Dark timber
FNG
Opening day of 2025 WA rifle elk season was pretty much the worst weather I can ever remember hunting in. My daughter, Whitney and I actually had to walk away from a legal bull at 380yds because it was blowing rain sideways at 40mph. We couldn’t keep water off the lenses of any of our optics, including rifle scope, and with no way to get closer and the elk feeding down into the drainage, we had to do what I would never imagine doing and just pick up and leave. Gore-Tex was no match for this storm, so at 9:30 we headed back the 3 miles to the pickup. We did a little road hunting while trying to dry out and warm up but soon just called it a day and seeing better weather in the forcast, we made a plan to find the same bunch of elk the next day.
Day 2 starts with clear skies and some hope. We get into the area before anyone else, maybe a little too early as we bump some elk just a few minutes before shooting light. We never did turn up the herd we had in the storm the day before but glassed some elk across in another direction a mile away and I saw at least one legal bull. They were slowly feeding their way to bed in some tall reprod so we made a plan to circle around and get in front of them, which worked perfectly. We were able to find a spur that allowed us to have a decent view into the reprod and the longest possible shot would be 400yds. We had to sneak down the spur road very carefully, moving only when the bedded elk that were in view had their heads turned. Once in a good position, we watched for about 2 hours as elk materialized out of thin air it seems, fed, and re-bedded. Finally, on the closest ridge to us, the legal bull stands up. He feeds around for a minute, not quite offering a clear shot and walks straight away in behind some trees. We had to sit for another hour and wait for him to stand up, meanwhile, all we can see is a little movement and an antler tip. Finally, he stands and turns quartering away and Whit send one 351yds behind the shoulder but a bit low. He bedded right there and once we figured out that he was facing us, she put a second shot perfectly in the brisket and it was a done deal.
Good friends who are willing to drop what they’re doing to come pack quarters are worth their weight in gold. Having service where we were, I was able to give the boys a heads up that were probably gonna have a bull down soon. Once it was a confirmed bull down, they were on the road. My buddies Jacob, Michael, and his buddy Brent (who packed me in a couple Coronas) hiked in about 4.5 miles and got there just as we had all the quarters down the road. A few hours later, our packs hit the tailgate and it was all over. These are memories that will last a lifetime.
It’s so cool having daughters that are obsessed with hunting. I’m so proud of Whitney for hanging in there during the grind of packing meat and all the miles and weather we endured this weekend. This was her 3rd Roosevelt bull in 4 years of hunting elk. She’s such a stud. I’m a super proud dad.
Day 2 starts with clear skies and some hope. We get into the area before anyone else, maybe a little too early as we bump some elk just a few minutes before shooting light. We never did turn up the herd we had in the storm the day before but glassed some elk across in another direction a mile away and I saw at least one legal bull. They were slowly feeding their way to bed in some tall reprod so we made a plan to circle around and get in front of them, which worked perfectly. We were able to find a spur that allowed us to have a decent view into the reprod and the longest possible shot would be 400yds. We had to sneak down the spur road very carefully, moving only when the bedded elk that were in view had their heads turned. Once in a good position, we watched for about 2 hours as elk materialized out of thin air it seems, fed, and re-bedded. Finally, on the closest ridge to us, the legal bull stands up. He feeds around for a minute, not quite offering a clear shot and walks straight away in behind some trees. We had to sit for another hour and wait for him to stand up, meanwhile, all we can see is a little movement and an antler tip. Finally, he stands and turns quartering away and Whit send one 351yds behind the shoulder but a bit low. He bedded right there and once we figured out that he was facing us, she put a second shot perfectly in the brisket and it was a done deal.
Good friends who are willing to drop what they’re doing to come pack quarters are worth their weight in gold. Having service where we were, I was able to give the boys a heads up that were probably gonna have a bull down soon. Once it was a confirmed bull down, they were on the road. My buddies Jacob, Michael, and his buddy Brent (who packed me in a couple Coronas) hiked in about 4.5 miles and got there just as we had all the quarters down the road. A few hours later, our packs hit the tailgate and it was all over. These are memories that will last a lifetime.
It’s so cool having daughters that are obsessed with hunting. I’m so proud of Whitney for hanging in there during the grind of packing meat and all the miles and weather we endured this weekend. This was her 3rd Roosevelt bull in 4 years of hunting elk. She’s such a stud. I’m a super proud dad.
