Mount Whittier Bull

[BA Mongor]

I've been going back in there for over 30-years now, and just got back from a 2-day photog trip in there. After a few dozen trips in there and staying multiple days, the one thing that has saved me is a 8' x 8' or 10' x 10' lightweight tarp and parachute cord. It's helped me get through sun, wind, extreme rain and some August snow storms. The other item that I added over the years, was a reduced Emergency Kit. Not much weight and on (1) occasion I'm glad I had it.

As far as fires go, I've had no choice but to build a few over the years to stay warm and get dry. The past 10-15 years or so, the amount of people in there is amazing. I never saw a person when heading into Venus and Lower Venus. But my past couple trips in there I've seen multiple people.

There's so many bulls in there! Some of the bulls back there think they're mountain goats. You're going to have a blast. Bring a camera and enjoy the hunt. I've gotta admit that I'm jealous, I've always wanted to hunt bulls in there.

Have Fun & Be Safe...

[jae]

Nate,
Good luck on all the hunts! Looking forward to hearing your stories.
John

[Nate p]

Nothing beats the anticipation of my hunt like my 8 year old harvesting his first animal, a great ruff grouse! Hope he can punch his deer tag this weekend

[Bowhunter3]

Great moment!

[Nate p]

Well I thought the hunt last year was tough, and it was, but this years hunt had some big unforeseen things that mad it the toughest hunt of my life by a long shot. so here it goes...

We knew we had some wet weather moving in so we decided to get up and set up camp 3 days early on the last day of good weather. We launched our boat at 10:30am and headed off for the adventure ahead with smiling faces and the sun shining. We pulled the boat up on the beach and headed off for our camp spot miles into the backcountry. By the time we arrived it was already very foggy and getting dark so we got set up and hit the sacks pretty fast.

The next morning was very wet weather and socked in so we made breakfast and drank instant coffee pass the time. It was late in the afternoon before the fog started to get a little thinner so we headed off for our vantage point t glass. After the fog cleared I spotted a small herd of elk so I got my spotter on them and knew one stood above the rest. He was a very symmetrical 6x6 and had everything I could hope for in a bull. there were also a few good 5x5 bulls and a goofy looking 4x6 with a forked G3 we named xmas tree. Soon it got dark on us and we headed back to camp.

The next morning was much the same as the previous morning but about an hour before dark the fog blew out and gave us a great view of the unit. We relocated the herd from the previous day and watched them for a while. We then saw another herd emerge with a big 5x5 and a few satellite bulls. They ran down to an area we called the swamp and got a drink. two of the smaller bulls were sparring as the big 5 was keeping a close eye on his girls. We ran out of daylight and made note of were the elk were because tomorrow morning was opening day!. We got back to camp and checked the weather again because we knew there was a chance of snow coming in right at our elevation but didn't expect much. The weather report was better than expected calling for very light dusting at our elevation.

That night I found it difficult to sleep. I had visions of how I thought it would play out in the morning and what I would do if they were further up the canyon and out of range. I woke up around midnight after briefly falling asleep and could hear the sound of the rain pounding my tent. But then I heard something Brush against the side of my tent. What the heck was that!! I thought, then I heard it again. I slowly poked my head out of my mummy back and could see a distinct shadow in the moonlight on the side of the tent. I didn't move I just watched for a moment. then I saw the shadow getting larger and larger like something was aproaching. I smacked my tent and yelled scaring the heck out of my hunting partners in the process but as soon as I hit the tent I realized what was going on, It was snow building up. I opened my tent and could see at least 3 inches of snow built up already and it was snowing hard.

Opening morning we woke to horrible blizzard conditions and about 5-6 inches of snow. We had to hunker in our tents most of the day checking every so often if the fog had cleared but it never did. This is not what I envisioned for opening day the last 5 months but as is elk hunting things never go as planned. We had 7 days to hunt so we just had to be patient and wait for our window. That night the wind and snow completely stopped and we could see the stars. I knew this meant the next morning may be the opportunity we needed.

