Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: huntnnw on October 04, 2011, 07:57:03 PM
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I spent the last 4 days up in 117 chasing elk...I got camp setup in a area with 0 hunters in area which was a bonus. I headed into a good area I hunted before with high hopes that the elk were in there. I made the walk 5 miles in and surprised to only see 3 sets of fresh elk tracks..not good. I did see wolf tracks and cat tracks..the lack of moose sign was quite disturbing also,this area is known for alot of moose and big bulls. The next day I decided to hit another area I have hunted for years and check a big wallow that the elk water at. I get up on ridge glass across canyon and spot 2 bucks....I hear brush busting below thinking it was a moose I continued to wallow. As I approach wallow I noticed elk have been here alot, so I decided to set up there and cow call, I didn't even finish setting up when I see a elk coming down the trail I was on then another both cows. The elk mill around for 30 min and I pick out 4 cows one making it to 20 yards,but no bull!! :bash: Then something comes crashing above me and I turn with muzzy thinking its the bull..its a cow she comes right at me and gets 5ft away and is trying to smell the end of my barrel :chuckle: she takes of and joins other elk and they move on down the hill. Rest of the day nothing happens I start to walk out where the elk came in and theres fresh bull urine everywhere ....dang-it he was there just outta sight.
The next am comes and Ill do the same thing..glass then move on...This time the bull bugles they are at the water! I move down to them they are gone now and silent! I decide to sit there for remainder of the day 9 hrs :chuckle: not a sound. At about 5:30 the bull bugles hes down from me,I race down draw to gain the wind advantage and hes above now chuckling and within 100 yards! I hear another bull ! move towards the bigger sounding one and spot him in a little opening at 80yards,but no shot! I hear yet another bull above and I am getting close....Its getting to 5 yards! I raise muzzy in hoped it clears the brush..its a guy calling and running! :yike: I motioned to him...he sees m... he motions for me to get up to him and informs me his nephew is just up ahead positioned he tells me to run over there and ill call him out. well before he gets back to call I see a little opening in the heavy timber about 70 yards and see what looks like a elk standing there..I look thru binos its the rag...I pull up muzzy and he begins to leave I cow call as hes quartering away and squeeze it off..cloud of smoke and silence and no idea of a hit at this point his nephew stands up who is in front of me and to the left!! :yike:..the caller runs up and asks if i hit I said no idea..just then we hear crashing and bull staggering out of timber and flips over into draw! woo hoo! I had to put one more in him as I broke his back. Ill get better pics up..bymyself and my camera died :bash:
wolf track
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi200.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa139%2Fshanewa300%2FIMG_20111001_171434.jpg&hash=0cdf5b6f1f4af10e02e29880e6a0d0930c4489f8)
The wallow I sat on
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi200.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa139%2Fshanewa300%2FIMG_20111003_095309.jpg&hash=66749a3ab993a9168cf7e9239b80f8d755d7ea87)
The bull
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi200.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa139%2Fshanewa300%2FIMG_20111005_123924.jpg&hash=3037f24c783bc8660814685c474075d399524dc4)
The Barnes mz I recovered
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi200.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa139%2Fshanewa300%2FIMG_20111003_225739.jpg&hash=fa73dc75319546ed01e7bcdbcb677cc4f166a41e)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi200.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa139%2Fshanewa300%2FIMG_20111005_132719.jpg&hash=62f11e9f9ea0af2dc2c44f77804b88c29ecc5f28)
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Good write up. Sounds like a great hunt with well earned results due to your patience.
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Great job! Looks like a nice bull!
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dscubame I didnt see u on your quad behind the gate :chuckle:
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So, what did the other guy and his nephew do? Patience kills! Congrats :tup:
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nice work, glad there was respect for other hunting parties out there in such intense situations.
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well I was a little irritated before I shot..I had spent 2 full days in there... I was parked right at canyon head and they knew I was in there..they just showed up at 5:00 pm The nephew had the bull at 30 yards and "click" they drug bull out for me in position to take care of it and they took off.
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Guy calling was a good guy....he killed a 350" bull up there somewhere..showed me a pic..a toad
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dscubame I didnt see u on your quad behind the gate :chuckle:
Touche. I think you know I do not go behind gates with a quad I do not have. :chuckle: Good job again, it is always nice to see success in the corner.
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it can be tough and extremely frusturating at times
on a side note today I saw 4 asians muzzy hunting with red and white and blue and white beach umbrelas :chuckle:
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it can be tough and extremely frusturating at times
on a side note today I saw 4 asians muzzy hunting with red and white and blue and white beach umbrelas :chuckle:
Those asians were us....and keep in mind that beach umbrella it might be useful for you next time in this rain. Oh and who's Jeep was it driving in closed gates? Do you know?
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I like that last picture. POM stuff.
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great story and congrats on the bull.... :tup:
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Good job. You really earned both your bulks this year.