller. On the second day down there, we saw 9 bulls, 6 were 320 or bigger, including a huge 7x7 that Jes estimated at 370 and this 330 bull: We hunted from camp at the bottom of the Wenatchee Guard Station trail, up the ridge between the main and west fork, up towards Cabin Saddle, over the top to the Lake Ridge Trail, the back down to camp. Long day, but we were into a lot of elk. However, getting back to camp was taking a long time in the dark and we decided that hunting bivy style was better. So after a long day of chasing bulls, we packed up camp at 9:30 and packed out to the top.
I hunted at the south end of the Nat'l Forest, bordering private ground. Tons of elk there. I tried to coax one of these 6x6's over the fence, but could only get them to within 40 yards or so: On another day down there I talked with bulls for 3 hours first thing in the morning a called a bull right to the fence. Later that morning, I called a 310-ish bull to within 40 yards of the fence where he bedded. I sat on him for 3 hours, while cows milled around behind me for 20 minutes or so. He had no interest in them. He and I occasionally talked to one another until he finally got up and walked away.
A day later, back at Rattlesnake Creek, I heard a bull bugling. I already posted most of that story. I decided to stalk him since the bulls had only been responsive to bugles at a distance and would walk away from bugles or cow calls up close. (The elk usually didn't go far; not what I was used to.) At 120 yards, I saw him bedded and slowed to a crawl. While I was sneaking in, a 320-ish 6x6 walked in silently and cows milled around near the 6x6. The 6x6 raked a tree for 20 minutes or so. The 7x7 had no interest in the 6x6 raking or the cows milling. However, at every distant bugle, the 7x7 would immediately bugle back: At each bugle, I would take a step or two. After 50 minutes, he finally busted me at about 50 yards.
I backed out slowly and headed towards what I thought were his continuing bugles as he walked away. Turned out to be another bull that I posted about earlier. That other bull was a huge 7x8 that I had broadside at 15 and 20 yards with no shot. The brush that covered his vitals at 20 yards was like this: (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZUop88P9VGT9tOFY91tIeIOz5DOgTXPiDkVScn2LkkaxVlgPBzF4Ce658i_b7mlaLZf7ok16xr-IgmrS0KWelIMwhcUC3pbJuiGgID3LzkMP0_Xy54HGcD866G0G8iZuMM7JsJ1YJWmAtrL5ZBpQonUk-ZfxLV9zTGgTPQwSIzm5cQKPdlWttw2y0HPiwkPSs9VfKHnhC4wa5IYBu2KaHrHV7dJwo7lhO9Omd812It8GjhbmEb6CNFkIkA-d7h_CjQFsyXd8WNn3h6FQbgjt__APj1B4KQNxxzha5cpg2z6cm1n2NdBDfWvYEneosVgKaK18AZUpgBHyL8OuYut5dt8tDYdpROxcDJ-7db8PtNyKQr3fu317iJjJ7kO3zo-vBtaDqYXppr5PbUApxDolglb4biAiZIBpsmFUOmbizRR3aSisfuutS7UMElFRhWXPOw0jgDm5gD4rogApLif-6VzL-VA8h3bIfFTRo4Vs37o2isfTcEjcGOk6aznHFaenPhsd2O-Fy_pfyzuSTkHWSBjBlH0M71UKnzLx3RGq3GhvxyH4pDeeNvfqNmGwHDSPZ0vPjj9midEcVoj-_e-W3n_RtOj0U_1YXU8ShFmN4vMVn3ax3qBgZ61k_owgPg=w917-h518-no). That brush looks like it would deflect an arrow and result in a wounded bull.
That 7x8 was a tank. This is a picture of a similar 7x8 (2-3" kicker on a 7x7) taken the next day from the place I bumped the 7x8. The two cows and the 5x5 below have "normal" sized bodies. He has to outweigh that 5x5 by several hundred pounds. (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/u9oEKP8sNi4Zrtx0xFrBaQXe2BotW31RvdPObRl7_jH5pOZmhuFOiaieoF8jw0PHvPX_v_e9QDRhraKLpK3q02Mhf93AKNQlfZJei0BZLpdyl6O-4wX-6GFMogEi3qsZ7rfPM3r06VogGkchS_fXEvlCbkCy2OV-sSBkPErU0tHMb8WlMUjoa9iQtWf14nCyRlGinpOiqIcr_Xr33N8b-rTGdNKtuzg6qbTKuV0w0MaefQzzMjCLQVmbJXPeoZr0NGuOdFYU-amVkEGadQff5eLE6hrWFr75qpAW528CWUcPxCjLQREhKh8eTb3iA4uFEKaOC7Nx8gzt2JudYxNPMfuWTxBwiU629NH9LkeOxmgM9uCC5VN0uw6X5aiaEVlmNZ5QzjDs-ksXaqzf9cj4GfpYwh8yqlvlIxA9jeq6C8JGFIy991_wgcvaL44murqbXfqbkPx-8DO8nS5IKX3Qxmrfd87MlG1gXPPDT3tLwwh2bH2DA3vN9DW9rM5D3HMqDgmPEqKVJ7hb7VXM75ZIXromy_Et-WacG-XPWKBlFGsI6gFSyiS9tyECzR1gaIwTd0FOA0GdxvbfFYkc2kJJ1C86I5L9I1qKdmzd3KXflphwdzPR5cW7kY3e2UzzcQ=w340-h603-no)
I had left two cameras in the bottom of Wenatchee Creek canyon and wanted to move one. I loaded my bivy pack and headed to a good wallow up the west branch of the main creek. Sat on that wallow with a bull above and two below, but no elk came in. I set up "camp" a few hundred yards away and was serenaded by bugles throughout the night. This bull came into the wallow while I slept (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qvVzSxDaMMqqXJuwmO68wGqIa8ob40N-ETxqvK6bHGzgfGr1N5N-P39oRypgS360WCQJVVDFghENYOo_w0IJ2R8HsLib1-UnDkH3eujaiK8_LuD3kpw1sLwWbcw0nACD9JfQ-BKY5CTF1H_AgMJJ6oNR7ImgXLvQF60w6V4ePqL5cKccEm5wd6_yLjPYmDTZlkgOAhstfw8kjdASHfutgF-eNGFNYVjHWwMeY8aKlathRvEp-s8UtsPDm_bMAAnnwgxbY6ZeZaV-iDA1lfjzmlMLv3WbgAuu-sW7dvbvMFdirAbUVD806wWGONuKzsGz40_W4X7trYVTY111p7Rbcm367iWvsrGJm__EXVSWA5ahptF5zdHBYfRSUvsCOcujQ52VAIMpXMM5c6CdfQIgZvMYlZi2eEluYKHk_WIAZLz6c5SOMmXS4FuXzCciTZjqeeZB7S2YDh4k_WMAev-s69NZWqNaAcfG9GcOEhCMWz3XnIV7s4s3dwkDkxURgTnuWnzLcxbRIwjtT_7QQubN4-hOKVTUUX8zfXcJGXk6uJIbZrUlbquhp6nKAfUG87PknsIivZ1SGnMYat9y16K6QfQlRHc1n-4Nk_GgKXFrA_zWwFk4s2CFM4u7l3wGrw=w663-h374-no)
He stayed in the area and bugled all morning within 100 yards or so of where I slept. I moved in on him, but couldn't close the deal. I ate and headed to the next major wallow to set up my camera. I sat there for several hours. While there, I thought a lot about how gracious my wife and assistant were to let me take so much time for this tag. My wife cares little for horns, but loves elk meat. I decided that I could not eat the tag; that I needed to fill it, if possible. If I had an opportunity on a 6x6, then I should take it.
