437 Sauk Bull Archery

[Romulous]

I spent some time knocking on doors today and talking to lots of local folks.  This is a really beautiful and special place.  Pretty much everyone has been friendly and really open to taking time out of their day, talking, and telling stories.  The Skagit Valley is really a special place and I am really grateful to be able to hunt a Sauk Bull Archery tag this year. 

I secured access at several properties and have some leads on a few other properties.  My original plan to boat the river in my Saturn Kaboat with the 9.9 short shaft is still in play to access other properties that allow public access, including a couple of those properties that land access is blocked by a gate or is locked behind private property where I could not secure access.  Plus, there is always a chance that someone reads this and points be in a better direction.

I learned today that knocking doors can be a lot like asking a girl to the prom, though the kids these days do it with a "prom-posal" sign.  Maybe that is what I should do... make a big glittery sign that says "Me --> your(ELK)property?" and try to get a response that way instead of going to the door.  I don't mind going to the door and asking. In fact, one old boy told me today that there weren't any elk on his property, but if I represent myself to others they way I did in asking him he was certain others would grant me access to hunt. It is just awkward that is all I am saying.... you don't know me, I don't know you, but here I am asking you to open the thing that is most meaningful to you... the land where you work and live and love. 

Today it seems as though there are two responses... "No, but thank you for asking first" and "Yes, let me show you where they are at, where you can pitch a tent if you want, and I will do anything to help you". The "no" can be just as valuable as the "yes" because the people that say "no" often tell you why and/or what is going on in the area, plus it is always about them and not about you (or me in this case).  The "yes" people really make me want to go out of my way to do unto others what they have done unto me as granting me access to hunt their property is a REALLY BIG deal to me.  What can I do for my students, parents, families, community that might be a REALLY BIG deal during this next school year?

One guy showed me a 10 or 11 point shed today... by far the largest I have ever seen.  Tonight, I found some trail camera pics on HuntWa for 437 of some nice bulls in velvet.  The elk of the Sauk, the Sauk Elk, Sauk Bull, Bull Sauk, Sauk Thua???  Okay, that went too far!  Anyone else have pics of bulls from over the years?

I haven't been on this forum in years, but one landowner asked if I was on here today so I thought I might started blogging this hunt here. 

[spin05]

Im glad you got permission to get on some private. When i had the Tag a few years back i got permission on 1 ranch and alot of no's on others. Most where nice thou and explained why. I dont blame them most of the time. My buddy and another friend both have the tag this year so i will be helping him out. Otherwise i would give you some info. I don't want you guys in the same spots. I will say there is surprisingly a ton of elk in that valley
 

[high_hunter]

Sounds like you're doing all the right things and have a good gameplan. I'm local so if you get one and need help tracking or extracting let me.know.  Good luck!

[Boss .300 winmag]

You talked to my wife as I wasn’t home. Occasionally elk come thru our property, not often so I wouldn’t expect to kill one if I had the tag.

You can camp at our place, lots of flat ground.

I shoot at least one slow elk every year in the pasture though.🤣

[Ridgerunner]

I'm excited to follow along and see how  your hunt goes, only 78 more days to go. 

[GASoline71]

You talked to my wife as I wasn’t home. Occasionally elk come thru our property, not often so I wouldn’t expect to kill one if I had the tag.

You can camp at our place, lots of flat ground.

I shoot at least one slow elk every year in the pasture though.🤣

"slow elk"... I haven't heard that term in years! 

Gary

[Romulous]

No new permission yesterday, but I got a "NO... I have cattle and you would be a liability" to change to a "Okay... here is my card. Gimme a call or text later. I am going to add you to my list of 'freedom friends'."  That was a fun conversation.  Maybe one day soon more of us will feel more free and not have to guard our true beliefs and inclinations. 

Also, talked for a looong time with an old boy who had some amazing stories, so great pics of deer he had harvested, and a back that was more broken and pinned than any I have ever seen.  His stories were great and I was glad for the information he passed along.  Grateful for my the health and well-being God has blessed me with and grateful for the opportunity to listen to my brother recount some really special events in his life. 

Picked up the wife and taking her to the quilt show in "Woolley".  If anyone needs a gift for the ladies in your life, my wife makes custom purses and bags.  She also has been known to finish quilts and/or baby blankets for people in need.  https://www.instagram.com/missyjainhandmade/

I really have enjoyed talking to folks in the area and looking forward to finding out more about the area in these last two days I am here. I will be off to dive for spiny lobsters during the Florida two day mini-season next week.  But, I will be back to set some cellular trail cameras and practice launching my 12 foot Kaboat with the 9.9 short shaft and getting back and forth to the islands.

[Bigsheded]

I also have the archery sauk tag and scouted the unit a few times I couldn't find the elk except for in farmer's fields if I am wrong let me know it didn't feel like that was my kind of hunting

[Ridgerunner]

Try the islands or the national forest, I'm sure there are elk outside of the farmers fields. 

[Ridgerunner]

Any reports from this hunt so far?

[Kales15]

Run south skagit hwy and use onx and start calling you will find elk