Chasing a dream - Stone's SHEEP and Roosevelt ELK - PICTURE HEAVY

[BiG Boar]

I don't come from a hunting family. But I have developed a real obsession of it. Not knowing which animal is THE best to hunt, a year ago, I made a goal to try hunting all of BC's animals. The incredibly long winded tale that is about to ensue is only a couple of this years quests. But probably the best. Hang on for the ride.....I hope you enjoy it. I know I did!


The Disappearing Act

After a quick flight over some of the most pristine wilderness, our plane touched down in northern BC. I knew immediately we were in for a spectacular hunt. We got base camp tent set up and were just starting to relax when I figured I would grab my spotting scope and look at some of the hills around us. Almost like magic, within less than a minute of looking I needed to zoom in my spotting scope as I had a big set of curls in my glass. Wow! This was going to be easy! It was almost a gift! A massive broomed off Stone’s Sheep filled my spotting scope. Standing there almost a mile away, I was impressed by this ram. I had heard sheep hunting was tough, mentally and physically, boy was everybody wrong. All I now had to do was wait until opening morning and go get this titan. However it was July 30th, and Stone’s don’t open till the 1st of August. So as I took a final mental picture of his exact location confident he should be there in the morning, I put him to bed around 10pm.


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This hunt was taking place in beautiful northern BC. The trip up north had been incredible in itself. On the way we saw almost every creature in the province! Wolf, grizzly and black bears, moose, caribou, deer, and even some near curl Stone’s sheep out on the highway! While on this hunt we added a wolverine and goats being sighted! However there are only 2 animals with current openings, they were sheep and wolves. I have come to realize that hunting the opener for sheep makes quite a big difference in your hunt. For one, your eyes are glued to the areas sheep are, not looking above and below for other sorts of animals, not to mention when you get a different animal you have got to deal with it, which can sometimes take days, taking your time away from finding the ram of your dreams. Also, if there is one legal ram in the herd and you are the first person to find that heard, you have the best chance of taking a ram from that herd. Once it’s gone, you’re out of luck! Also, the obvious one, they haven’t been hunted yet this year! This would be my first time for the opener, I have had two other sheep tags, but both were mixed bag hunts in September, neither hunt connected me with a sheep. As far as I was concerned now I was already planning how to cook this ram, and I wondered aloud if I should just cut my tag for the first of August.


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[jeff]

dave , wow ,awsome pics .i see what u mean ,chasing a dream.. cant wait for the rest .and the kill pics .

[lorneparker1]

FINALLY!!! cant wait for the rest sir!

[Brambles]

Impressive looking ram, patiently waiting.

[BiG Boar]

I woke up at 6:20am with great anticipation after putting that monster to bed just a few short hours ago. Even before breakfast I was already filling my spotting scope with horns. Within the first two minutes of our 2nd day I found the two young rams that were located 200 yards from where I had last laid eyes on this giant which I had tucked nicely into bed. They were up and feeding and I watched them for hours, guessing the score of this ram. I constantly found my jaw dropping due to the stunning scenery. I couldn’t wait for my first taste of sheep meat! With one ram in the bag pretty much, we would have an easy 17 days finding a second ram. We knew these sheep were staying put, and so we decided to hike to a bowl just up behind us. We may as well look for a second ram for my hunting partner and good friend, also named Dave. Maybe we could get two rams opening morning and call the plane!

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[whitetailsheds]

Holy mass on that ram Dave! Please continue.....

[J_T]

You're like my wife. She takes her time when she's got my attention. Tease.... Great pics

[Walking Buffalo]

Fantastic start! What a beautiful set of lakes.

Looking forward to the rest of the story.

It's been brutal not being able to share the ending pics. :)

[Weatherby Fan]

Bigboar great pictures and story...............so far,
knowing you ya probably already left on another hunting trip ! come on buddy get er dun :confused:

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[ianwuzhere]

..and den?????????

[tightgrouper]

And?????????

[BiG Boar]

As we walked away, I asked Dave if it was foolish to take our eyes off of them, but we figured it was 9am and we had a whole day to kill anyways. Plus they didn’t seem to be going anywhere. Taking our eyes off the sheep was a mistake I will never do again. Losing visual reference, the sheep completely disappeared in the expanse of boulders and lichen, the hunt had gone from a give me to a give me that again. We had completely lost them. We hiked to a better viewing position and got on the glass. We studied every inch of that mountain. We looked all day through two spotting scopes and still northing. They were gone! We had come to the conclusion that these sheep must have been related to David Copperfield. We searched from top to bottom, like an investigator on a crime scene, we covered every inch of that mountain side at full 60x zoom... and nothing. Then at 6pm, like Houdini, they just appeared, feeding in the middle of the mountain, in full view. Now, I wouldn’t take my eyes off them again. I felt a huge sense of relief and my heart pounded with anticipation of the next morning and how things would go. We planned a couple of different stocks from different angles depending on the wind and set the alarm for 3:30am. They weren’t leaving that mountain. All I had to do was get up and shoot one.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/DSC04399copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3656copy.jpg

[Islandeer]

better than nyquil ...

