A Dream Realized: Mountain View

[CascadeCruiser]

Rainier10 got a 380+ plus bull, oh boy pressure is on you now.🤣

Where? I want to see that!

[Dan-o]

Rainier10 got a 380+ plus bull, oh boy pressure is on you now.🤣

Where? I want to see that!

Elk forum.
2021 East Side Raffle Tag (or something like that.)

It's a beast.

[luvmystang67]

Don’t be afraid to rely on a cow call. Sometimes love might be more powerful than the prospect of a duel.   Keep at it… elk like to get you a rock bottom before offering a glimmer of hope.


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[Rainier10]

All the bugle would do for me last weekend was get reactions.  Cow calls, lots of different variations would bring them in to see what was going on.  It still wasn't on fire when I got mine.  Right now and later in the week it will really heat up.  I know time is running out for you but don't give up.  No time for naps, go all day.  Midday is going to still be good.

You've got this!

[Rainier10]

Never give up.

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

Well…I know it’s been a minute, but I haven’t had service to update you guys. 

My tag remains unpunched.

I could bore you with the details of double digit bull encounters nearly daily.  Sleepless nights as elk ripped bugles and fought 50 yards from my tent.  Or maybe you’d rather hear of the countless times I thought to myself “almost.”

Or would you rather know that I was at full draw 4 times in the last two days…with one miss, and one that thunked into the shoulder/no man’s land, never to be seen again. (He will live)

I’ve got 1 day and 1 evening to get it done, but the elk are getting dumber and dumber.  I’ve had more legitimate opportunities in the last two days then the previous 12. 

So here’s hoping for some last day magic!

Also of note, only 2/7 tag holders have filled to my knowledge.  I know another tag holder also shot and lost a bull today (haven’t heard if he eventually recovered it.)


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[Mfowl]

Good luck! Enjoy the remainder of your hunt! Sounds like its been a good one!

[CNELK]

Keep your head up and I have the faith you will get it done! Hope you tag out on a giant

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[trophyhunt]

Keep your head up and I have the faith you will get it done! Hope you tag out on a giant

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  ahh, the last day bull story has yet to be written!! You got this buddy!

[Rainier10]

Keep your head up and I have the faith you will get it done! Hope you tag out on a giant

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  ahh, the last day bull story has yet to be written!! You got this buddy!

You’ve got this!

[Magnum_Willys]

2moro is the day !  Breathe, hold off the shoulder.  Gonna happen!   Good Luck!

[elkrack]

Pullin for ya man!
Good luck tomorrow hit it hard

[Fatherof5]

Man, I sure am cheering for you! I can’t wait to see the pictures. Have faith it will happen 

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

2021 Mountain View Archery

Well, I’m coming home with an unpunched tag.

Here’s some fun stats for ya, before I get into the meat…

My phone logged a total of 190.6 miles over 15 total days of season. 

Plus, 2176 floors climbed, which equates to 21,760 feet of cumulative elevation gain.

I’m estimating 8-10 bulls encountered per day on average, which gives me nearly 150 different encounters with bulls.  To be honest, I’m estimating on the low end…

I didn’t shoot an arrow for 13 days, and launched two in a 20 min period.

Only 4/7 tags were filled.

I lost 10 pounds during the hunt, consumed 30 beers, and drank a half gallon of whiskey

I’m a better hunter today than I was two weeks ago, and the growth wasn’t by a small amount.  I learned how to stalk and ambush…tools I thought I had, but my abilities now are substantially better.

I learned how to manage noise in a noisy environment.

I learned how to hear the elk before they heard me.

For 9 mornings straight there was a bull in the pasture across from the campground.  For 9 mornings straight, he outsmarted me, despite my most devious attempts at success.

I was busted by deer, grouse, chipmunks, cows, spikes, and satellites. 

Calls were mainly ineffective, a common theme among other tag holders.

But wow…what an experience.  How many years does it take a general season elk hunter to get 150 different encounters? I think I shaved some of my learning curve.

Archery is really hard, and it’s harder when your only option is stalk and ambush. 

I’ve come to a point in my life where I generally measure the success of a hunt on my punched tag, but the feeling of satisfaction I have from this hunt is something I can’t really describe…you’d have had to experience it for yourself.

Archery elk remains my white whale.

But this experience doesn’t taint that…it illuminates the value.

Thank you Blue Mountains…you certainly did not disappoint.


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[teanawayslayer]

Man I was pulling for ya! I’m glad to hear you had a quality experience! That’s what it’s about tag filled or not! Thanks for sharing the ride.