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Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: X-Force on June 09, 2016, 05:41:21 AM


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Title: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on June 09, 2016, 05:41:21 AM
I have never hunted elk in Peaches but I put in for the first time this year and I totally feel like I'm going to draw(Quality Archery). If you could forward me to some starting points it would be much appreciated. Not asking for honey holes more like hell holes no one else would be dumb enough to be in...

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: D-Rock425 on June 09, 2016, 06:48:37 AM
Getting a little ahead of yourself don't you think?
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on June 09, 2016, 06:50:25 AM
How so?  :dunno:
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: D-Rock425 on June 09, 2016, 06:52:47 AM
I spend me early season in taneum every year and just about every year would have a legit shoot at shooting a branched bull so when I do draw I'll probably not even see a bull.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on June 09, 2016, 07:00:07 AM
Get some good Karma going and help a brother out.  :tup:
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: D-Rock425 on June 09, 2016, 07:06:00 AM
You will probably want to focus you hunt in 346 because it doesn't have a general season you will have less people for sure.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on June 09, 2016, 11:20:21 AM
So are there a lot of guys with knowledge of 346 or because its a draw only area very few guys actually spend time in there?
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: fishngamereaper on June 09, 2016, 11:26:41 AM
Normal elk tactics apply. North, steep, deep, timber, water....etc. The whole unit holds elk. Pick a spot and get to know it really well. If you draw you have all summer. If you are still having difficulty after a summer of scouting I will give you some direction.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: elkrack on June 09, 2016, 01:59:19 PM
I like the optimism  :tup:
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: MADMAX on June 09, 2016, 02:25:15 PM
Had it last year
hunted all the spots that held elk
no bowshot opportunities
you draw I'll give you some areas
like they all said already 346, grab a pck, hit a drainage and get out of the truck
if you look they are there
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: johnnyaustin44 on June 09, 2016, 02:33:03 PM
I spend me early season in taneum every year and just about every year would have a legit shoot at shooting a branched bull so when I do draw I'll probably not even see a bull.
That's how it goes. Trust me.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Deer slayer on June 09, 2016, 04:36:30 PM
Doesn't look like I will be hunting Bulls there this year. Have to love WA.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on June 10, 2016, 09:28:56 AM
 :IBCOOL:

Peaches Here I Come!!!!
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Rainier10 on June 10, 2016, 09:30:43 AM
:IBCOOL:

Peaches Here I Come!!!!
Congrats, I guess your feeling paid off.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on June 10, 2016, 09:32:20 AM
I had more points than I let on but to be honest I haven't hunted in there since 1997 or something like that. I used to deer hunt in that area. We saw elk but never focused on them.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Deer slayer on June 10, 2016, 10:05:07 AM

:IBCOOL:

Peaches Here I Come!!!!
Congrats, I guess your feeling paid off.
How many then?
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on June 10, 2016, 10:15:27 AM
8
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: jgeorgio on June 10, 2016, 10:44:35 AM
:IBCOOL:

Peaches Here I Come!!!!

Congrats man!! I'm so excited for you! The wives are going to think we left them!!   :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on June 10, 2016, 10:47:23 AM
 :chuckle:
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: saylean on June 10, 2016, 10:48:17 AM
How is it all my family and hunting buddies get drawn and I get the loser lounge with a glass half full of neat whiskey? No ice cubes, really!?

Congrats brother. Peaches will be awesome.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on June 10, 2016, 10:49:04 AM
How is it all my family and hunting buddies get drawn and I get the loser lounge with a glass half full of neat whiskey? No ice cubes, really!?

Congrats brother. Peaches will be awesome.

being a loving brother ill bring you some beer  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on June 10, 2016, 10:56:28 AM
:IBCOOL:

Peaches Here I Come!!!!