[Rattler]

Beauty ram! Brings back some fond memories hunting sheep early season. Great thread...keep it coming...

[savage99f]

Nice pictures and great story.Off to make popcorn and grab a drink,keep it coming :)

[BCrams]

About time!! At least I can look forward to the elk story!

[Johnnybear]

Awesome stuff Dave. Great story and photos so far. Looking forward to seeing more. Can't wait to see the Rosy stuff. I am assuming you connected?

[BillBraskii]

nevermind the sheep and elk......

Whats the story on this one??
Talking when you should have been listening??:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:



http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/5707f6a5.jpg

[Mr. Dean]

hey hey HEY!!!!
No ball-bag shot this time?

[hunter1947]

Dave so far fantastic pictures and wright up except your face what the h*ll happened there ????:confused: ,I am patiently waiting for story and pictures to continue..

[Weatherby Fan]

nevermind the sheep and elk......

Whats the story on this one??
Talking when you should have been listening??:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:



http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/5707f6a5.jpg

This is what can happen to a first time shooter when he thinks he can handle a "MAGNUM' ............Rookie !

[srupp]

ya???and then???lol.....keep it going Dave exceptional.....

steven

[BiG Boar]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/5707f6a5.jpg


This is the result of a 700lb Grizzly on top of me. That was a lesson to be learned all on its own. Wear a helmet. But back to the story....

[digger dogger]

After Dave saw the sheep, he said "I must be dreaming, punch me"
I didnt know he wanted only one punch in the arm.. My mistake!

[Brambles]

This is the result of a 700lb Grizzly on top of me. That was a lesson to be learned all on its own. Wear a helmet. But back to the story....


Gotta stay off the Grizzly Migratory Paths, they'll get yah every time..

[BiG Boar]

As the saying goes, man plans, and God laughs. We woke up to a slight drizzle and we decided to give them an extra hour in the dark. No sense on getting wet for no real reason right? I rolled out of bed after obviously not getting any sleep in that hour of anticipation. After emerging from the tent full of expectation, I turned my eyes skyward, straining them to open as wide as possible, enabling me to scan through the morning mist. It was clear enough to glass, as the fog was near the peaks, so I picked up my spotting scope and returned to the spot confident as to where they laid down. Dawn was just breaking, the horizon barely visible, as I sat motionless I could see the bedded ram. As the dawn began to break what I thought to be the ram turned into a rock. My pulse began to race...Had I lost them again? Where were they? Three solid days of glassing later, I gave up looking at that mountain side. He was LONG GONE.

This is what happens after glassing the same mountain for 3 days.....

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3633copy.jpg

[BiG Boar]

After the disappointment of losing this trophy set in, we decided to head out for a hike and check out some potential new basins. We made slow but steady progress. Full of anticipation of what lies over the next hill. We hiked slow and steady, winded due to elevation and then sat and scoped the side of these giant mountains we were beginning to call home. We spent more time staring through binoculars, than the old man that use to live across from my girl friend’s apartment. Unlike him, we weren’t smiling. We encountered herds of caribou that would open soon. But we weren’t here for them. We were here on business. Sheep hunting. No distractions, no wasted time. As time went on I was beginning to hear the words ringing in the back of my head, “sheep hunting is hard.” We knew that reaching prime sheep locations would be the key to finishing the task at hand, so onward we trudged.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/DSC04427copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3692copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3711copy.jpg

[BiG Boar]

With roughly 40 something pounds on our backs we roamed an average of 4 miles daily. Large amounts of time were spent glassing the rocky hills mornings & evenings. I now understand the term God’s country. Standing in a place on earth where nearly no one has ever set foot was awe inspiring; we had time to take in the beauty of the country. For seven days we didn’t even see one single sheep. It was mentally and physically exhausting. We had just climbed the tallest mountain around and came to a spot where we were literally trapped in the cliffs. What were we doing here?

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3673copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3768copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/DSC04467copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3630copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3684copy.jpg

[proguide66]

Frikkin paradise up there!

[BiG Boar]

Like the game show we used our life line sat phone and called our intel man back home. He assured us there were sheep here, and encouraged us to keep at it. It was all the hope I needed, time to re-focus and get back at it. He also told us the area we were trying to get to was not that productive. He told us to head back to base camp and to try some of the more productive basins he had suggested again. One meal on the top of that mountain to refuel and we set off, back to base camp.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/DSC04474copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/DSC04481copy.jpg



Fast forward to August 9th

Dave decided he would glass the “ram” mountain from base camp and I would try a different side of it, and a different bowl later in the day. I packed my gear for the day telling Dave I would return at dark, but that I was coming back with a big ram on my back.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3624copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/DSC04497copy.jpg

[Steeleco]

I'm getting a refill of coffee, keep it coming buddy. I just know there's more to come!!!

