Post by: HUNT JR on August 11, 2020, 09:38:31 AM
Also, thank you to the people who have already reached out and helped me!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 11, 2020, 09:51:14 AM
Post by: Stein on August 11, 2020, 10:17:33 AM
The big fire should be pumping out tons of feed this year and making glassing many areas you couldn't see before possible.
It should be a great hunt.
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 11, 2020, 10:19:30 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on August 11, 2020, 11:48:05 AM
Post by: huntingaddiction on August 11, 2020, 01:04:02 PM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 11, 2020, 01:29:15 PM
Post by: HUNT JR on August 11, 2020, 01:38:05 PM
Isn't this tag like a guarantee or something :dunno:
Wouldn't that be nice :chuckle:
Post by: huntingaddiction on August 11, 2020, 01:40:56 PM
Post by: whacker1 on August 11, 2020, 01:47:49 PM
Post by: HUNT JR on August 17, 2020, 10:43:41 AM
Post by: Mtnwalker on August 17, 2020, 11:52:38 AM
Isn't this tag like a guarantee or something :dunno:
Post by: HUNT JR on September 21, 2020, 07:56:09 AM
Post by: HUNT JR on October 08, 2020, 04:34:39 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on October 08, 2020, 04:49:56 PM
Post by: deerlick on October 08, 2020, 09:20:06 PM
Post by: HUNT JR on October 16, 2020, 10:08:34 AM
Post by: HUNT JR on October 18, 2020, 09:19:40 PM
Post by: HUNT JR on October 22, 2020, 10:48:09 AM
Post by: HUNT JR on October 26, 2020, 12:01:29 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 26, 2020, 12:17:59 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 26, 2020, 12:34:06 PM
Post by: jstone on October 26, 2020, 01:34:04 PM
Good luck
Post by: HUNT JR on October 27, 2020, 08:52:45 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on October 27, 2020, 09:26:35 AM
Passed on another handful of bulls this morning, including one that was real close to making the cut. Getting good!cant wait to see pics of a bull down!
Post by: C-Money on October 27, 2020, 09:42:49 AM
Post by: deerlick on October 27, 2020, 01:47:12 PM
Post by: Stein on October 27, 2020, 03:08:58 PM
one thing ive noticed on that tag is everything changes when all the general season hunters start showing up Thursday, so best bet is to get er done before then
They start showing up even earlier I think, Wednesday was move-in day when I had the PR tag a couple years back. Move in Wed, cut 10,500 cords of wood, sight in rifles and then Thursday was the opener for the Great Pumpkin Patch scouting missions.
Post by: fishngamereaper on October 27, 2020, 03:15:31 PM
Good luck and can't wait to see what today brought you.
On a side note if you have cell service your not in big bull country. :chuckle:
Post by: b0bbyg on October 27, 2020, 03:24:07 PM
Post by: MHWASH on October 27, 2020, 04:50:34 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 27, 2020, 06:27:48 PM
Post by: HUNT on October 28, 2020, 02:42:29 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on October 28, 2020, 02:56:00 PM
Passing bull after bull - its almost like he has a spike only tag! :chuckle: JR will get it done.
Post by: HUNT JR on October 29, 2020, 01:14:48 PM
Post by: bear on October 29, 2020, 01:16:29 PM
Post by: jstone on October 29, 2020, 01:18:50 PM
Congratulations
Post by: Sutherland on October 29, 2020, 01:29:23 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on October 29, 2020, 02:31:46 PM
Post by: HUNT JR on October 30, 2020, 07:57:00 AM
Luckily I had some great information from a few people that had me narrowed down to the areas I wanted to hunt. I hadn't found an elk in there in the weeks leading up to the season, but from all my previous elk hunting experience, I knew there were elk in there.
As the final week to season came up, I was watching the weather and started to get concerned when there were forecasts calling for a foot or more of snow in the high country. I was not even sure I would be able to get to the trailhead I was wanting to hunt out of. Saturday morning my good friend Tanner and my Dad (HUNT) and I headed up and were pleased to see that the road only had 4 or so inches on it and minimal drifting. The drive up was uneventful. Once camp was set up, we headed out for a nice hike and glassing session that did not produce much for elk sightings. The key for us though, was the sign in the snow. We could clearly see that there were saddles, and areas on the ridges that the elk were hammering. Being that we showed up 6 or so hours after the snow quit, we knew there were elk there and using certain areas as crossing zones. Sunday morning however, we found the elk and the herd had a couple of nice bulls with them. Unfortunately as we were still learning the area, we managed to bump them down into the timber. Lesson learned.
When you see selected next to a draw tag, it gets really hard from the pressures of you have to shoot a certain size bull, or if you dont shoot a big one, you didn't do the tag justice. I hate this kind of thinking, and set myself a realistic, achievable goal of shooting a 6 point or better bull on this hunt. I was going to try to find one of the big boys for a few days, but passing on many 6 points did not seem to be in my agenda.