That night was cold down in the mid to upper 20's. With our 20 degree bags it was not comfortable at all. we had on our thermals and puff jackets but still had to use hot hands to help get through the night. That morning we had some issues getting our tents open as the zippers had all frozen shut but once we finally got out it was crystal clears we headed to our glassing knob. It didn't take much time to find the herd but bad news, the were way further away and way out of ethical shooting range. On to plan B, well plan b consisted of gaining a bunch of elevation and taking the trail around and making a stalk on the elk once we were on the same side as them. We realized that this was going to be tough. the trail we wanted to take was no good even if the rocks are wet so with snow it was out of the question. second choice was around 9 or 10 miles of breaking trial in the fresh snow but that proved to be difficult and time consuming so on to 3rd choice. head strait into the canyon and loose some elevation and hopefully the snow wasn't as deep.

So we set off into the canyon and down towards a very Nasty little boulder chute that we would use as our pass through the cliff band we were on. once we arrived to the chute it was apparent that plan was not going to work. the boulders were bridged with snow and it was way to steep to do with these conditions. we tried going up and around but kept getting cliffed out at on point or another. the description was made that we would need to revert back to plan 2 or pack up camp and head all the way down and back up the other side. The hike out of that basin was crazy harder some reason. I just didn't feel myself  and was lacking energy. I figured I hadn't slopt much and that must be why but by the time we made it back to the glassing knob I was feeling downright horrible. To top things off we looked back to where the herd had last been and they were gone. tracks leading down the valley and into the thick alder canyon.

By the time I made it to my tent I knew I was in trouble. I vomited coming down and felt like the flu was hitting me hard. I knew we had to get out now or I may be too weak the next day to get myself out. We all packed as fast as we could and set off for the boat. We could see bad clouds forming and soon were surrounded by fog and snow flurries . It took me all I had to make it down safe. The trail was not fun at all in the snow and I would vomit every time I took a drink of water from my camel pack. I had to keep my mind occupied because I was so scared I wouldn't make it down on my own therefore putting the rest of my group at risk. But I prevailed, I made it to the boat and was cold and wet. I was so dehydrated I grabbed a gallon jug of water and chugged about 20 oz off of it and just waited for it to come back up but it didn't thankfully. We made it home late that night and I slept so hard that night and woke the next morning feeling much better. other than being sore from the hike and my abs from puking the day before. Wow, there is hope. I had all but given up on my tag thinking I had the flu but now I had a second chance.

I looked at the forecast and it looked bad until the following Tuesday. That would only give me two days to hunt but I had to play it smart. No reason to go up in the snow and rain and watch fog for three days and risk getting sick again. So I made plans with my last available hunting partner Mike too head out mid day Monday to camp at the boat and hike up the last remaining two days to hunt.

[Nate p]

Well Monday came and the forecast still looked promising so we headed out. It was fairly dry and calm boat ride with the occasional sprinkle. We were really wishing we had brought some fishing poles as we had trout jumping all around us but the view and the sounds were good enough enertainment. We got camp set up and set up some camp chairs to glass the hillside and watch the sun go down. we couldn't see any snow as far up the valley as the clouds would let us so we had good spirits the trail would be passable.

Tuesday we woke early and headed up the trail. With the moonlight glaring off the cliff faces you almost didn't need a headlamp. the trail was clear of snow the whole way up to where we would set up to glass. As the sun rised you could see snow about 100ft above us on the slopes. About 20 min. of glassing later and I spotted my first two elk of the day. Xmas tree and and pretty dang nice 5x5. Here comes my dilemma, Do I shoot this 5x5 and make sure I don't eat my tag? I really want to give meat to all of my hunting group and this bull is respectable. On the other hand these two bulls would typically hang out within a few hundred yards of the herd that had the 6x6 in it. I knew I had to try for the big bull so I played it off like the bull was just a rag horn to Mike who didn't have a spotting scope only binoculars.