Congrats man!! I'm so excited for you! The wives are going to think we left them!!   :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup:

Time to plan a family camping trip
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: hiway_99 on June 10, 2016, 11:33:39 AM
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160610/8d7fcaa6c62f936e0920f93d62845b05.jpg)

Congratulations.  I say this guy up in peaches on Memorial day weekend.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: saylean on June 10, 2016, 12:15:08 PM
Knowing X-Force, he will pass on that bull in the beginning and end up killing a spike the last day.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on June 10, 2016, 04:23:40 PM
Knowing X-Force, he will pass on that bull in the beginning and end up killing a spike the last day.

That's because spikes are harder to find...   :tup:

Im in it for the challenge
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Wea300mag on June 10, 2016, 04:26:22 PM
Congrats X :tup:
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Rodney107 on June 10, 2016, 06:18:46 PM
Congrats.      Maybe I'll see u over there
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Matt M. on June 13, 2016, 05:50:27 PM
After 11 years finally I draw my quality Peaches archery tag as well, I have a lot of scouting to do over the summer too. I've only hunted the west side in my 32 year hunting career but have heard great things of these units any help would be much appreciated.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Quackwhacker on June 13, 2016, 06:09:33 PM
Going to be a few members in there. Can't wait!

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Jeremiah P on June 14, 2016, 08:25:30 PM
I was in the unit with my buddy who drew the tag lots last year. If u have the tag pm me and I'll give ya some starting points
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on July 11, 2016, 11:30:30 AM
Finally got in there this weekend. jg and I spent Saturday in 336 and Sunday in 346. Elk seem to be everywhere in the unit. We ended up seeing 30ish elk.

I didn't realize how many bike trails are in there. That will take some getting use to.

As of right now it looks like the only area off our list is the Wilderness because a buddy who we are hunting with has some mobility problems.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: scoutdog346 on July 18, 2016, 10:50:26 AM
There r many spots u can get into good wilderness areas 200 yards or less from the road in gmu 346. You could set him up in a blind or somthing in that kind of situation and u guys hunt around him and somthing will cross in front if him most likely. 
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Maverick on July 18, 2016, 12:50:32 PM
We'll be up there scouting during archery for my brother's rifle hunt. Brother and dad were up there yesterday again looking around. Ill be honest, after growing up hunting the blues the peaches ridge unit is really totally different. So much timber. Easy to see how there's good bulls in there.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: coachcw on July 18, 2016, 12:54:14 PM
theres places in there that no one in there right mind would want to go into . so I will tell you what there like .
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: elkboy on July 18, 2016, 01:21:53 PM
I drew Peaches archery.  Headed over this weekend to scout with a buddy.  I am just plain looking forward to hearing bulls bugle in the pre-dawn darkness...  Good luck, X-Force, hope you get one! 
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on July 18, 2016, 01:33:15 PM
There r many spots u can get into good wilderness areas 200 yards or less from the road in gmu 346. You could set him up in a blind or somthing in that kind of situation and u guys hunt around him and somthing will cross in front if him most likely.

This is kind of what i was thinking about and these are the areas where i have been looking via GE.

There is lots of deep timber. Almost all the elk we saw on our first scouting trip were in openings very near big timber or in it.

Ill be up scouting for goats on Saturday but next weekend I should be back into Peaches.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: scoutdog346 on July 21, 2016, 11:28:26 AM
I've seen goat as low as 3400feet in September in 346.  Do u have a goat tag?
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on July 21, 2016, 02:07:45 PM
I've seen goat as low as 3400feet in September in 346.  Do u have a goat tag?

My dad drew an Avalanche Gorge tag.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Tjv28 on July 21, 2016, 04:01:26 PM
Saw this guy up there while looking of elk.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Tjv28 on July 21, 2016, 04:02:47 PM
Whoops
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on July 21, 2016, 04:09:08 PM
Sweet.

On blaze?
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on August 29, 2016, 03:24:32 PM
Got up into Little Naches again this weekend. I was surprised that the gates that have been open all summer are now closed. Are the dirt bike trails in those areas closed now too?

