Post by: Biggerhammer on October 30, 2011, 12:17:42 AM
I was going and I was staying until I shot a bull, after the way my season had started. I told myself not to get all "Trophy bull gung ho" If it was decent, I was going to shoot it. I got out of town late Friday afternoon and got over in the unit. I received a important call I had been waiting on. Did a quick U turn and made tracks to where I needed to be at daylight.
Got there right at dark, wind howling and rain pounding down. Decided I wasn't going to even try setting a camp up in it. Spent a comfy night in the extra cab of my truck and was humping down the trail just before it was light enough to shoot.
I worked my way around the edge of a large timber basin with several nice finger draws rising to me, as I worked my way to the head of it. Like a neon sign saying "Shoot me" there he was. I knew it was a bull the moment I saw him. Due to the size of the body and his light buckskin body glowing in the sun. He was right at about 300 yards and feeding left to right on a real steep hillside across a steep ravine from me. He was in one of the few openings there were feeding towards heavy timber. It was now or never, confirmed the range. Got a good solid prone position on the bipod, did a quick check on the rifle and scope. I knew I would be six inches low at 300 yards, held accordingly and sent a Speer 350gr HotCore at 2800 fps from my 450 Remington Ultra Magnum, the hit flat crushed him!
Dead right there and rolled down into the timber out of sight and all was quiet but the ringing in my head from the muzzle brake.I stayed on the rifle and watched, I saw movement to the left of where my bull had rolled into the timber. I swung to it and watched a monster six point come out of the timber and walked back towards where my bull had gone down. The big bull just stood there watching towards the downed bull, I was thinking...Daaaaaaaaamn! I watched him for 5 min or so before he turned and fed away from my bull. All in all I was very pleased to fill my permit, would have loved to have shot big boy but it had been years since I had shot a mature bull and I was feeling fairly content watching big boy knowing I already had one on the ground.
A big THANKS! to Sled........ :tup:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi90.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk269%2Flandonmoses%2FIMG_4197.jpg&hash=c588e135479c41c36cf3634b888365c63cb12426)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi90.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk269%2Flandonmoses%2FIMG_4199.jpg&hash=bb6595fd5d941295538b4bac241442cc70d9c48e)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi90.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk269%2Flandonmoses%2FIMG_4205.jpg&hash=012cc8c8f3c1cc467e70fad0b2c40925d312e35a)
It's allot steeper than it looks in the photos, I know! :o
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi90.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk269%2Flandonmoses%2FIMG_4202.jpg&hash=407b8912940e91449ffecdd77fb6306819a0ae5a)
The recovered 350gr .458 cal Speer HotCore bullet, recovered weight 248.4. Found just under the hide on the off side.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi90.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk269%2Flandonmoses%2FIMG_4224.jpg&hash=d098d013707547b209e79749067cc3522af360be)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi90.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk269%2Flandonmoses%2FIMG_4226.jpg&hash=466799a86f4d30ff83e41e4c5e4f73672c43e293)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi90.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk269%2Flandonmoses%2FIMG_4234-1.jpg&hash=aacb9c81ac8e03fb06edc0cbcc312c9b4ecc1abf)
Post by: EDT on October 30, 2011, 12:35:45 AM
Post by: NWBREW on October 30, 2011, 02:18:06 AM
Post by: fishngamereaper on October 30, 2011, 08:00:43 AM
Dont worry about the 6by....Ill kill him next year for ya :chuckle:
Post by: MichaelD on October 30, 2011, 08:56:21 AM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 30, 2011, 09:09:34 AM
Post by: cle elum bowhunter on October 30, 2011, 09:33:01 AM
Post by: PolarBear on October 30, 2011, 09:40:04 AM
Post by: jstone on October 30, 2011, 10:04:56 AM
Post by: gonehuntin68 on October 30, 2011, 10:09:11 AM
Post by: ribka on October 30, 2011, 10:40:49 AM
A lot of nice bulls in Observatory
Post by: Machias on October 30, 2011, 12:47:48 PM
Post by: bgreen on October 30, 2011, 02:15:38 PM
Post by: PlateauNDN on October 30, 2011, 02:30:55 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 30, 2011, 02:54:57 PM
Post by: SuperDave on October 30, 2011, 03:14:07 PM
Post by: SniperDanWA on October 30, 2011, 04:42:10 PM
Post by: muledeer78 on October 30, 2011, 05:12:26 PM
Post by: demontang on October 30, 2011, 07:35:48 PM
Post by: 250savage on October 31, 2011, 05:46:10 AM
Post by: Fullabull on October 31, 2011, 03:34:50 PM
Post by: C-Money on October 31, 2011, 04:01:42 PM
Post by: Dan-o on October 31, 2011, 04:35:08 PM
Kinda surprised the shock wave from the 450 Ultra Mag didn't kill the other bull as well. Crap, that is one impressive looking round if I ever need to kill a rogue elephant, I know who I'm calling. And that is not a slam at using too big a gun. I'd say it killed him just right.
I hope you're able to enjoy the memory for many, many years.
Dan
Post by: hunterofelk on October 31, 2011, 04:47:42 PM
Post by: Biggerhammer on October 31, 2011, 05:00:32 PM
I shot a four point bull and had a herd of cows and a six point come running out into the open. I would have never known he was there if I hadn't shot.
Believe you me! I know your pain!! :bash: