Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Rainier10 on July 29, 2021, 08:55:36 AM
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@jackelope texted me and said winning numbers were posted. I went to site but you couldn’t enter a number like in the past. I had tickets in my wallet that I had bought the week before. No winner. Looking at those ticket numbers and the winning number I could see that the winner had been sold early.
I had bought tickets May 8th but they were at home on my nightstand. I know they call winners before posting the results but I wanted to know if I was close so I headed home to check.
In the door and straight up to my bedroom when I got home. Three feet from my nightstand my phone rings and it is a 360 number. “Hello is this Rick?” Yes. “This is Katie from the WDFW and I’m calling to let you know you won the east elk raffle.”
Unbelievable. I’m not sure the shock has worn off but I did get a letter in the mail yesterday confirming that I won the east elk raffle.
I had the colockum archery tag in 2017 and have wanted to do this hunt again every since I ate the tag back then.
I am beyond stoked. I have a cabin in 328 and will be hunting exclusively there all of September with my bow. If I can’t get me big into range I’ll use my new RBros rifle but would rather do it with a bow. I can hunt until December 31st. After the first week of October if I still have the tag I will switch to the gun and if the opportunity presents itself that I can use the bow I will.
I also have a pretty epic archery hunt with my daughter this year as we drew late archery tags in the Entiat together. Last year I had the hunter Ed incentive tag in the Entiat.
Just like 2017 I will update this thread as I go.
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Here is the story from 2017
https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,218239.0.html
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Awesome man, Congratulations. :IBCOOL:
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Awesome!!!! What a bad azz hunt you have ahead of you!!! Congrats!
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Stoked for you buddy! If you're around next weekend when I run up there ive still got primers for you :chuckle: now that you're Jon's competition i can't guarantee they will go pop though :peep:
:chuckle:
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Gonna be an adventure to be sure!
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Wow you have been on quite the streak with pulling tags, congrats should be awesome!
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So dang cool! Congrats! Tag of a lifetime!
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Stoked for you buddy! If you're around next weekend when I run up there ive still got primers for you :chuckle: now that you're Jon's competition i can't guarantee they will go pop though :peep:
:chuckle:
Thanks man. I will be up there this weekend and next weekend, text me and we can meet up.
I hope Jon gets a smoker. I have given permission to another member whose wife drew the muzzy bull tag. Hopefully we all tag out on a nice one.
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Wow you have been on quite the streak with pulling tags, congrats should be awesome!
No kidding, I thought I was lucky getting a second deer tag finally lol
Good luck on your hunt, looking forward to following along.
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Congrats! Can’t wait to see how it pans out for you. Sounds like you have a blast of a year ahead.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Stoked for you buddy! If you're around next weekend when I run up there ive still got primers for you :chuckle: now that you're Jon's competition i can't guarantee they will go pop though :peep:
:chuckle:
Thanks man. I will be up there this weekend and next weekend, text me and we can meet up.
I hope Jon gets a smoker. I have given permission to another member whose wife drew the muzzy bull tag. Hopefully we all tag out on a nice one.
I've got a sneaking suspicion that the seasons will play out exactly like that :tup:
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Really really happy for you, buddy.
I cut back to 1 IPA per night and have made threats to my wife that I'm going to start using her peloton but she said she doesn't want me to sweat on it so maybe I'll just go find a steep hill to walk my dogs up and down a few times every night.
Can't wait to watch this play out.
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Super cool. Have a fun hunt. Sounds like you guys are on a good luck streak on these hunts lately with drawing. Can't wait to see a whopper. Or at least a great experience.
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Sweet! The luck of the draws has been way good to you! Very cool to get to see your raffle tag and some of the other guys tags play out and get to follow along with your thread. Best of luck!
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Is it me or does it feel like the same people every year win coveted tags haha
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Maybe, but it's really cool when it happens to one of the best humans on the planet. :twocents:
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Maybe, but it's really cool when it happens to one of the best humans on the planet. :twocents:
agreed never met him but super happy for him
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Best of luck! What a great opportunity. :tup:
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
Tagging along for sure.
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I am a little concerned about the woods being open or not. I would really like to do this in September. The season is long with this tag so at some point the woods will be open but for me this experience is going to be about bugling bulls and my bow. Inches of antler will certainly come into the decision with such a liberal season I don't have to settle. Of course in 2017 I had a 14 day season and ate the tag versus settling. No way do I eat this one. 375 is the mark and I am pretty confident I can get close or over the 400" mark if I hold out to December. I will be shocked if I still have a tag come November if the woods are open in September.
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Excellent! A huge CONGRATS to you mister.
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Congratulations. Hope you smoke a big one.
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its a ok tag ;)
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Congrats! You must have appeased the draw Gods :chuckle: :tup:
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Congratulations. Nobody has asked yet, how many tickets did you end up purchasing?
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Congratulations. Nobody has asked yet, how many tickets did you end up purchasing?
I purchased the winning ticket. :chuckle:
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:tup:
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Congrats! Enjoy your season! :tup:
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Congratulations. Nobody has asked yet, how many tickets did you end up purchasing?
I purchased the winning ticket. :chuckle:
:tup:
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Congratulations. Nobody has asked yet, how many tickets did you end up purchasing?
I purchased the winning ticket. :chuckle:
:tup:
I had some losers also but I tend to focus on the positive. @jackelope and @Woodchuck will tell you I'm a "half full guy".
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So I have this tag and have my idea of how it should play out. I have a cabin in the only unit I care to hunt. I have elk that wake me up in the morning on my property and my hunting grounds are the NF just a 15 minute drive from my front door. I plan to have lots of friends and family tag along on different days and hope to hunt 21-25 days out of September. After October/November all units on the eastside are in play but I would still really prefer to shoot one in my home unit.
If you had this tag where would you hunt, who would you bring along and how many days would you hunt?
It only takes one ticket to win.
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Congratulations. Nobody has asked yet, how many tickets did you end up purchasing?
I purchased the winning ticket. :chuckle:
:tup:
I had some losers also but I tend to focus on the positive. @jackelope and @Woodchuck will tell you I'm a "half full guy".
Probably closer to 3/4 full. Lol
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I'd plan on 20+ days of scouting and on sept 1 I would tag out :chuckle:
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I'd plan on 20+ days of scouting and on sept 1 I would tag out :chuckle:
:chuckle: That is exactly what you would do. You guys are going to have a blast.
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That's fantastic, Rick. Congratulations. I'm sure you will make the most of it.
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So I have this tag and have my idea of how it should play out. I have a cabin in the only unit I care to hunt. I have elk that wake me up in the morning on my property and my hunting grounds are the NF just a 15 minute drive from my front door. I plan to have lots of friends and family tag along on different days and hope to hunt 21-25 days out of September. After October/November all units on the eastside are in play but I would still really prefer to shoot one in my home unit.
If you had this tag where would you hunt, who would you bring along and how many days would you hunt?
It only takes on
e ticket to win.
I would take your new best friend!!!!
Hi, my name is Dan
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What an adventure in store for you! I was about 10 minutes up Blewett pass a week and a half ago heading north to retrieve property from my cabin (that didn't burn thank goodness) and I saw two enormous bulls cross the highway. It was at night but I could see them clearly. The velvet makes the antlers look bigger but dang, the bases looked as round as a large orange. I think that might be in 328. Either way, I think your area is going to treat you well. Best of luck!
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A big congrats!! This will be a tough season to top. I know you will make the best of it. Looking forward to reading about your adventures. :tup: :tup: :tup:
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Well if you find one that is just under your expectations you could tie it to a tree for my Colockum archery tag.
I would say see you up there during the season but I am going to guess with your 10 day head start you will done before I get my bow out of the truck.
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If you had this tag where would you hunt, who would you bring along and how many days would you hunt?
Congrats, looking forward to following along.
as far as who I would bring, best caller I could find, with a strong back not pressed to have to get home during the arranged time. ( if you can find someone who fits all of those. ).
I imagine it will be some of all of those on a rotating basis.
To Dan-o's point, where do folks apply for the raffle tag to tag along with the actual raffle tag holder :chuckle:
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Congratulations you are on a role the last couple years!
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Couple of updates on the process.
I received a letter from WDFW stating that I had won the raffle and if I had not already been contacted via phone and accepted the tag to please contact them and confirm that I wanted the tag.
I had already been contacted on the phone so I did not reach out to them and confirm again.
A couple of days after receiving the letter I got an email showing that a raffle elk tag had been added to my hunting authorizations. I assume in the next few days I will receive a second elk tag that says raffle on it in the mail.
I am going to need to notify the local WDFW office of the area and time I will be hunting. I had to do that with an incentive tag I had last year for deer. It gives them the heads up when they get a call about a guy dumping a giant bull when a traditional season is not open in the area.
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It's an additional elk tag right? Not replacing your current tag?
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It's an additional elk tag right? Not replacing your current tag?
Correct. It is a second elk tag.
I was lucky enough to draw a multiseason elk tag this year as well so if I wanted I could hunt bulls on the west side with my general tag and hunt bulls on the eastside with this raffle tag.
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That's awesome, it's good to be you!
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Congrats, Epic year ahead for you...........and Whirlpool (unless you already have several freezers):chuckle: :chuckle:
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Have fun and enjoy it!
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Congratulations! Can't wait to hear the rest of this story unfold!
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Congrats, sounds like your in for an amazing year. Good luck !!
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Congrats, I’m jealous… I guess you can’t win if you don’t play! Good luck!
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Getting excited.
Heading out Friday to hunt the holiday weekend. Back to work for 4 days and then hunting the 11th &12th. Back to work and kids sports. Hitting it hard the 16th until the end of the month.
All of that is subject to change if either of those first two weekends it is just crazy with activity. I really think it will happen the around the 22nd but who knows.
The plan is still to do it with the bow and break out the gun in December. Bow is dialed in to 50 yards. I have pins and can hit a target just fine to 90 but really want it to be inside of 50. The gun is dialed to more than I can shoot, inside of 400 is what I am comfortable with.
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Do you have a target bull located yet?? How fricken fun!!!!!
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I like this guy but my buddy said no. :chuckle:
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Do you have a target bull located yet?? How fricken fun!!!!!
Or a benchmark of larger than.....
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My mark is 375 plus or minus.
I had two bulls shed on my place last year. With a 40" spread credit one of them was 401" the other was 365".
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Can’t wait to see what you fill this tag with. Hopefully you can get some sleep sometime between now and opening day. I can’t imagine your able to think about anything but elk right now
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My mark is 375 plus or minus.
I had two bulls shed on my place last year. With a 40" spread credit one of them was 401" the other was 365".
Find that 400'' bull!!!! any pics of his sheds?
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Can’t wait to see what you fill this tag with. Hopefully you can get some sleep sometime between now and opening day. I can’t imagine your able to think about anything but elk right now
I have actually slept rather well. There is really no pressure as I am confident with a 4 month season and any weapon I will fill the tag but there is plenty of other stuff to be nervous about.
I am a little nervous about the season starting in two days and not being there for the opener. I just can't hunt everyday of this and I want to pick the most productive days.
Traditionally in the area that I am going to hunt somewhere around the 13th-15th is when it turns on. Also as stated in another thread it really gets crazy right after archery and before muzzy.
The other thing that has me wound up is the land being closed. My favorite spot is closed. I really hope it opens before the end of September. Walk in only would be fine with me. I would walk miles to be able to hunt this one spot that I absolutely love.
The last thing that has me nervous is what kind of pressure might be on this unit with so many others burning up. I fear it is going to get crowded.
My mark is 375 plus or minus.
I had two bulls shed on my place last year. With a 40" spread credit one of them was 401" the other was 365".
Find that 400'' bull!!!! any pics of his sheds?
I think I know where he is but haven't got him on camera this year. He was in bad shape last year, I think he was injured fighting. That may affect his antler growth this year. Unfortunately I don't feel comfortable posting pics until this is all over. I may post pics of what I am passing on but not sure about that either. I will be letting a couple of the other permit holders know what I am passing in case they want to fill a tag.
There will be one less tag holder hunting where I am going. A recipient of the terminally ill tag filled his tag on great bull in a different unit. I am so happy for him and the team that helped him.
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I have seen a couple bulls but not quite the class you are looking for. I would not be against you sending me any pics of ones you are passing to see how they compare to the ones I have seen. The ones I have seen I would love to find bigger for my tag but I would be lying if I said I wouldn't shoot one if I was in range of my bow.
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Best of luck. Can't wait to hear about your epic upcoming year. Gonna be a good one.
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Good luck this weekend, enjoy it!
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Thanks for all the well wishes.
FYI I couldn't sleep last night. That's where I am at, this is getting real. :chuckle:
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Glued to this thread! It’s my number one thread for a while!!
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I need to reach out to @PlateauNDN and text him updates. He can write the story here and glorify as only he can. :chuckle:
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Not gonna lie, being at work on opening day seems wrong and is driving me crazy. :bash:
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I thought that was going to be an update that you already killed Mr big.
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Tonight is opening night. Leaving work at 1pm today and hope to poke around my property a little tonight and see what is going on. If I don't see anything promising on my place I will head up into the national forest in the morning and take a look around.
Unbelievably excited to finally hit the woods and start hunting.
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I will be up there Sunday scouting. You have my number if you need help hit me up.
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Here we go!!!!!!
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YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Best of luck. Soak it all in. Who is holding your arrows for you? :chuckle:
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Best of luck. Soak it all in. Who is holding your arrows for you? :chuckle:
I get the bow and arrows. My best friend Kenny is holding the rifle and bullets. Micah won't be there until next weekend. They were both voters on shoot or don't shoot last year for the entiat buck tag that @opdinkslayer let me use his rifle for.
I really don't expect to shoot one this weekend. I am scared I am going to pass something I will regret not shooting but it is what it is.
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Here is a little horn porn.
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Just can't pull the trigger yet, too soon. Very nice bull but just can't do it.
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No, that’s not a shooter!! You have a caller with you??
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No, that’s not a shooter!! You have a caller with you??
Yes, only one this weekend. Like I say this weekend is just poking around a little. Next weekend and the last week and a half of the month I will have two callers.
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Sir, please remove your broadheads from your arrows and step away from your bow.
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Sir, please remove your broadheads from your arrows and step away from your bow.
:yeah: :chuckle:
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If it doesn't make your drawers hit the floor DO NOT SHOOT!
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If it doesn't make your drawers hit the floor DO NOT SHOOT!
:yeah:
That is great advice!
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How big is the bull in pic? 320-330 ish? Not a drawer dropper but he looks cool.
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Two bulls tonight, one in range but no bow, didn’t want to be tempted.
The one in range was a satellite the one out of range had a bunch of cows.
Lots of deer and lots of small bucks all on my property. Half were hard horned half in velvet.
Got into a bear or cougar checking cams at my creek. Looking through photos now to see if I captured it before I got there.
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Well that was a long day. Three good bulls at first light but no opportunity. Well I could have shot one with a gun but I really want to do it with my bow.
Slow evening hunt so my buddy says let’s go look for a bear. Ok. We get to the spot, see two deer, well no bears here with those deer being so calm.
15 seconds later two more deer coming running out of the brush, right behind them is a jet black bear. I grab the brand new RBros 300 win mag, range the bear at 341 yards, know the drop is ten inches and squeeze one off. Bear jumps and runs straight downhill. Pauses for a second and I touch off round number two. Bear starts tumbling.
30 minutes until it starts getting dark so the race is on. Not much blood but we find the bear not far from where I saw him rolling.
We break him down and head out. Just made it back to cabin. I’m too old for this.
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Only photo I got.
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Pretty good one!
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Awesome. Great bear. Should sleep good tonight
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That is a good bear!
You are making this even more epic.
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Solid bear! Helps with itchy trigger finger! To get to shoot something.
I’m a meat hunter when it comes to elk. I have a tag that I hope to notch on my first ever solid bull this year but really hard to pass on legal elk for me. I got crazy lucky and got a cow elk the other day and now with some elk in the freezer I might be able to hold off for the first solid 5 I see lol.
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Thanks guys.
Wind howling this morning going to be tough hunting for elk today and I’m out of bear tags.
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Thanks guys.
Wind howling this morning going to be tough hunting for elk today and I’m out of bear tags.
oh come on if you didn’t hunt in the wind in Ellensburg you’d never be able to hunt. :chuckle: Grats on the bear!
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Great bear! Congrats! :tup:
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Cleaned up the bear hide a little after not seeing anything close to the cabin this morning. Wind was brutal most of the day.
Hit one of my hotspots for the evening hunt. Called in a silent 6x6, nice bull but not what I’m hoping for.
Saw three other bulls in a bachelor group, all 6x6’s.
Check one last spot before dark and had a really nice 6x6 at 60 yards. With a general tag I would have made a play to get him closer but not with this tag.
It’s just not happening yet. They are calling a little and kind of grouping up but in two or three weeks it will be nuts.
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Nice bear!
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Great morning of elk hunting.
Nice 6 point with ten cows and two decent six points with 40 cows.
I figured the big one was 375 and the two small ones were 320-350. I decided to make a play for the 375. I got the cows to come by at less than 40 yards. As usual the bull didn’t read the script and walked by just over the rise at 60 yards.
