Post by: Woodchuck on October 28, 2011, 12:29:46 PM
Post by: 400out on October 28, 2011, 12:49:50 PM
Congrats jager :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL:
Post by: Woodchuck on October 28, 2011, 12:51:08 PM
am told it is a 350+, 7x7 :yike:
Post by: 400out on October 28, 2011, 12:53:42 PM
Send him another text! I only have till 230-3 ;)
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 28, 2011, 12:53:56 PM
Post by: Woodchuck on October 28, 2011, 12:56:17 PM
Post by: runamuk on October 28, 2011, 12:58:39 PM
Post by: 400out on October 28, 2011, 01:01:40 PM
Well congrats but he knows the drill no pics it didnt happen :chuckle: :chuckle::yeah: Could have been shopped by now ;)
Post by: RaffleMule on October 28, 2011, 01:08:36 PM
None have gone 400' yet. ;)
Although there was one shot last night that is close!
Post by: 400out on October 28, 2011, 01:11:23 PM
Of course I'm reading this and going nuts at the same time....I have gotten more dead bull pics in the last week I'm beginning to wonder if there are any elk left. :bash::chuckle: :chuckle: wasn't trying to be mean! just thought that would bring you out of the wood works :chuckle: I'm possitive you will get your chance :tup: there's enough of us out there with eyes open for you!
None have gone 400' yet. ;)
Although there was one shot last night that is close!
Post by: runamuk on October 28, 2011, 01:13:14 PM
Well congrats but he knows the drill no pics it didnt happen :chuckle: :chuckle::yeah: Could have been shopped by now ;)
LOL......... one would think he could text me a darn photo....
Post by: Woodchuck on October 28, 2011, 01:13:40 PM
Post by: RaffleMule on October 28, 2011, 01:16:23 PM
I love seeing guys and gals shoot big bulls just as long as its not the one I want. :chuckle:
Post by: RaffleMule on October 28, 2011, 01:18:57 PM
I'm waiting for dust to settle..........then you'll see my ugly mug at the bar every night. They'll probably have to kick me out of town.
Post by: Woodchuck on October 28, 2011, 01:21:40 PM
Post by: colockumelk on October 28, 2011, 01:23:31 PM
Awesome! Can't wait to hear the story... :tup:
It was in the blues what story is there to tell. Drove around almost hitting multiple 400" bulls with my truck because they are docile like cattle over there. Finally I got sick of seeing so many big bulls that I shot one out of boredom. Drove the truck up to it but like all bulls in the Blues it was so big I needed to get a forklift to get it in the back of my truck. End of story. :tup:
Post by: 400out on October 28, 2011, 01:27:09 PM
cool story! I would imagine you took a camera with you on a hunt like that :dunno:Awesome! Can't wait to hear the story... :tup:
It was in the blues what story is there to tell. Drove around almost hitting multiple 400" bulls with my truck because they are docile like cattle over there. Finally I got sick of seeing so many big bulls that I shot one out of boredom. Drove the truck up to it but like all bulls in the Blues it was so big I needed to get a forklift to get it in the back of my truck. End of story. :tup:
Post by: runamuk on October 28, 2011, 01:28:43 PM
Awesome! Can't wait to hear the story... :tup:
It was in thebluescolockum what story is there to tell. Drove around almost hitting multiple 400" bulls with my truck because they are docile like cattle over there. Finally I got sick of seeing so many big bulls that I shot one out of boredom. Drove the truck up to it but like all bulls in theBluescolockum it was so big I needed to get a forklift to get it in the back of my truck. End of story. :tup:
fixed your spelling errors there
Post by: 400out on October 28, 2011, 01:34:59 PM
That was mighty white of you run :tup: keep up the good work!Awesome! Can't wait to hear the story... :tup:
It was in thebluescolockum what story is there to tell. Drove around almost hitting multiple 400" bulls with my truck because they are docile like cattle over there. Finally I got sick of seeing so many big bulls that I shot one out of boredom. Drove the truck up to it but like all bulls in theBluescolockum it was so big I needed to get a forklift to get it in the back of my truck. End of story. :tup:
fixed your spelling errors there
Post by: Woodchuck on October 28, 2011, 01:39:25 PM
Post by: yelp on October 28, 2011, 01:47:28 PM
Rosscrazyelk tells me Jager has a BBD!!!