I left that wallow around 5:00 and headed to a bench that holds elk. As I stepped up onto the bench, I cow called and a bull immediately bugled back. I cow called again and could hear him coming from 100+ yards away. I moved to in front of a dead snag and called again. He came in on a string, right for me. He was a small 6x6, a rag-horn 6x6. I had passed on bigger bulls several times during the hunt. He ran to within 15 yards of me, passing so quickly through the timber that I didn't have a clear time to draw. At 15 yards, he stopped, looking straight at me, got big eyes and turned. I cow called and drew. At 20 yards, I shot. He ran. I could see my arrow buried to the fletchings and blood spraying out. At 60-70 yards he stopped either because of my cow calls or because of the blood loss. He hung his head, stumbled, and fell. I let him be for a bit while I marked where I was, then headed down towards him. The blood trail was easy to follow with bright pink blood. He had crossed a small creek and was lying on the other side. As I approached to within 20-30 yards, he jumped up and ran 15 more yards, stopped, and turned. I put another arrow in his other side and he fell again.(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LonsNgukjfkJze_8VuRPZX43O4svDlpm9UgBuOJ2mm5R-BtXaUGbzQJhe1nmTdEST-Xeviu4hL2y89_m01xiKnWzxo-th5nEgMLX9R0ThOP5E7MAmnx-HCkKn_XwqJR5kslNXOww1wT-yjmKXiIRLKaD34F6PKJlC65pxWveDZBm4csZoBC97tZ7IF60Xoioy4bngdEqatE9TrWGdotA2GxYea5WWws15PeOs77Ptbwg4oKQWhhzHk6K6gPaBJTplnLVORPnizp-f8HoE-I6_jbwxsjvvBF7WBRgcCTUvBRWHTcDmXe2HLIBzlfuAfeMwMAlln8nW79FpDSk9VNnMvMoJ8cEXTJSCI1E7zaphGbvrq2bLaazEOUwLZjsFYHA91DPqIvxBxYajhSu90r8hJLdjzSkYpVhj9-0Dq4hETU88PLH4aBew2tKOlD-NtJ3Hz_CwVQQisMkOAR4Yit0t7pp2w-Ubgo_PAmx8O9NuFZNpRoXSCuG0a3aM_DVwiPTbrHETuc5jfqLpNwNo9tJvh93d4kjqpHzdzibyPVmNhH5Wysg39XNfLplKhYoZjLWafXgm1ts5iWqCpCI1wFTTV-63VVOoF_-LbmmLDAVwrDkxRm2SOkvwPMnMBJx_Q=w355-h631-no)
He is not the big bull that I had sought. I had viewed many trail camera pictures of larger 6x6's that I thought I would pass on. But I shot him with my camp on my back, solo, in a steep, rugged canyon. I'll be happy with that.
The creek that he ran to served as a good refrigerant. I built a lattice of branches just above the water and laid the bags of meat on them to cool. The draw and the Pacific yew tree's branches provided good shade. (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZrlmuMQkEt9JkcDHjnUTj3p1a4zeSipyOz_rJ5MnKLnYTvoqhl-yY9_HOT8rH2tyfzIVMo6yGLNNVUa4cnZTvb5Gc4DodNQ4o9HmUJRNIOfXRcidwwfWpt8QsCKRPSHwgtrJePKf4mDcBnVeveJIC3Afs0Lr3wLztDhDTHfBc5_8fSp3MofXU2kMsRW9fr0s3gmAD-aQxJ7VJv0o-M75SBqK7607MIF-UEL9lb5WNMN3xYaX1m8qCBQW-mYyMm0t8dw1J1v4V7cpkM10ztN3ejkLvFQ9Q8qYWo8yaxv2oc6jcV5GQ1EuxZKCYvj7Tt3DFvjyrxvgnLqw9UcX8Cf08KFIknDpFiHlAwrNSeJo0Wa2zkyB4mKSzIdhl1Zd7pRkYMvSdgr3VMvnGgSgy2KeWfI06NMctZMQ1EW6_9x1o0nwEqrQkkLECPsCjhOamUI3lVsiRMLmN2V2YHHYq5qgiFABumLdLaLrW0P-rKWKpsUzCiEmx5JdaK9FvmJSJ0JU-NmXSxFJUh3pJ3rX_-Js1FvjR_esRQApRzpxDkHYxp1JYiwZ9eUWd0DXWBw0aG4xkyzQQjt1RoMp1F2fwjdrpk6yGr5HOmDJbLHsFx6R5ZC6uNrsajgwHoSYqyzD5A=w340-h603-no)
The pack out was only 1,200', but was steep. (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/y4Ba9Iyal-G685cGMyF5iEmTPlXDaV1Ox7Dbi4eEuRe0rl8cIT6JZ6Kk_SdEnkjCsDTp-Skkn47pk5f3id6WiO_-3DIAmSQtifBSsKKkelWXVBXxF4YdsFz1a1dfaumolsdsVV_gFY2bcygR0jcDZPdH6crTMPKae__IeVIHu7f3evsZx_o3uheI_yuOYf0wzkyRWBJcF-qG6oPQqdMdGzMv4JYFgiWhBdSecyy41AnXt1d3ut-SqbmcFphYmTtfWGBU9zBGy_fi8tyxTxlwiYTjR72MOZnN7XlGRl0VnG3Y68MLSsvMXD17ZKPSCvc5lcH14lHZ9n24wKtym3E9kVyTCWR5hHLbACIrUDvD0UeUJvCuk0xBTPcSw1DBwjKQkvNCenkDSeVr0gUUq9yxbNzQ6GGw27ALjGgaBmKLleHjsThIrebhNuC0d3TMTazSp4xu2_ctChi4d1YU2vvUvRdAKqcKL_FB4wdzjUewfw5hfIEdMyjA7nOxNOuLJoJn82aVcFv1G3FRw2qGdGcLvf9B2BCLcrGLWzOXjR1GKrveepDQiucZ6T0IF3yWhDw6vkbcRtCy5-CzbBR3vvbaLvNckcq8evXDPSSqABM64bS1DHoT6nvi4jiOiLjSjg=w340-h603-no). Shallowforks offered to drive back from Spokane to help pack out. I've never even met him in person, but we talked via text throughout the hunt about our progress. My brother-in-law packed one load of meat for me and I packed 4 loads of meat, one load of gear, and one load of antler and hide.