WA elk opening...
 

Anyone back yet? Did you fill your tag? I got a spike bull on the first morning with a bow at about 10-15 yards. I am very excited. This is my first bow kill ever, and my second year with bow. Last year was a borrowed bow. I guess I am hook for sure.

RE: WA elk opening...
 

Man, that's awesome!<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle> I went on Labor Day, and didn't see or hear a thing. I'm rolling out tomorrow afternoon for the weekend, so hopefully I can come back with a great story. And you bet you're hooked. I've probably killed 30+ whitetails with a rifle or shotgun, but they don't compare to the 3 bow kills. There's nothing better than getting within spittin' distance of an animal before you take the shot. Talk about a rush. I hope I have that kind of luck this weekend. You can't imagine how bad this southern boy wants to &quot;bust me a Wapiti.&quot; That's a TK & Mike reference, if anybody on here knows who they are. If you don't, you're missing out on some awesome redneck hunting humor. Y'all have a good night.

Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!

RE: WA elk opening...
 

The wife and I avoided a trampling opening moring, had 6-7 cows at 20 yards at one point, the closest less than 10, with the rest of the herd roughly 40 yds. further up the ridgeback and closing fast to bad they where all at a dead run, and would not be polite enough to give me a shot!!!!Later that day we got to within 35 yards of a cow, and I over estimated the distance, and shot over her back!!!!This is twice in 3 seasons my wife has had the privledge to watch me flub up on elk, over estimating everytime. She says we can get a laser range finder now, guess something good came out if it!!!

RE: WA elk opening...
 

My brother got a cow the on monday, my uncle missed one at 30 yards, Congrats!!!

RE: WA elk opening...
 

Congrats guys, well I definately smell I mean see a bbq in ya'll future <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>.
GoodLuck slee

Gun controll is using both hands!!!

RE: WA elk opening...
 

Well, I needed 1 or 2 more days to get on a bull. Labor Day was completely unproductive, but I did get to do some legwork around the area I hunted over the weekend. Saturday morning, I had a bull bugle down the ridge. After 2 bugles though, he wasn't interested in anything I had to say. Yesterday morning on my way in, I thought I heard a chuckle but was walking and wasn't sure. 5 minutes later, there was no doubt about it. He was probably less than 1/4 mile away, but on the other side of the Pacific Crest Trail. He wasn't interested in my calling either. I set up about 40 yards in from the Crest Trail, which is as close as I thought I could get. I even had the headless decoy out for good measure. Had I done a little more walking along the Crest Trail to study terrain in the opposite direction from where I had been hunting(or not left my map of the area at home), I'd have known the trail would take me directly above him at about 200-300 yards. I ended up breaking camp at noon to come home to go to the fair last night. I should've stayed and hunted. I don't mind getting wet while hunting, but it sucks when you're dragging 3 little ones around the fair. Maybe he'll still be in the area next Saturday evening. That'll be my only other opportunity. They should be a little more talkative then too, since it'll be closing in on the rut. I saw a ton of tracks, and I've seen at least 1 herd of 8 cows on that same hillside back in July. If they haven't gone elsewhere, there will be at least 1 good bull around. I hope!

Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!

Edited by - slee on 09/09/2002 11:08:56

RE: WA elk opening...
 

yajsab- you the bomb BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was over in Taneum - too hot and dry up top so we were going to huint below and there were ATVs all over so
I came home early- oooppps. But I will be back for the late hunt.

RE: WA elk opening...
 

Chasman, where did you end up in the Taneum? I was camped near 4113 between Stampede Pass and Tacoma Pass on 41. I thought there was a lot less traffic this year compared to when I was in there 2 seasons ago. There were some ATVs in there, and some grouse hunters, but overall I thought it was down. The guys I was camped with were staying the rest of the week, so I doubt anybody else will be around. They will probably have the whole area to themselves. Lucky rascals! The wife conveniently told me when I got back that she could have taken a few days off work so I could have stayed longer had I just told her a month ago. Thanks for nothing! I'll head back Saturday morning for one last chance at a mouthy bull(hopefully). I just hope the weather stays cool for the weekend.

Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!

RE: WA elk opening...
 

Slee, I was just off of the Elk Heights exit of I-90. I take that exit - go to the right and up and around the dirt roads about 7 miles back. Lots of OLD sign very little new sign. I may take my son over to the Lake Kechless area on Saturday for one last hurrah before the late hunt in November- maybe. We'll see what momma has to say.

RE: WA elk opening...
 

Yajsab....seen the pic nice job!!!!! I guess I should hunt in Levi's instead of spending all this money on fancy camo...

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Wash... :D

RE: WA elk opening...
 

I hunted with two other guys in the Naneum and we called in 6 spikes and a cow on the evening of the opener. Sorry to give your hopes up but they were spooked by a hunter 60 yards below us who gut shot the lead spike and they all took off running<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>. I felt bad for him though because he searched high low for it and know one found it.

I LOVE ANIMALS........THEY TASTE GOOD!

RE: WA elk opening...
 

I had some success and failure on the last hunt. I called in a NICE bull at 5:15pm yesterday. I bugled the first time, and I heard him get up in the reprod across on the next ridge. He never said a word, but in about 10 minutes was standing broadside at 15 yards. How does something so big come in without so much as snapping a twig? I didn't notice that when I put my bow down earlier to bugle, my arrow had dropped through my forks on my rest and was sitting on the shelf. I shot under him at spitting distance. He didn't know what happened, but I couldn't convince him to come back.

After retreiving my arrow, I thought about how he just trotted off the hillside like he wasn't really spooked. I relocated about 100 yards back up the draw, and called him back in at 6:00. He hung up behind some small trees at 50 yards. I'd bugle and he'd rub trees. Finally, I threw some rocks up the hillside so he'd hear them roll down. It worked, but he started up the hillside and downwind of me. Why didn't I throw them down the hill and in front of me, duh? As he stepped in the last shooting lane before he'd wind me, I shot. Only he wasn't at 35 yards like I thought, he was more like 40-45. I hit low on his shoulder.

I blood trailed him until it ran out, then I looked for 4 more hours. I even called in buddies to help me. We couldn't find anything. The other guys didn't think I hit any vitals since it clotted so quickly, so I hope I didn't waste a beautiful bull like that. Hindsight being 20/20, I shouldn't have shot with him slightly quartering toward me. I knew this, but guess I got so excited about getting another chance at him that I didn't pass for fear that he'd wind me and be gone forever.

When do you stop replaying it over and over? I'm sick over it. I got in dog tired at 2am, and couldn't get to sleep because of it. It was an awesome experience though. This is my 3rd season, and my 1st time to see an elk while hunting. I'm now a lifetime elk hunter regardless of where I'm living. I love it! Now to get ready for the late hunt.

Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!

RE: WA elk opening...
 

Sorry to hear that, Slee. Last year I got a bull tag. My friend tried to call in a bull. You are right. How could such a big animal comes in so fast without hearing a thing. We didn't shoot him because he was behind some leaves about 30 yards. He was a big one (6 pointers).