Trad Gang

went on a hunt with paul and buckster this weekend and even though i only had three days to hunt i was in elk every time we hit the woods.buckster scored a bull within the first two hours of the season opener,he will post pics when he gets back to arkansas.he still has a deer tag to fill.i had plenty of action but missed low on a 6x6 bull sunday and low again on a cow last night   :bigsmyl:  ..got my priorities straight huh. paul was in elk constantly also and had several bull encounters,he's still in burns until sunday so his chances are good.....more later

:thumbsup:    :campfire:    :clapper:

Cool!!!   :knothead:  

More than ready to go----if I can keep my summer foot injury under control!  :banghead:

:readit:

Very cool. Now pics!

I'm so itchin to get in the woods to let looose those sticks.  Congrats!!

PICS!!!!! Great to hear Elk stories.

pics after my woman gets back from shopping..cameras in the rig....  :bigsmyl:

Sounds great--I leave for NM tomorrow, start hunting Sat.

Chad

sweet!!!

Great job Larry! Wish I could have been with you guys. We didn't see a darn thing Saturday. A buddy and myself hunted the Soda Fork region.

Looking forward to the pics.   :thumbsup:

Way to go Larry! Lookin' forward to the pics and stories!
 :clapper:    :jumper:

UMMM!That is exciting.We leave in 13 days for north west co.What part of the country were you men in?  :campfire:

""pics after my woman gets back from shopping..cameras in the rig"

Call her and tell her 20 thousand folks are waiting on her to come home! Hurry it up! but be safe!!

:campfire:    :coffee:

Congrats!!!!! Missing happens I've never been able to bend a bow at an elk yet

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting25.jpg)

pics of camp

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting24-1.jpg)

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting23-1.jpg)

Look at all those 'PUMPKINS' - that's what Tree Killa and his kind call Ponderosa Pines....

They are beautiful!

Keep those photos comin'!

Shoot straight, Shinken

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting20.jpg)

I missed it in the first pass, but this was one *confident* group of hunters - they already had a MEAT POLE set up in camp!!!

Shoot straight, Shinken

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting19-1.jpg)

my fiance and i were sitting in camp at 11 am saturday morning enjoying a conversation when i looked up and saw a 5 point bull trotting down the 41 road like he was goin to burns with a debit card...i was torn between the bow and camera...bow won.i cow called to him,he stopped looked back at me then continued his jog   :banghead:

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting18.jpg)

this is close to the area i called in the 6x6 that i missed...this was just behind camp

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting17.jpg)

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting10.jpg)

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting6.jpg)

my mohawk took first place on my which bow to hunt with contest

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting5.jpg)

buckster and i were sitting on a very heavily used elk trail waiting to ambush some wapiti steaks when i heard some bugling by another hunter followed by an answer from the real thing...i jumped up and scurried up the hill to find buckster then we started down the hill towards the fracus,on the way buckster saw some feathers and crouched down and started gathering them up,i looked up the hill and spotted a cow elk coming down the hill,then another 7-8 total..i whispered "elk...dont move" he whispered back "i cant" again "dont move"..."i cant" he replied..we both started laughing at his demise...i spotted a cow that had a limp and zeroed in on her as my victim...waited until she cleared a small pine then mewed at her..she froze..i pulled my string back and under shot her..then all hell broke loose..elk were flyin everywhere.good times i tell ya

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting9.jpg)

last pic for now..buckster has pics of his bull that he will post later on in the week

Can't wait for the next installment!!!

i left camp by foot and hiked down along a ridge quietly cow calling periodically.after a mile i decided it would be dark by the time i reached camp.i cow called three more times and got a response from a few hundred yds away,i looked down through the pines and saw a nice 6x6 trotting my way so i checked the wind and waited for him...he came in and turned broadside like he had read the playbook...i shot and my arrow looked good until it hit the dirt before it got to him   :banghead:    :banghead:  best fun ever.

hill boy....we were in burns oregon area

Heck, a hunting friend of mine lives in Burns. I'm planning a hunt over there with him later this season.

:thumbsup:

:clapper:

Sure is some purty country. You all have it made out there.

You got my full attention.It's very dry and cool this morning in arkansas .I walked outside let out a bugle and made a rub.These pics have me in full rut.   :thumbsup:

cool !!!

Ahhhh I can almost smell the air!

