Post by: Band on June 17, 2011, 09:33:19 AM
I know exactly where to find the herd (hopefully with a nice bull) on opening day. My challenge will be to find them after the ATV crowd disperses them by riding through the middle of the prime area, which they do every year. It's only a mile from camp--I wish they would just walk it. :(
Anyway, I'll be looking forward to posting pics and a report if I get lucky. :hello:
Post by: CedarPants on June 17, 2011, 11:48:50 AM
Post by: JColony on June 17, 2011, 11:58:56 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on June 17, 2011, 12:03:57 PM
Post by: JColony on June 17, 2011, 12:06:16 PM
Post by: mtndew on June 17, 2011, 12:09:40 PM
Post by: yakimarcher on June 17, 2011, 12:21:09 PM
Post by: Band on June 17, 2011, 12:27:16 PM
Then you can push them back west so they can grow bigger next year.That's probably a pretty accurate scenario. Hopefully someone will scare one my way. :chuckle:
Post by: JColony on June 17, 2011, 12:29:10 PM
Hopefully I'llhave some good info and pics to share with you when I get done! Good luck to you.
Post by: YoterHunter on June 17, 2011, 08:05:16 PM
Post by: muledeer78 on June 17, 2011, 08:15:31 PM
Quote
JColony, good luck with your muzzy Observatory tag...hope you see LOTS of big bulls. I am coming in on your heels to Observatory with modern rifle.i also have an Observatory with modern rifle. I was lucky to get a cow tag last year from there.
Post by: YellowDog on June 17, 2011, 08:26:30 PM
Post by: JColony on June 17, 2011, 08:41:30 PM
Post by: mtndew on June 17, 2011, 10:16:25 PM
What kind of post is this? Don't you know you're supposed to draw a great tag and then come on here ask where the unit is, if there are any good bulls in the unit, and ask for someone to give up their honey hole. You're not supposed to actually know anything about the unit you draw. What fun is that? :chuckle:
That"s funny, but so often true! I have been hunting in there for over 20 years, know it well! Don't want to jack the thread though,,, good luck to Band in Peaches ridge!!!
Post by: Lambaster on June 17, 2011, 10:39:29 PM
Post by: crazyantler on June 18, 2011, 09:51:54 AM
Post by: Band on August 12, 2011, 07:54:29 AM
I'll try to provide a scouting report when we get back.
Post by: elkcane on August 12, 2011, 08:08:47 AM
Post by: Alpinegus on August 12, 2011, 01:31:53 PM
Quote
Update: my hunting buddy and I will be out scouting this weekend and he is warning me that he won't last more than a couple days of hunting during the season due to his bad knees. And even if we get one during that time it looks like I'll be the one packing meat out. Yikes, I'm getting excited about the hunt but I might need to start looking for a new hunting buddy one of these days.
Get you buddy some walking sticks and alieve. He can quit hurting after huntings done.
;)
Got my new knees last year. :tup:
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 12, 2011, 01:35:15 PM
Post by: Instinct on August 12, 2011, 02:01:20 PM
Post by: Band on August 15, 2011, 09:02:42 AM
So here is my scouting report. We spent the rest of the evening on the phone with AAA and various towing outfits trying to find one that would come and haul us off the mountain. After spending the night in the tent we had to pay out of pocket for the first towing outfit to take us off the mountain down to the highway and then we had to call a second towing outfit to tow us to a repair facitlity where buddy ends up buying new tires.
Hell of a scouting weekend! I hope the season goes better than this! :bash:
Post by: elkcane on August 15, 2011, 09:41:07 AM
Post by: C-Money on August 15, 2011, 01:10:40 PM
Post by: Smokey Bear on August 15, 2011, 02:28:53 PM
I also drew a Peaches Archery Bull tag. I will help you haul an animal out if you need it. PM me and I will give you some contact info.