Yeah baby!
Post by: Woodchuck on October 28, 2011, 01:48:55 PM
Post by: yelp on October 28, 2011, 01:50:39 PM
Post by: CedarPants on October 28, 2011, 01:50:53 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 28, 2011, 01:52:12 PM
Post by: GoldTip on October 28, 2011, 01:55:02 PM
Post by: runamuk on October 28, 2011, 01:56:37 PM
wow.... that is an awesome bull.....
Post by: Still Hunting on October 28, 2011, 01:57:44 PM
Post by: sebek556 on October 28, 2011, 01:59:10 PM
Post by: 400out on October 28, 2011, 02:05:18 PM
Post by: jackelope on October 28, 2011, 02:13:32 PM
Post by: Holg3107 on October 28, 2011, 02:17:54 PM
Post by: RaffleMule on October 28, 2011, 02:27:49 PM
Post by: hunter-4-life on October 28, 2011, 02:39:19 PM
Post by: WAmuleyHunter on October 28, 2011, 02:48:17 PM
Post by: BLUEBULLS on October 28, 2011, 02:52:59 PM
Post by: 724wd on October 28, 2011, 03:28:31 PM
Post by: steeleywhopper on October 28, 2011, 03:36:14 PM
Post by: SniperDanWA on October 28, 2011, 03:37:40 PM
Post by: HUNT on October 28, 2011, 03:43:49 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 28, 2011, 03:47:39 PM
Post by: cem3434 on October 28, 2011, 03:49:17 PM
Congrats to Jager on one heck of a bull.:yeah:
Post by: Machias on October 28, 2011, 03:54:49 PM
Post by: dirty24d on October 28, 2011, 03:55:49 PM
Post by: bighunter on October 28, 2011, 06:17:44 PM
Post by: MichaelD on October 28, 2011, 08:28:42 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 28, 2011, 08:45:27 PM
Post by: Huntbear on October 28, 2011, 09:58:38 PM
Post by: elkslayer069 on October 28, 2011, 11:43:49 PM
Post by: jamesjett on October 29, 2011, 02:35:16 AM
Post by: PolarBear on October 29, 2011, 04:35:10 AM
Post by: bucklucky on October 29, 2011, 08:03:12 AM
Post by: rosscrazyelk on October 29, 2011, 01:22:36 PM
Post by: Ripper on October 29, 2011, 02:05:56 PM
Post by: bearpaw on October 29, 2011, 02:23:06 PM
Post by: Todd_ID on October 29, 2011, 11:11:51 PM
Two thumbs up on a great bull!
Post by: TheHunt on October 30, 2011, 03:55:42 PM
Post by: LincolnTWilliams on October 31, 2011, 10:08:30 AM
I left him a message to e-mail pics asap :sry:
am told it is a 350+, 7x7 :yike:
Super awesome bull! Got me dying for season to start! Does he go 350?
Post by: Woodchuck on October 31, 2011, 10:19:50 AM
Post by: C-Money on October 31, 2011, 04:06:31 PM
Post by: firefighter4607 on October 31, 2011, 04:12:01 PM
Post by: jager on October 31, 2011, 08:38:21 PM
Heres a pic of the bull through the spotting scope at 694 yards...and another after the shot....Phone pics....
Multiple species for me on this trip!!! :IBCOOL:
Post by: kramer on October 31, 2011, 08:43:24 PM
Post by: bucklucky on October 31, 2011, 09:45:50 PM
Post by: CementFinisher on November 01, 2011, 02:00:09 AM
Post by: CementFinisher on November 01, 2011, 02:35:01 AM
Post by: yelp on November 01, 2011, 07:25:11 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on November 01, 2011, 07:31:02 AM
Post by: Hornseeker on November 01, 2011, 07:35:46 AM
Post by: washingtonmuley on November 01, 2011, 07:36:07 AM
Post by: WapitiChaser on November 01, 2011, 08:05:32 AM
All I can say is WOW!