[trigger]

Frikkin paradise up there!


AMEN brother!!!!

cant wait to read the rest of the thread

[Skull Hunter]

I've been waiting for this one! Can't wait for the rest of it.

[hunter1947]

Dave your a muckla kokla for making us wait :mrgreen:

[BiG Boar]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3694copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3691copy.jpg

The sun was shining and the valley was warming up. I felt a new energy from Bills words of encouragement. I gained some elevation and right away spotted some ewes and lambs back on “Ram” mountain. The evening of the 8th I had spotted a young ram on that same mountain, but lost him as he went around the south facing side of it. I set off to try to find him, hoping that he would lead me to his grand daddy. I found that young ram all alone. I gave it an hour to confirm my hunch and decided to move on as he was definitely the only sheep in the area. I lightened my load with a quick meal, and drank some of the fresh snow runoff. I ascended towards the clouds up a rocky ridge, making sure not to silhouette myself against the skyline. I peeked over the ridge into another bowl we hadn’t checked before. It was chalk full of caribou. Lots of cows and some alright bulls dotted the mountain side. It was a change of pace and I gave it some time to check out the bulls in the group. They were beautiful, and I reminded myself how lucky I was to be in such an amazing place. I searched the rest of the bowl and moved over to the other side of the ridge. I just had a good feeling about the day.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3758copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3676copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3746copy.jpg

[BiG Boar]

It was about 5pm and I slowly crept in a prone position down over the ridge to peer into the basin about 900 yards below me. Going head down a mountain seemed like a good idea for the first 2 minutes, I quickly realized by the rapid onset of severe heart burn my body was telling me this indeed wasn’t a good idea after all. As I wiggled into in a good spotting position I brought up the glass and found the basin empty. Bill had told me, long ago, this is where we would get a ram. We had checked it once before on day three, but had approached it wrong and went in at the wrong time of day. Today was also the same, it was empty. But I grabbed out my spotting scope and went to work, using a grid pattern I came up with a lone ewe in the middle of the bowl that I hadn’t spotted with my binoculars.

Giving it some more time and scanning around the ewe I began to put my glass on several other sheep. Ewes and a couple of small rams were spotted over the next half hour. I was just happy with how the day had gone, and the animals I was seeing. After about an hour spent on the hillside, I started thinking I should turn and start heading back over to the other side of the ridge as it was only a mere 50 yards away.


A wolverine seen on the hunt

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3759copy.jpg

Our spike accomdations

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/DSC04454copy.jpg

A few days away, early in the hunt

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/DSC04458copy.jpg

[Mr. Dean]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3694copy.jpg



Holy F.
I've been there!

[Phil]

Come on, Come on.....I know there is a happy ending somewhere around the corner.......cut to the chase already!

Great looking country though!

[BiG Boar]

I decided to have another look and suddenly a curling horn caught my attention in the midst of this heard I was watching! Wow, a real ram! He was slightly short of full curl, but man was it cool to see. My eyes were now glued to this basin. I was excited! Then another set of curls came into view! Definitely under the nose too, rats. I watched him for a little bit and suddenly a different set of curls caught my eye. This ram was heavy and broomed off! He cocked his head slightly to the side and I could see both of his heavy tips over the nose. It was GO TIME!

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3614copy.jpg

I crept back up to the ridge staying low and started running back along the ridge, keeping out of sight of the basin. Along the ridge I ran about a kilometer and a half to where I could start heading down to a stream, while staying out of sight. Crossing a patch of snow I noticed caribou tracks heading right for the basin the sheep were in. I got into the 3 inch deep stream and headed down through the deeply cut rocks towards the basin with the wind in my face. Only 1 kilometer downhill and I would pop over a small embankment and shoot my ram. As I came around a bend, my plan got interrupted. There were two caribou bedded in the snow between me and my dreams. Patience, patience I thought. Think Dave, what do you do. Head up to my left, and get seen by the sheep, head up to my right into shale and noisy rocks and probably spook the caribou anyways.

I devised another plan. I had heard that caribou sometimes come to a waving white flag. They are curious and maybe it would work. I grabbed a game bag and tied it to one of my hiking poles. I waved and waved, in full view for a good 15 minutes. They didn’t even see me. I wasn’t even 200 yards from them. I tried my best caribou call. I have no idea what one sounds like, so I just made some stupid grunting noises. With the wind in my face they couldn’t hear me. I couldn’t think of anything better, so I just started walking ever so slowly toward them. Then my plan fell apart. They started trotting with tails up right at where the sheep were last seen an hour ago. What now? As they would disappear out of sight I would run like a ninja (quietly) sliding through the snow, almost skiing at times to try to keep up to them. I got under them and luckily they turned back up the side of the mountain and started feeding away from me.

