Elk Hunting

[StarTed]

I just got back from elk hunting in the Blues. The hunt was in a spike only area and I bagged mine on the first day. Didn't see another person in the area. My son-in-l;aw and wife came down the following day and helped me bone it out and pack it up to the top where we could get at it by vehicle. It was either 450' up or over 2000' down. I chose up and that proved a wise choice. We came out with headlamps on the second trip under a downpour.

I'd post some pictures but photobucket won't let me upload pictures without going through Facebook. I refuse to use Facebook so we're at a standoff. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

 

[StarTed]

Guess I figured out Photobucket.

Here are some pictures taken in the area;







These pictures are not of the exact area where I shot the elk but they're in the general area.



My elk where it stopped rolling head over heals down the hill. Luckily the tree/bush stopped it before it went down further where it dropped off even steeper.



I managed to field dress it in place and covered it with a tarp before the downpour on the way back down the mountain and back to camp. My legs were rubber by the time I reached my pickup.

 

[StarTed]

Here are some pictures of some trees that I didn't recognize while hiking up the bottom trail. The berries reminded me of red huckleberries, the needles of hemlock and the bark of Madrona.











Does anyone know what trees these are? I have a guess but I'll wait until you have a shot at it.

 

[Pusher]

The pictures aren't linking for some reason but congrats on the Elk!

I know the bush/tree you're talking about. I saw one years ago hike in the olympic nation park. After about ten years I finally saw another one... under the bay window at work. Let me know if you figure out what they are. I'm curious if they're poisonous.

 

[StarTed]

Thanks Pusher.

My research indicates the trees are Pacific Yew. They like growing in full shade which is where I saw them along the Tucanon River trail up near the Bear Creek trail..

 

[MTboatguy]

Thanks Pusher.

My research indicates the trees are Pacific Yew. They like growing in full shade which is where I saw them along the Tucanon River trail up near the Bear Creek trail..

Yup, one of the best woods there is for building bows, been popular for that for hundreds of years. I have hunted that area in years past, it is a great area.

 

[gm280]

If you guys keep posting nice scenic pictures of woodlands and game, I am going to get that itch again and want to go hunting. And I honestly don't really want to get back into that now. My son and I were reminiscing just yesterday about our hunting experiences in the distance past. And we both said we enjoyed the time in the deer stands, whether we shot any game animal or not, but not the work involved getting everything set up or the seemingly endless quarrels in the hunting clubs we joined. Seems there is always some sort of issue with members all the time. It takes the real fun out of hunting, But watching mother nature in her place is so nice it just has to be experienced.

 

[Pusher]

Well said GM. Instead of clubs it's city hunters from Seattle over in this state. We have about 5 of them outside the office in arid Yakima facing east. Maybe I'm looking at something different. :-/ Time to google.

 

[StarTed]

I hunt alone still in my 70's and find climbing the mountains not too bad. After spraining an ankle in that general area a few years ago and hopping up to the top and road system on 1 leg I now carry a Spot. I also carry enough gear in my day pack to spend a night but I sure wouldn't want to. It'd take a mountain of wood to keep a fire going all night.

After moving to hunting from the bottom trail system I've harvested 3 elk in 5 years. It's a spike only area with drawings for the big bulls. So far I haven't been drawn and I hope to before I get too old to climb those mountains. I see big bulls while hunting there all the time. There was a 5 pointer (western count) in the herd when I bagged this one. The herd had 9 elk with another spike calf with around 10" antlers still in velvet.

The herd I got my spike from 5 years ago had about 35 elk with 2 huge bulls in the tail. The first was a 6 X 6 and the last was a 7 X 8. that walked single file past me at around 60 yards. I can still recall that sight. By the way, I shot the only spike in that herd.

 

[sam60]

Elk is the best tasting land animal meat (that I've had) IMHO. Bison is good but also very lean. I have friends that hunt and when I can get elk meat, I trade them with half of the summer sausage I make from it.

