Newbie Story - Cascade Elk Hunt

Pepe' da Pack Mule · 11-04-2007, 10:38 PM

This is the 2nd part story to Drunk Cowboy's last post. Hopefully I have this pic thing right.

DC and I were back a few miles in where he took the high ground and I went down lower. I had seen some decent sign all morning but no animals. I kept thinking about that opening morning where I had seen 2 spikes but could never get a shot off.

If I had been a bit quicker or had open sights I probably would have had my tag filled and wouldn't have to put all these extra miles on my feet. It was coming up on noon and I happened to find this nice open, flat area and decided to rest my legs.

I turned the radio on waiting for DC to call. A couple of minutes went by and I heard a snap to my right. I thought to myself that there was no way DC could have found me but he has been known to sneak up on you when you least expect it. Then I heard a couple of snaps and knew it wasn't him. Immediately I turned the radio off (good thing cuz DC was trying to call) and set up to where I think they were going to come out. Sure enough, about 50 yards two cows were casually walking right towards me. The wind was in my favor and I kept hoping that there were more animals. Then he appeared,

and all I could think was 'don't screw this one up'. The cows walked about 10 yards directly in front of me and he was about 5 yards behind them. I put the sights right on his front shoulder and 'Bang'. His whole body shuddered as he mule kicked and ran directly away from me. I could have put another round in him but knew I hit vitals. Then in a few seconds you could see the bright red blood pouring from his front shoulder. He made it about 40 yards and fell over on his side.

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I grabbed the radio off the ground and turned it on. DC was calling and all I remember saying was "Big Bull, Big Bull, Dead". After a few minutes of calming myself down, I was able to give him the coodinates. DC was about a mile away and I am quite certain that he had pushed these animals to me. Thanks DC!

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DC was kind of enough to come down and help me field dress my biggest 5x4 cascade bull elk.

(Don't feel too bad for DC, he did end up with a nice 4 pt.)

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Now the bear block. After field dressing the bull, DC and I head back to camp with the head. We are being loud and BS'n back to the truck and all of a sudden DC dives to the ground and is looking uphill through his scope. I've got my rifle slung with the head over my shoulders trying to figure out what he is looking at. I then see a big black spot and knew right away, bear. DC is moving uphill trying to get an open shot and I'm standing next to this tree watching this bear move to my left about 70 yards up from me. After about watching the bear for about 10 seconds without DC shooting I figured I would get in on the action. I drop the head and unsling my rifle and drop my pack. Still no shot from DC. I kneel down and have a small lane in between a bunch of trees. Now I'm watching this bear through my scope and I kept thinking that DC is going to shoot anytime. This is the point when the seconds seem like minutes. The bear was just sitting there looking around and then he spots DC and lifts up and takes a good second look. Still no shot from DC. The bear dropped down and then turned as if he was going to bolt. I couldn't take it any longer and I squeezed off a shot. Unfortunately I pulled to the right and hit a tree. Them bear can run fast. Apparently DC had a shot and was taking the safety off when I shot. Sorry DC but I couldn't take the torture of you not pulling the trigger. Figured I could go 2 for 2.

Cheers

to Dave, Jerry, and DC for helping me pack this brute out. It was an uphill pack out and only took us 8 hours.:frown:

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My ten month old son and his first smell of elk.

Future Elk Slayer!

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Another great year for our Elk party and look forward to many more.

Billy aka Pepe' da Pack Mule

Chug · 11-05-2007, 05:26 AM

Great looking bull. nice story of the Hunt, sounds like the elk had powder burns

good job.

Eagleclaw · 11-05-2007, 06:25 AM

Great story and a Great looking bull... Congrats!!!

Grantspastor · 11-05-2007, 06:51 AM

Nice! ....and welcome to Ifish

ehunter · 11-05-2007, 06:55 AM

Well done and welcome to Ifish

Legend21 · 11-05-2007, 08:45 AM

Hey great story and bull. Very well done. Enjoyed the pics too, thanks for sharing.

Ras · 11-05-2007, 10:14 AM

Congrats on the Cascade bull Pepe'

. So, you're the one in the party bright enough NOT to throw rocks into a den huh

? Bet your steaks taste better

.

Ras

Big Unit · 11-05-2007, 11:17 AM

Great story and pics and BULL!!!!!!!

BU

Don Becker · 11-05-2007, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legend21

Hey great story and bull. Very well done. Enjoyed the pics too, thanks for sharing.