There were elk about everywhere I went it was just a matter of getting into the thick stuff to find them.

2 more weeks.  :tup:
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Naches Sportsman on September 04, 2016, 09:25:58 PM
Got up into Little Naches again this weekend. I was surprised that the gates that have been open all summer are now closed. Are the dirt bike trails in those areas closed now too?

There were elk about everywhere I went it was just a matter of getting into the thick stuff to find them.

2 more weeks.  :tup:
Bike trails aren't closed. Gates up the 1911 may be closed the entire fall. All depends on what kind of access the nature conservancy wants to grant.

There's also been the case of one hunter putting his own locks on the gates he uses and locking them, but I haven't heard of complaints regarding that yet
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on September 04, 2016, 10:42:03 PM
Got up into Little Naches again this weekend. I was surprised that the gates that have been open all summer are now closed. Are the dirt bike trails in those areas closed now too?

There were elk about everywhere I went it was just a matter of getting into the thick stuff to find them.

2 more weeks.  :tup:
Bike trails aren't closed. Gates up the 1911 may be closed the entire fall. All depends on what kind of access the nature conservancy wants to grant.

There's also been the case of one hunter putting his own locks on the gates he uses and locking them, but I haven't heard of complaints regarding that yet

Interesting. I talked to a guy up in peaches that said the same thing about a hunting groups access.

1 week. I can't wait to chase some elk. If anyone on here will be up there pm me and I'll let you know where camp is and your more than welcome to stop by and bs.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on September 07, 2016, 12:35:32 PM
Its down to no sleep time...
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: D-Rock425 on September 07, 2016, 12:45:20 PM
Its down to no sleep time...
I don't even have a bull permit and it's down to no sleep.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Ccortez on September 07, 2016, 12:46:53 PM
Its down to no sleep time...

been there for a few weeks already lol
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Quackwhacker on September 07, 2016, 02:39:00 PM
Headed up tonight!

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Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on September 07, 2016, 03:06:47 PM
Headed up tonight!

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So jealous!!! I may have to skip Friday
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: jgeorgio on September 07, 2016, 03:22:14 PM
Headed up tonight!

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So jealous!!! I may have to skip Friday

Do it!!
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Ccortez on September 09, 2016, 09:50:21 AM
good luck  :tup:
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: jgeorgio on September 09, 2016, 11:00:44 PM
Good luck this weekend! Can't wait to join you next weekend till the end. BBD going to happen!

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on September 12, 2016, 10:56:12 AM
Fun first weekend. Saw a decent bull. Had multiple close encounters (bulls bugling within 100 yards) but no shot opportunities. Lots of thick country.

Heading back Thursday night... this time with a decent caller. Which I'm not!
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Rainier10 on September 13, 2016, 01:23:57 PM
Fun first weekend. Saw a decent bull. Had multiple close encounters (bulls bugling within 100 yards) but no shot opportunities. Lots of thick country.

Heading back Thursday night... this time with a decent caller. Which I'm not!
Not sure it was a calling thing.  They just weren't real responsive. They seem to be staging where they are going to be right now.  Just bugling to let you know "hey I am here".  Soon it will really turn on and they will be responding and wanting to do battle to get more cows or keep their harem in order.  Unfortunately I don't think that will really get going until Tuesday of next week.  When that happens they will sound off if you just whistle at them.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on September 13, 2016, 01:51:25 PM
I sure hope so. Going back Thursday to Thursday.

Cant wait to get back.

Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on October 06, 2016, 04:42:49 PM
We had a great trip. It would have been better had we tagged out but you cant beat a week in the woods, especially with good friends.

Friday we got to one of our spots and we had 3 or 4 bulls screaming at each other just down the draw. We made a move but the herds seemed to move out and up to their beds early. We followed the biggest sounding bull for an hour or more but he wouldn't come in..

