Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: scroder on June 14, 2009, 02:32:00 PM
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I kinda hate to ask for help especially because I've only been a member for a short time, but here goes. I drew a Tuccanon D tag. I will be grateful for any comments that may aid me on my hunt. I have deer hunted the units around the Tuccanon and also bear hunted the Wenaha, but I have little knowledge of this unit. I already have maps and I am planning on doing some scouting trips on the weekends during July and August. Again, thank you in advance for any input.
Jason
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Dude I'm glad you posted. PM sent.
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Dont know much about the unit. If you need help packing a elk out I could help with that ;)
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Dont know much about the unit. If you need help packing a elk out I could help with that
Trust me you'll be there. After all you owe me for packing your bear out ;)
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I would start up by godman springs.
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Youll get good info from Brandon ;)
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I'll following you up the third week of September with my dad and his tag. He turned 65 this year and has never shot a bull. Probably won't top this hunt? Nothing like starting at the top, I guess!
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Youll get good info from Brandon ;)
Or Branden :chuckle:
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Did you get my PM?
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Hi, I have been reading here for a while, and just registered.
I was lucky and drew a Rifle tag for the later Oct hunt.
From what I gather this is going to be great and some work too! :)
Good luck!
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Congrats on the draw Jason. You should have memorable hunt.
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To those of you that have been kind enough to P.M. with help Thank you! Just a update on what I have going so far.
1 I have the entire season off to hunt.
2 My hunting pard has the first week off to go as well. (to help pack I'm sure)
3 I have the first scouting trip scheduled
4 Some excellent help from the hunting-washington group
5 My wife hasn't threatened to divorce me yet. (she thinks I'm a little too excited about this hunt)
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just make sure you cut your finger in such a way that you can't pack out your bull.
:chuckle:
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Its prob easier to get another wife than it is to draw this tag :chuckle:
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Its prob easier to get another wife than it is to draw this tag :yeah:
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Its prob easier to get another wife than it is to draw this tag :chuckle:
:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
good luck on the hunt, cant wait to see some pictures and hear the story. wish i had some info for you.
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I'm Leaving Friday afternoon to head over to start packing in. I'm going to cache my gear near where I plan to camp and do a little scouting while I'm there. I hope that nobody or nothing finds my stuff and messes with it. Looking at the weather forcast its going to be HOT!!
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good luck. ;)
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My 14 year old nephew and I packed in the first part of my camp and stashed it this past weekend. I did not see much for elk, but didn't really expect to. I did see some awesome area that should hold good bulls during the rut based on the old rubs and other sign.
Just as we were getting ready for bed Saturday night we heard a commotion heading our way so we sat up to look. After a few minutes of the sound coming closer it stopped. Then we heard the distinct woofing sound of a bear and watched as a 150-200 lb bear bolted away. I thought it was cool the nephew was a little concerned. Thankfully he did not return, but the nephew still didn't sleep so well.
I am looking forward to my next pack/scouting trip in August and then the real reward the actual hunt starting September 8th.
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great pics, and very familiar looking. Best of luck!!!
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Nice pics... I think I have been there before. :chuckle:
Good luck on your hunt....
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scouted this some last saturday, did some body say STEEP ;)
Saw some elk including some small bulls, no big bulls though.
Also saw a sow and cub black bear, and a few deer.
It was a good day in the mountains, damp and cool. 8)
Branden, are you still visiting the site? If so shoot me an email if you want.
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Well, My hunting partner and I are headed over to pack some more stuff into where we are going to camp this weekend. Hope to find some good bulls too,but it may still be too early. I'll post our trip when I get home.
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Here are a few pics of how the scouting trip went. Thanks cody for all of the help.
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few more pics.
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Nice pics. Thanks for the update!
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I knew those pictures looked familiar. Now I know I've been in there before. Couple times hiking. Seen some elk in the before. Good luck.
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PM'ed
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Yeah you bet Jason. Had a blast. That country is definitely not meant for everyone!!! Especially a fat a$$ like me but I'm glad I went and good luck. Looking forward to hearing some stories after your monarch hits the turf and we'll follow it up with a good trip to Montana!
Cody
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:whoo: :mgun:
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We're off! Tomorrow 5:30 am for a six hour drive then a four hour hike to get into camp. We will get camp set up then head out to scout for a bit before dark. Monday we will scout all day and then Tuesday I hope to kill a giant. Hopefully I will have a great story for all of you as well as some awesome pictures. Wish us well.
Thanks
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Good Luck and have Fun! Can't wait to se your pics!
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Hey dont forget to pick me up :whoo: :brew:
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Good luck boys! Have fun, and shoot the first one that makes you wet your pants!
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best of luck and hope to see some cool pics
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Good luck! Can't wait to see the results of all your hard work.
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I was in the unit yesterday, and saw 5 bulls including a really nice 6x6 with a herd of 9 cows and calves. Not much that I heard in the bugling department, but the herd bull was definitely acting very possesive and keeping the cows away from the smaller bulls in his area. It was warm and dry, hope it rains some.
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What's the latest Scroder? Any Luck?? I'm anxious to hear your stories!
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Jason, Jack, how'd you guys do? Lets see some pics.
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Jason was taking the family on a trip this week. I talked to him Saturday night. Probably not by a computer,
mtncook
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Come on Scroder! Tell us the story!
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To put it simply I failed. I have been losing sleep over it ever since. On day one we saw 19 branched antler bulls, three of which I would have shot had the opportunity worked out. Day two was nearly silent and we saw a few smaller bulls. On day three, after working a bull for about an hour and a half, I had a broadside shot at about thirty yards through a small window between some trees and missed. The arrow hit a small branch and turned skyward. We watched the bull push his cows down and across a canyon. We did not work him any more in the hopes that he would still be around the next day to try again. We judged him to be in the 350-360 range. On day four we were headed back to look for the bull from the previous day, when a bull that I think we had seen on the first day caught our attention so we headed in the other direction. It turned out to not be what I was after. However, another bull kept bugling so we headed that direction to check him out. When we got to where we thought we were close, I went out ahead of my buddies about 50 yards. I almost gave myself a heart attack when I saw him. From where I was I could see him, but Jack and B.J., my hunting buddies, could not. He had his head down and was facing in the opposite direction. He was sixty-four yards away with the wind blowing from him to me. I ranged several points in the area then held my cow call up and motioned for Jack and B.J. to call. They blew the cow call and he whirled around in an instant and started coming toward me. He let out an enraged bugle as he came. He stopped at 18 yards facing almost straight on. Now Jack and B.J could see him and they tried to call him again to get his attention off of me. I drew, anchored my pin, and released the arrow. The arrow hit exactly where I had aimed just inside the point of his right shoulder. He whirled around and ran about forty yards and stopped broadside. I could see that the arrow had penetrated 3/4 of the way. I knocked another arrow but misjudged and missed. He staggered a bit then walked off. Jack and B.J. came up to where I was and said,"Holy SH**! That thing was huge!". We walked to where he was standing when I shot him and found blood immediately. We decided to wait 45 minutes before we went after him. As we waited we tried to estimate how he would score and all felt that it should go near 380". We then started to follow the blood trail. It looked as if someone had dipped a paint brush into a pail of red paint the flung it to the ground as they went dipping it repeatedly. We were feeling good about the outcome. We found a spot where he had stopped for a while and he left a pool of blood that was about 12" by 18". After trailing some more, we found a spot that looked like he had tried to lay down. There were three smaller matted blood spots on the ground. After that, the blood trail had dried up within about fifty yards. We spent the next five hours searching in circles and crisscross patterns without finding him. I was depressed as we headed to camp. I did not sleep well that night. The guys tried to boost my spirits and said that it sucks but that it happens sometimes. We half- heartedly went out in the morning, but I kept thinking about that bull so we went to look some more to no avail. Again another near sleepless night. On Saturday, we broke camp and packed out because the guys had to go back to work. Sunday morning they left and I tried to hunt near Tallow Flats but kept thinking about that bull. On Monday morning I headed back up to where we had lost the trail. I spent the rest of my time searching the area where I had lost the bull. I have second guessed my shot and gone over the entire thing a thousand times in my mind. Some of you may feel the need to blast me for this, go ahead I've got broad shoulders. You can't beat me up any more than I have beaten myself over this.
I would like to thank everyone that helped me on this hunt.
Thank you. you know who you are.
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The main thing is you went back and kept looking for him for several days. You didn't fail, you did the best you could with what was a bummer situation. CHIN UP!!!
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The main thing is you went back and kept looking for him for several days. You didn't fail, you did the best you could with what was a bummer situation. CHIN UP!!!
:yeah:
Way to stick with it instead of just giving up and sticking another bull.
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i liked hearing you story i just wish it had a different ending. draw it again next year. thanks for posting do you have any pictures of camp or terrain?
