- Thread Starter
- #41
OP
2017 Elk Season Now on to Montana Cabinet Mts
- Thread starter Ross
- Start date
frazierw
FNG
Good luck!
- Thread Starter
- #45
OP
Can I have a do over
Five days in the watershed was a lot of fun and I may have two more days next weekend. Over the two days scouting and 5 days hunting I spotted 27 bulls. Of those 5 were over 300, two 330ish and one over 350. I want to say thanks to my friend Randy who had experience in the unit and was with me 5 days. It is odd not having set foot into an area due to the rules of this hunt. A quick blow by blow. The high country got dumped on prior to opening day so we could not hunt bull number one opening morning as the road was impassable and still is. We went with option two and had spotted a nice six two days prior. Unfortunately we were just behind another hunter and were fifty yds behind him when he shot this 315 bull in its bed.
Five days in the watershed was a lot of fun and I may have two more days next weekend. Over the two days scouting and 5 days hunting I spotted 27 bulls. Of those 5 were over 300, two 330ish and one over 350. I want to say thanks to my friend Randy who had experience in the unit and was with me 5 days. It is odd not having set foot into an area due to the rules of this hunt. A quick blow by blow. The high country got dumped on prior to opening day so we could not hunt bull number one opening morning as the road was impassable and still is. We went with option two and had spotted a nice six two days prior. Unfortunately we were just behind another hunter and were fifty yds behind him when he shot this 315 bull in its bed.- Thread Starter
- #46
OP
I hunted the paradise ridge trail from the top. It starts in Oregon and you walk about 1.5 miles to get in. If anyone hunts the watershed in the future and wants intel I now know it well. After that bull was shot we headed down into a drainage Randy's buddy had good action in 3yrs prior. We immediately spotted a cow at 950 yds and a stud bull at 1200 yds. We proceeded down, down, he was about a thousand feet below us. We got to where the cow was a bumped a herd about ten strong. I cow called and they chimed in and gradually walked away never running. The bull was not found but I suspected he was still close so we spent the day in the vicinity.
Attachments
Last edited:
- Thread Starter
- #47
OP
- Thread Starter
- #48
OP
I still suspected the bull was near and will often bed away from the main group. At 3:45 I gave a bugle and low and behold he answered from his bed. We proceeded to talk over to the next hr and got him interested enough to check us out and who stole his cows I was trying to figure out where he was coming out and moving around changing positions. He eventually showed at 400 yds I rushed the shot missed and watched him walk over a ridge. A search revealed no hit and he climbed 1000 ft out of the canyon. A check of the gun revealed simply bad execution and operator error
Along with a bee sting setting up the target and waking up a dormant nest. The 3.5 hr pull out of that hole and nightmares brought little sleep!
I was trying to figure out where he was coming out and moving around changing positions. He eventually showed at 400 yds I rushed the shot missed and watched him walk over a ridge. A search revealed no hit and he climbed 1000 ft out of the canyon. A check of the gun revealed simply bad execution and operator errorAlong with a bee sting setting up the target and waking up a dormant nest. The 3.5 hr pull out of that hole and nightmares brought little sleep!- Thread Starter
- #49
OP
Scenery pictures and if anyone is looking for late season boots I wore the new Schnees Granite VI this week. Only breakin was one night at the gym. I climbed and descended over 8k in elevation. Have zero blisters and one hot spot. These boots are very stiff,which for this hunt in very steep country left my feet feeling solid the next morning. Lateral and ankle support are solid never leaving me with concern on support. Outside of the first day temps were in the high 40s so they did get warm but are well broken in for next month. Sizing they did run a half size small from my normal boot.
Attachments
Last edited:
- Thread Starter
- #51
OP
I'm in Spokane not sure of the hunt number or unit but is along the Oregon border. Typically takes about seven years I'd meet someone who drew in four. Just south of walla walla.
- Thread Starter
- #52
OP
- Thread Starter
- #53
OP
Day 2 presented a fifty yard shot at an avg five pt go big or go home...we then got a bull to bugle several times and spotted a large herd of cows along with a big five pt just inside the wa border at dusk. Day three brought wind and the wind is the devil when bugling bulls. The second estrus should be going from prior experience and if in the right location bugling can be intense. An hr into the day I threw out a bugle and a bull immediately answered from 6oo yds. You could tell he was fired up and in the same drainage as the bull I missed. This country offers some long shooting but we got caught in some steep dark timber with short pockets. He came running screaming and chuckling. Got to about 125 and just out of sight when he went silent and his bugle was then hundreds of yards away. We gave him about thirty minutes and took up the chase. Prior xperince says if he bugles and answers and you have the fortitude you may get another opportunity. After two hrs and at 11 o'clock I caught up to him right where I missed him two days prior and raked him in to about 110 yds seeing him twice moving through vegetation with no shot. He was not going to come out so easy this time. We proceeded to rake trees for fifteen minutes. The thought crossed my mind to sneak in while he was raking and should of as he eventually walked off.
Last edited:
- Thread Starter
- #54
OP
- Thread Starter
- #55
OP
Day 4 I was back in the same basin from the day prior saw a nice bull miles away and that evening spotted another five pt with cows on the border when taking a second look back from the direction I came I spotted a 330 bull on a rock cliff looking at the valley floor. Prior to running after him I should have taken a photo as it was one of the coolest sights I have seen him standing on a rock cliff with nothing below him for hundreds of yards. After a lot of sweat he disappeared. Last day I was after 330 and went to fast and bumped the herd. Sitting where the bull stood the night before glassing I glassed the biggest bull yet light dancing off his rack 350 in the area where the road is snow covered and no one has been into
- Thread Starter
- #58
OP
Next round is the Cabinet mountains of nwest Montana...will have five in camp this weekend to chase some high country Muleys....have been waiting for the right one the last few years and wouldn't you know it last year we hit it right with bucks running crazy this coming weekend. After a two plus hr pull I spotted a hog but the friend I was with could not take it anymore after passing on several decent ones pulled the trigger and never saw him again. This country is similar to the watershed in Washington but a lot more rocky and much rougher..through the years it has offered some great views and many good memories peeps and dogs
Turkey week back to elk and will see if I can stand by not shooting a five pt if offered
The snow has stacked up and should offer a few good opportunities...one from years past when much younger
Turkey week back to elk and will see if I can stand by not shooting a five pt if offeredThe snow has stacked up and should offer a few good opportunities...one from years past when much youngerAttachments
Last edited:
- Thread Starter
- #59
OP
Similar threads
Featured Video
Stats
Latest Articles
-
Gunnison Mule Deer and Beyond with Brandon Diamond
-
Idaho Mule Deer Management with Eric Freeman
-
TT#28 Idaho Bear Hunting with Roger Holscher and Chris Young
-
Rockstar Research with Kevin Monteith
-
Hunting Big Mule Deer: Obey the Wind & Still-Hunting
-
TT#27 DIY New Zealand Hunting with Australian Duo Miller and Pitts
-
Fewer Bucks, More Fawns?
-
Mathews Lift Review
-
Wyoming Range Winter Wrap-Up with Jeff Short
-
The Pursuit with Cliff Gray