(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/C_utTVza5F8JkxnnsLiN-nNSQ98JH5cQordRznbtXgOo9T1IReF2dm7oX-ji1Mczl41z442He4LLdPh_YkyYGbt-oiZjHsOaZq9vVVgRSb7eMqA6hyob39-oY1v4qFx0ly4SX5J1YcqMR-rgl0CfPRum41ZVI8qeoZtec02xsDF7VUdh0Q5B8TZN26y586FAz21js27aKU97CnVk12jy0x0rKGYPYk9Eo6PnkP-zAt6UaQoSapYeodeS0qp3bquUyc2_iw-l3XGOwntEikAvGZpM5D006CBp1eNb5t65gUp_WjzKcSDZiWGdrLEEKx8RxuzVHdd-yaQOvMi-CZ5kcAWuQH3AtYzXgJDh4GpT-R2CAlLB2yD4MTWsbE8fHtfWEXGyGOL_wf71xO_tBHuHU0RMFOpDaA1UivrJNAAgOjZ931TFpsslMpNlnBiSZ1sAdfHjH1tRKCRgWflzwt_5K15Dj40IdkDns9rAp-YlIGRhxze0V0YNQQP4Tw40JCMPoAqy7r1jk3GqV4LO5af5MhUXhqeSEUNiypDvKznM-3CaxjvoYmtxrSPE_bM1dSJFoJ-rQ7QyPEni8xmv8k1j-PIA-QBnjCVL18PL5rvV_jbvOdA6FV5vIcDKRuXYSA=w340-h603-no)(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8P_cJnDMbVAuwPmNUIGjrzm3Gg7AGZH14xcJPpNELVA16j8vgAeyu6qYo5ZWzB3h1u5qrUb_x4LOSW2FwVuCBeQsp1oHfhkTPeckDxvdc1IoCROvVvAgsUK8Oqv38FhMklI9gmFNN40oE57nkL7Ht5sMwOzmngkOECA0YeFkbXWHRc5maiME6p-SXlul6cQ-05cBWx-vCUWPAWy_rkVvdnIAy3IXr_QWAPCdqVJ0ow5ZvxH_rf4l1_3Awg0LCb_UTFxKKhZZUrNIldm7nt6amLgHdKLcKO23wGtygWKYvlcOJYWQfY3SLts3yV3bLgZYf-7sLrmNM6UihyiRn2KzVfGzaIlxKe4emye3T_umWhrSHbN7eeNt2kdA-58kThzpfsM4fyGwGhASlH1pFejcoAeht4Yfz0JQ69Hw0ABzr0PiDFMwuGKl-Wh4sAA78JSFD76VZoerDwki8rFJgoZw_pNm4zuLsirJee2sYNXUKSjiDN8Ly_B842mnKfMIlOeGT9VR1RAGUax3RwqEGC7Q6zZySVpT67TDL0c6g_chh0smYwMo-c60B_cloNrkwL-Ki6YvktB1m8sXOYoDX-vFIHhEDTbB8at2u0RzLZSzfRxQ1wZrtU340j4t16Bgg=w340-h603-no)
If you are considering applying for the unit, I would highly recommend it. If you are willing to put in the effort, there are a lot of big bulls there. And plenty of steep, rugged country to hide them.
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Apparently, none of my pics or videos loaded. I'll try to fix that. Fixed.
Well, at least fixed on my laptop. I can't see the pics on my phone, but can see the videos. Anyone tell me why? or how to fix?
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Great write up! And congrats on the bull! They are well earned in that unit. I’ll be down all weekend glassing for some bulls.
Rinella have a archery tag ? I heard on a podcast he had a blues rifle tag
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Nice work.
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Pics or it didn't happen :chuckle:
No pics so I guess it didn’t happen.🤣
Nice write up, can’t wait to see the pics.😉
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Great write up! And congrats on the bull! They are well earned in that unit. I’ll be down all weekend glassing for some bulls.
Rinella have a archery tag ? I heard on a podcast he had a blues rifle tag
Rinella does have an archery tag.
I'll send you the coordinates of my cameras. You can download the images, if you get there and want to.
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If I find them do you want me to pull them and send them back to you ?
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I want the cameras to stay. But you can copy the pics, use them, and send me copies.
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Okay
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This has been a great thread to follow. Do not believe I would have the thought and patience to take the vids, and follow up with such a great write up! Very cool, cannot wait to see the pics. Thank you for sharing this amazing hunt with all of us.
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Congrats and like I told you up at camp, you gonna earn every ounce of that meat hauling out of that hole..... It was nice meeting you and your Dad. I was the camp at the far end of Wikki up... Glad to hear ya got it all out :IBCOOL:
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Great thread! :tup: thanks for sharing the hunt
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Congrats and like I told you up at camp, you gonna earn every ounce of that meat hauling out of that hole..... It was nice meeting you and your Dad. I was the camp at the far end of Wikki up... Glad to hear ya got it all out :IBCOOL:
It was nice having you and Louie there to share with. Did you get on the bull?
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Congrats and great write up. Am I the only one that cannot see the photos? I can see the videos, but only see a circle with a bar through it for the photos.
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Congrats Shawn on the bull it was good meeting you down there thanks for stopping by camp
I moved my camp to Cabin Saddle for the pack out. I was wishing you and your crew were there to share tenderloins and beer.
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Congrats and great write up. Am I the only one that cannot see the photos? I can see the videos, but only see a circle with a bar through it for the photos.
Same on my phone. Can see them all on my laptop.
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Shawn are you from north or south BG? :chuckle:
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East BG!
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Great job man. Well earned
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Congratulations on your bull and thanks for posting such a great story. I love this unit
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Congrats Shawn on the bull it was good meeting you down there thanks for stopping by camp
I moved my camp to Cabin Saddle for the pack out. I was wishing you and your crew were there to share tenderloins and beer.
I shot a bull on the 15 and packed it out on the 16 that was the last day I had off work but congrats on your bull again
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Congrats Shawn on the bull it was good meeting you down there thanks for stopping by camp
I moved my camp to Cabin Saddle for the pack out. I was wishing you and your crew were there to share tenderloins and beer.
I shot a bull on the 15 and packed it out on the 16 that was the last day I had off work but congrats on your bull again
Story? Pics? PM?
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Great stuff but the pics along with the write up don't show... just x's. but great following the thread though.
Hope to see pics of this small 6x6 soon though. :chuckle:
grats :tup:
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:yeah:
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Congrats on filling your tag, you definitely put the time and effort in. Well done! I'll be down in 30 days trying to fill my Modern tag in that unit.
Thanks for sharing your story.
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Congrats on filling your tag, you definitely put the time and effort in. Well done! I'll be down in 30 days trying to fill my Modern tag in that unit.
Thanks for sharing your story.
I've heard there are more bulls during rifle season than during archery season. Lots of good bulls to choose from. Happy to share information on where and access.
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BUmp for pics!!!
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BUmp for pics!!!
:yeah:
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bump.
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I've asked for assistance on why the pics only show up for certain people. I'll fix it as soon as I can understand why that happens.
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Have you resized them?
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Have you resized them?
:yeah: I always give my problems to Jackelope, he seems to figure it out
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Not sure if you know, but your pictures aren’t showing up.
:chuckle:
Congrats on a successful hunt. I can’t say I’m surprised that you were successful.
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Ok. Gots popcorn and Beer. Where's the pics????? :dunno:
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Have you resized them?
Yup.
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Have you resized them?
:yeah: I always give my problems to Jackelope, he seems to figure it out
I sent Josh a pm. And to Smossy's Girl.
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Well I guess we could 15 pages before these pictures come up! Unless your sandbagging us and shot like some 400” “small” 6x6 :o
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Well I guess we could 15 pages before these pictures come up! Unless your sandbagging us and shot like some 400” “small” 6x6 :o
Probably so big the pics won’t down size.🤔
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Its a raghorn, small 6x6. I'm not holding out. I didn't hold out during the hunt and shot a small bull near the end.
I'm still seeking answers on how to make the pics post in my original post, but here are a couple.
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First pic is of the 7x8 (7x7 with 2-3" sticker) that is similar to the 7x8 that I was close to, except the bull I was close to had all long tines. The body size of this bull compared to the 5x5 below him is staggering.
Second pic is from my first evening. 6x8 about 330' bull. 6x6 with two 2-3" stickers on one side.
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Wow! Congrats to both hunters on great bulls. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
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Both great bulls thanks for sharing.
Pretty cool running into Steve and his crew one of the better guys in hunting
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I couldn't help feel envious that Steve's tag was on the bull of a lifetime and not mine.
Steve just posted a pic of his bull on Instagram.
Congrats on a successful hunt!
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Congrats! Way to get it done! :IBCOOL:
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I know This says the same thing as my text, but great write up, great hunt. Congrats my friend
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Really great post, it was like a good book, I couldn’t wait to read it. You both earned this by working your butts off, thanks for sharing!!
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Fly4fish, great bull and post. Thanks for sharing. His tops look a lot like the tops of the bull in the pic, below. What a great bull!
Rinella's bull is also a great bull. Similar to the 7x8 I was close to. Glad Steve is a better hunter than me and got it done!
For me, one of the benefits of this hunt was sharing it with anyone who wanted to read along. I said several times that this hunt deserved a GoPro. That would be a great video.
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Thanks Shawn. I agree, this hunt would make is great video, and it will! I got some great footage of the hunt, kill shot, death and will be putting it all together in the next months. I run a head camera mount company, so I have to get all of my hunting on film and have developed ways of getting entertaining footage with minimal effort.
Also, I'm not so sure Steve is a better hunter than you. For one thing, he had a team. The other, you could strike out on 100 opportunities in a row, or get one your first try. Luck, or rather a lack of bad luck certainly play a big role in it. Just like you not getting a shot due to the brush being a little too tall. I should also let you know that I have had the tag twice before and have had significantly less success. The first go round I ate the tag. On the second round, I ended up shooting a 6x1. This season I decided any 6 point would do on last day; luckily the bull I got provided me with a shot, but at that time, a bull like yours would have fell victim as well to me as well.
Thanks again for the write up and sharing your adventures!
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Looking forward to that video. Glad you had a camera on.
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I know of 4 bulls killed in the unit: Buck10's, Fly4fish's, Rinella's, and mine. Anyone know of any others?
I was in contact with 2 of the 4 East Wenaha hunters. Both tagged good bulls. Anyone know other results from there?