Post by: Band on August 15, 2011, 03:21:01 PM
Any tow up there is going to cost you lots of $$$$, especially one from Ellensburg! You have to think that maybe it is worth limping it down to the highway and ruining one rim. Cost of the wheel is less than a tow up into the woods.We were 10 miles in on a bumpy/rocky road and in my buddy's truck. I wasn't going to suggest that. ;)
I also drew a Peaches Archery Bull tag. I will help you haul an animal out if you need it. PM me and I will give you some contact info.Very kind offer, thanks. I don't carry a cell phone so I think I'm just going to have to be on my own on this one. I'll take as many meat packing trips as necessary and worry about the recovery to my body the next day (um, the next few days). I won't be more than a couple of miles from a road so if I get one I should be ok. :hello:
Post by: coachcw on August 16, 2011, 12:33:59 PM
Post by: Band on August 16, 2011, 02:13:34 PM
A few years back I ripped a knuckle off my rig in 329 . The tow from D&D was six hundred bucks back to eburg , all by the hour and the guy wasn't in a hurry if you know what I mean . We did shoot a buck though while he was messing with his tire chains.Ouch! I guess $180 for that first tow doesn't seem so bad now. :o
Post by: Yak-NDN on August 17, 2011, 07:47:45 AM
Post by: Band on September 08, 2011, 01:00:30 PM
I've turned the kitchen into a meat processing center. Gotta get back to it... :hello:
Post by: washingtonmuley on September 08, 2011, 01:03:39 PM
Post by: vandeman17 on September 08, 2011, 01:12:01 PM
Post by: gunnarnewt on September 08, 2011, 01:25:08 PM
Post by: Band on September 08, 2011, 01:44:28 PM
Come on Dave, where's the pictures????Oh yeah, I think I have one of those. :chuckle:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1229.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee465%2FDipsnort%2FHunting%2F7X6Bull.jpg&hash=7a562ac6e506b7d65510db97a6d94d9a64c34a32)
Post by: washingtonmuley on September 08, 2011, 01:46:40 PM
Post by: SkookumHntr on September 08, 2011, 01:48:07 PM
Post by: Holg3107 on September 08, 2011, 01:52:54 PM
Post by: vandeman17 on September 08, 2011, 01:58:17 PM
Post by: gunnarnewt on September 08, 2011, 02:01:48 PM
Post by: iRem on September 08, 2011, 02:02:30 PM
Post by: zackmioli on September 08, 2011, 02:03:40 PM
Post by: Gringo31 on September 08, 2011, 02:05:08 PM
Beautiful bull!
Post by: jager on September 08, 2011, 02:13:25 PM
Yes, we need a story!!
Post by: quadrafire on September 08, 2011, 02:16:35 PM
Post by: dreamingbig on September 08, 2011, 02:16:46 PM
Post by: fishm@n on September 08, 2011, 02:30:18 PM
Post by: deerslyr on September 08, 2011, 02:45:48 PM
Post by: gaddy on September 08, 2011, 02:52:31 PM
Post by: JColony on September 08, 2011, 03:21:31 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on September 08, 2011, 03:26:59 PM
Post by: Band on September 08, 2011, 04:00:09 PM
I'll take your guys word for it, Nice bull. All I see is a red X, have to wait till I get home to see it.It's not that big really but the antlers were heavy enough to not make it worth hiking back for them when we finally packed out all the meat. :(
Post by: benhuntin on September 08, 2011, 05:25:08 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on September 08, 2011, 05:26:07 PM
Post by: SniperDanWA on September 08, 2011, 06:30:27 PM
Post by: Antlershed on September 08, 2011, 06:37:41 PM
Huh? :yike:I'll take your guys word for it, Nice bull. All I see is a red X, have to wait till I get home to see it.It's not that big really but the antlers were heavy enough to not make it worth hiking back for them when we finally packed out all the meat. :(
Post by: Craig on September 08, 2011, 07:05:41 PM
Post by: Band on September 08, 2011, 07:28:33 PM
Just kidding. :chuckle:Huh? :yike:I'll take your guys word for it, Nice bull. All I see is a red X, have to wait till I get home to see it.It's not that big really but the antlers were heavy enough to not make it worth hiking back for them when we finally packed out all the meat. :(
Ok, here’s the story.
My watch alarm goes off. It’s 3:45, opening morning. Holy crap, do I really want to get out of the sack this early and bust my butt for several days? I’ve been at this elk hunting thing for 22 years with little success and I’m due big rewards for my years of hard work. But I’ve got a bull tag in my pocket and I know where to find elk.