This is just what this flatlander needs to see and hear, really gets my motor going. Fall is in the air, nothing better!!

Really gets me thinking of going out to Colorado elk hunting again, and again!!

Nice looking country!!!
But.....how come you seem to be the only one at camp during daylight hours?  Late sleeper?  :bigsmyl:  

Can't wait to go...........  :campfire:

Very cool!!! Waiting for more pics and the rest of the story!  :coffee:

:campfire:    :coffee:

well....uhhhhhh.....somebody has to keep an eye on camp ben...  :bigsmyl:  ...i'm not tellin ya how big bucksters bull is...ya have to wait for the pics

BEN,

I'm here brother if you need someone to drive you to that terrible country. I'll even drive my truck and pay for gas.  :scared:  or I can be your arrow caddy if you wish.  :bigsmyl:  

Mike

this area by the way is where the tradgang 2010 elk hunt is going to be.elk all over the place...swattin em off your legs as you walk through the pines.   :readit:

Nice work Larry!  Too bad on the misses, oh well, good thing you're going back!  I'm still hoping to join you next year, though I'm going to have to save more $$ since the fees went up.  Can't wait to see the rest of the photos!   :campfire:

Great pics!! Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to see the bull pics.

In that last picture is that fire damage or beetle kills that's making those pines brown?  Beautiful area though.  Any trout in that stream?

thats all fire damage...there are small trout...delintment lake has good fishing in it,i've caught 18" trout there

i feel the need to relay this part of the hunt to my fellow tradgangers...when michele,myself and her son kyle first got to burns on thursday we set up camp at the creek area in pics...friday a couple of compound hunters drove into our camp and started complaining that they had three tree stands hung up in the area and we were ruining the hunting for several people.i talked it over with michele and we decided to move camp up the hill just to be fair as they had stands allready in place when we had arrived...we moved camp...the guys fell two trees across the road after we left and even bought a no hunting or tresspassing sign and posted it on the road...unreal for sure...on my way home i stopped at the usfs office and turned his ass in...hope he learns from this experience

Not to be too dumb but this is public land right? WOW!!! Does this sort of thing happen often in the West? Here in the East where I am I don't even bother with the public land.

Well, I got the OK from both the bosses and I'll be joining Larry the 19th-21st for the next leg of this adventure. I am looking to take my first big game ever and this sounds like it might be a good opportunity for that too happen. I'll be taking my own camera so, there will be more pics to follow and hopefully some elk pics too boot.

wow what a bunch of a!@#$%^s you did the right thing on turning them in

Elkherder, congrats on your hunts! That's awesome you guys have one down! Great photos too!

 ElkNut1

That's a good excuse, Larry.....someone has to clean up and cook, right  :goldtooth:

why the hell you think yer coming cookie...i mean ben....  :biglaugh:    :biglaugh:

this type of thing happens more than people here even know...i was camped in the same spot 3 years ago and this three rig caravan comes rollin in...this drunk fool gets out of his truck claiming to be the land owners bestus buddy and he camped in this spot every season and i had 30 minutes to clear out or get arrested for tresspass...i laughed at him and told him it was national forest land and i'd like his buddies phone number.he just stood there staring at me all red faced and says...i'll kick yer ass if ya dont beat it to which i replied ya better have yer woman there make ya a couple sandwitchs cause its gonna take ya a while....they left...  :biglaugh:

BEN,

If it gets me out there, I'll pack you out too! (you do only weigh about 100# don't you  :o  )

(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/bjornweb/appalachianfamilypics.jpg)

good one bjorn

That looks like cousin Petie on the right.  :bigsmyl:

haaaaaaaa....petie

I live on the west slope of the cascades and know whats public and private. Every year some anti will post property they dont own tying to keep hunters out of prime spots...PR

Congratulations!!!!!!!    :clapper:

QuoteOriginally posted by Paul WA:
I live on the west slope of the cascades and know whats public and private. Every year some anti will post property they dont own tying to keep hunters out of prime spots...PR

Yup, every year on the last weekend of archery local Antis will "grouse hunt".  Meaning they actually buy a tag, but use that as as excuse to walk the canyons shooting shotguns to scare animals away. Frustrating    :banghead:  , but legal since you can't prove they are not actually hunting.

i cant take it anymore....i'm headed back to burns this weekend

QuoteOriginally posted by Bjorn:
  (http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/bjornweb/appalachianfamilypics.jpg)

Bjorn, is that you on the far right     :goldtooth:
lol

lol....thats funny .......i'm off elk hunting again...mommas mad as hell at me....things are perfect for a kill....woooohoooo

Good luck.  Stick one.  Look forward to the update, must live vicariously through the threads on here until Sept. 18th, when I can pursue the elk myself.