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I follow mtncook and he’s posted pics of 3 nice bulls from either the wenaha or Tucannon. I talked to one of the Tucannon tag holders last week and he said as far as he knew nobody had killed a bull yet.
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I know of at least 2 bulls possibly 3 killed in tucannon. That unit is starting to have a wolf issue :( there were 4 at teepee trail head and tracks across the misery trail all the way across. Oh yes I know the difference between wolf and cat tracks😜
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Sounds like the number of mountain view applications will go up next year after this thread .... Haha anyone thinking of applying please look at a topographic map and realize what you are signing up for. Blue mountains are not for the weak legged or out of shape folks.
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Great thread! Congrats on a really cool hunt, and thanks for sharing :tup:
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Some bulls where Shawn was hunting from this past weekend .
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Some mire
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.
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Thanks for sharing. I was all over the lick crick unit the 2nd weekend. Saw lots of elk no spikes. Wish I would have seen this then earlier, Bro-in-law and I would have helped you pack out. He was getting frustrated/depressed. Would have given him something else to focus on. LOL!
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Huntnnw, thanks for sharing those pics. Great bulls.
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Sounds like the number of mountain view applications will go up next year after this thread .... Haha anyone thinking of applying please look at a topographic map and realize what you are signing up for. Blue mountains are not for the weak legged or out of shape folks.
I'm guessing you are right about the number of applications. Likely more from the pics and stories of big bulls than from the bull I brought home and certainly even more likely from the monster bull that Rinella took home or the big bulls with which the other permit holders had success. I was cognizant of the impact the thread might have on applications, but I learned a few years back that honest sharing about what I see and encounter in the elk woods has come back to me in a positive way much greater than any benefit I ever gained by giving inaccurate answers about the elk I had just been chasing.
As for the ruggedness of the Blues, that is not an understatement. I know of several hunters who drew permits over the years, saw magnificent, life-time bulls from a distance, but couldn't get to them. I saw the terrain overwhelm younger hunters this year, as well. But, in keeping with the statement in my first paragraph, there are areas that hold bulls into which I would have taken my Dad at 80 years old. (He is a beast of a man, who pulled hose on wildfire until he was 65, so maybe the cutoff is around 65 for the rest of us mere mortals.) Those areas are small, limited, and accessed by other hunters: most of the unit is vertical and rugged.
I had planned to camp in the bottom of Wenatchee Creek canyon for most of the hunt. I would not recommend that. The bottom is so steep and brushy that camping in one spot is limiting. I would recommend hunting down to the bottom of Wenatchee Creek canyon (and the sides and tops), but think that it is better done with a bivy bag and camp on your back--or hiking out, if you are hunting the tops. Bivy hunting was Huntnnw's recommendation to me as well. Access to elk increased when I was able to sleep where the day ended.
I'll apply again next year. Wanna put this year's knowledge to work!
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Id second looking at a map before applying these big bulls are in very tough places to access and the hunting part can be tough and physically exhausting . Its the if and when you get a bull down when things get real in a hurry :chuckle: And horses here are pretty much useless in most of this unit unless you kill a bull near some of the trails and still could have a lot of work to get it to the horses. I have already planned on it taking me 2 days of packing to get a elk out of most of the areas I am hunting solo. Sleeping with camp on your back is the way to go it will save you legs tremendously. Hiking out and back to the truck every day will wear you down.
Ran into this herd on the way out in the road.
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Thanks Shawn. I agree, this hunt would make is great video, and it will! I got some great footage of the hunt, kill shot, death and will be putting it all together in the next months. I run a head camera mount company, so I have to get all of my hunting on film and have developed ways of getting entertaining footage with minimal effort.
Also, I'm not so sure Steve is a better hunter than you. For one thing, he had a team. The other, you could strike out on 100 opportunities in a row, or get one your first try. Luck, or rather a lack of bad luck certainly play a big role in it. Just like you not getting a shot due to the brush being a little too tall. I should also let you know that I have had the tag twice before and have had significantly less success. The first go round I ate the tag. On the second round, I ended up shooting a 6x1. This season I decided any 6 point would do on last day; luckily the bull I got provided me with a shot, but at that time, a bull like yours would have fell victim as well to me as well.
Thanks again for the write up and sharing your adventures!
didn't you have this tag 4 years ago?
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Some more bulls. These are either 7x6 or 7x7 bulls plus there was atleast 2-3 more bulls bugling in the canyon they were in. (turn volume up and can hear bulls talking)
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Thanks for sharing. I was all over the lick crick unit the 2nd weekend. Saw lots of elk no spikes. Wish I would have seen this then earlier, Bro-in-law and I would have helped you pack out. He was getting frustrated/depressed. Would have given him something else to focus on. LOL!
Would have been happy to take you up on that offer. The frustration and depression might have been relieved or exacerbated by the bull bugling for two days one small ridge over while I packed out!
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Congratulations. Great experience and story. Thank you for sharing.
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Id second looking at a map before applying these big bulls are in very tough places to access and the hunting part can be tough and physically exhausting . Its the if and when you get a bull down when things get real in a hurry :chuckle: And horses here are pretty much useless in most of this unit unless you kill a bull near some of the trails and still could have a lot of work to get it to the horses. I have already planned on it taking me 2 days of packing to get a elk out of most of the areas I am hunting solo. Sleeping with camp on your back is the way to go it will save you legs tremendously. Hiking out and back to the truck every day will wear you down.
Ran into this herd on the way out in the road.
That dirty old man was sniffing a calves butt #meelk
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
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Sounds like the number of mountain view applications will go up next year after this thread .... Haha anyone thinking of applying please look at a topographic map and realize what you are signing up for. Blue mountains are not for the weak legged or out of shape folks.
I'm guessing you are right about the number of applications. Likely more from the pics and stories of big bulls than from the bull I brought home and certainly even more likely from the monster bull that Rinella took home or the big bulls with which the other permit holders had success. I was cognizant of the impact the thread might have on applications, but I learned a few years back that honest sharing about what I see and encounter in the elk woods has come back to me in a positive way much greater than any benefit I ever gained by giving inaccurate answers about the elk I had just been chasing.
I don't believe this will affect much for the drawing out of the normal, the trend has already started:
2017 - Quality Elk apps - 480 rifle, 127 Archery, 100 Muzzy.