With the wind in my face everything seemed perfect. I got to the sheep filled bowl, and climbed up the 30 foot embankment and peered over the edge through the long grass, into the basin. I found him with my spotting scope and ranged him at 450 yards. Not what I wanted exactly. And with 10 steps he disappeared over the next ridge into a box canyon above him. However there were still some sheep between us. Then the wind changed and started blowing right towards the herd of sheep. I needed to think fast.

[Call of the Wild]

Great scenery, I really like the backpack with the waterfall in the back. Awesome story and a friendly advice keep writing!!! hahaha

[Stumpy]

I have been to this spot as well.............too funny!

[lorneparker1]

. I tried my best caribou call. I have no idea what one sounds like, so i just made some stupid grunting noises.

hahahahaha

[MB_Boy]

Close to 24 hours to tell a story is a load of crap!!!!! :-P:-P:-P


(despite the great pictures)

[BiG Boar]

Close to 24 hours to tell a story is a load of crap!!!!! :-P:-P:-P


(despite the great pictures)

I'm just getting started!!!

Good stories take time....

We'll see if I even get the ram?

[Brambles]

Type faster, you've had enough time. And make the paragraphs shorter, the last one just about killed me...lol

[meat hunter]

You're killing me here hurry up...... I feel like a crack adict.

[adamgarbett]

You're killing me here hurry up...... I feel like a crack adict.

hahaha X2.

[Gateholio]

Ibtl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[boxhitch]

Love the drama
and the matching costumes

[ianwuzhere]

sandbaggin cock a roach ;)

[Mountain Hunter]

Ibtl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had to google Ibtl up:

IBTL
"In Before The Lock": An abbreviation posted to a thread on a web-based forum when the poster knows that any rational debate has long since been abandoned, and will shortly be locked by the forum administrator.


You better, giv'er!!:)

[Doc Sprat]

Very good story. It would take me forever to write this.

[mark]

Love that jump shot, man you can sure jump!
A guy could get hurt doing that in them rocks!

[ROEBUCK]

Love that jump shot, man you can sure jump!
A guy could get hurt doing that in them rocks!

I was thinking the same thing !
does look cool though !

[Ghillie]

Is that electrical tape over your barrel? My uncle does this and I thought he was losing it! Does it really work?

[Andrews]

Like the looks of that camo. Brand?

[Barracuda]

enough with the foreplay lets get to the juicy bits:-D

[Gateholio]

Is that electrical tape over your barrel? My uncle does this and I thought he was losing it! Does it really work?

Yes, it holds the bullet in.

[MB_Boy]

Yes, it holds the bullet in.

Hahaha! :razz::razz: :mrgreen:

[Blainer]

I have been waiting on this thread.
This is a great read,and although I have heard the tale,I very much look forward to the conclusion.
The only thing better than reading this thread,would be reading this thread on a beach in Hawaii,and indeed it is good,currently 27 c.

[6 K]

Come on!
Shoot the damb thing already!!!!!!!!!!

[shaydog65]

Like the looks of that camo. Brand?

www.kuiu.com

Excellent gear, reasonable price.

[BiG Boar]

I had to move. I couldn’t go towards them, I had only one choice, back up the creek and over a monstrous shale/rock mountain to get beside or above the new bowl they were in. It was about 8pm and the wind would be changing soon. Now it was heading up hill, but if I could climb this mountain, I would get above them right around the time the wind would switch. But I was out of options, and I was losing light, with the sun already behind the mountain.

I dropped my 5lb Kuiu pack, and took only the things I would need. Spotting scope, video camera, and for the first time of the year, my rifle. A 300 win mag built by Sako. My clip was loaded, but I forgot the rest of my bullets. Halfway up I remembered, but there was no turning back. I had 4 shots. As I got to the halfway point I decided I would try to go around the side and try to look in. As I got part way around I heard falling rocks in the cliffs opposite to me. I looked and I was in full view of 3 ewes. I didn’t want to, but I had no choice but to back out and go higher. My legs were burning from the two and a half hours I had been pursuing these curls. By the time I got to the top most of the daylight was burnt. Because it had taken so long, I had my doubts that the rams would still be there.

I started crab crawling on my butt, with my gun balanced over my lap down the noisiest, china like shale rock, down towards where I had last seen the sheep. I kept checking with my binos and finally spotted a sheep below me! I kept going to get to a small ridge below me. As I peeked over I saw one of the big three rams. I found my ram, and got ready, lying prone, downhill. The wind was as I expected, blowing downhill, right at them. I mentally prepared and said, “No mistakes.” I have never had buck fever before, but told myself to be aware I might get it on this hunt. I calmed my nerves and lined him up. I waited for him to feed broadside. 5 minutes seemed like forever as I waited. He was heading out of sight right below me again....