After he went silent we backed out crossed the draw and started cow calling on the other side.

With in seconds a bull was bugling down our throats. We kept working in closer but couldn't find him so after 20 or 30 minutes we backed out and grabbed a bite.

We came up with a game plan to get within 80 yards of where we thought he was bedded and give it another shot.

We had 2 shooters and one caller when we fanned out we didn't give ourselves enough distance between our caller and the bull picked up some movement on his way in... He spun and was gone.

The rest of the day was trying to get the wind right to setup on bulls bugling, it wasn't easy, the wind was the hardest part about this trip.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on October 06, 2016, 04:56:30 PM
We averaged 8.5 miles a day and the vast majority of those miles were off trail. We got in elk every day but the thick vegetation and wind kept throwing us.

On Tuesday night our luck changed. We hit a new area and about an hour before dark the woods were filled with bugles. Our other shooter and caller setup in a clearcut about 1.5 hours before dark they had a 5 point and a group of cows working towards them. At about 100 yards the herd caught wind of them and scooted.

At the same time I was working though a different cut a half mile away. The place was dead but I figured if i didn't stay at it I wouldn't see anything. While sitting looking over a small draw I caught a bugle to my left about 200 yards. The wind was up and to my left, straight at the bugle so I jump down the draw head out about 500 yards and work my way back up to the bugle with the wind in my favor.

As luck would have it the wind within 80 yards of the bugle was exactly opposite of what I had sitting on the draw. The bull rips off another bugle. This time he is about 80 yards in jack pine and the wind is going right to left facing him. I drop my pack and boots and start working through the cut.

He rips off another bugle at 50 or 60 yards this time he is to my left almost to where my wind would hit him. I shuffle back 10 yards and try and get below him. He bugles again at less than 50 yards, I still cant see him through the jack pine and the light is fading fast. I hasten my pace. He either had to have caught my movement or went over the ridge without me seeing him because he was gone in a flash.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on October 06, 2016, 05:03:28 PM
As I was walking to the truck bulls were ripping bugles everywhere, I had to bump a bull out of the road because he thought the place was his.

The other guys were in elk thicker than I was with a lone bull. They had 2 herds descend on the same water hole they were on. 2 6 pt. bulls were screaming back and forth with cows running everywhere. It was chaos. Every time the guys would make a move the cows would catch them or a bull would slip just out of reach.

In order to not spook the herds the guys doubled back and took a mile detour to get back to the truck.

We ended the night with grins on our faces and bull bugles filling the night air.

Without a doubt Wednesday was going to be a boom day.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on October 06, 2016, 05:08:51 PM
Wednesday was a bust. Hardly any elk talking and we couldn't locate the herds from the night before. We spent much of the day out in the sun with the anticipation of the evening.

With about an hour left of light the bulls started sounding off again. I worked my way into a timber draw and had elk all around me. I kept working my way towards the nearest bugle but with so many eyes I didn't close the distance before light ran out.

Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on October 06, 2016, 06:13:59 PM
Thursdays plan was basically the same as Wednesday except to be more aggressive.

We got into the area well before first light and the woods were basically silent.

I caught a bull moving through a clear cut and I ran to get above him before he got to the timber. I moved to slowly and found him cutting into the timber out of range.

After a couple hours of nothing the guys and I met up and decided to go pull cameras. Maybe we would find something decent for the last evening.

At our first stop close to noon we huffed it down the trail towards our camera. I didn't think anything of flying down the trail because it was so late in the morning and there was almost no pressure in the woods. As I cam around a corner I looked up to see a decent 7 pt bearing down on me. He was maybe 50 yards away and moving fast towards me. I didn't see where i could get off the trail so I tried to pull and knock an arrow. My buddies said it looked like i was trying to fight the bushes around me because i was shaking so bad... Needless to say the bull got to about 25 yards looked up and spun out of there.