2018 - Quality Elk apps - 961 rifle, 201 Archery, 140 Muzzy.
Thanks to all for all the great stories, pictures, and information. I've had 20 years of never being able to chase around Eastside bulls, other than spikes, and this was one of the coolest threads to live vicariously through!
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I'm gonna try that chainsaw call.
Seems to really get them fired up!!!
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Sounds like the number of mountain view applications will go up next year after this thread .... Haha anyone thinking of applying please look at a topographic map and realize what you are signing up for. Blue mountains are not for the weak legged or out of shape folks.
I'm guessing you are right about the number of applications. Likely more from the pics and stories of big bulls than from the bull I brought home and certainly even more likely from the monster bull that Rinella took home or the big bulls with which the other permit holders had success. I was cognizant of the impact the thread might have on applications, but I learned a few years back that honest sharing about what I see and encounter in the elk woods has come back to me in a positive way much greater than any benefit I ever gained by giving inaccurate answers about the elk I had just been chasing.
I don't believe this will affect much for the drawing out of the normal, the trend has already started:
2017 - Quality Elk apps - 480 rifle, 127 Archery, 100 Muzzy.
2018 - Quality Elk apps - 961 rifle, 201 Archery, 140 Muzzy.
Thanks to all for all the great stories, pictures, and information. I've had 20 years of never being able to chase around Eastside bulls, other than spikes, and this was one of the coolest threads to live vicariously through!
Thanks. And thanks to everyone who read along and commented. Your participation was fun for me, too.
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I'm gonna try that chainsaw call.
Seems to really get them fired up!!!
:yeah: :chuckle:
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Thanks Shawn. I agree, this hunt would make is great video, and it will! I got some great footage of the hunt, kill shot, death and will be putting it all together in the next months. I run a head camera mount company, so I have to get all of my hunting on film and have developed ways of getting entertaining footage with minimal effort.
Also, I'm not so sure Steve is a better hunter than you. For one thing, he had a team. The other, you could strike out on 100 opportunities in a row, or get one your first try. Luck, or rather a lack of bad luck certainly play a big role in it. Just like you not getting a shot due to the brush being a little too tall. I should also let you know that I have had the tag twice before and have had significantly less success. The first go round I ate the tag. On the second round, I ended up shooting a 6x1. This season I decided any 6 point would do on last day; luckily the bull I got provided me with a shot, but at that time, a bull like yours would have fell victim as well to me as well.
Thanks again for the write up and sharing your adventures!
didn't you have this tag 4 years ago?
Yes he did. I met him down by grouse flats on the same hunt I met you and Chris on. Great guy.
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Thanks Shawn. I agree, this hunt would make is great video, and it will! I got some great footage of the hunt, kill shot, death and will be putting it all together in the next months. I run a head camera mount company, so I have to get all of my hunting on film and have developed ways of getting entertaining footage with minimal effort.
Also, I'm not so sure Steve is a better hunter than you. For one thing, he had a team. The other, you could strike out on 100 opportunities in a row, or get one your first try. Luck, or rather a lack of bad luck certainly play a big role in it. Just like you not getting a shot due to the brush being a little too tall. I should also let you know that I have had the tag twice before and have had significantly less success. The first go round I ate the tag. On the second round, I ended up shooting a 6x1. This season I decided any 6 point would do on last day; luckily the bull I got provided me with a shot, but at that time, a bull like yours would have fell victim as well to me as well.
Thanks again for the write up and sharing your adventures!
didn't you have this tag 4 years ago?
Yes he did. I met him down by grouse flats on the same hunt I met you and Chris on. Great guy.
funny we both drew 4 years later
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What camera mount company do you run?
Thanks Shawn. I agree, this hunt would make is great video, and it will! I got some great footage of the hunt, kill shot, death and will be putting it all together in the next months. I run a head camera mount company, so I have to get all of my hunting on film and have developed ways of getting entertaining footage with minimal effort.
Also, I'm not so sure Steve is a better hunter than you. For one thing, he had a team. The other, you could strike out on 100 opportunities in a row, or get one your first try. Luck, or rather a lack of bad luck certainly play a big role in it. Just like you not getting a shot due to the brush being a little too tall. I should also let you know that I have had the tag twice before and have had significantly less success. The first go round I ate the tag. On the second round, I ended up shooting a 6x1. This season I decided any 6 point would do on last day; luckily the bull I got provided me with a shot, but at that time, a bull like yours would have fell victim as well to me as well.
Thanks again for the write up and sharing your adventures!
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Thanks Shawn. I agree, this hunt would make is great video, and it will! I got some great footage of the hunt, kill shot, death and will be putting it all together in the next months. I run a head camera mount company, so I have to get all of my hunting on film and have developed ways of getting entertaining footage with minimal effort.
Also, I'm not so sure Steve is a better hunter than you. For one thing, he had a team. The other, you could strike out on 100 opportunities in a row, or get one your first try. Luck, or rather a lack of bad luck certainly play a big role in it. Just like you not getting a shot due to the brush being a little too tall. I should also let you know that I have had the tag twice before and have had significantly less success. The first go round I ate the tag. On the second round, I ended up shooting a 6x1. This season I decided any 6 point would do on last day; luckily the bull I got provided me with a shot, but at that time, a bull like yours would have fell victim as well to me as well.
Thanks again for the write up and sharing your adventures!
didn't you have this tag 4 years ago?
Yes he did. I met him down by grouse flats on the same hunt I met you and Chris on. Great guy.
funny we both drew 4 years later
That is funny. After that hunt, I discovered the WDFG had 2 accounts for me due to a spelling error. One of them had 3 points I was unaware of that I must have been accrurring over the years. They merged them into the same account and bam... Christmas in May! So, I actually drew with 6 points this year.
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What camera mount company do you run?
It is Solvid. We manufacture a universal head camera mount that turns any camera, camcorder, cell phone or action cam into a head camera. If you YouTube search Solvid, you can see our dozens of Film It Yourself videos. Will be posting this hunt eventually.
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Congrats Shawn. I fell in love with that country this past spring. Just need a good team of packers to help with the logistics. Sad to hear of wolf encounters.
