Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: mtndew on June 10, 2025, 03:11:36 PM

Title: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: mtndew on June 10, 2025, 03:11:36 PM: I saw “selected” this morning, and I’m still just a wee bit in shock. Not posting this to ask for honey holes…. I’ve hunted the Manastash for over 40 years, with a fair amount of success. Over the years, I’ve helped out several Hunting-Washington members with advice, and I’m hoping that the good karma pays it forward for me this year. My five day hunt starts three days after the archery season closes. If there are any Manastash archery hunters willing to PM me info about any big bulls that you have seen, it would be greatly appreciated. I will be doing a lot of scouting myself, but a few extra sets of eyes in the woods would be valuable. Happy trails, and good luck to all this coming season.
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Mfowl on June 10, 2025, 03:33:29 PM: Congrats to you Mtndew!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: MADMAX on June 10, 2025, 04:22:47 PM: Great tag
Congrats
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: gee_unit360 on June 10, 2025, 04:46:01 PM: Nice! Did you draw a special permit to shoot the bull in your avatar previously?
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: buglebuster on June 10, 2025, 05:30:27 PM: Congrats! If it was me I’d focus on the umtanum portion of the unit.
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: mtndew on June 10, 2025, 05:40:32 PM: Nice! Did you draw a special permit to shoot the bull in your avatar previously?

I did. It was the any bull tag during the general season in 2011.
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: buglebuster on June 10, 2025, 09:00:02 PM: Quote from: mtndew on June 10, 2025, 05:40:32 PM

Nice! Did you draw a special permit to shoot the bull in your avatar previously?

I did. It was the any bull tag during the general season in 2011.

No it was western WA otc muzzleloader. Also in 2011
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: mtndew on June 29, 2025, 09:17:55 PM: Found a few while up scouting this past week.
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: yakimanoob on June 30, 2025, 08:32:46 AM: Congrats! That's not my usual hunt, but I do wander over there from time to time. If I get any hot leads I'll pm you.

Have fun!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: mtndew on August 13, 2025, 06:14:32 PM: My trail cams are getting a lot of activity. A couple decent bulls. And a very high number of spikes!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: hunter100 on August 15, 2025, 03:20:57 PM: PM sent :hello:
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: vandeman17 on August 15, 2025, 03:30:20 PM: Getting many cows? I know it sounds weird but right now I personally would not want to be seeing bulls on places I was going to hunt but much rather see herds of cows. My past experience is bulls in August are no where to be found in September but cows in August will stay close and the bulls will be finding them :twocents:

Best of luck with the hunt!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: mtndew on August 16, 2025, 07:12:39 PM: Quote from: vandeman17 on August 15, 2025, 03:30:20 PM
Getting many cows? I know it sounds weird but right now I personally would not want to be seeing bulls on places I was going to hunt but much rather see herds of cows. My past experience is bulls in August are no where to be found in September but cows in August will stay close and the bulls will be finding them :twocents:

Best of luck with the hunt!
Oh yeah. Seeing a lot of cows.
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: elkaholic123 on September 24, 2025, 02:52:53 PM: Congratulations on your bull, hard work pays off!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: MightyWhite on September 24, 2025, 04:05:15 PM: Awesome bull!! Homework and hard work pays off for you two guys..congrats
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: C-Money on September 24, 2025, 04:40:58 PM: Sounds like some success has occurred! Congrats!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: mtndew on September 24, 2025, 08:16:21 PM: That was a great hunt! WAY too hot. Smokey haze from the wildfires. :( So the majority of the day was dead quiet. But the rut is really kicking into gear, we had multiple bulls bugling all night long, all around camp. I had three close encounters on the first day, but didn't have a shot. Second morning, three of the bulls that had been screaming all night were still at it when shooting light came. And they were close... anywhere from 200 to 600 yards from camp. The terrain is an old reprod, where visibility varies from 10 feet to 25 yards. I worked in on the closest bull, moving only when one of the three bulls bugled. His cows saw me, before I saw them. They exploded from a thicket at about 15 yards away, and ran single file through an opening roughy 25 yards away. I had about a second and a half to judge the bull before he hit the opening, it was easy to see that he was a keeper. There are bigger bulls on the mountain, but I am very happy with this guy! Huge thanks to Jerry (elkaholic123), and my son Spencer for all the help. (500 lbs of hanging meat, he was a big boy!) Big thanks out to a couple members, hunter100, and Jerome. Both sharing trail cam photos, as well as advice. You guys rock!!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: MADMAX on September 24, 2025, 08:19:32 PM: Heck yes
Congrats
Great bull
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: elkaholic123 on September 24, 2025, 09:23:08 PM: This is my favorite picture!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Gentrys on September 24, 2025, 10:46:01 PM: Congrats! Nice Bull!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 25, 2025, 01:42:28 AM: Nice done, I love the truck pic as well.👍
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: hunter100 on September 25, 2025, 05:53:56 AM: Such a great bull! Awesome job again and it was nice chatting with ya!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: greenhead_killer on September 25, 2025, 06:15:20 AM: Congrats! Great bull
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Mtnwalker on September 25, 2025, 08:25:15 AM: Great bull, congrats!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Kingofthemountain83 on September 25, 2025, 11:34:24 AM: Congrats!!!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: hunter399 on September 25, 2025, 12:13:12 PM: Heck ya , congratulations 👏🤙
The fact you got that bull in the back whole ,is God dang impressive. Well done for sure....👍
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: redi on September 25, 2025, 12:20:12 PM: Congratulations on a great bull.
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Pathfinder101 on September 25, 2025, 12:20:26 PM: Beautiful bull! Congratulations! 8)
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: elkaholic123 on September 25, 2025, 12:57:36 PM: Blew a couple pics up!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: jmscon on September 25, 2025, 04:23:41 PM: Did the kid have stay in the back of the truck and hold on to the bull the whole way home?
Just kidding
Great bull, thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: mtndew on September 25, 2025, 04:53:13 PM: Quote from: jmscon on September 25, 2025, 04:23:41 PM
Did the kid have stay in the back of the truck and hold on to the bull the whole way home?
Just kidding
Great bull, thanks for sharing!
He actually did stay in there to make sure the bull didn’t start sliding. He’s a strong young man, we would not have been able to muscle the elk in without him.
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Hiker82 on September 25, 2025, 05:12:56 PM: So awesome. Great accomplishment.
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Twispriver on September 25, 2025, 07:42:34 PM: Really nice :tup:
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Mfowl on September 25, 2025, 07:44:09 PM: Great bull! Congrats!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: HereDuckyDucky on September 26, 2025, 05:48:56 AM: Quote from: hunter399 on September 25, 2025, 12:13:12 PM
Heck ya , congratulations 👏🤙
The fact you got that bull in the back whole ,is God dang impressive. Well done for sure....👍

I was thinking the same thing! Wow!

RW
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Whitenuckles on September 27, 2025, 05:04:28 PM: Very nice bull! Congrats!!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on September 28, 2025, 08:46:39 AM: Congratulations on a great tag and awesome bull!
Title: Re: Observatory quality bull rifle
Post by: Gonehuntin01 on September 30, 2025, 10:04:38 AM: Congrats on a great bull.