[Ghillie]

And then???????

[guest]

Oh brother !

[pg83]

Great story so far, looking forward to the rest of it.

[hunter1993ap]

what are you doing? why is this taking so long. i cant wait for results!! great story!!

[DR.DOUG]

Awesome pic's and a good story to boot!....................

[Sitkaspruce]

See you tomorrow Dave.........

Great story so far, can't wait for the elk story, been waiting for that for a few days.....so whats a couple more eh.....

Cheers

SS

[ufishifish2]

Damn. I caught up now too. Thanks for the story so far BB. Great pics.

[BiG Boar]

FAST FORWARD 3 MONTHS INTO MY HUNTING SEASON......


Cherry Red Daggers

As we turned the corner on the dirt road a huge white beast with massive maroon antlers raced up and across the road in front of us. Three 20 something year old guys who had never seen a Roosevelt elk before, came to a sliding halt in the truck. We were flabbergasted at the size of the behemoth with those impressive antlers that had just appeared and like magic disappeared into a thick tangle of trees.

Fast forward 3 years….

On my quest to experience all of BC big game, and really find which hunt I like best, I put in for a Roosevelt elk draw this spring. I can never seem to wait for the results to come online, let alone in the mail, so at 9:30am one beautiful June morning I called the LEH office, knowing the draw had been run. Now I don’t mind traveling across the province to increase my chance of getting a draw and so I usually get draws as they are normally lower odds. Sheep, elk, and bison, are always ridiculously high odds though, and I really didn’t ever think I would win one of those. I gave him my hunter number and he told me I had gotten 3 draws. A moose, a goat, and almost in slow motion I heard him say “you got an elk too”! My heart raced like a school girl at a Beiber concert (apparently). This was way better than Christmas. Immediately I went to work on the planning….

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4564copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4567copy.jpg

[BiG Boar]

Having never in my life thought I would get an elk draw I had definitely not scouted the area. In fact I had never even seen the area, though I have hunted on the island for black bears and deer a few times before. Instantly I grabbed my map book and looked at the area I was heading for. Seemed like good access, wouldn’t have to rent a boat, I would have to get over there and scout right away. Try to learn the habits of an animal I have never pursued. I really started digging, phone calls, emails and many PM’s were made to people who had hunted these creatures before. I definitely got a lot of great responses, and had a lot of great information on the area, but I had to get over there and see it for myself.

In July I made my way over from the mainland for the first time. We spent a couple days there and I really tried to soak in the place and see for myself if I could find elk. Soak-in I did as it always seemed to be raining. Even in July. We did find a herd of cows one day though, and a nice looking black tail deer still in velvet. At least I knew there were some elk there. What I did discover was just how thick and lush the place really is.

Having never killed an elk before I figured some books were a good idea. I started to read anything I could get my hands on in figuring out what the animals do. Of course that bull I had seen 3 years ago ran across my mind from time to time and I dreamt of not only taking a bull, but of taking A MASSIVE BULL worth putting on the wall.

[troutseeker]

Ok, this is getting silly. Gatehouse, just ban him, lol. I'm off to bed, I may never know if Big Bore shot a ram...:mrgreen:

[tristanmac]

on to the rosie already? what about the stone! :) this is killing me!

[BillBraskii]

worst thread ever....

[Gunner Staal]

Ok......im sure this all turns out great but COME ON! Us broke ass hunters who have to stay in our backyards feel like big enough losers reading these fantastic adventures as it is! FINISH THE THREAD....and then point me in the direction of the line of work that allows you to go on these kind of trips, have that gear and kill these animals! I need a new job! lol

[Phil]

WTF mate!?

You must have been a female stripper in another life!!!! ...................

WHAT A TEASE!!!!

[Gateholio]

Jumped right into the elk story without finishing the sheep story? Oh the drama......:roll:

[Spy]

Ok......im sure this all turns out great but COME ON! Us broke ass hunters who have to stay in our backyards feel like big enough losers reading these fantastic adventures as it is! FINISH THE THREAD....and then point me in the direction of the line of work that allows you to go on these kind of trips, have that gear and kill these animals! I need a new job! lol

SS had to bring up Elk?:confused: lets get to the end of the sheep hunt,then you can start an elk thread !LoL As usual great story!:-D

[troutseeker]

point me in the direction of the line of work that allows you to go on these kind of trips, have that gear and kill these animals! I need a new job! lol

I know a line of work that will allow you all that and then some! The only downsides are the occasional jail term and the company you must keep...

[Weatherby Fan]

I know a line of work that will allow you all that and then some! The only downsides are the occasional jail term and the company you must keep...

Also in this line of work when the shootin starts your usually on the receiving end !

