belshawelk
Well-known member
I have never posted a pic of myself hunting but this damn this hunt deserves it. I have been really lucky to be able to hunt in some really neat places. Hunted up at 12,000ft in Colorado, Utah, Oregon and Washington, etc. Been in some of the most god-forsaken places as far as terrain, hill climbs etc.. I have climbed rock faces after lions and snowshoed looking for critters but...... I found my match. This was pure hell.
Burned all my points for Oregon 255A Mill Creek watershed. USFS wilderness. No camping, no roads, have to hike in and out every day. Only one non hunter allowed with you. No pre-scouting in fact ,nobody is allowed in the unit all year except 10 days for elk hunting. Heavily patrolled. Cameras watching you come in and out. When I asked the ODFW guy he told me there are only two directions in unit, up and down. He was correct. Only 20 tags available and snow came in early. Some of the hunters up top in trailers and wall tents now are sitting in 3' of snow. Some of trailers will not get out till spring. Ran into a few hunters who all said the same thing, what the hell do we do if we shoot something? Days of pack out.
I found a pretty steep area with a few small canyons that really nobody was focusing on. Its across the creek from everyone and assumed at point something may get pushed down in my direction. Hunted it for 4 days in rain, snow, wind and finally yesterday the sun came out. Spotted big bull in heavy timer across the creek about a mile away. Buddy and I were trying to figure out a plan to go after him in morning. Just then I looked to my right and here come some cows across the canyon from where we were. My buddy told me the last one is a spike. Most people in this unit hold out for 300 plus inch bulls. Every year a couple 350 plus bulls get taken. Being beat up, completely exhausted I had already convinced myself I will take the first bull I see. There is no way my buddy and I can get back in the unit and pack out a bull. The ODFW guy said the biggest problem with this unit is you put in as a young guy and draw as an old one. Many give up. Anyway when I looked at the spike I could see he had a fork and the body looked to big for a spike.
This is what he was. Old mature bull with a broken pedicle that the horn came out of his eye socked and wrapped around in from of his mouth. Not even sure how he could eat, But he was nice and fat and healthy. Looks like he was a 3 or 4 point branch and then some point with all the points worn off. He needed to be taken out. God gave me a cool bull in about as good of location as I could get. We still have a full day of pack out this morning.
God is great.
Burned all my points for Oregon 255A Mill Creek watershed. USFS wilderness. No camping, no roads, have to hike in and out every day. Only one non hunter allowed with you. No pre-scouting in fact ,nobody is allowed in the unit all year except 10 days for elk hunting. Heavily patrolled. Cameras watching you come in and out. When I asked the ODFW guy he told me there are only two directions in unit, up and down. He was correct. Only 20 tags available and snow came in early. Some of the hunters up top in trailers and wall tents now are sitting in 3' of snow. Some of trailers will not get out till spring. Ran into a few hunters who all said the same thing, what the hell do we do if we shoot something? Days of pack out.
I found a pretty steep area with a few small canyons that really nobody was focusing on. Its across the creek from everyone and assumed at point something may get pushed down in my direction. Hunted it for 4 days in rain, snow, wind and finally yesterday the sun came out. Spotted big bull in heavy timer across the creek about a mile away. Buddy and I were trying to figure out a plan to go after him in morning. Just then I looked to my right and here come some cows across the canyon from where we were. My buddy told me the last one is a spike. Most people in this unit hold out for 300 plus inch bulls. Every year a couple 350 plus bulls get taken. Being beat up, completely exhausted I had already convinced myself I will take the first bull I see. There is no way my buddy and I can get back in the unit and pack out a bull. The ODFW guy said the biggest problem with this unit is you put in as a young guy and draw as an old one. Many give up. Anyway when I looked at the spike I could see he had a fork and the body looked to big for a spike.
This is what he was. Old mature bull with a broken pedicle that the horn came out of his eye socked and wrapped around in from of his mouth. Not even sure how he could eat, But he was nice and fat and healthy. Looks like he was a 3 or 4 point branch and then some point with all the points worn off. He needed to be taken out. God gave me a cool bull in about as good of location as I could get. We still have a full day of pack out this morning.
God is great.
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