Here I sit in civilization(?) in a Bend, Or. Starbucks using their internet connection. Had to return before I was done. Very frustrating. Had a friend with me on the hunt who got the call to get home here in Oregon to sign papers to complete a sale of some property he had tried to sell for a long time. Just when the bulls were heating up. Oh well, priorities....tough though...almost just put him a jet at Salt Lake! haha

Had a good time anyway. Oregon Okie came up to camp, as did Ryan Steadman. It was good to spend some time with them. Okie had a 350"+ bull screaming in his face that day! The bull was in my face at less than 10yds looking right at me through a bush. He veered off to the the cow calls of my buddy. As his head passed by and I felt he was focused on him, I drew and that bull exploded and wheeled like a white tail. Never offered an ethical shot opportunity. I believe Okie has a picture of the 6X8 (we think). If you do Russ go ahead and put him up here. Had other close encounters...they will have to remain as memories.
Sure wish I could have stayed for a few more days.
Guess I'll go our tonight and look for a love sick Oregon bull.
Good hunting all, David

Well, I am for sure bummed for you. I've been kind of aggravated about the whole thing for a few days but not much I can do I guess. It was still awesome when this bull came in though. The pics are pretty terrible but I was trying to hide more that photograph so they are what they are.

First one is just some tips when he was first coming. Probably very near you at that point.


This is the best that I have.. pretty cool to see up close. Big body on this thing too. He was a nice bull and looking for a scuffle.

That's quite the rack! Too bad you had to cut it short-maybe Rosie will be good to you!  

Was looking forward to the pictures of a bull with that new Blacktail and you!

David, sorry your hunt got cut short, but friends mean more than animals any day.  Something good will happen down the line...

Thanks for sharing...

Good luck!

Dang, David.  Sorry to hear you had to cut the trip short.  Looking forward to stories at the Oct. meeting!

He did have your broadheads all ready to go in the quiver Stan.
He was representing the NW.. Blacktail, Surewoods, RFA heads... Hopefully it puts on in a NW Elk

Glad you made it back ok David. And sorry you had to cut the hunt short, just when it gets good. It was a pleasure to meet you and Gary, as well as Russ. Hope to hook up with you in the future. Should have been shooting the longbow  
Here are a couple pics of the terrain David sent me into to find him a bull.

What a scenery:)
Best of luck next time Snag!

Ryan...the longbow thing AGAIN?! Geez! haha

SteveO, that's the way I looked at it too.

Still have that experience burned in my memory for life. Really glad Russ got to experience it with us too. Thanks for all you did Ryan! It was great to spend a little time with you....and your cute daughter and beautiful wife.

Look forward to more times like these. Can't get enough of being in the woods and hearing the bugle of a love sick bull coming in!

Hey snag, sorry you had to cut your hunt short and come home elkless. Still sounds like you had a great hunt, half the fun is with these elk is calling them in. So from the pic's its looks like a pretty sucessful hunt. Did ya get a chance to go check out the horse trail? Good luck with the rest of the Oregon season.
Shawn

Sorry you had to cut your hunt short. I know I sure didn't spend the time I wanted this year. Just having the chance to go on such great and rare hunt amongst elk of that caliber is a great experience in it's self.

That's a heck of a bumma David!

Sometimes the birds don't sing
The fish don't bite
The bear doesn't do his business in the woods
The coyotes don't come to your call
And the bull doesn't stand there and take an arra like a 3D target (unless one is shootin' a longbow)....

Everything happens for a reason, but the best part is the journey!

Enjoy the grace of the present moment!

There are still a few days left in the OR season fo' the magic to happen....

Shoot straight, Shinken

 

Shinken, I think you're right about "everything happens for a reason". The property that my friend sold while on this trip he had tried to sell me for about 10 yrs and actually was talking to me about it again the day he received the phone call on it...then he gets an offer at the peak of the hunt! Weird.

The best part of this trip was getting to see some new country with friends. Really cool to have had Okie there when the big boy strolled in, head stretched out, antlered laid over his back and growlin'......never forget that moment. Also as we left that morning we were treated to an awesome sunrise.

 

Here's one after the "close encounter"....did I say how little oxygen there is at 9,000ft? Especially when you live at 450ft elevation?
 

 

 

Great photos David!

Thank you for sharin' the beauty with us!

Shoot straight, Shinken

 

Hey is that captain predator camo there? I was just crawling into my seat. The bows had to go in the back seat of the truck so I got to ride with the gear.. for about half a mile. I thank you too for being there so I could be laying on the ground by that bush when the Bull came out.
I checked my GPS.. that was 38.8 miles from my house (as the crow flies)... Pretty cool.

Thanks for posting!

Great pics David,wich Elite is been with you.
I am going to leave for S Colorado within 1 hour with mine.

Beautiful scenery, thanks for posting!