That group worked down to the others. I decided to back out and let them be. It was just at my mark and early in the season. I took a good look at them all and when the bulls were side by side. The big one may have been over 375. I hope I don’t regret that.
This hunt has been a blast so far. Big bulls everyday. Heading home for work and kids volleyball games. I’ll be back at it next weekend.
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That’s a big bull!! 375 would be a great bull to kill!
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Man not till next weekend? Not to be selfish but I don’t know if I can wait that long for another update. Glad to hear you’re getting on bulls every day. Sounds like a blast
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That’s a big bull!! 375 would be a great bull to kill!
:yeah: So when does the rifle start getting packed along?
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That’s a big bull!! 375 would be a great bull to kill!
:yeah: So when does the rifle start getting packed along?
The rifle is always close by but I really want to do this with my bow. With the season going until the end of the year there will be plenty of opportunity to take one with a rifle in December.
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Man not till next weekend? Not to be selfish but I don’t know if I can wait that long for another update. Glad to hear you’re getting on bulls every day. Sounds like a blast
The action should be way better next weekend. I may just keep hunting if it does.
I am taking the bear to the taxidermist tomorrow after work then have volleyball games for my daughter the next two nights.
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That’s a big bull!! 375 would be a great bull to kill!
:yeah: So when does the rifle start getting packed along?
The rifle is always close by but I really want to do this with my bow. With the season going until the end of the year there will be plenty of opportunity to take one with a rifle in December.
Good on ya! Was talking with a buddy about how we would go about it in your shoes. I’m a really good arm chair quarterback lol. Give it hell with the bow, be picky and then “worst case” you can wait until the snow flies in the winter and bust out the bullets instead of the arrows. Great bear and sounds like a dream hunt so far!
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So you would shoot a 375 bull or not?
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So you would shoot a 375 bull or not?
Short answer yes but it’s complicated. I very well may end up shooting one under that as well.
I want screaming bulls going nuts in my face. If it’s a 360 bull and all of my buddies are there, I have my bow drawn, the elk is at 30 yards and it just seems right I might just take it.
Today was day three, only one buddy there and it didn’t work out. The elk were and still are on my property. I didn’t want to push it, didn’t want to tag out without more people there and really don’t want it to be over just yet.
It’s tough to explain. It’s not about inches of antler for me but at the same time I do want to shoot a big one because they are way tougher to kill. It’s really about the experience that will trump inches.
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So you would shoot a 375 bull or not?
Short answer yes but it’s complicated. I very well may end up shooting one under that as well.
I want screaming bulls going nuts in my face. If it’s a 360 bull and all of my buddies are there, I have my bow drawn, the elk is at 30 yards and it just seems right I might just take it.
Today was day three, only one buddy there and it didn’t work out. The elk were and still are on my property. I didn’t want to push it, didn’t want to tag out without more people there and really don’t want it to be over just yet.
It’s tough to explain. It’s not about inches of antler for me but at the same time I do want to shoot a big one because they are way tougher to kill. It’s really about the experience that will trump inches.
You explained it just right.
It's about the epic adventure with family and friends.
Thanks for letting us tag along.
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sounds like a great weekend of hunting. I have a feeling things will work out just perfectly for you and you'll kill a big bull with friends around.
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It's like an adventure that should never end and you're treating it as such! :tup:
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It's like an adventure that should never end and you're treating it as such! :tup:
It really is. I kick myself a little for not trying harder yesterday at that bull but one of my buddies was not there and it just wouldn't have been as good without him there. I felt bad enough about the bear and him not being there.
Plus packing the bear out sucked, I am going to want him there to embrace the suck when I get the big bull. Misery loves company.
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It's like an adventure that should never end and you're treating it as such! :tup:
It really is. I kick myself a little for not trying harder yesterday at that bull but one of my buddies was not there and it just wouldn't have been as good without him there. I felt bad enough about the bear and him not being there.
Plus packing the bear out sucked, I am going to want him there to embrace the suck when I get the big bull. Misery loves company.
Ha haaa! Good on you to require the friends' presence. It'll be bittersweet misery which is just hard work that'll make you feel good in this scenario. Looking forward to more of this thread
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Go get em! Love it man, you're going to get exactly what you're looking for.
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Back at it today but not going full throttle. No point in blowing myself out before it’s crazy. Saw this guy today.
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Someone would need to hide my arrows and my ammo.
Simply awesome.
Thanks for sharing.
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Someone would need to hide my arrows and my ammo.
Simply awesome.
Thanks for sharing.
:yeah:
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Sunday we heard more bugles but we had to pull out and head back to my cabin. A guest had shot a 2x3 mule deer and needed help recovering it. He made a great shot at 20 yards. The deer didn't go more than 60 yards before expiring. It was an absolute joy to have him there for the weekend. I hope he returns to hunt with us again next year. He is 82, sharp as a tack, a hunter ed instructor and a true sportsman.
Back at work today. Meetings tomorrow, volleyball game for my daughter Wednesday night and then it is on like Donkey Kong Thursday morning.
Action should get hot and heavy after that for the rest of the month.
I will try to keep the updates coming but I imagine it will be more difficult as things really ramp up.
I had a smoker of a bear on game camera, I'll be buying that second bear tag.
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Good to see all this action. Can't wait to see what you drum up. :tup:
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Still at work and kicking myself for not being in the woods. This is it. The 13th-15th is when the switch goes on in my area. 20 years of hunting there and 90% of the time it happens on one of those days and then just gets better.
I will be there the 16th and it will be game on.
I just described this to another member and I think this sums up my hunt.
People would probably puke at some of the huge bulls that presented easy shots with a gun and an even easier pack out but that is not what it is about for me.
I want the experience, I want long hard hikes, I want spoiled opportunities, I want it all to come together in the biggest hole there is on the mountain and have a brutal pack out of an amazing animal with my buddies complaining the entire time about "why didn't you shoot the 375" bull in the driveway the first weekend?".
It is that experience that I long for, the trophy on the wall will be a constant reminder of this amazing experience. The inches of antler won't matter, they will be impressive I am sure but the experience that they will remind me of will be worth so much more.
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Still at work and kicking myself for not being in the woods. This is it. The 13th-15th is when the switch goes on in my area. 20 years of hunting there and 90% of the time it happens on one of those days and then just gets better.
I will be there the 16th and it will be game on.
I just described this to another member and I think this sums up my hunt.
People would probably puke at some of the huge bulls that presented easy shots with a gun and an even easier pack out but that is not what it is about for me.
I want the experience, I want long hard hikes, I want spoiled opportunities, I want it all to come together in the biggest hole there is on the mountain and have a brutal pack out of an amazing animal with my buddies complaining the entire time about "why didn't you shoot the 375" bull in the driveway the first weekend?".
It is that experience that I long for, the trophy on the wall will be a constant reminder of this amazing experience. The inches of antler won't matter, they will be impressive I am sure but the experience that they will remind me of will be worth so much more.
Yaassss!!! Preach!!
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If the bull in the driveway was 376" would you have shot him?
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If the bull in the driveway was 376" would you have shot him?
377 or bust.
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Im not beetling it unless its 380 or bigger :chuckle:
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Im not beetling it unless its 380 or bigger :chuckle:
You’re gonna beetle it and you’re gonna like it mister!
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Still at work and kicking myself for not being in the woods. This is it. The 13th-15th is when the switch goes on in my area. 20 years of hunting there and 90% of the time it happens on one of those days and then just gets better.
I will be there the 16th and it will be game on.
I just described this to another member and I think this sums up my hunt.
People would probably puke at some of the huge bulls that presented easy shots with a gun and an even easier pack out but that is not what it is about for me.
Very well said. Enjoy all the encounters you come across. Good luck on your hunt.
I want the experience, I want long hard hikes, I want spoiled opportunities, I want it all to come together in the biggest hole there is on the mountain and have a brutal pack out of an amazing animal with my buddies complaining the entire time about "why didn't you shoot the 375" bull in the driveway the first weekend?".
It is that experience that I long for, the trophy on the wall will be a constant reminder of this amazing experience. The inches of antler won't matter, they will be impressive I am sure but the experience that they will remind me of will be worth so much more.
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Now it’s almost go time. Got my tag wallet in the mail today. Comes with the tag wallet, two sets of adjustable and reusable zip ties. Large set for my elk and a smaller set for my late archery entiat deer tag. Also came with a couple of stickers for the truck to let the critters know I mean business.
Thanks @rosscrazyelk a forum business sponsor for the awesome product.
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Good reminder, I need to order one of those.
Good luck!
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Good reminder, I need to order one of those.
Good luck!
They are onsale for $12 on the website. www.crazyelkcompany.com
They make great xmas gifts for your hunting buddies.
