My '05 WA Elk hunt!

MichaelJ

Very Active Member
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Well, this hunt was absolutely AWESOME! Was up for nearly 20 hours straight, and loved every minute of it!

First off, a little history...
My Dad has never really been a big game hunter. That is until I passed my hunter safety course! My Dad has never killed a deer or an elk with a rifle (got a few with the truck though!) and has been great on making "our" hunting trips happen.

Well, this year I planned different. We ended drawing Cow Tags for GMU 154 and got to hunt "Klicker Mountain" (my Dad's boss is a Klicker) where I killed a bear opening weekend of deer season two weeks ago.

Opening morning found us roaming the hills chasing elk. There was about 15 guys all hunting but only 5 of us had cow tags. We found a herd of elk about 8 AM and decided to do a push through the timber to an open ridge (there were about 4 or 5 of these clearings throughout the canyon).
ElkHunt05004.jpg

I was paired up with a guy named Chad Redfield. We went down the hill and sat to wait out the drive.
ElkHunt05002.jpg

The brush busters start moving and three cows pull out on the open hillside. We had guessed the range to be around 375 yards (VERY decieving). Well I had 12 shells and thought I would only need maybe two. I held my cross hairs at her back and BOOM! Nothing, BOOM! Nothing every shot I kept raising the cross hairs a little at a time. 7 shots later I still had hit nothing. A guy later said that my shots were very quite from where he was brush busting (why the cows just stood there). Then I aimed three feet above her back and BOOM! My 8th shot was true and she hunched up and rolled down the canyon. A bullet through her heart (See picture). The 180 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw entered right behind the front shoulder, through the chest cavity, broke the offside shoulder and out the other side. A complete passthrough at a VERIFIED 550 yard shot (we ranged it later after the drives we through)
ElkHunt05012.jpg

a couple hours later and the 2nd drive my Dad had his cow down (GREAT shot at 280 yards, but he only used 2 bullets), and 1 minute later John lunged his cow at 390 yards with his 270 WSM.
ElkHunt05011.jpg

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(from left to right: Dad, John, and Me)

Hope you enjoyed it and I think my Dad has finally caught the "Bug".
We drug them to the bottom of the canyon, and used a truck to winch them to the top (VERY HANDY).
This was a first for both of us and we both had a great time.

Michael~All Gods creatures welcome... right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy.
 
Michael, I think your having waaaay too much fun on your hunts.
Glad to see you get your dad interested in hunting. There is alot to be said for him for trying something new.
Congrats to all of you.
 
I was out of town hunting and didn't see your post about your bear until today. It looks like you've been pretty busy! Congrats on the bear AND now the elk.

You're going to need lots of "mashed potatoes and gravy!":)

When I was your age, my cousin and I planted 10 acres of watermelons that Spring. We kept care of them until harvest time. We set up a stand in front of his place and ended up selling them 10 for $1. They got ripe faster than we could sell them! LOL. Finally we sold a big semi truck load to Safeway Store. We made a little money, but not 7k like you did in the cherries. (this was back in 1963). We both learned a lot that summer.

Keep up the hard work and enjoy the time hunting with your Dad. The memories will last you both a lifetime.

Steve
 
A bear and an elk, not a bad year, way to go, you might consider buying a rangefinder before next years hunt, may save on the bullets.....way to go down there.
 
AWESOME!!! Love reading your stories. Full of lots of enthusiasm. Keep it up. That's what is all about. :)
 
Michael.....way to go Bud! Awesome season for ya. That's a great picture of all of you guys....sure looks like a lot of work sittin' there. :) Congrats.
 
Michael, I really enjoy reading your stories most of the time but next year "BUY A FRIGGEN RANGE FINDER" Your way to well informed (from MM Members)to be taking irresposible shots. 550 yards??, 3 feet over it's back?. Stop guessing . Your a good hunter and a young fine representative for hunting DO IT RIGHT!.
 
Kingfish,

He's a kid, and a good one it seems, lighten up and let him have some fun.

JB

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
--Benjamin Franklin 1759
 
The best story here is of a Dad who's encouraged and participated in his son's passion for hunting even though he did not initially share that passion himself... Here's hoping you have many more successful seasons with your huntin' buddy.

Hope he likes venison!

I guess "Pass it on" works both ways...
 