Travis

:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :archer:

Good luck, man!!! Shoot straight-----and higher!  :bigsmyl:

Mike.......I didn't think you'd have time to go anywhere with the bucks that "longbowben" has staked out for ya.....  :bigsmyl:

Super.  Can't wait for the pics and update on this weekend's hunt.  Love the country.

BEN- He's stingy, he tries to keep them for himself.lol Although I do have about a 140 class tied to a tree right now.

Best of luck on your hunt out west.

Mike

Ben we do all the work together ,and we even share our beer with each other.  :biglaugh:  And he is right he has a 150 class buck real close to being tied up.Cant wait to drag that monster.

hmmmmmm....i smell a trade a hunt coming on....i'm leavin tomorrow at 3 am to get there by 8am and get some serious elkhunting in...blacktailbowhunter and buckster will be wondering where i dissappeared to   :readit:  can you say WALLOW ? muahahahahahahaha....adio's mi amigo's.......wooooohooooo

That is a definate posibility Larry.

Good luck Larry, and I want to see some pics.

Going to set up camp this coming Tuesday and get ready for the 11th to chase those Elk around the mountain. Finally got drawn after several years and now to put my newie recurve to the test. Supposed to be it the 70's so it will be warm for the hunt and fast for the processing if we get lucky. Want a nice young cow so you can cut it with a fork!! Also saw a lot of squirrels this year. Good luck to all on the upcoming hunts.
   Chort

This is great warm-up for my own hunt and I can't wait for the pictures. I had planned a run up that way to walk those woods if AZ hadn't come thru this year.
Chort what Unit ya in. I'll be in 8 looking for a Birthday Bull on 9/11.

mmmmmmmm.....cow meats better'n no meat....good luck you lucky dog hunt'n in arizona is on my to do list

Mike and L.B.ben:  good luck to you both! Can't wait to see pics!!! "We even share our beer together"------now that's a friend!  :readit:    :campfire:

Bjorn,  I don't ever want to run in to the fella standing next to the father on the left of that pic and the little feller to the far right either...I bet they would make a good tag team in a wrestlin match...If they ever made it to prison I hope they ain't made parole yet!  :biglaugh:

Canyon, I will be across the street from ya in 6b. Our camp is quite close to the 8 border not far from the volunteer canyon overlook. Have a (young) cow tag,I hope,I hope, I hope!!! Went there on Wed. and did some scouting but didn't see much except deer and tree rats and a Sheep Herder.

went on a short 2 day hunt with momma and her son...i have wanted too try the 3 sisters wilderness area out for a while so thats where we went...found a nice camping spot right next to an elk farm   :readit:  last night i went up a walk in only trail and wow did i have action right off the bat...i jumped a nice 4x4 muley less than 100 yds up the trail...off he ran...kept going up the trail looking for sign...less than 100 more yds an absolute hog of a buck stepped out in the trail broadside but to far away....easily a book buck...180 class minimum...i was trembling like i havent done in years....went back to camp and it started pouring down rain...momma was pissed and wanted to go home....talked her into one more morning hunt and if it was still raining we'd go home...i left camp this morning an hour before light and hiked into the wilderness...i was back in the timber sprinkled with small meadows when it turned light.i started cow calling and walking slowly up the trail...i had gone perhaps 1/2 a mile when i heard a bugle down in the canyon below me.i checked my wind...good...started down the draw and calling occasionally...looking down the draw i spotted this nice 300+ bull coming up to my calling...he came straight to me like he was on a rope...then poof...turns and runs off...winded...arghhhhhhhh   :banghead:      post some pics in a bit....had to come home at 9am cause of the damn rain

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting6-1.jpg)

pics of three sisters wilderness and elk farm that i so wanted to hunt in....my camera is not strong enough to show elk i assume were there somewhere but to far away to see without binocs but it was raining so i didnt bother..notice the high fence required to keep them in

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting5-1.jpg)

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting4-1.jpg)

area we camped in

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting3-1.jpg)

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting2-1.jpg)

momma was mad as a wet hen

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting19-2.jpg)

this is a deep canyon thats 300 feet below the span

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting18-1.jpg)

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting15-1.jpg)

there were two muley does in this area...how they get in and out is anybodies guess

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting11.jpg)

three sisters wilderness is behind this elk farm

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/elkherder/hunting10-1.jpg)

this is a very elky area you might say...lol...wilderness area is up by the snow....brrrrrrr

overall from what i saw of this area in less than 24 hours i'd say its pretty hot for elk hunting...anyone thats hunted the sisters chime in and fill me in on the good areas   :pray:

Looks awesome Larry.