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Just placed my order, I like the orange color, white tags are too easy to lose in game bags or left attached to bones.
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Now it’s almost go time. Got my tag wallet in the mail today. Comes with the tag wallet, two sets of adjustable and reusable zip ties. Large set for my elk and a smaller set for my late archery entiat deer tag. Also came with a couple of stickers for the truck to let the critters know I mean business.
Thanks @rosscrazyelk a forum business sponsor for the awesome product.
Thanks for the support.. good luck on the hunt...cant wait to see pictures.
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Good reminder, I need to order one of those.
Good luck!
Use my code “Michael” to receive 20% off
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Great night.
I may be done tomorrow.
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Nobody likes blue balls! Tell us more!
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Some good bulls, it’s starting to happen.
Heading to bed, big day tomorrow.
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:o
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He's talking about being done with his second bear tag guys. He's not going to tag out yet, the fun is just getting started.
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There’s one less 400” bull roaming the woods, better get on it. Have a great hunt.
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There’s one less 400” bull roaming the woods, better get on it. Have a great hunt.
Quit teasing and have the shooter post up the pic. Its out there
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There’s one less 400” bull roaming the woods, better get on it. Have a great hunt.
Quit teasing and have the shooter post up the pic. Its out there
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Its nice!
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Oh we’ve all seen it !! It went viral yesterday by noon lol
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Oh we’ve all seen it !! It went viral yesterday by noon lol
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I am surprised it took that long since it was killed on Monday. The tag holder is a pretty private guy so I wouldn't hold my breath on seeing it posted but you never know. I scored it Tuesday and it grossed 400 5/8"
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he’s a stud
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Let's not clog up Rainier's thread with rumors.
If there were a 400" bull killed, it would probably be posted in a separate thread sometime in the next week or so.
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I hear he is hard at it with the bow today ! Get him buddy.
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Hopefully good things are happening!
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Light rain just starting here it should be lights out tonight with action
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This morning the wind was completely dead calm and the rut activity was the slowest I’ve seen all week . I’m hoping that his evening hunt produces !
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Too bad you don’t know how to call coach….
:chuckle:
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No story to tell???
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Yesterday was epic got up at 4 to be in the spot by sun up. We were not disappointed. It was chaos all day into today, never took a break. Made it back to cabin at 3:45 this morning.
Headed back to get the last of the meat now. Will get a story hopefully later today.
8x8 at 40 yards on public land are the basics, haven’t put a tape on him, 4 hours sleep and headed back in. I feel like I was in a car wreck.
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Pics! Pics! Pics!
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Pic until I can update story and sdd more pics. Hopefully I can add the video of it also later.
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What a bull..
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That’s awesome. I knew you would get a great one. Congrats. I can’t wait to hear the whole story
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:yike:
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My buddy has that bull on camera! Absolute stud congrats :tup:
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What an awesome bull! I cant wait to hear the story!! Congrats :tup:
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Awesome bull, congrats on the trophy!
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Congrats Rainier! Awesome bull!
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:yike: :yike: :yike:
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What a stud bull ! Truly well deserved for all your hard efforts out in the woods, Congratulations!
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Epic is an understatement, check out the head on that one :yike:
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Awesome work Rainier! Thats a giant!
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Pic until I can update story and sdd more pics. Hopefully I can add the video of it also later.
Between the mule deer tag last year and the raffle elk this year, you have quickly became my favorite forum member. Thank you so much for taking us along on your adventures. What an amazing animal!!!!
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I had no idea you had this tag, holy moly. Congratulations on a gorgeous bull.
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Congrats on a beautiful bull!! Well done! You can’t pass on that one. Even with the tag you had!
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Well deserved Monster!!
Congrats and I can’t wait to hear the story!
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Smoker of a bull right there... :tup:
Well done.
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What a beast!!! Really great bull, huge congrats!
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Man nice bull, congrats!
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That's a true giant! Really cool how you shared this with the forum! Congratulations on a bull of a lifetime!
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:yike: :yike:
Awesome Bull. Congrats to you sir..
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Yikes great bull.. Congrats
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Oh my goodness.
Congratulations. Can’t wait to hear the story.
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Great bull. :tup:
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Very happy for you.... especially for you to be able to live it out and enjoy it that way.
Bull of a lifetime for sure. :tup:
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Great bull!!!! Congratulations 🎊!!!!
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Congrats......
Been lurking and waiting......
Looks like it was worth the wait.
👍👌👍👌👍👌💪👏
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Back out of the woods with the last of the meat. I will work on the story in a bit.
Thanks for all the compliments. I will put a tape to him and see where he tapes out but as I have said that number really doesn’t matter to me. I wasn’t after the biggest bull on the east side or even the biggest in this unit. I just wanted one with my bow. I got everything out of this hunt I wanted.
The story of the day is epic in my mind and I can’t wait to share it.
It’s a long one so be patient.
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Way to go ! I know you did it justice hunting the rut with a bow and being able to harvest a herd bull . He is a dandy and is a monarch no doubt.
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Congratulations, beautiful bull!
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Congrats on a great bull!! Glad you had a great time as this is what it is all about.
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Great Bull, congratulations!
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Awesome Bull!!! Way to go :tup:
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MASHER!!!! :tup: :tup:
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Geez he will be fun to put in the beetle tank …nice job my friend , truly a bull of a lifetime :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup:
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Awesome bull, congrats!!
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Holy smokes! Thanks for sharing.
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Thats an amazing bull thanks for sharing
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Nice job, harvesting a bull like that well earned and definitely a rocking chair story in your later years. Congratulations
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Nice job!!! Happy for ya!!!!
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Just put the rookie tape to him, actually we are pretty close most of the time.
382 7/8”
That’s out of the way and wasn’t what this hunt was about. I’ll get to working on what was important and how it all went down.
Story to come.
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Amazing bull man congrats!!!
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That's an amazing bull, sounds like the story is just as amazing and what was important to you, so congrats on both!
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Awesome bull, congrats!! He was #1 on my 16 year olds hit list!
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Awesome bull, congrats!! He was #1 on my 16 year olds hit list!
oh man, sorry about that. He just gave me a shot I couldn’t pass up.
Is he still up here hunting. I have five nice bulls on my place if you guys want to make a play tomorrow.
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Awesome bull, congrats!! He was #1 on my 16 year olds hit list!
oh man, sorry about that. He just gave me a shot I couldn’t pass up.
Is he still up here hunting. I have five nice bulls on my place if you guys want to make a play tomorrow.
No worries at all! He has the rifle tag, so a few more weeks. Appreciate the offer though!
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Awesome bull, congrats!! He was #1 on my 16 year olds hit list!
oh man, sorry about that. He just gave me a shot I couldn’t pass up.
Is he still up here hunting. I have five nice bulls on my place if you guys want to make a play tomorrow.
No worries at all! He has the rifle tag, so a few more weeks. Appreciate the offer though!
Reach out if you get in a bind.
I was not targeting anything, I wanted to be surprised. I have been hunting here for 20 plus years and just know where the elk will be and what they will do.
Good luck on your hunt I am sure he will find a bull he likes just as much as the one I got.
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Great bull, can't wait to read the story
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Awesome bull, cant wait for more pics and the story.
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Thursday was supposed to be my first real hard day of hunting but I still had some work to get done so I could leave for a couple weeks. I finished that up and headed east at 1pm. Arrived at cabin and went to check game cameras on my property. There was a huge 6x6 with 30 cows. I just drove on by. Went back to the cabin and my buddies were going nuts. “ You should shoot that bull he is huge.” They talked me into making a play. We got geared up but by the time we got to him he had moved his cows to a spot that was just not good for calling or stalking. I said I can hunt this bull anytime I want. Let’s go to the DNR and see what’s up there.
We get to a good glassing spot and immediately see elk and a couple of good ones. It’s 6pm and they are over an hour away so we had a plan for the morning.
Friday morning we get up at four, gear up and start hiking in. It’s eerily quite on the hike to where we last saw them the night before but just as we get there we hear a bugle. And then another and another and another. Pretty soon we figure there are eight different bulls sounding off. As we start to setup for one another one bugles down wind from us. We move so that if that bull comes in we don’t get winded. We set up again and a different bulls sounds off with the wind wrong again but the others are sounding off also. I am about as laser focused as a goldfish and keep switching what bull to go after. :dunno:
After an hour of indecision we finally decide to just go for it and let the chips fall where they may. A nice six by comes in covered in mud and jet black antlers, great bull but he won’t come close enough for a shot and can’t see the decoy to bring in him. He walks away.