[Steeleco]

That's it, I'm gonna wander over to BB's place and beat the door down till he's done the tale. I know the tale, but damn Dave, the natives are getting restless!!!!

[BCbillies]

Holy F.
I've been there!


I have been to this spot as well.............too funny!

. . . and you were wondering why you had to work so hard to find any rams!!! :razz:

btw - you're keeping some guys up late waiting for the finale!

[hunter1947]

I know how Daves Roosevelt elk hunt turned out ,Dave can't keep me guessing that hunt LOL :mrgreen:.

[BiG Boar]

As I have gotten into hunting, I have used all kinds of methods to hunt. This one would be done with stick and string. Actually a carbon fiber stick, and a few strings rigged up to be pushing that arrow at 320 fps. After using it to hunt water buffalo in South America this past spring, I rededicated myself to the art. I put in a lot of time practicing and tuning this muscle car of archery equipment to make sure I would hit my mark when the opportunity came along. Hundreds of arrows per week were flung, and I really honed my skills at some distance, even over 100 yards to make sure I could hit my target when push came to shove. Of course there is an ethical limit to shoot an animal. At 100 yards it will take that arrow almost a second to reach its mark, and in one second, a whole lot can go wrong.

A fellow with the same draw a month earlier than myself and I connected on the internet. I went to help him out in any way I could, as I would be there scouting for my draw. Hopefully he would have some insight for me as well. He was an expert Rocky Mtn elk hunter, who was also on his first Roosevelt hunt, and he really knew the animal’s behaviors. Going over there to hunt with him was a huge advantage. He had spent some time now hunting his tag and had really figured out their locations and habits. This man was pure inspiration in himself. Not only 2 weeks ago he had gotten off of crutches, after spending months in a wheelchair after a very serious snowmobile accident. Skirting death, many bones were broken including his back, and in some way, winning that draw for elk he said, gave him the motivation to get back on his feet and make his elk hunt happen. Elk hunting was a huge passion of his. And, he would be doing it alone. Near the end of his draw he did get his elk. I was thankful for the entire experience including the pack out as it was all great preparation for what I was about to embark upon.

The days flashed by again and opening day was tomorrow. I had made it to “camp”, and a luxurious camp it was, with hot showers, electricity and running water in my trailer. After setting up I shot a few arrows to make sure nothing had shifted or bumped on the long trek to get there. Things were perfect. In the morning I would find my elk and kill it. Just then the heavens opened up and the rain started to fall.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4540copy.jpg

I woke up to the sound of rain on opening morning. I sprung out of bed and threw on my phenomenal Kuiu rain gear. Grabbed my pack and fired up the truck. It was go time. One thing I hadn’t really figured out was how to hunt on the rainy days. Glassing is definitely the name of the game in this hunt. Get some elevation and spend time behind glass. After an incredible sheep hunt this summer, this wouldn’t be hard. But it was…. It was wet. Everything was wet. Clouds were everywhere, or fog, and you couldn’t see 200 yards at most times. Your binoculars would fog up, and have water droplets plaguing them constantly. The tissue paper I would keep in my pocket to dry the eyepieces would even be soaked by noon. You basically were forced at times to sit and wait for clouds to move. As I sat and glassed that first afternoon from where we got that elk the month before I suddenly caught a glimpse of what I had come for. Elk! There were those unmistakable maroon antlers flashing glossy rain from over 3 kilometers away. I threw up the spotting scope and saw what looked to be a nice rack.

[BiG Boar]

Using google maps in my iPhone I marked his exact location in the cut block and found the old overgrown road that led up to the slash where he was with 3 other cows. I remembered then a fellow at the camp where I was staying, telling me to try and get above them and come down on them. So after getting drenched running through the alder overgrown road I got to the edge of the cut block. Keeping in the shadows of the old growth timber, I climbed to just above their position. When I caught sight of them I got low and headed straight at them, staying out of sight, and trying to be as quiet as possible in a very wet and slippery cut block. The cut blocks back on the mainland are like manicured lawns in comparison to this jungle gym of downed timber. You have to try to step on the wood so as to not make noise, but the stuff is so slippery, you need to use all 4 limbs to stay up right. One thing that did help is all of the running water. It really covered the noise.

It was about 3pm and I had all the time in the world, though the wind was now angling towards them. I got to my last point of cover, not knowing how close I was to them. Drifting in the air was a distinct musky odor of my quarry. I knocked an arrow and eased over a rock. There at less than 10 yards was a bedded cow, looking down hill. I slowly retreated and went up a rock higher. Looking over it I caught sight of those cherry red antlers, not 25 yards away. I watched and watched wondering what to do. It was a 4x4 rack. Do I take the bull and run? No more rain. Home in my bed after an already long season. He didn’t smell extraordinarily tasty, but I had heard he would be. It wasn’t a long decision. I shot him....