Post by: 400out on November 01, 2011, 09:51:52 AM
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on November 01, 2011, 10:02:08 AM
Post by: woodywsu on November 01, 2011, 01:33:09 PM
Post by: Elkstuffer on November 01, 2011, 05:22:19 PM
Post by: buglebuster on November 01, 2011, 05:35:36 PM
Post by: h2ofowlr on November 01, 2011, 10:16:30 PM
Post by: pips4bucks on November 01, 2011, 10:50:39 PM
Post by: wsucowboy on November 02, 2011, 01:05:38 AM
Post by: jager on November 02, 2011, 02:08:28 AM
I meet woodchuck and his son that evening at my camp after their deer hunt that day….he willingly gave up some more areas to check out…I did keep asking though…I'm sure he was saying, "enough already".
The next three days were pretty uneventful as I hiked, glassed and found out the true joys of crawling over hundreds of yards deadfalls.
One of those days I spotted five cows and bedded 330-ish bull one morning that had one of his brow tines broken completely off. I watched him rise from his bed as he fed toward the bottom of the valley, not until stopping to thrash his antlers in a muddy spot on the side of the mountain. All while the crows were making quite a racket across the canyon. Pretty cool I must say! One day I had made a hike into what I would call, something close to hell….or heaven considering the sign in there. All of a sudden I heard a hunter bugling, and then more and more and more. what the…..?
After about fifteen bugles I realize this is not a hunter but an elk coming right towards me. He stops a couple hundred yards away but keeps bugling. I thought maybe he had bedded down, but there was no way I was going after him since I didn't bring a bugle…who knew…. it was late October and the season was still days away.
Post by: jager on November 02, 2011, 02:11:53 AM
About 45 minutes into the walk I noticed there were no birds…I must be in the spot or really close I thought. I'm creeping along and I simultaneously hear and see something at about forty yards and low to the ground…
It's a bear head looking right at me, or I guess trying to see me. His head goes sideways and goes down…What? Oh… he's laying on the kill or whatever food is there!
I can't tell how big he is so I slowly move up another ten yards to thirty yards. I continue to watch…I didn't want to shoot boo boo and I probably wouldn't shoot unless he was bigger than my last bears. I could never get a good enough look to determine his size.
Any little noise I would make he would lift his head and turn it trying to catch a scent of me. I watched for quite a while at one point even making a kissing noise so he would, maybe get up…not happening. This bear is full and sleepy. I watched him for probably an hour while he slept or dozed. I even managed to get a pic of him through my scope while he slept.
All this while I'm thinking do I even have a knife with me? This isn't the pack I was going to wear elk hunting, and I really didn't think I was going to shoot a deer…I mean come on!
After rolling onto his side for a while, he heard a truck. and decided it was time to go, as he got up slightly facing me, quartering to my left I could see the girth on him, his bow legs and the cool cream colored blaze on his chest. Oh yea he's big enough! He turns to my right and starts down the hill five steps his head is behind a tree now.. six steps I have no more shot opportunity.
Boom. He runs a few more steps, one somersault and he's down.
I walk over to where he was laying and spot the three point muley buck piled up against the tree. He had been chewed on a bit and nearly completely covered. Crazy!
As I walk up to the bear, he is indeed larger than any other bear that I have shot. In fact he's dang big! I can hardly move him. Then the reality sets in Knife? Check! Ummmm how am I going to get this thing out of here? Cell phone! Hey woodchuck this is jager…"I just shot a bear" "Where ya at" he says.
My son and I will be there in about 45 minutes and we have packframes…..Yes!
After a few hours of wrestling, skinning, and packing the bear we make it back to the road. I was amazed by their willingness to help out a total stranger like that! I mean, that basically killed the rest of there day to deer hunt. Very cool and very appreciated! We hung the meat and hide at his camp…ya know, I didn't have a meat pole. Wasn't planning on killing anything!
Post by: jager on November 02, 2011, 02:12:52 AM
Days two and three still no elk. Wow! I was hoping to at least locate an elk to try and put a stalk on it before the general opener. By now I'm starting to freak out a little. Am I going to eat this tag. I thought either my odds would go up cause the elk would be moving due to the pressure or… I wouldn't see any elk because of the pressure! I knew I was where the elk were just not at the right time.
