Post by: GoPlayOutside on October 01, 2009, 10:47:50 PM
Sept. 19th, I took it down to the wire. I hunted 10 long, hard days. Pulled my bow back 4 different days...only one was worth a shot....and Thank God I had the patience to wait for this one.
From a ridgetop in the early morning, I located the herd. I spent about 3-4 hours trying to get into the middle of them all (trying to locate a spike). Pretty soon, I was surrounded everywhere with elk. It was amazing! I had five cows bedded 30yrds behind me. I had 15+ cows feeding 50 yards to my right. There was bugling and chirping. I was about to try and sneak up another 5 yrds so that I could get in the shadows and be hidden a little more, when all of a sudden, a gut wrenching bugle ripped off close in front of me. At that moment, I froze. From 30yrds in front of me a good sized 5x5 b-lined straight toward me. I'll admit...I just about freaked out and ran, because I thought he was going to kill me. However, I stayed frozen behind a little twig, and the bull ran right by me at no more than 5 yards. HOLY ___! That was absolutely awesome. As I tried to unclench my buttcheeks...I saw 30 yards ahead of me what the 5x5 was running from. It was a monster 7x9. This bull was the King Daddy of the mountain...and he was pissed. He was tearing trees and bushes apart like they were blades of grass. His backs were absolutely huge. It really looked like a whale tale. Biggest Bull I've ever seen in person.
I watched him circle around for 20 minutes or so...he kept trying to push a group of cows down the canyon. Once he and the cows were out of sight, I was able to run around a ridgetop/peak and get in front of the main herd.
I slipped into my ambush spot, and just waited in-between some smaller trees. I could hear the bull pushing closer and closer and closer. Then, popped out a cow, cow, cow, calf, cow, etc, then SPIKE. I was once again in a tiny meadow with about 40 cows, calfs, bulls feeding around me. I was completely focused on the Spike though. I watched him follow the exact feeding route a calf in front of him was on. There was no shot leading up to about 20rds because of some bushes and trees. However, they kept coming at me. They were going to feed into my opening at 15 feet from me. I thought there was no way I could draw my bow and get a shot. Out pops the calf with its head down and feeding at me...10ft!!! With the Spike right on its ass feading, I drew back. They just kept feeding directly at me....I thought for sure this was going to go wrong. However, the calf fed off to the side, and the Spike turned while feeding and THWACK!!!! I got him through some shoulder, lung, and heart. He dropped within 20 yards. End to a SWEET Elk season.
So, since I've only ever hunted in the Spike area...this is my trophy bull. What do you think he'll score :)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F%5BIMG%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fi570.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss142%2FGoPlayOutside%2FUnnamed-8.jpg&hash=37cff808ddcfa196b7f320f25b7d832b1a4c1bc8)[/img]
Post by: GoPlayOutside on October 01, 2009, 10:48:40 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi570.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss142%2FGoPlayOutside%2FUnnamed-8.jpg&hash=319e3d9ceee6ac23eca8a36b541e543be7df01be)
Post by: M_ray on October 01, 2009, 11:06:47 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 02, 2009, 12:18:58 AM
Good one and he'll eat good! :drool::yeah: Nice shot too
Post by: Bean Counter on October 02, 2009, 12:19:31 AM
Post by: Caseyd on October 02, 2009, 12:33:49 AM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on October 02, 2009, 09:44:12 AM
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on October 02, 2009, 10:41:37 AM
Post by: NWBREW on October 02, 2009, 11:31:18 AM
He will score great everytime you take a bite!!!!!
:yeah: :EAT: :tup:
Post by: fishm@n on October 02, 2009, 11:49:54 AM
Post by: Watimberghost on October 02, 2009, 05:05:49 PM
Post by: WaltHenry on October 02, 2009, 07:29:48 PM
Post by: Bullsnot on October 02, 2009, 08:13:01 PM
Post by: Hornseeker on October 02, 2009, 08:23:34 PM
Post by: elkaholic on October 02, 2009, 09:24:47 PM