'Can't add to that. Thanks!

Don

halfrack · 11-05-2007, 01:54 PM

welcome...great story...I love the picture with the blood on the tree and elk in background!
welcome.

oregonmuley · 11-05-2007, 02:06 PM

Thanks for the story and pictures - that looks like tough elk hunting.
Welcome aboard!

scubaseth · 11-05-2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halfrack

welcome...great story...I love the picture with the blood on the tree and elk in background!
welcome.

Scuba

DRUNK COWBOY · 11-05-2007, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ras

Congrats on the Cascade bull Pepe'

. So, you're the one in the party bright enough NOT to throw rocks into a den huh

? Bet your steaks taste better

.

Ras

Ras,
I am starting to not like you very much

At the time when I was doing this, I thought it was a good idea. That damn Bear got back at me.

The "Bear Block" that Pepe pulled on me was priceless. He makes it sound like I was never going to fire the shot. I was actually trying to get in position to kill the damn thing when Pepe decided to miss another Bear. Yes another one

The muzzel blast from pepe's 30-378 stunned me and I was not able to pull off a shot ot the bear sprinting up hill. I had the damn bear dead to rights before Pepe decided to kill a tree

. We were breathing so hard when I saw the bear that I needed to make sure I had a good shot. This is why I went down on my stomach. I wanted to make sure that when I pulled the trigger, that the bear would be dead....unlike my "Pack Mule" buddy. He counts shooting at a bear as a successfull hunting trip:tongue:

Oh well, at least he was able to down that bull with one shot. He deserved it because during the week, we put on some major miles in some very nasty country. His bull was a long ways back in the wilderness.

Santiam 338 has goats to get animals out, but I got a Pepe' da Pack Mule:grin:

beardbuster · 11-05-2007, 06:35 PM

Looks like it was a great trip even without the bear. Congrats to both of you!

Gun Rod Bow · 11-05-2007, 06:46 PM

Good job guys.

Pepe' da Pack Mule · 11-07-2007, 08:17 AM

Thank You everyone and appreciate the nice comments.

Ras - you are absolutely correct as we all give Drunk Cowboy a rough time at camp for not always playing with a full deck.

At least he didn't go crawling into the cave but if he had his .45 with him I wouldn't be surprised. I'm sure it would have made a great story for the 5 o'clock news - "Bear Attacks Stupid Hunter".

I will continue to take advantage of our ability to hunt back in the deep wilderness as long as we are able to pack out these animals. DC's dad just turned 60 and with a full pack, he had no problems keeping up with us.

DC and I just can't wait til our boys grow up and are hunting with us so that they can take the heavy pack!

I am getting a Euro mount done and can't wait to get it back with the tanned hide. As for the size of the animal, the hide measured to 35 square feet and according to the taxidermist, the big elk he gets in are typically in the 30-32 sqf range. Big body with a beautiful, dark and long neck hair and most important, lots of meat.

Tip

- If anyone is looking for a good, affordable pack frame, check out your military surplus store and pick up a couple of 'ALICE' packs (frame and bag). Sturdy frame, lots of pockets and you can easily fit an elk quarter in the bag without having to use any rope to tie it in.

Pepe'

DRUNK COWBOY · 11-09-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pepe' da Pack Mule

Ras - you are absolutely correct as we all give Drunk Cowboy a rough time at camp for not always playing with a full deck.

At least he didn't go crawling into the cave but if he had his .45 with him I wouldn't be surprised. I'm sure it would have made a great story for the 5 o'clock news - "Bear Attacks Stupid Hunter".

Well, after this comment, I now have an opening in Elk Camp:tongue: If you are a hard hunter and do not mind packing my elk out, then I will be holding interviews in my shop this weekend

Beer and food is one me!

If you want to know the truth, I thought about crawling in that hole for a split second, but my brain quickly called myself a "Dumb Ars" I have done stupider things in my life

Ras · 11-09-2007, 07:52 PM

Dang, I almost jumped on that interview opportunity (like you almost jumped down that hole

); but we are doing our own home-brewin' tomorrow...so I'll have to re-schedule

Hey Pepe'; we need a good packer for Idaho next year, since it sounds like your calendar is open. One or two griz in the area....hope you haven't picked-up any bad habits

Ras

Fishstix · 11-11-2007, 05:52 AM

Nice Bull. Congrats.