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4519copy.jpg

[Bighorn hunter]

Well since your using a bow, i am going to assume you shot him with the video camera:)

Epic tale
BH

[bowhunterbruce]

sweet yagot in on him and made your decision to shoot him.now would ya get back to the sheep already ............ please

[digger dogger]

Hmmmm. No snow on the ground. I smell a few more paragraphs!
Great story Dave...

[tightgrouper]

I know a bit of this story. I am a bit confused now. Anyway, PPPPLLLLEEEAAASSSSEEEE CONTINUE!!!!

[Blainer]

This tale is frickin brilliant!
I'm probably only stating this as I have already seen the pictures.
Keep the pen to paper
Check back later from Hawaii
Aloha

[Spy]

sweet yagot in on him and made your decision to shoot him.now would ya get back to the sheep already ............ please

X2 Finish Sheep story!

[fowl language]

i,m curious, how much do you guys suppose big boar charges to haunt a house....fowl

[BromBones]

If I were reading a decent article in a hunting magazine, and some guy came along and took the book away after 2 minutes, I'd be mad. When he gave it back a few hours later, I'd let it slide.

But if he came and scooped it again after I'd only got another 2 minutes of reading in, I'd punch him right in the dick.

Just sayin.

[A killer]

I guess the guy needs as much attention as he can get!!! Maybe he is being neglected somewhere else. We should have a talk with his woman.
Continue.......................

[hunter1993ap]

i'm just going to stop reading this thread for a week and hopefully it will be done when i get back . haha jk, but please finish it.!!!

[BlacktailStalker]

Ditto.
Great story/pics and all but it does ring true with dramatic desire for attention.

[Johnnybear]

Great story writing Dave. Makes one feel like your right there. I like the way you share your thoughts at any given moment like "what do I do now":-D. Cool thread! ( except for the whiners:?). I will wait patiently for the rest. Really enjoying reading about your adventures. Thanks for taking the time to share them with us.

Cheers,
Jb

[ufishifish2]

Dammit. 11 hours later and he supposedly gets a 4 piont rosie. Knowing a bit about BB, I kinda doubt he kills a 4 point on the first day. Then again, he did kill an eeny, weeny, tiny buffalo! :)
Yup, this is gonna be a 100 page thread by Christmas.

[The Dude]

Well I'm in the Philippines now, and I'll probably meet Big Boar in Vietnam and slap him for all of you, will that suffice? (Then we'll drink lotsa beers)
Great thread BB, livin' the fream.

[325]

Great story so far!

[behemoth]

http://www.funnyforumpics.com/forums/attention-whore/2/AttentionWhore-poster.jpg

[lorneparker1]

http://mebeats.com/jesus/files/2011/11/haters.jpg

Keep it up buddy!

[835]

I guess us Islanders forgot to mention Caluked boots (Studded Boots) sometimes are a great help!!!
They do taste good! And i woulda shot it too

[BiG Boar]

I shot him with my camera and green peaced him. Still, it was a huge rush! Plus, now I knew what was possible.

Many more herds of cows and young bulls were spotted, however I didn’t even stalk in on them. I would look them over, checking for big bulls, and then move on. I would see an average of two herds a day. Most groups having 8-12 cows and the occasional young bull. I wanted to hold out for at least a 5x5 antlered bull. That would be the smallest I would shoot at this point in the hunt. A 5x5 with a bow would have a good place on my wall.

About day 5 of the hunt I found a different herd that had 4 bulls and 9 cows. One of the bulls made my eyes a little bigger so I grabbed my spotting scope and zoomed in on him. Much to my delight he met my mark with 5 solid points on each side.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4564copy.jpg

I checked the wind and set up a stalk. Driving like a maniac to try and figure out how to get my truck down into that cut block I raced up and down the road. However each way in was blocked with massive cut aways in the deactivated road. Not one month ago there was a truck in here I was sure of it. But in that time the road had been closed. I would have to hike down roughly 700 yards through a brutal cut block to reach them. Using a water falling creek I slipped down to just above them. The wind was not good, but this was my only way into this block without being spotted by the herd. I figured if I could get to a certain log pile I would have a 50-60 yard shot. Then just pop up and my hunt would be done.

Two of the other bulls

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4563copy.jpg

I rose above the log pile with my arrow knocked. They were not where they were supposed to be. They had dropped over the bank and down, nearer to the cows. I got to the landing they had vacated and slipped off my rubber boots and my rain pants. I was going to be close. I eased over the embankment and got into position behind a small pile of logs.

Lifting the range finder I found them at 75 yards down hill. Easy-ish shot to make. I practice regularly at 70 yards, and I group under 7 inches. This would not be a chip shot, but it was definitely doable. I watched the 4 bulls as they locked horns and pushed each other around. As the two sets of bulls sparred with each other I had difficulty telling which one was the 5 point through the tangle of horns. Watching the bull spar was a treat in itself. I was almost mesmerized as if watching Lorne Green's New Wilderness in the 80's. He was definitely the biggest of the 4. He was perfectly broadside. It was his time....