Right at 8am everything shuts off and I mean everything. There were birds going nuts when we got there. I assumed on somebody’s gut pile and carcass. We never actually checked it out. We did a huge loop calling trying to a response and nothing. I was ready to head back to the cabin and all of a sudden the birds were back on the carcass. At that point we realized something had the scared the birds off and that probably pushed the elk out as well. They didn’t go silent they moved on.
We started hiking and calling. Found some elky areas with a little bit of rubs.
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Rubs
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We keep moving get a response. We get closer and there are five bulls going nuts in a heavily timbered basin. We set up and start calling. I see one satellite bull walking around a really nice bull raking a tree. I set my bow down to take a look with my binocs. He is a great bull I need to move to him while his is preoccupied with ripping this tree out of the ground. Drop the binocs and there is a small 6x6 broadside at fifty yards. I slowly pick up my bow. My buddy is still calling. They bull walks to forty yards and I draw just to get the feel of the pins on a bull again. God it feels great but no way am I ending this now.
I let the bow down. The elk is relieved that we are friends and walks in to 12 yards. Walks right past me and says hi to my buddy and then walks off.
The other bulls are slowly moving out of the basin. Which one do we follow. We decide to follow two bulls that went to the right.
It’s now noon and we set up again. I move forward and downhill. A bull is just growling at our bugles and I assume he is in his bed. I finally see a very nice 6 in his bed and assume that’s the bull until the bull answers and the six I was watching didn’t budge. I scan the woods but can’t find the bull that is answering. The cow calls from my buddy are getting pretty crazy so I assume he is trying to get my attention. I’ve dropped down too far to see him so I hike back out.
I get to him and he has calf at 20 yards going nuts and 170 yards on the other side a 370 plus bull screaming at him. It was elk I was hearing up there not him.
The bull starts destroying a tree so I move right at him. I close the gap but can’t get closer than 70 yards and all goes quiet. I step out and see him standing broadside at 70. Too far of a shot. He starts to walk and I cow call. My buddy moved the decoy behind me and the bull turns around. He wants to come but just won’t. He turns to go, I cow call at 80 yards and he turns and come back to 70 bugles and give the tree one more lashing then he walks away bugling the entire time.
That bugling gets the one that was bedded pissed off and it sounds like he is up and moving. I hike back to my buddy. The bedded bull is behind him. First he asks why I didn’t just shoot that bull. He thought I was closer than 70. I said never mind that let’s make a move on this guy he sounds huge.
We start to make our move and a cow steps out. As we are talking about how to change our approach she beds down and out steps mister big. My buddy cos calls and he looks right at us. Then another cow walks by and he turns his attention to her. We watch him for a bit and I’m kicking myself for not having the gun. Then I bring myself back to reality. This is what you wanted, a great bull in the rut with your bow, suck it up buttercup make this happen.
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I make my move, they are feeding away from us and we start calling. A freaking spike comes in from the other side of them and the big bull is not going to have that. He his chasing the spike all over. He is 100 yards from his cows. I have to move. Big loop around the cows and I come in right at his cows. They have me pinned. I was trying to get below them and above the bull but they had moved down as I was making my move.
We’ll time to make lemons out of lemon aid. My buddy bugles and starts thrashing the trees. The bull comes screaming back but stays on the other side of the cows. They start moving towards the bull. As he is herding them up and bugling back at my buddy I make another move, I have to get above and in front of them. I hustle 40 yards as they slowly walk. I see a cow coming through the trees at 90 then the bull. I need to get closer. I move fast as they walk slow. I get to 80 and the bull steps out, too far. He walks out of sight and I move again. The entire time Micah is following behind and bugling trying to keep the bulls attention. It helps because I really put the coals to it as Micah is bugling and as the bull is returning bugles. This chase and game of cat and mouse goes on for three hours. I get to 79,60&50 yards but something is wrong with every shot. Too far, wrong angle, too much brush, too out of breath to take the shot or just not enough to time to get the shot off.
What a fricking rollercoaster. The highs of closing the distance, the low of know shot followed by the high of catching up again each time getting closer knowing it’s gonna happen.
Finally after three hours we get into the thickest timber yet. He is screaming, I can literally feel the vibration in my chest. I have to be within 20 yards and I just can’t see anything it is so thick. I am exhausted and he walks away.
Micah catches up to me and we discuss what to do next. He is below us in a huge drainage. It’s now just after four o’clock. We have been going hard all day. No break, no midday nap. I’m exhausted. We figure we are at least two hours from the truck if not more.
A bull bugles above us and walks by with three cows. Another bull bugles behind us away from the truck and two bugle in between us and the truck. No brainer, head towards the bugles and the truck. I tell Micah, it’s been a great day let’s check these bull out on the way out, get some dinner a good nights rest and get after it Saturday. My wife and other buddy Kenny had been texting us all day about elk around the cabin. “Get over the hunt and come kill one of these”. Maybe I will just shoot one of those, I am pretty tired. I did have a great day of action. Let’s get out of here and see what bulls are at the cabin.
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Man what a day!!!
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As we get Dione closer to the truck and the bugles we have a choice to make the bulls are on two different fingers, we choose the one closer to the truck. We cow call and both bulls go nuts. We are right in between them. We cow call again and they bugle again, both getting closer. I tell micah this will be a great end to the day but I’m not shooting.
He says get to that tree and get ready. I didn’t know this at the time but he saw the bull closer to the truck. I move up, he cow calls and the bull rips off a bugle. He is right in front of me at 70 yards. I can see his antlers and it is go time. I’m picking shooting lanes and ranging trees.
He gets to 50 still no shot and rips off a bugle. There is only one way for him to go that I get a 30-40 yard shot and he is moviving towards it. I’m ranging and re ranging. He is covered in grey mud his antlers too. I can see that he is a good bull and at least a 7x7.
He has hung up at 45 yards and trying to pick a lane thru blow down. The wind hits my back. Oh no this can’t happen. He starts to walk through the path I need him to. As his head goes behind a tree on his way to the spot I draw. He steps out at 40 yards facing right at me and let’s off a bugle. I can see 3/4 of his chest. My pin is steady just right of the sternum. Turn for the love of god turn to your left!!!
He won’t do it. He knows something is wrong. I release the arrow, 70 pound bow, super heavy full metal jacket arrow with 125 grain thunder head sinks into his chest right where I was aiming. 14” of arrow sticking out. He runs to the left, Micah cow calls and he stops at 50 yards broadside. Get another arrow in him quick.
Arrow on and he walks away before I can draw. He stops at 70 facing away. By the time I range him no shot he is gone.
It’s 6:15. The arrow is buried in his chest. It’s going to rain tonight. Why did I take that shot? Why didn’t I wait for broadside or just let him walk? Maybe it’s deep enough. Maybe it will work out.
I need to give him time. I don’t have time. Why did I take that shot?!
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Micah comes up. He is concerned with the arrow depth. We watch it back on video, now I’m concerned. We have to start looking there is not going to be much blood. One hole and it is surrounded by thick neck hair. I go to the spot he was standing when I shot. Nothing but I can follow his tracks. Slow walking scanning everywhere sinking feeling in my gut as I’m not finding any blood after forty yards.
Why did I take that shot?!
Ten more yards of nothing and then I finally find blood.
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And it is great bubbly blood. I’m into a lung and that arrow being halfway in is just slicing and dicing with every movement. I’m feeling better but these are tough animals. I need to find him tonight and he may be bedded. I don’t want to jump him so it is slow going.
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From here the trail looked like this so it was easy to follow and keep scanning ahead. The only problem was he was going uphill, not a good sign but the blood trail was easy to follow. Basically a 2” wide continuous line of blood.
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Another 20 yards of this solid bloodline and I was feeling pretty good. Micah was feeling great because he had already seen the bull laying dead in front of us. From the first blood he had only gone another 200 feet.
It was a great shot, totally did the trick. Why did I take that shot?! What a rollercoaster.
I was so excited. The monkey was off my back from 2017. I had hunted hard and killed a great bull with my bow.
Get my tag notched, take s bunch of photos and now the real work begins.
No way are we getting this out tonight, it’s 7:30 and light is fading.
Call Kenny and he want ms to come get it it tonight. We send him a pin from onX and start processing.
3 1/2 hours later Kenny and his 15 year old son Colby get to us with with their bullpacs and water for us. I have been cramping like crazy and need the water to get out. I am crazy concerned that it took the 3 1/2 hours to get to us. We are farther from the truck than I thought.
We load my pack first. Head and cape. I didn’t trust myself in the dark to take the hide off the head and I left plenty of hide behind the shoulder to give me options for mounting it.
First attempt didn’t work load was too far away from my body. Second attempt got the load close enough but the darn antlers were too big and dragging the ground. Third attempt worked but the antlers were pointed up, super awkward but it it what it is. Micah took a ton of meat, Kenny took a little less and Colby took a little less.