Great pics, as usual!1

Larry thanks so much for sharing.I had no elk on view after the first week in Central Colo

One year I drove back from the eastside of the state and stopped to look at the elk there. They had taken the antlers off the bulls. Those poor old boys were sitting around like their world had ended...just not right.

The Cascades hold some elk. Lots of roadless areas.

probably horned them to keep injuries and damage to fences etc to a minimum.

Larry, that 3 sisters area is a great spot once you find the fine line between public and private land.  I've got several friends that live there and the bucks get very large and very dumb. Well maybe they're just arrogant, cause they know the rules and they know when you can't shoot them!

I will try and get a story and pics of Barry's bull up tonight sometime.

Paul

i've pretty much got it figured out and have been talking with several people from sisters area and i was in the hot zone for big bucks according to one.

Paul, thanks for posting the photos and story and a huge thanks for helping me kill my first little bull.

Folks; if you are looking for pics of a monster bull elk, I am sorry to disappoint.  All he had were some little bumps, but he thougt that he was big bull coming in none the less!  

I had already made up my mind to shoot any legal animal that the Good Lord might give me a good shot at.  And you know what they say... "every blind pig finds an acorn now and again". I was also fortunate to be hunting with Blacktail Hunter, he defenitely had his stuff together and we just had some major MOJO on our first elk hunt together.  

After 2 unsuccesful set-ups earlier in the morning, we decided to move on and set up on them about 400 meters from our initial location and scored the little elk, which came to a hochie mama cow call, it really got the little feller riled up.

Not much of a trophy to most, but I was proud that I was able to  make a quick, human kill and watch him get weak-kneeded and collapse within 100 yards of the big pine that served as my hiding spot. It was only a decent shot at about 23 yards, but the 55# Daala recurve and Magus head proved sufficient to make meat.

I will cherish the hunt and especially my time with Paul & the notorious Elkherder.  I am now trying to patent my famous "fart-calling" which Larry graciously left out, as to why we were laughing so hard, when he told me not to move when we had 7 cows/calfs withing 60 yards and totally oblivious to us.  Like I said Larry, "I GOTTA MOVE"!

With only 3 of us traditional archers in camp, we all had shooting opportunites and plenty of action for both elk and Mulies.  I counted 19 does/fawns on Thursday, but just coulnd't get the evasive bucks to cooperate.

These Oregon boys really showed me true hospitality and I was blessed to have had a terrific time on this inargual Tradgang hunt.    campfire:

 (http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd63/HuntPyramid/034.jpg)

Buck put a pic up,  congrats on the elk. Glad to see you got back out in the elk woods. Your one elk up on me. Have a good season Greg

haaaaaaahaaaaaaa.....fart call.....roflmao...too much i tell ya.....that was a fun hunt for sure...i'm still laughing barry....hahahahahaha

Well-done!

THESE IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!

way to go!!!!

 :thumbsup:  

I hope you save an elk steak for me!!!!

Awesome!  I'm hoping to do the same next week.    :pray:

Congrats Barry!!  Sure looks like you had a great hunt!

Barry,

Sorry I haven't posted yet. I have been busy at work and then absoloutely have to hunt in the evenings  :biglaugh:  

I meant to bring my camera to work, but left it on the coffee table where I knew I wouldn't forget it, yeah right.

Barry, you were a fun guest and showed class for the trad guys.

We were into elk everyday,and it was a great time.

Thanks to Larry for showing us his honey hole.

Paul

Thanks for the pics and stories! I'm stuck in WV for this fall... but hope to do an Elk hunt next year (Lord willing).

Congrats on the fine animals.

BAM!!  there it is..
Congrats man..

Here are a few pics of Barry, his bull and the crew. This years elk hunt actually started a few months back when Larry aka Elkherder invited us to share his elk camp. Larry and I went over to the area we would hunt and were immediately into elk, so with the successfull scouting trip, I contacted Buckster aka Barry and gave him the thumbs up to head out to Oregon 2 days before the opener.