Otherwise I use 85/15 beef and about 30% pork. Peppercorn and mustard seed and slow smoked.

 

[gm280]

Did you guys read today's news about the elk hunter that shot an elk and then while dragging him out with his ATV, the ATV flipped up throwing him backwards and he got gored with the elk's rack. He was in serious condition and had to be flown to the hospital after they found him and had to carry him 1/2 mile to the airlift copter. They couldn't land any closer because the area was too dense to land. They reported that he should recover from the serious wound.

 

[Pusher]

Oh wow, hadn't heard of that! I think the bull got the last word in (Hope they saved the elk meat). I hope he pulls through well.

Sounds like a tasty recipe Sam. I really want to start smoking... Right after I move out of this house.

 

[dwco5051]

I hunt alone still in my 70's and find climbing the mountains not too bad. After spraining an ankle in that general area a few years ago and hopping up to the top and road system on 1 leg I now carry a Spot. I also carry enough gear in my day pack to spend a night but I sure wouldn't want to. It'd take a mountain of wood to keep a fire going all night.

I am in the same boat as I am only a couple of days away from turning 77. Almost all of my old hunting and fishing buddies are either dead or crippled so most of my hunting was solo until last year when my 11 year old grand daughter started hunting. It is really satisfying to sit in the buddy stand with her when she spots deer twenty or so yards farther away than I can see any more and she conveys to me by hand signals how many and if they have antlers.

I still hike the woods at night, mostly after midnight, with just my LED headlamp for an hour or two just to see what eyes it reflects and to listen to the sounds around me. In the morning over breakfast I will remark to my wife such things as I saw two possums, one coon, three deer, and the coyotes were really talking down in the valley last night. Of course she throws a fit and responds with such comments as ?if you die up on the mountain I am not even going to send someone out to look for your body.?

 

[Pusher]

Pacific or western yew tree. The fruit is edible, but the seeds are highly toxic if chewed. Three or more and you'll be puking. More, and you might be dead.

 

[gm280]

If anybody wants to read that news about the hunter, here is the link;

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/10/utah-hunter-gores-himself-on-antler-elk-killed.html

 

[StarTed]

Wow!

I guess I'm better off on foot. Getting an antler in the neck is a serious problem.

Thanks for the information on the Yew tree berries. I think I'll still treat them like I treat most mushrooms.

dwco5051 - Welcome to the club. Dying in the mountains doesn't seem to be too bad to me. My father died while hiking alone at around 10,000 feet above sea level while herding sheep. He was walking at the time and leading his horse. His body was found around 3 days later with a young dog he was training still by his side.

Still hope to have some more elk hunts left.

 

[aspeck]

Love the pics and congrats on the hunt!

 

[gm280]

Wow!

I guess I'm better off on foot. Getting an antler in the neck is a serious problem.

Thanks for the information on the Yew tree berries. I think I'll still treat them like I treat most mushrooms.

dwco5051 - Welcome to the club. Dying in the mountains doesn't seem to be too bad to me. My father died while hiking alone at around 10,000 feet above sea level while herding sheep. He was walking at the time and leading his horse. His body was found around 3 days later with a young dog he was training still by his side.

Still hope to have some more elk hunts left.

StarTed, you only stop when YOU make that decision. Not when others try to make it for you. If you love it and enjoy it and can still go, why not? :noidea:

 

[StarTed]

Thanks aspeck and gm280. I do like the area but this year it rained more than usual.

The cicadas managed to do a little singing in the afternoons although it really wasn't warm enough to get them really going. They sure are hard to find because they stop when you get close and another one or more off a short distance takes over until you get too close to it.

 

[dwco5051]

The cicadas managed to do a little singing in the afternoons although it really wasn't warm enough to get them really going. They sure are hard to find because they stop when you get close and another one or more off a short distance takes over until you get too close to it.

Just like Spring Peepers. You really have to really work to see one as they stop singing in about a twenty foot radius from where you are walking.