We weighed the packs when we got out, Micah’s was 123, mine was 116, Kenny’s was 90 and Colby’s was 55.
I had one trekking pole aim one hand and my bow in the other. Thank god for trekking poles and Colby. Those darn antlers hung up on every branch and tree I walked by. Colby would help get me unstuck from the branches. The trees sucked because they totally stopped to and pull you back. Every time we stopped for a break Colby would help each of us stand up again. He was a huge help.
The rain started somewhere around midnight or one with howling wind. The wind would blow the antlers around and the rain and constant banging of the antlers into stuff loosened up my load making it just brutal to carry.
With 1.5 miles to go Micah slipped on a wet rock and landed face first on the rocks.
Blood everywhere but he had a first aid kit. We cleaned him up and dropped 50 pounds of his load at a tree. That’s what we went back in for later that morning.
We finally made it to the truck at 3:45 am. Got to the cabin, ate a quick bite and got to bed.
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This is the last spot the bull stopped before going another ten yards and tipping over.
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Great story!
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Here come the pics.
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Micah is going to put together a video of the hunt that I hope to post later. As he was filming this bull he was hoping I would pass so there would be more video but also thought I would be crazy to pass this bull.
As soon as I saw him I thought this is it if I get a shot.
I got everything I wanted out of this hunt. I did it where I wanted, how I wanted with my buddies and yes they all bitched on the hike out of “why did you not shoot the bull in the driveway?” :chuckle:
I would have loved for it to last longer but I’m happy with how it went.
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Great bull...congratulations! :tup:
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Awesome bull, great write up, nicely done.👍
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Awesome!
It would have been VERY hard for me to not pack the rifle. Kudos to you for sticking with the bow and taking a tremendous bull!
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What a story, what a hunt. Wow what a beast!!! Congrats. Great read!
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Thanks for taking us along, awesome bull & hunt. Congratulations
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"Masher Bull" ... Well Done ... Congratulations!
Like the Eye Guard Kicker!
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What an experience! So awesome. :tup:
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:tup:
Great story...the bull will always be remembered...but the journey and story of success is what makes lasting memories...
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Incredible bull! Incredible story! Congratulations on your hunt. Thats what its all about! And congratulations on that amazing bull.
Thank you for keeping us informed. Looking forward to the video!
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I wont lie… i said you are crazy more than once for only taking your bow. :chuckle:
But good on you for sticking to it and making it happen the way you want! Awesome story and looking forward to the vid.
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What an awesome hunt!! Thanks for sharing, taking us with you.
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Well done
A true beaut
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Wow what a bull. Congratulation Rainer 10. What a great story and pictures. Thank you for sharing.
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I wont lie… i said you are crazy more than once for only taking your bow. :chuckle:
But good on you for sticking to it and making it happen the way you want! Awesome story and looking forward to the vid.
You are not alone. I heard that from a lot of people. Heck, there was a time or two I questioned it myself. I’m glad I was able to get it done with the bow.
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Super happy for you, dude.
I’ve known Rainier10 for a few years now, and if I’ve learned one thing about him, it’s that he sticks to what he says he’s going to do. From the day he won the raffle tag to the day he started hunting he said he would stick with the bow. I was a little shocked when 2 bulls turned up that he said would give one chance at with the bow and if that didn’t work, he’d bust out the rifle. We’ll never figure out if he really would have taken the rifle to them, but I still would have been surprised if he actually did. At least not until October when the rut is over.
Congrats again. Glad you found the path.
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Congratulations! Great bull!
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AMAZING!
Congrats!!
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Congratulations!!!
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Awesome bull! Congrats!
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Congrats on a great bull and pulling that tag! Sounds like you made some great experiences with it! :tup:
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What a phenomenal bull. Congratulations man. I’m glad you got everything you wanted from this tag.
Well done.
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Well, you just harvested an extraordinary bull my friend! Congratulations and I hope you have that feeling in your heart that the other thread is titled after! A dream realized! What a magnificent bull! He's got everything! Even a little trash on a brow tine!
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That is a great bull! Congratulations!!
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What a bull! :tup:
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Dandy!! Congrats! :tup:
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Amazing! Thanks for sharing the pics and story.
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I keep coming back to look at the pictures!
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:tup: Thank You so much for taking the time to share :tup:
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Awesome write up, especially what was going through your head, that is hard to convey at times. Bull of a lifetime for sure and in our state that is supposedly not known for great elk hunting! Yeah, it would have been easier to whack one closer, but you stuck with your plan and especially liked that you were not stuck on one particular bull and shot the one that felt right at the time.
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Awesome bull! Thank you for taking the time to share all the parts of your story!
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Congratulations on a true giant! Great bull, enjoyed the story.
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Perfect Bull! Congratulations :tup:
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Thanks for all the compliments.
That totally took the sting out of the 2017 hunt and eating the tag. The monkey is off my back. I am 100% content and don’t ever need to do that hunt again.
I would like to do it again though. ;)
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It’s going to be hard to top that one! Congrats and thanks for sharing your adventures!
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What can I say that hasn’t already been said, “yeah that” to all the comments!! Priceless !! Congrats!
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Wow. Great animal and write up :tup:
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Sounds like a fantastic hunt! Congratulations on finding a beautiful bull!
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Awesome experience! Thanks for letting us tag along and congrats on an amazing animal! :tup:
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cant wait for the video
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Here is a screen shot of the video.
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uuggghhh, I keep hitting play and nothing is happening!! :chuckle: :chuckle: OK, that's the ultimate tease!!
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Oh goodness, post it! LOL
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Awesome bull, awesome story.. congrats
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uuggghhh, I keep hitting play and nothing is happening!! :chuckle: :chuckle: OK, that's the ultimate tease!!
Oh goodness, post it! LOL
I know it’s a tease but I don’t have the video. I’m an iPhone guy and Micah is an android guy. It’s a compatibility thing
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Here’s the cliff notes for the video, elk walks in and I shoot it. :chuckle:
I think it’s an amazing video. The best videos are when we are tracking. You really see the emotion and uncertainty as I’m struggling with the shot and whether we will find the bull before the night comes and the rainstorm hits.
It’s all in short clips on his phone and he is going to edit it all together. I think he is going to add some trail camera footage another member sent me of the bull in velvet.
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It's like you are unbuttoning her blouse, one button at a time!
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It's like you are unbuttoning her blouse, one button at a time!
...but you don't have any fingers... :dunno:
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Great job, great bull!
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It's like you are unbuttoning her blouse, one button at a time!
...but you don't have any fingers... :dunno:
:chuckle:
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Just saw this and didn't even realize you won the raffle.... Congrats Rick!! Dandy bull!
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Just saw this and didn't even realize you won the raffle.... Congrats Rick!! Dandy bull!
Thanks man. Did you see the bear I popped early in the season with my rifle? Love that rifle and that bear was the only time I had it out.
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Sending the tooth in for aging. Taxidermist is guessing 6 years old. It will be interesting to see what the age is.
I am getting a shoulder mount done. While I wait on that I am having a euro done so I can enjoy the antlers until the hide gets back and I work my way up to the front of the line for the actual mount.
I am not sure @bugs n bones is going to be able to get the head into his beetle container. :chuckle:
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Awesome! Congrats on a whopper of an elk!
Couldn't be more happy for you!
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Awesome! Congrats on a whopper of an elk!
Couldn't be more happy for you!
Thanks man. I do have a multiseason elk tag so I could go after a west side bull with muzzy or rifle but I think I am just going to get ready for my late archery entiat permit.
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Sending the tooth in for aging. Taxidermist is guessing 6 years old. It will be interesting to see what the age is.
I am getting a shoulder mount done. While I wait on that I am having a euro done so I can enjoy the antlers until the hide gets back and I work my way up to the front of the line for the actual mount.
I am not sure @bugs n bones is going to be able to get the head into his beetle container. :chuckle:
I'm gonna guess 8 years old....
No...... 7......
No...... 8......
Sticking with 8.
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My guess is 6 , the teeth aren’t flat yet
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Ivories are gorgeous
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Yes they are!!
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Getting a little anxious; any word on that video???
:chuckle:
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Getting a little anxious; any word on that video???
:chuckle:
Nothing yet. Patience grasshopper.
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Haven't popped in here for a while but am glad I did today! Way to get it done man, congrats!! Well earned and well deserved.
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Haven't popped in here for a while but am glad I did today! Way to get it done man, congrats!! Well earned and well deserved.
Thanks buddy. Interesting avatar. When did you change that?
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Congrats!! Amazing bull. Well deserved.
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Haven't popped in here for a while but am glad I did today! Way to get it done man, congrats!! Well earned and well deserved.
Thanks buddy. Interesting avatar. When did you change that?