Barry arrived Thursday night, got his tags and camping gear and with my step son in tow, we headed out to Eastern Oregon elk bound.

After about an 8 hour drive, we were in camp by 5:00pm.

Saturday morning we were in our spot about 30 minutes before daylight. Larry had us set up a few hundred yards below him and off to one side. Shortly after daylight we could hear elk.

I heard several elk below me about 75 yards but could not see them through the jack pines.

As it turns out they were bumped, but we didn't know that at the time.

With the early action and then no action, we decide to move uphill into the wind. We sat up again and called for about an hour. There were no takers so we moved on and set up for about 50 minutes when I decided to approach Barry who was set up 75 yards away.

Barry and I were talking about where to move when I smelled elk. Apparently the wind was swirling a bit and I caught a whiff. I kept trying to smell it again, but couldn't. However, Barry caught the scent and I walked over to him and caught it myself.

We set up with me about 75 yards behind Barry expecting the elk to come from below him and to the right. I started calling and nothing was happening after several minutes. I decided to step back about 25 more yards and start breaking sticks.

Then I heard Barry start to call and I was thinking what is he calling for, so I decided to move his direction thinking to myself (elk are going to pinpoint him and not come in). Well I was wrong. Apparently, when I started breaking sticks there was a small bull nearby that Barry had watched come into my calls. When I decided to head back in Barry's direction, the bull bumped, so Barry used his Hoochie Mama to call the bull right to him for a shot.

Fortunately, I got to see the bull and started calling myself, so between me and Barry, we made it happen. He was tickled and spirits were high. There were elk all over the place, but there were a lot of people as well. I have never been into so many elk, but I have also never been into so many other hunters in one area.  The elk were being bumped all over and we had several close calls.

It was a great time and I can't wait until next year. Enjoy.


Barry and his bull
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm291/BlacktailBuck/BarryandhisBullAugust292009.jpg)

Barry and me:
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm291/BlacktailBuck/BarryandmewithbullAugust2009.jpg)

Barry, Kyle age 15, and Robert age 13
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm291/BlacktailBuck/BarryKyleRobandBullAugust2009.jpg)

Thanks Paul, couldn't have done it without you buddy!  Man I am trying to get back in the swing of things, but can't get Oregon outta my mind!

Great stories and pics, be proud of your accomplishment!

Right on guy's    :thumbsup:  yum yum!

yum yum is right....bet that little bull is tender as it gets

Well done!!

QuoteOriginally posted by buckster:
Thanks Paul, couldn't have done it without you buddy!  Man I am trying to get back in the swing of things, but can't get Oregon outta my mind!

You still got a deer tag, so think about late season. It opens in the middle of November.

If we get some serious weather, the Southern Oregon hunt would be full on.

My family and I would be happy to have you back.

Paul

I will indeed keep your kind offer to come back in mind.  Keep me posted in the next 30 days or so.  

By then, I will have devised a grand scheme for the wife, of why it's necessary for me to go back to Oregon. LOL.

BUUUUGGGGLLLLLEEEEEE........i'm gettin pumped again.

Why can't I be lucky enough to live in that area of the U.S.?   :thumbsup:

Getting pumped up here!!!!!  :jumper:    :jumper:  

Great story and pics, guys!!

Larry,  get ready for a rookie, man!!! I'm leaving on Wednesday.....

rookies make good pack mules bro.....lol.....get ready man the wapiti are ruttin good.give me a call ben...we need to make sure of the meeting place

Rookie Schmookie! I live here Ben and still haven't taken one! But we sure are going to give it a heck of a whirl my friend!   :thumbsup:  Look forward to meet'n ya come the 19th. Journey safe and count Bulls not sheep.   :biglaugh:

:bigsmyl:

gonna be a hoot i'm guessin. bulls and bows....cant beat that eh.

I'll try and call you tonight, Larry......if not, it'll be this weekend!

"Wannabe"-----that last line is FUNNY!  :jumper:

Great story and pics. Congrats on a very successful elk hunt.   :thumbsup:

Barry,
Congrats on the bull! It was great having you in camp. Would love to have you in camp again.

Micah

Finally had a chance to catch up on this one. Congratulatios Barry!!!  What a great hunt and story - I hope there is more to follow!