Day four had me glassing an area that was very near an area that I hunted the day before that looked very promising. As I was straining to see something, anything I turn to see a guy walking up to me. "Ross"? I said. We had spoke on the phone only but I recognized him from his photos on here. He gave me a ton of info on that general area and we checked some spots out. We also ran into 257 Wby Mag, whose buddy had the tag and shot a really nice bull.
That evening I did end up seeing a spike and a 2x2 that I watched feed out of a valley and to the top of a ridge only to bed at dark on an old road at the top.
As I walk out in the dark I run into a guy on the road who is trying to get cell service. He says, Yea we just heard a bugle right below our camp, blew the cow call and had some cows come in. Really?
I'm bummed
I get back to my truck and rosscrazyelk is waiting there. He said these guys that I met last year left a note for me at my camp . They said they saw a big bull across the unit that morning. Lets call.
Back to his camp we go. Make the call and talk to the guys. I head out to their camp which is about 90 minutes away. On they way out I spot a really nice bull in the road where the guy with the phone was! Of course I'm going somewhere else!
Onward to meet these guys...
Super nice guys…Mike and Bill.
The tell me they were scouting for the opener spotted this bull in the morning….never saw him that evening.
I decide why not. I haven't been doing that great. It seems like a reliable sighting, what have I got to loose? Back to camp at eleven up at 4:15.
During the drive that morning I decide I 'll hunt this area in the morning then back where I hunted the previous two days.
As it starts to get light i find my way to the hill they described for me. Now if I were a bull where would I be? I basically picked up the binos and pointed them directly at the bull. That's got to be him!
He's bedded. I got up a little closer and set up the spotting scope.
His head is behind some trees and I cant make out the front of his rack. Those trees are also going to help me get closer.
I pass a small herd of muleys that has a couple of small bucks in it. If they spook this may be it. They didn't care.
Set up again. 7:30 694 yards. I think I can make it to 300 yards. And I'll be able to judge him better. I get a couple hundred yards closer and check him out through the spotter. I decide to make a stalk. I haven't decided if I'll shoot yet. About 9:15 I head down a rise only to pop out and not see the bull. He's up and feeding, heading uphill quartering to my right. I've got no rest the hill is so steep. I cross my left leg and lean way back. crank up the scope to 14x. Range him at 323 yards. He is in no hurry. I calm myself. I must say eerily calm…or at least that's what I'm convincing myself.
As i watch him I decide.. I AM going to shoot. He's going to take a few more steps and clear the trees…here he comes, stops…boom!
He didn't move. I rack the bolt and look away for about two seconds..he's gone!
I grab the binos and there he is…down not moving. I don't even think he took a step.
It takes me a good 40 minutes to get to him….I spot antlers…and they are not shrinking!
Holy cow! He's big! Really big! Bigger than I thought.
What an awesome animal. I spent several minutes looking him over. The size of this thing was amazing, not just the antlers. I was (am) ecstatic, relieved, and thankful...
After a few self timed photos…and several texts and calls It was all I could do to bone out one side of this beast. Thank god rosscrazyelk showed up with woody to help out with a couple of not so very light loads! You guys rock!
Deciding to go on this adventure alone...(well it was either that or don't go)
I called on some huge favors from guys that really don't know me!
The guys I met face to face..Woodchuck, rosscrazyelk. You guys were a huge,huge help!
Everyone that I contacted on the forum and pestered for info. Thank you!
I guess I just want to thank everyone that was willing to offer up info or lend a hand.
The crew at woodchuck's and rosscrazyelk's camp…you guys are great
I will leave all celebration and camp stories out in order to protect the innocent….or crazy!