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I own one!
What camera mount company do you run?
It is Solvid. We manufacture a universal head camera mount that turns any camera, camcorder, cell phone or action cam into a head camera. If you YouTube search Solvid, you can see our dozens of Film It Yourself videos. Will be posting this hunt eventually.
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What a great story and congrats to you guys. Great job in sharing and getting it done.
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Some pics of bulls I chased with my muzzy tag
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I passed the 3rd pic bull on opening morning and the last pic I shot the bull at 20 yards broadside and to only have half a charge or less go off! bullet hit the elk and bounced off! unbelievable and dunno if ill ever get over that. Gun was just loaded that morning and no rain. I believe it was condensation. I missed a bull in the poring rain on day 2 at 151 yards broadside a 6x6 with stickers on his 4's. I was on bulls daily and in muzzy range of most, but couldnt see and winds were the worst i have prolly ever hunted in my life. They swirled non stop and was winded under 200 on 5-7 bulls I lost count.
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Sabot I found where elk was standing even had hair on it and notice it didn’t open
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Did you use loose powder or pellets and 209?
I have a buddy that is forgetful and a few times at the range he has forgot the powder and the musket cap will usually shoot the bullet about 5-10 yards.
Moister has hurt us in many hunts over the years thick fog is a common thing in our late hunts.
Some beautiful bulls and cool country.
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I use Blackhorn 209 and 209 primers. oh it had powder I can guarantee that. Huge flash and smoke and no power like it was igniting wet powder. No clue Ive never had that happen
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You dry fire a primer before loading? Seems weird that you could get that much condensation to cause what you described. I hunt the wetside and can hunt all season no matter what the weather is without issue, I also am pretty diligent about keeping everything as dry as possible and try not to subject my gun to much temp change (i don't put the gun next a fire or have my heat blasting in my truck).
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Gun was shot 3 times before loading and kept in a case. Only issue I can think of was it was 27 that am and then was sunny and barrel sitting in the sun then cooled off that evening. No clue I have never had a muzzy so this. I’ve shot them for almost 20 years .
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bummer man! Some nice bulls you got pictures of!
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Gun was shot 3 times before loading and kept in a case. Only issue I can think of was it was 27 that am and then was sunny and barrel sitting in the sun then cooled off that evening. No clue I have never had a muzzy so this. I’ve shot them for almost 20 years .
You notice that burned blackhorn gets moist (absorbs moisture) after shooting? After shooting a few times the residue seems to get gooey. :twocents:
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Dang interesting. I have been shooting them for about 15 years and never had it happen either. I would guess condensation is probably correct.
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So was there lots more people who put in for this tag? How is scouting going? Is the country more than you expected?
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So was there lots more people who put in for this tag? How is scouting going? Is the country more than you expected?
I'm really looking forward to seeing the numbers if it really increased or not.
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be a lot of disappointed people drawing that tag when they see that country. Pretty common theme when people draw and then see what they got themselves into
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be a lot of disappointed people drawing that tag when they see that country. Pretty common theme when people draw and then see what they got themselves into
I'll be there for a week with a friend.
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goodluck and have fun! cool place to hunt
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you will have a blast on the full 20 off the amount of elk you will see and bugling. It was the best elk hunt I have ever been on to this day insane amount of bugling.
I dunno what your camping situation is, but there are pay showers at field springs state park
keep in mind the elk population was a decent herd when you had the archery tag. Last year the elk population in the unit wasnt even half as many elk as when you archery hunted. And from last year to this year the population has had a 40% decrease. Its goin downhill fast.
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I def doesn't help that the cougar population is 10x what is suppose to be in this area and the wolves are here year round. Along with the Indians going up and slaughtering em these elk dont stand a chance. Pretty sad.
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:bash: :bash: :bash:
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had the archery tag in 2012 and muzzy last year and it was right on par with 2012. I had some basins with 8-12 bulls screaming. Every single bottom I hunted had bulls. The only difference I noticed between the 2 years was quality, but still some very good bulls. Could of also had something to do with rut winding down by the time muzzy ended. Big difference from Sept 22 to Sept 29th
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Man you are lucky at drawing, congrats! I drew a bull moose tag before any blues elk tags :chuckle:, not really funny but I guess I have to laugh about it. Did you kill good bulls? I know talking with nwhunter who guides over there, that the herd is cut in half. Predators are fat.
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Everyone talks about wolves, cougars and Indians doing all of the damage in the blues. I have a Dayton modern rifle bull tag this year. I called and talked to Paul Wick the game biologist in the blues about the elk numbers. He says the Dayton area has half as many elk as it had two years ago. He said that the wolves, cougars, and Indians do take some animals but the massive super fast decline was not caused by them. He said it was from two terrible winters and a super dry summer last year and just about zero calf survival with minimal cows carrying calves and those that did, the calves didn't survive the winter. He said the elk in the blues that did survive were nothing but skin and bones in March. He said the fallacy that I have heard on this forum many times, "that all of the elk have left the high country and are in the lower private areas because the wolves have chased them down" isn't correct. The reason people are seeing more animals in the lower private areas is due to them getting late winter food from the hay stacks and fields where the mountain elk didn't have that opportunity and starved.
Now with this said, I am not sure who is correct or if it is a combination of the both. I was told the numbers were so low on calf survival the last two years that he would be surprised if anyone at all would be able to find a year and a half old spike at all during the general seasons in most of the blues.
He said that they figure 5 to 6 wolves are in and out of the Dayton area and approximately 30 cougars work the area. He said the Indians don't get to far off of the main roads but its hard to tell because they have absolutely no requirements to report their harvest numbers and they are adamant that they will never report or tell WDFW what, how many, and where they hunt and kill big game.
Just my personal opinion is that, yes the two last years have had a terrible impact on the elk. Due to the lack of predator control and out of control Indian hunting, the chance of any kind of speedy recovery is hard to foresee or imagine. Sad!