Came across it this past spring and it cracked me up :chuckle:
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What a great hunt! Congrats and thanks for sharing it with us!
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Apparently this bull was not camera shy. Got these from a member, thank you very much.
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Awesome pictures! :tup:
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:tup:
congrats!!!!!
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It’s pretty cool having live pictures :tup:
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Went over to the cabin for muzzy deer this weekend. Woods were pretty quite and no elk on my property. I am really glad that I tagged out when I did. I think hunting was about to get tough and I might have ended up using the rifle in December.
At the time I was disappointed the hunt was over so soon but now I am thinking I picked the right time to release the arrow and close the deal. Had I not I think I would be kicking myself right now for not taking the shot.
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Yes, I too was wondering if you "settled" too soon :chuckle:
It's always great to get some confirmation you made the right call, and no way anyone wouldn't be over the moon with that elk and that hunt. Congrats again.
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I knew I was going to get one. The season and rules I was allowed to play by were just so liberal there was no way I would eat this tag.
It was really important to me to get one with a bow and I am starting to feel like that may have been my one really good opportunity. The frontal shot was not what I wanted and boy did I regret that right up until I found him dead.
Such a roller coaster of emotions but I am really glad that it all worked out even though it ended so soon.
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That's a bull you should be very proud of. Congratulations.
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Sometimes early success is way better... can't imagine the anxiety of having that tag in my pocket for a couple months...I would be worthless... plenty of other ways to spend quality time in the woods..
You did the tag justice... :tup: now enjoy a relaxing fall.
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Hey you made it 18 days longer than I would have with that tag and my whiz bang custom rifle :chuckle:
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Hey you made it 18 days longer than I would have with that tag and my whiz bang custom rifle :chuckle:
I have killed a couple elk with archery gear, and I'm afraid i would be in this camp as well. I don't think you settled at all.
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Still waiting for the video……… :dunno:
:chuckle:
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Here’s the video
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Hell. Yes. What a masher. That was awesome!
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@nalley112 thanks for the videos in velvet.
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Awesome video! Congrats again.
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Great video and thank you for sharing your hunt with us, it was very entertaining to read along!
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I knew I was going to get one. The season and rules I was allowed to play by were just so liberal there was no way I would eat this tag.
It was really important to me to get one with a bow and I am starting to feel like that may have been my one really good opportunity. The frontal shot was not what I wanted and boy did I regret that right up until I found him dead.
Such a roller coaster of emotions but I am really glad that it all worked out even though it ended so soon.
Looks like you hit him hard. How much penetration did you get ?
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Cool video and great bull
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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I knew I was going to get one. The season and rules I was allowed to play by were just so liberal there was no way I would eat this tag.
It was really important to me to get one with a bow and I am starting to feel like that may have been my one really good opportunity. The frontal shot was not what I wanted and boy did I regret that right up until I found him dead.
Such a roller coaster of emotions but I am really glad that it all worked out even though it ended so soon.
Looks like you hit him hard. How much penetration did you get ?
16-18”. Arrow was still in him. Every step it was moving just cutting up the inside of his chest.
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Awesome Bull!!! Congrats and Awesome vid…
Thanks for sharing
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Awesome video and bull. Well done. :tup:
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I knew I was going to get one. The season and rules I was allowed to play by were just so liberal there was no way I would eat this tag.
It was really important to me to get one with a bow and I am starting to feel like that may have been my one really good opportunity. The frontal shot was not what I wanted and boy did I regret that right up until I found him dead.
Such a roller coaster of emotions but I am really glad that it all worked out even though it ended so soon.
Looks like you hit him hard. How much penetration did you get ?
16-18”. Arrow was still in him. Every step it was moving just cutting up the inside of his chest.
👍
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That was so cool! Congratulations again! thanks for posting the video.
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Great video and hunt. Congrats 🍾
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Pretty cool you got it all in video.
Sent from my motorola one 5G UW using Tapatalk
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At the 9:30 mark when the other elk are walking at us as we are following the blood trail I thought it was my bull following the cow, my heart sank. Then I realized it was six on the left and the cow was frozen looking right where the blood trail was headed. I was elated, dead bull. Started walking that direction and the blood trail took a hard right uphill. My heart sank again. We hit that huge pile of blood, I said " he has to be dead".
Micah had already seen him and was smiling. I was puzzled then it me, micah sees him. I frantically scanned the hillside and couldn't see him. I asked again and Micah just smiled then I saw him.
Fricking rollercoaster.
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Still at work and kicking myself for not being in the woods. This is it. The 13th-15th is when the switch goes on in my area. 20 years of hunting there and 90% of the time it happens on one of those days and then just gets better.
I will be there the 16th and it will be game on.
I just described this to another member and I think this sums up my hunt.
People would probably puke at some of the huge bulls that presented easy shots with a gun and an even easier pack out but that is not what it is about for me.
I want the experience, I want long hard hikes, I want spoiled opportunities, I want it all to come together in the biggest hole there is on the mountain and have a brutal pack out of an amazing animal with my buddies complaining the entire time about "why didn't you shoot the 375" bull in the driveway the first weekend?".
It is that experience that I long for, the trophy on the wall will be a constant reminder of this amazing experience. The inches of antler won't matter, they will be impressive I am sure but the experience that they will remind me of will be worth so much more.
Careful what you wish for.
This is pretty much exactly what I got out of this hunt. It is crazy how it all happened just like I hoped. Highs and lows and a brutal pack out.
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Great video and bull thanks for sharing
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Congrats on an amazing hunt and great bull. Way to keep after it with the bow. Can't wait for your Entiat experience now.
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A giant with a bow... what an accomplishment! Then you will get him back from the Taxidermist and get to re-play it every time you look at him. Congrats again!
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Great write-up, video and unbelievable bull! You definitely did not disappoint with that bull!
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Sick video!! Great animal and one heck of a frontal shot. I was fooled by that second bull following the cow. I was thinking hit him again!! Thank you for sharing that great hunt
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That is too cool! That place is elk heaven! Congratulations on a well earned giant! Thanks for sharing!!
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very nice bull and video, congratulations
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Cool video, quite the red road to follow on that shot!
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Just watched the video with my boys and I'm not sure who is smiling bigger, me or them. Awesome man, thanks for sharing and congrats again
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Great bull and video thanks for sharing
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Great bull and good job keeping your composure! I don’t know many guys that would have been that calm.
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Wow, awesome man. Thanks for sharing. What a great experience!
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Great job. Love the video. Congrats
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Pretty sure that's everyones dream right there, well, except for Karl, he'd rather shoot a 4x4 160'' mule deer! :chuckle: Seriously though, thanks for bringing us along this adventure, you did it justice. Great bull that will look amaze balls on the wall.
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Pretty sure that's everyones dream right there, well, except for Karl, he'd rather shoot a 4x4 160'' mule deer! :chuckle: Seriously though, thanks for bringing us along this adventure, you did it justice. Great bull that will look amaze balls on the wall.
Thanks.
On the subject of those 160" mule deer I just happen to have a late archery entiat deer tag in my pocket. I will shift my focus over to that thread next.
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A couple of notes on that video.
Micah was filming from the side, the tree in front of the bull was obscuring me as he was coming in and I was ranging different trees and brush so I would know the distance depending on where he stepped out. He kind of zig zagged in and each time he would get behind that tree or turn his head is when I would make my movements. I drew as he was behind the tree. When he stepped out I could see 3/4 of his chest, his right 1/4 side of the chest was blocked by that tree. The log he stepped over was 40 yards, the tree to his right was 35.
As the bull is coming in you see him hang up and look side to side. That is when the wind hits my back. He takes a few steps and bugles as the wind hits my back again. He knew something was wrong but didn't know what. I really wanted him to turn but he just wouldn't so I let the arrow go.
I had a 50 yard shot when Micah stopped him with the cow call but just couldn't get an arrow out and on in time for a follow up shot.
When we are blood trailing and the cow walks in front of us with the bull behind I immediately assumed it was my bull and my heart sank. I quickly realized it was much smaller and a different bull. The cow stopped dead in her tracks and the blood trail was going straight at her. I knew she was looking at my bull dead on the ground. The elk spooked and we continued to what I that was a downed bull only to have the blood trail turn up hill 30 yards before we got to the trees. My heart sank again. We followed the trail for another 100 feet of great blood and found a huge pool of blood. That is when I say "he has to be dead it's just a matter of how far did he go" Micah is just grinning. As I turn forward it hits me he is really grinning that is when I realize he must see the bull.
The flood of emotions is insane when I finally see the bull.
I am just stunned that it is right there in front of me. It's massive. The frontal shot actually worked out. I have no idea how many times I went from that was a kill shot to why did I take that shot. It also hits me that the hunt is over. The work now begins. How are we going to get this out? So many things going through my mind.