Post by: denali on November 02, 2011, 02:19:46 AM
Post by: Woodchuck on November 02, 2011, 06:23:40 AM
Post by: SniperDanWA on November 02, 2011, 06:49:51 AM
Post by: TommyH on November 02, 2011, 06:59:01 AM
Post by: longashes on November 02, 2011, 06:59:44 AM
Post by: yelp on November 02, 2011, 07:11:14 AM
Post by: bucklucky on November 02, 2011, 08:54:36 AM
Post by: jager on November 02, 2011, 10:31:10 AM
Put the tape to him last night...358 5/8
Not that it matters....Great hunt! :)
Post by: 10heiau on November 02, 2011, 10:38:08 AM
Post by: Woodchuck on November 02, 2011, 10:45:15 AM
Oh no tell the stories, that is the stuff people want to hear, I know Ross's camp is a crazy bunch :chuckle:
Post by: jager on November 02, 2011, 11:22:13 AM
I helped him set up their sleeping tent. Came in after my hunt on Thursday for a little bit....They've got quite the cooking/ eating tents! and stopped by for a while on Saturday after I got the antlers and last load of meat out. Good bunch of guys though! His camp was 20-ish miles from mine.
Your camp on the other hand was "conveniently" located a few hundred yards from mine! :chuckle:
Hmmmm....golfball dents, wrecked 4 wheeler, repaired 4 wheeler, fire dancing, trying to exit the back of your truck on a 4 wheeler at 20mph in reverse, without the ramps! :yike:
It's a good thing I didn't have as much energy Sunday as I did Saturday night or It could've gotten really ugly!
Post by: Woodchuck on November 02, 2011, 11:32:27 AM
Post by: kck6894 on November 02, 2011, 12:19:12 PM
Well... unfortunately, I wasn't able to spend much time at Ross's camp.
I helped him set up their sleeping tent. Came in after my hunt on Thursday for a little bit....They've got quite the cooking/ eating tents! and stopped by for a while on Saturday after I got the antlers and last load of meat out. Good bunch of guys though! His camp was 20-ish miles from mine.
Your camp on the other hand was "conveniently" located a few hundred yards from mine! :chuckle:
Hmmmm....golfball dents, wrecked 4 wheeler, repaired 4 wheeler, fire dancing, trying to exit the back of your truck on a 4 wheeler at 20mph in reverse, without the ramps! :yike:
It's a good thing I didn't have as much energy Sunday as I did Saturday night or It could've gotten really ugly!
We apologize for the lack of entertainment. If you come back again we'll try to do something fun :tup:
Post by: Woodchuck on November 02, 2011, 12:31:50 PM
Post by: jmx369 on November 02, 2011, 12:33:53 PM
Post by: Scott on November 02, 2011, 04:13:26 PM
Post by: whacker1 on November 02, 2011, 05:19:45 PM
Post by: jager on November 02, 2011, 05:36:43 PM
Ohhh that was u camped at the pond!..Great story! Awesome Bull!
Was I in your spot?
Post by: Scott on November 02, 2011, 06:23:10 PM
Post by: jager on November 03, 2011, 01:22:06 PM
Post by: SnipeHunter on November 03, 2011, 01:30:43 PM
Nice job!
Post by: Woodchuck on November 03, 2011, 01:34:41 PM
On an interesting note...as I was skinning my bull, I noticed a little bruising on top of the head in front of the pedicles. As I continued on I found about a 3/4" of elk tine embedded in the skull behind the antlers....from this year....ouch!:yike: any pics of that?
Post by: Woodchuck on November 03, 2011, 01:35:45 PM
No! Not at all! We were out scouting last friday evening and noticed your camp down there. Then, i think we ran into woodchuck on his 4 wheeler getting ready to do some pullin. I'm not for sure though?!uh oh, I am busted. What were you driving Scott? Do we know each other?
Post by: Scott on November 03, 2011, 04:50:53 PM
Post by: Woodchuck on November 03, 2011, 04:54:34 PM
Post by: Scott on November 03, 2011, 05:08:16 PM
Post by: Woodchuck on November 03, 2011, 05:11:38 PM
The guy that was riding the wheeler is the one who decided ramps were for sissies :chuckle:
Post by: Scott on November 03, 2011, 05:18:34 PM
Post by: Woodchuck on November 03, 2011, 05:23:34 PM
Post by: Austrian Hunter on November 03, 2011, 05:42:17 PM