Well, I didn't get the monster muley this year, but we did find a big Washington buck (more later). Our 10-day drop camp (5 guys 9/14-9/19 - 3 guys 9/14-9/23) started Wednesday at 4 a.m. in my driveway for a 3 1/2 hour drive to the Entiat trailhead (Icicle Outfitters - great family run outfitting service for 20+ years/check them out at
www.icicleoutfitters.com).
By 11 a.m., we had 7 pack mules loaded up with about ? ton of gear, and 5 hunters on horses, and 2 outfitters hitting the trail for a 12 mile ride. By noon, we pass the Wilderness Area marker. By 3:30 pm, we are at our soon to be base camp at 5500 elevation and 50 miles from the nearest electricity or cell phone coverage. By 5 pm, our 14x16 wall tent is set up, the campfire is lit, and dinner is cooking.
At daybreak on opening day, I head up my favorite hillside to walk the base of the rock cliffs where I got a quick glance at a monster last year. By 8 am, and 1000 feet elevation later, I spook through a few does in the timber and am above the treeline moving real slow and glassing the high country. At 9:30, I look around a rock cliff up a steep draw over a creek with the wind in my face and see a sole deer feeding that does not look up. Up goes the rifle, off goes the safety, and I see a forked horn (high hunt is 3 pt. min). I scope up and count the third point, then scope down to behind the front shoulder and squeeze off one shot for this opening day 4x3 (3x2 with eyeguards):
Then the work begins. I drag this buck for 2 hours before the others could find me. Then, two of us drug for another 4 hours before getting to camp. At 5 pm, the meat is skinned, cleaned, and bagged.
Two days later, my buddy?s nap is interrupted by this 3x3:
Two days later, my brother does a spot and stalk on this 5 point in a meadow right below a rock cliff:
So, out of 5 hunters, we filled 3 tags and had a great high hunt.