Opening morning was dynamite, we saw quite a few elk and a handful of bulls. One 5 point way off in the distance with cows was likely a 300+ inch bull as a 5. I was within 400 yards of 4-5 other smaller bulls and a 5x6 that just wasn't going to fit the bill for day 1. That evening was much of the same and still no 6 point bull found.
Post by: HUNT JR on October 30, 2020, 08:15:44 AM
That night we sat on the saddle again as it was obvious that it was basically as well traveled as I-90. We had a couple groups of cows and spikes come through, but no branched bulls.
By this time I had started to regret not shooting that 6 point. He was everything I had set out for from the time I drew the tag. Sure, he wasn't one of those giants that we all know roam those mountains, but he was a 6 point, who could be upset shooting a 6 point bull? Not me!
I decided that I wouldn't be passing up any more bulls that fit my goals for this hunt. The third morning we started off the same as the previous two. Glass from the top and then work our way out the ridge. This was all curtailed when we heard a bugle down in the bottom in the general area of the saddle. We bailed off the ridge with Tanner staying above the saddle at a better vantage point and I would sneak on into range of the saddle. As I neared the saddle, I could hear a lot of cow calling, and grunting and bugling going on. I knew the loudest bugle was already through the saddle, but I had a feeling based off some grunts below me that hadn't hit the saddle yet, that there was still another bull coming. Once I got settled in, about 130 yards away, I saw a handful of cows, calves, and a couple raghorn 5 points in the saddle. The elk kept moving through but one 5 point was hanging around and looking back at the bull that was grunting his way up to the saddle. Then I see another bull move up into the saddle and immediately go lock antlers with the 5 point. It was hard to tell exactly what he was until they separated. It was the same bull I had passed on the morning before! I knew then, that he had made a mistake, he shouldn't have given me a second chance. Tanner had given my rifle the nickname freedom, and freedom rang! The bull immediately dropped and started rolling down the hill amidst the elk scattering every direction. When I got down to him I was very pleased with the way this hunt had gone. I had set a goal, passed on multiple bulls that would have fallen short of it, and managed to achieve it. Not only that, the bull managed to find one of the flattest spots to finish rolling. My hunt was a quality experience largely due to the people who took part in it from the beginning until the end (Thanks Tanner for Packing). All those who helped me, thank you, you know who you are!
Post by: HikerHunter on October 30, 2020, 08:22:36 AM
Post by: jstone on October 30, 2020, 08:23:18 AM
Post by: HUNT JR on October 30, 2020, 08:32:15 AM
Post by: HntnFsh on October 30, 2020, 08:32:25 AM
Post by: whacker1 on October 30, 2020, 08:32:55 AM
Post by: jstone on October 30, 2020, 08:35:11 AM
Post by: b0bbyg on October 30, 2020, 08:38:52 AM
Post by: yakimanoob on October 30, 2020, 08:41:45 AM
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on October 30, 2020, 08:43:36 AM
Post by: fishngamereaper on October 30, 2020, 08:51:02 AM
I like your choice of ridges. :tup:
Post by: Mfowl on October 30, 2020, 09:13:12 AM
Post by: snit on October 30, 2020, 09:29:22 AM
Post by: jowings22 on October 30, 2020, 09:34:07 AM
Post by: Brushbuster on October 30, 2020, 10:20:42 AM
Post by: Birdguy on October 30, 2020, 11:10:34 AM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 30, 2020, 12:07:03 PM
Post by: sjhgraysage on October 30, 2020, 03:08:46 PM
Congrats! 👍
Post by: KNOPHISH on October 30, 2020, 04:19:18 PM
Post by: Watimberghost on October 31, 2020, 02:26:25 PM
Post by: Wanderer on November 01, 2020, 06:46:31 PM
one thing ive noticed on that tag is everything changes when all the general season hunters start showing up Thursday, so best bet is to get er done before then
They start showing up even earlier I think, Wednesday was move-in day when I had the PR tag a couple years back. Move in Wed, cut 10,500 cords of wood, sight in rifles and then Thursday was the opener for the Great Pumpkin Patch scouting missions.
Was part of the group this year. first time in the area - wow ! what a mass of people !! unit 346 .
thanks for the write-up. keeps me looking forward to the tag(14 pts). i was definitely disappointed with the area this weekend.
Post by: Stein on November 01, 2020, 07:44:26 PM
Post by: Gonehuntin01 on November 04, 2020, 09:33:57 AM
Post by: bracer40 on November 04, 2020, 12:19:11 PM
Post by: Igottanewknee on November 04, 2020, 12:36:11 PM
Post by: Will on November 04, 2020, 12:51:56 PM