My buddy Dave and I start up the ridge at 4:30 toward my favorite elk ground knowing that we would get into elk, perhaps even before shooting light like we did last year. We sneak ever so slowly and quietly down into a bowl to find out if the herd is in “my” clearing but during the approach we hear no elk sounds. We sit tight for a couple of hours when suddenly we hear the crackle of twigs in the dark timber and look up to see a mature cow moving through the trees at 60 yards, followed by another and then another. The third animal is much larger than the first 2 and the first two definitely look like mature cows so I’m thinking bull. Dave is faced the other direction so he can’t see them and neither of us move for fear of spooking them. We wait for the rest of the herd to move through and hope they move into the clearing for a shot but surprisingly there are no others and they don’t come out of the woods so 15 minutes later I suggest that we get up and dog them.
We carefully move 100 yards or so toward where the elk were headed but we find no sign of them. And the whole time I’m thinking it’s odd that there is a bull with only 2 cows in this herd and they are not talking at all as they move through the forest early in the morning so I figure they could be part of a busted up herd that will be looking to rejoin the rest of their band. I rummage through my brain to recall some of the tactics I learned from Elknut’s Playbook the past couple of months and I get out my mouth reed and my bugle to make cow and bull “regathering” sounds. I had spent the entire drive to camp listening to the various elk sounds from Elknut’s CD that my wife had loaded on to my I-touch and I feel as though I am confident enough to make the right sounds rather sounds that would be unnatural to the elk and cause them to spook.
We wait for a few minutes and we whisper a little more strategy to each other when I see an elk with bone coming down the hill and tell Dave “big bull, don’t move”. I can’t count points in the trees and I don’t want to get caught gawking and end up making a split second mistake of failing to take a shot. That has happened before and I don’t want a repeat. I can see that the bull has a thick, wide rack as he snakes around trees tilting his head to the side over and over again so he can fit between the trees. When there is sufficient vegetation to block the bull’s vision I draw as he comes closer and closer in our direction. The bull and I lock eyes at 25 yards as I stand at full draw. He’s broadside. Easy shot but there’s a tree standing in front of him covering up the entire kill zone. We continue the stare for perhaps 30 seconds as Dave holds perfectly still looking the other direction, not knowing the opportunity that has presented itself. I can feel my arms starting to quiver as they begin to tire when the bull finally decides to look ahead and continue walking. He takes 2 steps and I let the arrow fly.
The arrow hits at the level of the heart but much too far back and I notice that it does not penetrate through the other side of the body. I estimate that the entrance wound is right on the diaphragm wall and, since he was slightly quartering away and uphill I think (and hope!) it finds the bottom of the lung on the far side. My whole body begins to shake violently as I take in what has just taken place and continues to do so for the next hour as the anticipation builds of what is to come.
After the shot Dave turns to see the bull and we collect as much information as possible about the direction of travel, the condition of the bull and the shot placement as he bolts uphill toward the top of the ridge. We watch as he darts right to left to right still having to dodge trees with his wide rack. Based on the shot we decide to wait 15 minutes to look for blood on the ground at the point of impact and make more decisions after we could survey the scene. Here is first blood, about 3’ from the point of impact. It looks promising but we decide to wait 3 (very agonizing!) hours to begin tracking based on the less than perfect shot placement.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1229.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee465%2FDipsnort%2FHunting%2FFirstBlood.jpg&hash=6a4e01e1496a59eb4e36f49792d3ec664cb38051)
The blood trail is fairly continuous and not too difficult to follow. We notice that as the nock end of the arrow brushes trees during his run the blood sprays out nicely. We follow about 100 yards and hear a little rustling ahead of us and hear the “danger” bark of an elk that moves off to our right and we wonder if it is the bull or perhaps some other elk that was spooked by another hunter. And then we find 3 large pools of blood within 10 yards of each other and for the first time we find pink frothy lung blood. Excellent, the broadhead is still cutting and continuing to do its job.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1229.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee465%2FDipsnort%2FHunting%2FBloodPool.jpg&hash=c2bf1235bf278e97a66132fe0f4993c1e71e8256)
We soon find the 10” section of arrow that had been sticking out of the body and immediately the blood trail disappears. I mean completely disappeares! We spend another hour trying to follow the trail based on tracks alone but soon hopelessly lose that as well. We spend the next several hours doing a grid search based on where he might have traveled keeping in the back of our minds that he may have traveled to water as animals sometimes do when injured. After the primary grid search was complete I suggest we go to the head of the creek of the drainage the bull was headed toward and follow it down to camp as the shadows were getting longer in the late afternoon.