Again this was an amazing experience that gave everything and more than I could have ever dreamed of.
I appreciate all the kind words, all of the support through out the hunt and I really appreciate the opportunity that I was given to have this great experience.
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:tup:
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One other thing on the video and the pack out. We originally tied the head lower on my pack but with the cape still attached it put the weight too far away from my body. We retied it with the antlers down and they cleared the ground by 2" on flat ground but drug when I went downhill. We retied them with the head high and tight into my shoulders. By the end of the trip when Micah was filming it had been raining for an hour and I had run into so many branches and trees that it had knocked the load loose and over to the side. I was too tired to readjust and just hiked out like that.
Next time I am going to take the hide all the way off and lose the lower jaw and any additional weight I can get off of it. With the cape and skull separate I think I could have tied it more secure and tighter to my body. That way would suck less, it would still suck. You have to "embrace the suck".
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"embrace the suck".
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: Feels sooooo good when your pack hits that tail gate!!! I love the "suck". :chuckle:
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Just had the time to sit and watch it.
What a dream hunt with a dream ending man.
Great job!!!!!!!👏
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Having the video really puts the hunt over the top.
Had I taken a shot at the giant I was chasing most of the day I would not of had video of the shot. We never got video of the bull it was all happening too fast. That bull FYI is now dead, not my story to tell, and I don't regret for a single minute not having a rifle to shoot him. I am not sure I even regret not getting a shot at him with a bow because I wouldn't have the video that I have. I would have a bigger rack on the wall but if you have been following this thread at all you know it was never and still is not about inches of antler on the wall. It was about the experience and I have video of the whole thing.
I think the best part of the video is nothing was staged, I didn't realize Micah had taken so much video. Watching the video back I remember the questions and replies but I don't recall that he was videoing, it never registered that there was a phone filming. That footage is literally as raw as you can get. It puts me right back in the moment every time I watch it. I feel the adrenaline rush, I feel the pit in my gut, I feel the wind hit my back, I feel the relief of seeing this massive animal on the ground.
I am thrilled to have the video and so happy to share it all with you. This was a once in a lifetime hunt and most will never get to experience all that I was able to. I hope that I was able to convey the emotion and experience so you could all have a glimpse of what it was like from the minute I found out results were out, the frantic drive home to check tickets and disbelief as I answered the phone call from WDFW, all the highs and lows of the hunt and the pack out.
Thank you all for following, for your comments and your patience as I did it my way, in the unit I love, with a bow.
The monkey from 2017 is officially off my back.
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Awesome man, don't let the dust get in your eyes! Or do!
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Pretty great video! Man that would be cool to relive that moment over and over again like that.
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Having the video really puts the hunt over the top.
Had I taken a shot at the giant I was chasing most of the day I would not of had video of the shot. We never got video of the bull it was all happening too fast. That bull FYI is now dead, not my story to tell, and I don't regret for a single minute not having a rifle to shoot him. I am not sure I even regret not getting a shot at him with a bow because I wouldn't have the video that I have. I would have a bigger rack on the wall but if you have been following this thread at all you know it was never and still is not about inches of antler on the wall. It was about the experience and I have video of the whole thing.
I think the best part of the video is nothing was staged, I didn't realize Micah had taken so much video. Watching the video back I remember the questions and replies but I don't recall that he was videoing, it never registered that there was a phone filming. That footage is literally as raw as you can get. It puts me right back in the moment every time I watch it. I feel the adrenaline rush, I feel the pit in my gut, I feel the wind hit my back, I feel the relief of seeing this massive animal on the ground.
I am thrilled to have the video and so happy to share it all with you. This was a once in a lifetime hunt and most will never get to experience all that I was able to. I hope that I was able to convey the emotion and experience so you could all have a glimpse of what it was like from the minute I found out results were out, the frantic drive home to check tickets and disbelief as I answered the phone call from WDFW, all the highs and lows of the hunt and the pack out.
Thank you all for following, for your comments and your patience as I did it my way, in the unit I love, with a bow.
The monkey from 2017 is officially off my back.
I don’t know man that much more antler my gun would’ve went caboom :chuckle:
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Good God that had to be unreal to see a bull of that caliber!
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Congratulations and thanks for the whole story!!!! Whats cool about having the video is you get to relive it over and over till you die. And that is in a good way. :tup:
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Congratulations on a great hunt! Awesome bull, thank you for sharing the experience, great video and write up
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Great writeup and video. Congrats and way to enjoy the hunt.
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Great video, Awesome bull! Question, was the bull behind the cow in the video after the shot him?
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Great video, Awesome bull! Question, was the bull behind the cow in the video after the shot him?
No. At first I thought it was but quickly realized it was smaller. The cow stopped dead in her tracks looking at the ground for a minute and then bolted back the way she came from and so did the bull. I assumed my bull was dead right there but as I continued to follow the bloodtrail it turned uphill and I found my bull just a little ways from where he turned.
We had a note in the first video about that cow and bull being a different bull but the video was too long so that part got cut and we didn't reinsert the text.
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Awesome...You were sure in them...Great hunt.
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Great Hunt Rainier10!! Thank you for taking us along. :tup: :tup:
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awesome video!
:tup:
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@bugs n bones didn’t waste any time putting the beetles to work
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20211013/57de0a14e22c90c8bdbd425e83fdb1d4.jpg)
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Looks freaking awesome as a euro mount! :tup:
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Thanks Josh for posting and thanks to Bugs and Bones for doing the euro. It will be nice to have that to look at while I wait for the hide to come back for the shoulder mount that Cedar River Taxidermy is going to do.
My bear skull is done also so I need to get out to Issaquah and pick it and the elk up.
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Man that came out nice! :tup:
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On the colockum archery bull thread I saw that Farmer72 is sending in a tooth for aging. When I got my paperwork for my raffle tag I got an envelope with it for the tooth aging thing. I sent mine in already and am looking forward to getting results back.
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I am curious what the difference in ages are. The game department said it could be a few months before they are processed.
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Cedar river taxidermy and Bugs and bones were guessing mine was around 6 years old.
I know he is not getting any older.
“He’s dead”
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Cedar river taxidermy and Bugs and bones were guessing mine was around 6 years old.
I know he is not getting any older.
“He’s dead”
But wait......there's no more "giants" in the Colockum....(He's dead") :chuckle: :chuckle:
Congrats again on a beautiful bull!
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I got the tooth back and the bull was 7 years old. Also got him officially scored and it grossed 375 3/8. I was hoping for 375 and a great hunt. I got about as close as you can on the score and far exceeded my dreams of a great hunt.
Elk is done at the taxidermists. I will try to pick it up next week and post some photos. Dying to see it completed.
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I got the tooth back and the bull was 7 years old. Also got him officially scored and it grossed 375 3/8. I was hoping for 375 and a great hunt. I got about as close as you can on the score and far exceeded my dreams of a great hunt.
Elk is done at the taxidermists. I will try to pick it up next week and post some photos. Dying to see it completed.
Congratulations, that's a fantastic bull.
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Congrats on a great bull.
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Thanks guys.
I was talking to jackelope about this hunt yesterday. I had all year and could have done it with a gun at any point from September 1 to December 31.
I chose to go archery in September. Me and a buddy went out and just hunted. No game cameras everywhere, no scouts camping on a bull just raw hunting. I was hoping for 375 or better and after chasing tons of bulls, one over 400 just an hour before I shot this one it all came together. In the video you see exactly how it happened. It seemed like forever that it was coming in but really it was seconds. As soon as his antlers came over the top I knew I was shooting. Never even thought about score. All I could think was he is big and god I hope I get a shot. I am so glad I did it the way that I did and so happy with the outcome and especially glad to have it all on video.
Here is the link to the video again. Title says 383 that was our tough score in the field official gross is 375 3/8.
I will post some pics of the mount when I get it back.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iISNCHY3MuI
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Love it, thanks for re posting the video, I couldn't find it.
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That video is what really makes the hunt. It is so raw. You see it all. I knew he was filming but it didn’t register at the time. I was all over the place emotionally. Watching the video back jars my memory of the phone in his hand while we were blood trailing. I was so concerned about finding the bull it just didn’t register he was filming.
When we were skinning and butchering at the kill site I was cramping up so bad. My buddy and his kid that hiked in to help pack brought more water. Without that I would have never made it out. Also I would have never been able to stand up after breaks. They got on each side of me to lift me and the heavy pack back up to start hiking again.
I was completed exhausted at 1am when he made the video during the break. I was shocked when I saw that video, I truly don’t recall that he was videoing then.
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YAAAAaaaaassssss
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Beautiful bull Rainier. Great video.