KingFish, point well taken, and very understood. We estimated the distance at or around 350-375 yards. Not too long of a shot, and I know that my gun is sighted in well. If I had known that it was 550, well, we would've waited for other cows to come out as after this group, we had others farther down the hill and a lot closer. Come on though, it's not like she suffered and I gut shot her. I've seen other kids shoot off legs at 100 yards. It was sure exciting blasting away round after round thinking "I'm gonna have $10 in shells in this thing by the time I'm done!".

Thanks for all the posts guys, sure has been a fun year, and this was the 10th day of hunting I've done this year. Reading all these deffinately brings a smile to my face.

Michael~All Gods creatures welcome... right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy.
 
Much congrats bud. Wish I had as much fun as you when I was your age. Wanna trade?!

Congrats to all of you!

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"
 
Chef, thanks!

The thing is, I would trade my bear and elk in a heart beat for a big ol muley. As I said I've hunted 10 days so far this year, 7 of them solo. 9 of the 10 I was looking for a muley buck. Sure hiked my butt off, and saw some deer (thanks ridge for the pointers!), and was literally 10 seconds from shooting a buck; here's the story.

Last thursday, I was looking at some maps, and wanted to find an area in the entiat that was away from some roads (a challange in itself). I had hunted up high during the week and had consistently seen deer. We got some snow up high Wed. and didn't see a deer. So I decided to try down lower in the hopes of catching a buck that had moved out of the highcountry.

So after school I hustled out there and hiked up over a ridge to get into some roadless country. Saw 4 does and a spike. While sitting on a ridge, I hear that "crunch crunch" of something moving in front of me. I glassed the ridges and saw nothing. 1/2 hour later I still hadn't seen anything and it was starting to get dark. So I decide to quitely slip up the ridge to get a different view. I stand up put on my pack and sling my rifle on my shoulder. I take on last look and WTH? That burnt stump looks differnt from when I last looked at it. I slowly raise my binos and there's a buck standing on the ridgetop looking right at me. About 20" wide and maybe 15"-18" tall. Not sure if it's legal or not, but he had me pinned. I hit the ground and have my rifle out in a second and by that time he was behind some trees looking at me. I'm trying my darndest to put a 3rd point on him but can't. two steps and he's gone. I wait another 15 minutes for him to pop out the other side but nothing. I decide to make a stalk over the ridge, but he had already gone.

If I would've sat there 10 more seconds I would've seen him come over the ridge and would've gotten a look at him. I couldn't sleep that night, and was kicking myself the next 2 days over it. Still upset about it, but that's huntin.

Michael~All Gods creatures welcome... right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-31-05 AT 08:13PM (MST)[p]Michael,
Congratulations on your bear and your cow. I think that is awesome that you are getting your dad involved in hunting. You know the excitement that you have and now you two can share that. There is not much better hunting feeling than to share it with your dad.
This year I was fortunate to share with both my son and dad on two elk hunts. As they say it doesn't get much better than that.
It's great a young guy like yourself is so excited about hunting and you and your dad have more hunts in the future. You have passed it on.

Steve
 
Way to go kid! You have to go for the "trifecta" and get your buck! Late season is coming fast. I have to wait for late archery elk (providing my hand is healed up by then) to try for a bull. I have a nice one located, I just hope that I dont get snowed out!
Keep up the great work!
yotewalk.gif


Eric
 
That's what I always say too...

..."but that's huntin'!"

Seems to be the only way I can get over my busted moments!

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"
 
>That's what I always say too...
>
>
>..."but that's huntin'!"
>
>Seems to be the only way
>I can get over my
>busted moments!
>
>Chef
>"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"

Aint that the truth? lol

PB, sending you a PM.

Michael~All Gods creatures welcome... right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy.
 
Congrats, Michael. What a great season for you. I cannot tell you enough to take advantage of that time with your Dad. I have hunted far and wide, taken animals in multiple states, but the times I remember the most is with my Dad. Time flies, so don't take it for granted.

Doc
 
MissinMT, I know what you mean, sure is a lot of fun! I think I was more excited for him on his elk than I was for mine! He sure had a big grin on his face and said; "I think I could get the "bug", but not as bad as you!" lol

Michael~All Gods creatures welcome... right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy.
 

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