I told Mike I would head down to see if I could get a vantage on the rest of the herd but ultimately I couldn't get eyes on them. as I walked back up to mike he is looking pretty hard at the 5x5. I told him I got a better look at him and he was a pretty good bull and he said that's what he was thinking. I said ok, let's try to get closer. The bull was within range but I really wanted some extra time to look for the 6x6. As we come over the ridge were we planned on setting up the bulls where gone. I told mike we should get on the cliffs behind them with the wind we have and that would give us a way better view of where they went.

We made it to the top of the cliff and peeked over, 3 cows, 4, 6, now 8 cows all feeding on a hillside about 500yds away. there was no wind so this shot was well within my comfort zone so I set the rifle up just incase the bull fed out with them. We waited for about 20 min and watched as all but three cows fed away from us and over the next rise. As I leaned over to mike to discuss our next move we heard a low raspy bugle. I instantly recognized it as being the 6x6. The cows heard the bugle and headed in his direction over the next ridge. Now we got this figured out.

We had to backtrack a ways to get off the cliffs and get to the same elevation as the elk. As we got to the bottom and headed the direction the elk were last seen the odor of elk filler the air. wind still in our face, Its all going perfect. I approach the ridge and dropped my pack and take the rifle out of the holder. I get down on my hands and knees and crawl over the ridge to look up and see three  bulls including xmas tree and the 5x5 from earlier. They were about 120 yards away and looking my direction. I slowly lowered down out of sight and signaled to mike they were right here. I knew I should just shoot the 5x5 and be done with it but I figure I have a couple hundred yards if they bust to get them to stop for a shot again before they are out of sight. I have to make sure the herd isn't just a little further than I could see. I belly crawled behind a log out of sight of the bulls and once I got to the other end I slowly came up and saw the cows at about 150yds all bedded down. I raised just slightly more and could see now xmas tree was very aware of me and not looking very excited to see me. I look back at the cows and there he is, The 6x6 is bedded right in the middle of them.

[Nate p]

So now I have a new problem, The big bull is bedded facing me in a little thicket of trees. I want to wait for him to stand and offer a broadside shot but now I can see the other bulls are getting ancy about me and starting to move toward the big group. My fear is that the bull will bunch in with the cows and run 30 yds and be obscured by vegetation then shortly after that over the lower ridge and gone. I decided to take the shot. I was in a bit of an awkward position but felt I could make the shot. I zeroed in on the bulls neck and squeezed slow, The rifle goes off and to my surprise he stands up! I try to rack in another round but my ejector plungers must have froze and the round didn't eject. By the time I got it cleared  the bull was behind a few trees but I could make out his shoulder. Bang! the bull doesn't even budge, What the heck! rack in a fresh round and luckily my ejectors work and it goes smooth. Hold a little higher where the brush is less dense and touch off another round. After my scope settles back down I can no longer see the bull and elk are running all over. I watch as the last elk leaves and no 6x6. That's a good sign. I walk about 20 feet to my right and look back into the thicket and I can see an antler sticking up.

We get up to the bull and can't believe it all worked out. He is everything I could have hoped for  and he also has a bonus "Devil" eyeguard. What a moment, I sit down next to the animal and take it all in. the goats on the hill behind us, the snow on the peaks by our first camp. Now the work begins.

We boned and caped the bull and hung all but two packs int the biggest tree we could find which wasn't big but was surrounded by other trees to shade the meat. Perfect, We hung it as high as we could and took our packs back to the boat. We got back to camp at 10:30pm and had the best night sleep we had in a while. We were able to get some other friends to go with us the next day to retrieve the remainder of the bull. Only casualty was one meat sack had a small hole presumably from a chipmunk.

This ended up being one of the hardest hunts of my life but in the end those are the most rewarding I have no regrets about what we did or how it all worked out because everything we did played a part in harvesting such a great animal. A special thanks to all who helped me on this hunt including my lovely wife who picked up the slack at home while I went off and played for a week and a half. She also helped me process all of the meat so we could share with all involved. I also met some great guys on here who reached out to me or vis versa and up on the trail scouting this summer.

[Nate p]

HW

[Nate p]

Well I’m struggling to get any more photos to download to the post. I will try again tomorrow

[Nate p]

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