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stuff happens... sounds like you gave it your best though
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Sorry to hear that Jason. I'd heard from a mutual friend about your first day, we were really rootin for ya, then didn't hear anything else. I tried that same shot, only 8 yards, out on the chuck with a hellatious 7x8, turned out the same as yours. The next day a guy got a 3 month old fully loaded mathews LX for 2 bills. Haven't picked one up since, though I've been pondering it. You guys hear how Toby did? Later
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draw it again next year.
FYI It takes 10-15 points to get drawn for that tag.
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try telling nwhunter that. he's drawn a wenaha tag 2x in the last 3 years.
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So it sounds like you took a straight on shot if I am reading this correctly. The problem with that shot is that if you don't hit the heart or the arteries around the heart and only get one lung then they can live a long time and go a long ways. I am not going to beat you up but I think you learned the hard way that it is not a very responsible shot. Broadside or quartering away are your best bets... you can get away with slight quartering to as long as you know to shoot for the "v" and hug the front shoulder tight.
You did the right thing about trying to get that second arrow into him; it is too bad that the arrow went awry.
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So it sounds like you took a straight on shot if I am reading this correctly.
I've reread his post, I think you may be right, I originally thought the other guys calling got the bull to turn broadside.
Front shots are nearly impossible. My first big game archery kill was a near straight on shot... I got very lucky and hit an artery or my biggest mule deer ever (the one that is my avatar) would have ran off and died a slow death. I learned from that event, just as Scroder has learned from his.
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Ditto, I know you feel bad enough and probably know what you did wrong but i have to agree with the last few post.... Bad shot. It's tough when you have seconds to decide what to do, but learning from all our experiences is how we heal, so next time the right shot is made or a better decision is made and the animal gets away to live for the next better shot. You'll get to redeem yourself in time.
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Scroder, I for one would never blast a fellow hunter who put in that kind of effort to find a bull. I've done the same thing and can relate to your disappointment and frustration. I congratulate you on the fact that you spent the rest of your time searching for your bull. You are a true sportsman. Keep your chin up, I know it's difficult from past personal experience, but applaud you on your efforts.
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Scroder....as others have said, everyone runs the risk of this happening when we decide to go hunting. you did the best you could do given the situation. if this has to happen, this is the way it should be handled.
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Tough for me to read this. But I think you've learned from this, which is good. Tough deal all around.
A broadside or quartering away shot - inside your effective range - is critically important. And you need to be selective in your shots based on terrain, vegetation obstructions, your target animal's disposition/behavior, wind/visibility, and other factors. I strongly recommend that archers (new and old) complete the NBEF Bowhunter Education course. You need to understand anatomy before you start shooting at game. I can't stress this point enough.
Nothing is absolute but I will state firmly that a frontal shot is NO shot on elk. Yes, it can be done. It's a low percentage, high risk proposition at best.
You sound like the kind of guy who truly cares, so please take the turmoil you've been through to heart. In the future, don't allow the potential glory of long tines sway you from your eithical duty in taking only high percentage shot opportunities. From where I sit, this means broadside or quartering away inside your effective range only. That is the limitation we choose with archery tackle.
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Don't beat yourself up anymore, Chin up as Viking said. You still have a memory of a lifetime and I am sure you maid some new friends, maybe you meet someone on here who will draw this tag next year and you can be the big help and get some redemption should be just as satisfying "I think" Great story and thanks for sharing. Austrian,
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Ya that sucks.. Sounds like to me you didnt give him enough time to die, 45 minutes is not enough, and you seen where it looked like he bedded down . ITs the toughest thing to back out, but when in dout back out.. This is how you learn to be a better elk archer is by messing up.. but you did the right thing by spending the time to look for him, nothing more disheartning then to loose a bull.. keep your chin up guy!! 8)
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I strongly recommend that archers (new and old) complete the NBEF Bowhunter Education course.
Sounds like a good idea so I searched the web and found the NBEF Bowhunter Education website but when I searched the state of Washington I got no hits for the course. If you have a tip on how to find the course locally (South Sound area) I'd love to hear it, please.
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Posted by: EastWaViking
Insert Quote
Quote from: 3dvapor on Yesterday at 08:17:43 PM
draw it again next year.
FYI It takes 10-15 points to get drawn for that tag.
FYI anyone could draw that tag or any other with 1 point. Just depends on how lucky you are.
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true, but most people don't. Besides, I'm getting it next year. :IBCOOL:
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That is a horrible ending to a hunt you looked forward to so much and put a lot of effort into. You will have a hard time getting over it for sure but next season will come and a new hunt will ease the pain, I know I went through it like many bow hunters do just keep your chin up and learn from this and do better next time. There is no worse country to wound a bull in and have to search those deep holes in! Thanks for the post. nwhunter