We did get a photo of him from a couple days before on the game cam but didn't see any point I chasing an elk who knew we were there.

We decided to go grab our last cam and on our way back we heard a bugle 300 or so yards from the truck. I opted to go find him while the guys checked the camera photos.

Checking the wind and as usual it was all wrong. The bull was directly up hill and the only way to him that I saw was up wind and around the hill. As I closed the distance he bugled again, he was probably 100 yards or so down hill and in a deep ravine. I picked my way down into the ravine skirting jack pines, crossing deadfalls, etc. I dropped about 60 yards and waited. After about 10 minutes I see a piece of elk and it was almost impossible to pull a range... finally 34 yards. Then 5 minutes later I spot a piece of elk at 15 yards, then another at 10 yards. I had to cows feeding from my left to my right, the same way the wind was blowing. They would wind me soon.

Without any sight of the bull I could only assume he was behind the cows. I could either back out and try from another angle or wait for the cows to wind me and see what happens.

After another minute or 2 the cows bust. The ravine was thick and they didn't bark, instead they backed out to 40 yards and started side hilling in the wide open. I set my pin to 40 and wait.

I hear the bull moving through the ravine... Im hoping for a 4 or 5 point... I cant see him but he keeps coming. Then I see white, ivory, and one of the biggest bulls on the hoof that I have ever seen. Looking back and my initial impression are the same... 350" but I am no elk score expert.

This dream bull is walking right towards the 40 yard trail and an easy shot.. Then he hesitates turns left and takes a distant 60 yard trail.

Im ranging him through the trees setting my pin to 65 and waiting for a shot opportunity. He walks up the trail hits the bench and walks back an forth on the rim trying to figure out what happened. I range again, the closest tree was 65 and I set my pin to 67 and wait... He finally turns broadside then quarter away. I draw, anchor my pin and have a good window. The shot felt great. After my earlier encounter in the day the nerves melted away and all i could do was focus on the shot. The arrow fell short. way short. What the heck!

(my best guess is that while on the bench he walked quarter away and was no as close to the tree as I thought)

The bull didn't know what was going on but he turned from the rim and walked away on the bench.

With only 2 hours left of light on the last day there was no hesitation. I take the same trail the cows were on and crest the bench only to see him slip into a cut on the far side. I keep working through the timber, sure the bull would want to meet up with his girls.

He was right on cue and walked back into the timber. I ranged the trail he was on, 50 yards, set my pin and drew back. He had no idea i was there. He didn't see or hear me. As he walked down the trail my only shooting lane was directly in front of me and he was moving left to right. Right before my shooting lane was a clump of trees to thick to see through and the bull stopped. He hung up there for what seemed to be an eternity. I wasn't about to let my draw down but i had to lower my bow arm. He was still hung up. I catch movement, bring my site picture into the shooting lane only to catch him turning 180 degrees and walking right back into the cut.

The cut was to think to see into 10-20 trees and stacked in like cord wood. He bugled a couple times but the gig was up.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: X-Force on October 06, 2016, 06:16:58 PM
I cant thank jgeorgio and AL enough for the effort they put in and the fun we had. It was a great week in the woods. A harvest would have topped the cake but we had some experiences that will last a lifetime.

I would also like to thank all the hunt-wa members who helped us in our scouting and hunting efforts.
 
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: Band on October 06, 2016, 09:00:00 PM
And I would like to thank X-Force & jgeorgio for going way out their way to round up my trail cams that I couldn't get due to a medical issue.  These are real quality guys!  If you guys are in need of information I can provide in the future I'll be the first one to step up! :tup:
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: johnnyaustin44 on October 07, 2016, 04:01:36 PM
Dang man. Sounds like a great trip. Unfortunate you didn't get to fill your tag.
Title: Re: Peaches Ridge Info
Post by: debord35 on May 18, 2019, 10:12:45 AM
Really cool stories!  Thanks for sharing!!!
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