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Everyone talks about wolves, cougars and Indians doing all of the damage in the blues. I have a Dayton modern rifle bull tag this year. I called and talked to Paul Wick the game biologist in the blues about the elk numbers. He says the Dayton area has half as many elk as it had two years ago. He said that the wolves, cougars, and Indians do take some animals but the massive super fast decline was not caused by them. He said it was from two terrible winters and a super dry summer last year and just about zero calf survival with minimal cows carrying calves and those that did, the calves didn't survive the winter. He said the elk in the blues that did survive were nothing but skin and bones in March. He said the fallacy that I have heard on this forum many times, "that all of the elk have left the high country and are in the lower private areas because the wolves have chased them down" isn't correct. The reason people are seeing more animals in the lower private areas is due to them getting late winter food from the hay stacks and fields where the mountain elk didn't have that opportunity and starved.
Now with this said, I am not sure who is correct or if it is a combination of the both. I was told the numbers were so low on calf survival the last two years that he would be surprised if anyone at all would be able to find a year and a half old spike at all during the general seasons in most of the blues.
He said that they figure 5 to 6 wolves are in and out of the Dayton area and approximately 30 cougars work the area. He said the Indians don't get to far off of the main roads but its hard to tell because they have absolutely no requirements to report their harvest numbers and they are adamant that they will never report or tell WDFW what, how many, and where they hunt and kill big game.
Just my personal opinion is that, yes the two last years have had a terrible impact on the elk. Due to the lack of predator control and out of control Indian hunting, the chance of any kind of speedy recovery is hard to foresee or imagine. Sad!
for what its worth - i called the bio for the Naches area a couple months ago and he told me the same thing when i asked why the Bull permit numbers are so drastically reduced
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Is there an habitual jerky maker in Idaho too???
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I don't recall seeing many, if any calves, on my hunt.
The hunting may be worse than it previously was, but, IMO, its still better than an OTC tag in WA.
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I think the predators and unlimited native harvest have had a larger effect on the herds than the last two winters. Elk can handle the snow much better than deer can.
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I think the predators and unlimited native harvest have had a larger effect on the herds than the last two winters. Elk can handle the snow much better than deer can.
I disagree.
When you see landscape level declines (i.e., across numerous units in the blues) which are sudden and consistent - including units with few wolves and virtually no tribal harvest...it pretty well fits exactly what the biologist stated.
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Elk in the blues have zero wintering ground. They are forced on to farmers fields where they get shot with depredation tags.
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There’s been harder winters than the last two if you go back a decade or two and they didn’t have any substantial impact on the elk herds. What’s changed is the cougar population is probably 10 times what it was 25 years ago and now there’s a couple packs of wolfs to go along with it. You can believe the winter theory from the biologists if you want but I’m calling BS.
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Elk in the blues have zero wintering ground. They are forced on to farmers fields where they get shot with depredation tags.
:yeah:
Or forced onto a very limited amount of public land which is why there needs to be laws to control shed hunting during critical times.
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Elk in the blues have zero wintering ground. They are forced on to farmers fields where they get shot with depredation tags.
there are hundreds of elk wintering above the ronde and rattlesnake grade on private property with 0 agriculture fields its all cattle range land in that area
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Man you are lucky at drawing, congrats! I drew a bull moose tag before any blues elk tags :chuckle:, not really funny but I guess I have to laugh about it. Did you kill good bulls? I know talking with nwhunter who guides over there, that the herd is cut in half. Predators are fat.
archery tag I passed some good bulls and rags, I blew it on a 340" bull and had about a dozen encounters under 100 yards and no shots. I shot a fork horn bull on the last day after 19 days of hunting. Last year was a very disappointing hunt I had a powder issue at 20 yards and bullet hit the elk and bounced off. 330-340 bull I flat out missed a 330" bull and a bunch of encounters, but bad winds for a week didnt help.
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There’s been harder winters than the last two if you go back a decade or two and they didn’t have any substantial impact on the elk herds. What’s changed is the cougar population is probably 10 times what it was 25 years ago and now there’s a couple packs of wolfs to go along with it. You can believe the winter theory from the biologists if you want but I’m calling BS.
I have fished the grande ronde religiously for the last 31 years from late January to late march. The last 2 years were the only 2 years in the last 31 that we never went or went once or twice due to terrible weather, snow etc. 2 years ago was the worst winter they had experienced down there along the ronde previous 29 years we never dealt with snow ever while fishing or had it pile up 6-8" while fishing like last year.
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I put the blame on the cougar population more than anything in the units I hunt. I don't discount any of those other impacts from wolves to winterkill to natives but cats are out of control and are lethal killers that eat everyday. The bios are way behind the eight ball on this problem and the quotas that are on the Blues units are way to low for whats really out there...
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Everyone talks about wolves, cougars and Indians doing all of the damage in the blues. I have a Dayton modern rifle bull tag this year. I called and talked to Paul Wick the game biologist in the blues about the elk numbers. He says the Dayton area has half as many elk as it had two years ago. He said that the wolves, cougars, and Indians do take some animals but the massive super fast decline was not caused by them. He said it was from two terrible winters and a super dry summer last year and just about zero calf survival with minimal cows carrying calves and those that did, the calves didn't survive the winter. He said the elk in the blues that did survive were nothing but skin and bones in March. He said the fallacy that I have heard on this forum many times, "that all of the elk have left the high country and are in the lower private areas because the wolves have chased them down" isn't correct. The reason people are seeing more animals in the lower private areas is due to them getting late winter food from the hay stacks and fields where the mountain elk didn't have that opportunity and starved.
Now with this said, I am not sure who is correct or if it is a combination of the both. I was told the numbers were so low on calf survival the last two years that he would be surprised if anyone at all would be able to find a year and a half old spike at all during the general seasons in most of the blues.
He said that they figure 5 to 6 wolves are in and out of the Dayton area and approximately 30 cougars work the area. He said the Indians don't get to far off of the main roads but its hard to tell because they have absolutely no requirements to report their harvest numbers and they are adamant that they will never report or tell WDFW what, how many, and where they hunt and kill big game.
Just my personal opinion is that, yes the two last years have had a terrible impact on the elk. Due to the lack of predator control and out of control Indian hunting, the chance of any kind of speedy recovery is hard to foresee or imagine. Sad!
it's easy for the numbers to drop so drastically the last couple years especially when there's maybe a 1/4 of what was there 8 years ago.