And then I began hearing a regularly occurring but very faint moaning sound coming from the bottom of the creek. It sounds like it could be a bear but I’m holding out hope that it is the bull that we were already planning on spending the next couple of days finding come hell or high water. In any case I slow my gait considerably and keep a close eye on the thick brush around the creek as I approach to the ever increasing volume of the groaning sounds. And then I see an antler tip. And another. And another. I nock an arrow and crouch down as I move ever so slowly and quietly toward the bull and here is what I see.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1229.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee465%2FDipsnort%2FHunting%2FAliveinWater.jpg&hash=305d96653ea70722b93ba79277acf91fc8afe289)
I can tell the bull is in great distress but I see that he is in a deep hole in the creek and doesn’t appear to be able to stand. I back out and get Dave’s attention and we confer about the best course of action. We decide to put another arrow in him so I crouch down and sneak up on the bull again. I see that there is no way for me to have a clear shot unless I stand right out in the open where he can see me. He does. He turns his head and opens his eyes wide but he is obviously unable to stand. I carefully assess the best arrow placement based on his body position and let the second arrow fly.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1229.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee465%2FDipsnort%2FHunting%2FSecondArrow.jpg&hash=1ac39bb209ab8eb9c09d565d55c18713940d855c)
The new wound spits out lung blood on each breath and several minutes later the bull’s antlers begin swaying slightly as he begins losing consciousness and then his head drops slowly into the water where each breath cause violent bubbling in the water as he takes water into his lungs. What ultimately killed him--loss of consciousness due to blood loss or drowning is unknown to me but what I do know is that as tough of a day as Dave and I had, it was nothing compared to what I put this bull through because of less than perfect shot placement. Tough lesson to learn. Total travel of this bull after the shot was approximately 300 yards.
Death took place as nightfall approached. We were unable to pull the bull completely out of the creek due to his massive size but we could pull him up in the shallow to do our work. It was an arduous night standing in a cold creek until after light the next morning as we worked to cape and section the meat off the animal while doing our best to reposition the animal several times so as not to block the entire creek and create deeper water and to get better access to the areas we worked on. I decided our best option in this case was the gutless method. It took more time but I think we were able to do a better job of keeping the meat dry. Fortunately, due to the cold creek water, game & garbage bags and working at night we were able to save every bit of the meat and we didn’t have to deal with any flies, bees or hot weather.
Also fortunate for us was that the bull traveled toward a road that could be accessed with Dave’s Jeep so the pack out was relatively easy, only about 100 yards. Good thing because we were exhausted in every possible way. Dave and I loaded up and headed back to camp where we quickly split up the meat between us and headed our separate ways with a handshake.
This is a once in a lifetime animal for me so I’m finally shelling out some dough to have some taxidermy work done. I’ve had my eye on Bucklucky’s artistry with elk for several years so he got the job. Thanks Michelle for filling in on the caping of the head yesterday. And thanks again for posting caping directions for me to follow in the field. Without those I surely would have damaged the cape beyond repair! Nice to meet you. :hello:
Post by: rosscrazyelk on September 08, 2011, 07:29:52 PM
I'll take your guys word for it, Nice bull. All I see is a red X, have to wait till I get home to see it.It's not that big really but the antlers were heavy enough to not make it worth hiking back for them when we finally packed out all the meat. :(
Looks good to me very nice bull
Post by: mtndew on September 08, 2011, 07:35:51 PM
Post by: Yeti on September 08, 2011, 08:28:08 PM
Post by: Flick N Stick on September 08, 2011, 09:42:08 PM
Post by: CamoDup on September 08, 2011, 09:58:20 PM
Post by: Drake7 on September 08, 2011, 10:10:53 PM
Have you measured the antlers? Score? :tup:
Post by: MADMAX on September 09, 2011, 07:08:49 AM
Post by: Hornseeker on September 09, 2011, 07:31:30 AM
congrats again!!! Enjoy the table fare...and the wall decorations!!!!!
