The elk hunt was pretty incredible. I missed a nice 6X6 opening day (no idea WTF happened). Spent the next 5 days passing on 5x5s and small 6 or 2. I got busted by a herd bull that came in silent and was staring at me at 20 yards when I turned around. Other bulls that would commit, made it into the national park before I could get on them, etc. Pretty much in elk the entire time. On the second to last morning, my gun didn't go off (cap did go off). No idea why, as I had been cleaning and reloading each day to avoid such mishaps. On the 2nd to last evening I shot the first bull I could and ended up with a 5x4. I'd passed at least a dozen bigger bulls at that point but getting everything to line up with a muzzy is dicey. It was a bittersweet ending to one hell of a fun week of elk hunting!

Congrats WSU! Post pics! Sounds like a great, tough and rewarding hunt. A 5x4 is nothing to scoff at and you have a freezer full of meat for the winter and lots of great memories.

My Dad, when asked why he was willing to shoot a doe, replied that he had cooked those antlers for weeks and they never were edible....

I'll see if I can figure out how to post some pics. While I am a bit bummed I couldn't connect on a masher, it was a really fun hunt with family and friends. We put in the effort, hunted hard for the 6 days we hunted, and I'm still sore! And, as you guys point out, we ended up with a decent bull and a freezer full of delicious elk!

Plus you have a couple of cow tags to fill as well if I'm not mistaken? Congrats on the bull and good luck on the remainder of the season!

Ike

Lots of cow tags. I have a pumice plains tag this weekend my dad and I are going to hunt. Then my dad and wife have late muzzy cow tags that I will be camp cook and babysitter for. Should be fun to take all the kids on and help family on the hunt. Then my dad has another master hunter cow tag. Lots of elk hunting coming up.

And, I’m almost embarrassed to admit, my dad has a quilomene tag for a masher muley. It’s been great so far and is just starting!!

We're getting ready for weekend #2. I did a short sit Tuesday evening and didn't see a thing. This weather stinks for Blackies, but what can you do besides pray for some rain!

The bucks are starting to be out and about here in Olympia. The big one could walk by any time!

Checking in from the island with a fresh cup of Joe. Just got back from a morning sit. Nuthin'. Toff is still out jerkin' his pud somewhere. Cams indicate everything has gone totally nocturnal. Bassturds. Song Dogs were out in full force last night. They're Bassturds too.

One Ol' Man Masher has really started to get his swol on since the last cam check.

Soon.

A forkhorn or maybe 3-point with a mixed group of does and yearlings next door yesterday evening.

This morning's hunt was wonderful, but ultimately unsuccessful. In a tree stand right now! We have a massive non-typical on this stand's cam occasionally...maybe he will make a mistake tonight.

Fish on...

Todd

Pea soup fog the past few mornings has lingered into the afternoons rendering bucks even more ethereal....

I joined the whidbey crew over the weekend for the first deer hunting I have done in almost 30 years.

Didnt see an animal at the stand morning or eve all weekend. Jumped a huge Doe walking around mid day Sunday, got a bead on her for a split second but didnt shoot cause it didnt feel right before she disappeard into the thickness

That moment hooked me again...drove the hook deep.

I'll be back out next weekend

Damn Indian summer weather!

The "supposed" rain this week will be a welcomed change and I plan on being right in it.

One cranberry field depredation doe and a nice little spike so far in my freezer. Off to the Colockum for elk next.

Filled my cow tag this weekend in Pumice Plains. Shot her about 3.5 miles from the truck late morning Saturday and ended up getting the last load out Sunday morning. Feeling pretty sore at work today! It's pretty a pretty cool hunt in a place most folks don't get to go.

I'm thinking I may have to give deer a shot this week. It should be good Wednesday afternoon/evening if the predicted storm comes in Thursday. Now's the time to get in the blacktail woods. Good luck to everyone!

Dogfish - My dad has a Quilomene tag. If you happen to locate a masher buck during your Colockum hunt, please shoot me a message.

At the rate your going, you should in invest in a cold storage facility.

I have a feeling this weekend is going to be good for you guys. A friend sent me a photo on Friday of a huge buck walking along a city street in Lakewood during the middle of the days looking like he was all swollen up. Sunday I saw a couple of does walking around in an area my Friend has lived in for over 40 years. He had never seen any in the area before that. Yesterday I saw a real nice buck walking down a driveway in Gig Harbor, then another doe crossing the road a few miles away. I drive several hours a day on average, and these are the first I have seen in the last month and the only buck I have seen in the past 3 months.

A couple of the fawns that live in my neighborhood were all of a sudden without momma today.

I hope so! Toff mentioned the same activity reports. I'm going to shoot for a Wed - Friday hunt then I have to go to China on Saturday. Nah...I didn't really want to hunt during the best 5 days of the season anyways. It's cool.