Post by: Antlershed on November 23, 2010, 06:43:42 PM
Sunday morning we headed down to Toutle to get our camp setup, and once camp was setup we headed out for an evening scout. We got into about 5-6" of snow and never saw an elk or a track. So, we headed back to camp to decide on an area to scout on Monday.
Monday, we ended up going up to a new area that took us into about 4-5" of snow and we saw a couple decent size groups of elk. That afternoon my dad and another one of his friends were coming down, so we headed back to meet them around noon. My dad called me on his way down and asked if he should pick up tire chains. I said, "It might not be a bad idea to have them along." Best $150 he ever spent. :chuckle: Monday evening I led us down a road that the map said went through. Well, at the bottom of a nice hill in about 1" of ice and 5" of snow, there was a road block, and we couldn't back up the hill without the chains. We were a long ways in with no cell service, so luckily we had the chains. We saw 2-3 different groups of elk, so we decided that is where we would go Tuesday morning.
Today, we woke up in the wall tent and it was 18 degrees at camp. Got loaded up and headed for the hills. Once we got to the snow, we figured we better just chain up before daylight so we didn't have to mess with them during hunting time. While on our way up to where we saw elk last night, we come around a corner and there is a branched bull standing in the middle of the road staring at us. He ended up being all by himself though. About half a mile further, we busted a nice size herd when we came around another corner. They filed up into the timber, and I tried to work around and get a shot, but the only one that would stand broadside long enough was a 4x4 bull. The elk were headed up and not very fast though, so we found an old spur road that we could hike up and try to cut them off. When we started hiking there was about 12" of snow and it was 11 degrees. :o About 1/4 mile in, I look up and there is another bull staring us in the face. We just stodd still and he made his way up the road. We began to work the direction he went when I looked up and saw the whole herd up ahead in the timber. I flipped the bipod down and laid down in about 12-14" of snow. Once a cow got clear of the rest of the herd, I let her have it. She was right about 250 yards away, and dropped right in her tracks. The .300 RUM did its job and I had my first ever elk on the ground. After a few pictures, we got her gutted and with the help of the steep country and a foot of snow, we slid her all the way into the back of the truck whole. A great time was had even though my season only lasted about 3 hours. I was glad to have my dad along with me as well.
Post by: brew on November 23, 2010, 06:46:47 PM
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on November 24, 2010, 05:15:10 AM
Post by: Antlershed on November 24, 2010, 07:13:32 AM
Post by: Fish4Fun on November 24, 2010, 07:15:27 AM
Post by: h20hunter on November 24, 2010, 07:41:43 AM
Post by: dscubame on November 24, 2010, 07:47:03 AM
Post by: krout81 on November 24, 2010, 07:53:15 AM
Post by: Elkpiss on November 24, 2010, 08:42:17 AM
Post by: 400out on November 24, 2010, 09:00:05 AM
Post by: loper on November 24, 2010, 09:25:11 AM
Post by: SkookumHntr on November 24, 2010, 09:28:30 AM
Post by: Antlershed on November 24, 2010, 01:34:47 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 24, 2010, 01:48:29 PM
Post by: joseph.rupp001 on November 24, 2010, 02:36:53 PM
Post by: Backstraps on November 24, 2010, 05:02:37 PM
Post by: fish affender on November 24, 2010, 07:58:30 PM
Post by: NWTFhunter on November 24, 2010, 08:22:43 PM
I was just looking at that area on my map, but it appears there isn't a late archery season for 556.
Post by: Antlershed on November 25, 2010, 09:15:21 AM
Congrats !Nope. 556 is all permit only hunting.
I was just looking at that area on my map, but it appears there isn't a late archery season for 556.
Post by: C-Money on November 25, 2010, 09:23:38 AM
Post by: spotter26 on November 28, 2010, 08:23:52 PM
Post by: dewandgin on November 29, 2010, 09:41:49 AM
Post by: Antlershed on November 29, 2010, 07:13:27 PM
Good job man, no that the snow has fallen maybe some of those toutle bulls will head my way.Thanks Tim. Hopefully you can find a bull down there.