Post by: archery288 on September 09, 2011, 07:35:32 AM
Post by: SuperDave on September 09, 2011, 07:49:27 AM
Post by: jstone on September 09, 2011, 08:45:38 AM
Post by: MuleySniper on September 09, 2011, 08:51:15 AM
MS
Post by: buckhorn2 on September 09, 2011, 09:00:03 AM
Post by: bucklucky on September 09, 2011, 09:03:54 AM
Post by: CJ-5 on September 09, 2011, 09:57:35 AM
Post by: Snapshot on September 09, 2011, 12:20:58 PM
Post by: Band on September 09, 2011, 01:35:42 PM
Awesome bull, congrats !! Cant wait ti see the rack. Very nice job man!!!Hey, I got mine into your shop before yours. Does that mean I'm first in line this year? :chuckle:
Good luck on your hunt. :hello:
Post by: Band on September 09, 2011, 01:44:33 PM
Have you measured the antlers? Score? :tup:Nope, but now that the meat processing is finally complete maybe I'll see if I can come up with a rough score. Any guesses? :dunno:
Post by: Cougeyes on September 09, 2011, 01:49:21 PM
Post by: MtnMuley on September 09, 2011, 01:57:23 PM
Post by: Holg3107 on September 09, 2011, 02:01:56 PM
Post by: Band on September 09, 2011, 03:18:00 PM
The score isn't all that important to me. I'm just happy that it has all of the characteristics I really care about--pretty good symmetry, nice mass, 1st & 2nd points that curve upward, long 4ths and those little bumps all over the lower half of the rack that mature bulls often have. It's going to be a great showpiece in the cabin we're building next year. :IBCOOL:
Post by: wall of wood camp on September 09, 2011, 03:35:21 PM
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on September 09, 2011, 03:41:04 PM
Post by: kramer on September 09, 2011, 06:07:09 PM
Post by: 400out on September 09, 2011, 07:32:42 PM
Post by: frienddave on September 11, 2011, 01:13:47 PM
The shot was not as clean as you would have liked but you got the job done. I try to remember when I kill a critter that when animals die in the wild without human hunters it is probably not an easy way to go. I let my imagination go with that a little and don't feel quite as bad.
That was such an awesome day! Starting with the anticipation on the way in, the foreboding sense when the elk were not in there before us. The renewed hope when you told me you were seeing fur. Standing still wondering what was going on behind me when you told me not to move. The exhilaration at the shot, flashes through the trees of the bull who slowed to a walk after jumping at the shot. Picturing the story the blood trail was telling us. Followed by the short-lived excitement at finding the lung blood, then the shock and sick feeling when the blood trail just disappeared. The dawning hopelessness as we did the grid search. The look on your face when you told me to “come look.” Relief at finding him followed by the building excitement as we realized how big he was. After that the doubt and dread as we realized how much work we were in for, it was getting dark and that we could not budge him out of the creek bed. The long 12 hours of increasing physical pain, numb feet and exhaustion bending over him while we (mostly you) field dressed him. The short breaks seeing all the stars at 2am and appreciating the fresh air. The eerie sound of Cyotes on the ridges gathering in the dark (and thankfully) waiting till we finished. Dawn unfolding as we hauled out the head and cape that was too heavy for one of us to pack alone. The sunrise. Seeing the reaction of the other hunter we ran into at camp. The surreal feeling that we were splitting up on a handshake after all we had just been through. Fighting off sleep on the drive home, then the agitation from the energy drinks along with the failing cognitive processes due to lack a sleep. Coming home to family. Then finally the satisfied and welcome sleep and dreams after 40 hours of a day I will savor the rest of my life.
Post by: Band on September 11, 2011, 04:04:31 PM
Post by: Dblstks on September 13, 2011, 12:01:12 PM
Post by: coachcw on September 13, 2011, 02:42:15 PM
Post by: Band on September 13, 2011, 02:55:57 PM
killer bull i'm gonna say 364You're either a good guesser or you saw where I posted my unofficial gross score just shy of 362. Not bad for my first bow kill. ;)
Post by: firefighter4607 on September 13, 2011, 03:12:43 PM
Post by: C-Money on September 13, 2011, 03:56:34 PM
Post by: Band on September 13, 2011, 04:26:27 PM
I don't know where you would of lost 30 points for the measure it looks pretty even all the way around.Honestly I'm a little confused about that myself because it appears to be quite symmetrical. I guess I won't know for sure until I get a scoring professional to measure it.