[835]

I know this is kinda post retractiong but,,, i was wondering why you came that far to shoot a 4x4,,,,,,,,,, but id still have shot him

[BiG Boar]

Well I'm in the Philippines now, and I'll probably meet Big Boar in Vietnam and slap him for all of you, will that suffice? (Then we'll drink lotsa beers)
Great thread BB, livin' the fream.

The Bia Hoi sounds good. The slap is probably deserved.

[BiG Boar]

I guess us Islanders forgot to mention Caluked boots (Studded Boots) sometimes are a great help!!!
They do taste good! And i woulda shot it too

Caulked Boots were mentioned by Timber Jack on here. Unfortunately I was leaving too quickly to get them in time. Would have definitely saved a lot of falls.

[BiG Boar]

This tale is frickin brilliant!
Check back later from Hawaii
Aloha

Blainer, you're missing out on all this good rain! Its so nice here. Just kidding it totally sucks. Stay an extra week if you can.

[BiG Boar]

Like the looks of that camo. Brand?

The brand is Kuiu. Its only sold online. However it is unbelievable stuff. I bought all the gear they offer. I have hunted 110 days this season and been wearing it on every hunt. It is incredibly well built and well designed. The rain gear is incredible stuff. On this wet coast hunt you still take some rain in the neck area that can be exposed to sideways rain, but for the most part I was totally dry coming back to camp. All of their gear is incredibly fast drying too. I have to say I am impressed.

I can't tell you yet what the pack is capable of, but I'll just say it is incredible.



Is that electrical tape over your barrel? My uncle does this and I thought he was losing it! Does it really work?

Yes it is electrical tape. Yes it works to keep dirt, rocks, twigs, or water from entering the barrel and causing your gun to explode as the bullet meets any kind of resistance. Most guys on here do it. It won't affect the shot, just shoot right through it.

[Brambles]

Let me get this straight!!! You take forever to tell the sheep story but before the end you switch to a frikken elk hunt? Your ****ed in the head.... Taking a page out of Srupp's book or ???

At this point I don't give a rats ass if you kill that ram or get skunked for the whole hunt.

Im gonna stop reading this DRAMA fest right now...WFC!!!!

[6616]

This is silly, I'm done with this thread as well.

[MB_Boy]

Check back later from Hawaii
Aloha

I fly to Kauai on the 12th......at this rate I may be "checking back later from Hawaii" to read the end of this story. :razz::razz::razz::razz:

[Johnnybear]

OMG some of you guy's crack me up:lol:!!! Cabin fever is setting in early this year.

[Salty]

12 pages of C tease. Nice. Would have been nice to know if any member advice worked out oh well guess I'll give this a pass and go wash the truck

[BiG Boar]

Would have been nice to know if any member advice worked out



There is a whole page of members on here that will get thanks "if" I get the animals.

[BiG Boar]

en·ter·tain·ment/ˌentərˈtānmənt/

Noun:
The action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment.







In this case we are both being entertained.

[Ponderosa]

honestly I think you storytelling is great, you definetly have a gift, I will keep checking back to read more.

[kayjayess]

Best thread this year. Thanks BB - standing by quivering (pun intended) in anticipation!

[835]

en·ter·tain·ment/ˌentərˈtānmənt/

Noun:
The action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment.







In this case we are both being entertained.

How did you flip that e upside down?

[Barracuda]

How did you flip that ə upsidə down?
what do you məan ?
It looks pərfəctly normal to mə:-D

[BiG Boar]

How did you flip that e upside down?


uʍoʇ uı bʍɐp ʇsǝןooɔ

[835]

WTF????????

Im gonna ask my wife, you guys are'nt playin fair!

[lightmag]

the never ending "sheep" story..........

[BiG Boar]

Then from the corner of my eye I caught movement at 30 yards. A black tail doe had come out of thin air and had me pegged. Five seconds later the doe caught my wind and bolted. The herd wasn’t one second behind her. Then they stopped with noses in the air at 140 yards looking for the cause of this problem. I froze, and for 2 minutes I did nothing. Then one by one they filed out, trotting slowly away from me, along with my hopes and dreams.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4566copy.jpg


The hard part about this hunt isn’t finding elk. It’s finding big elk! I had 4 trail cams set up from the month before, and had caught on it all kinds of cool things; from grey and jet black wolves, to cougars, black tail deer, and black bears with cubs. The one thing that gave me hope though was a nice 5x7 dark horned bull. Many a morning I didn’t feel like getting out of the warm bed and into the wet wilds of Vancouver Island, but I did. I did end up sleeping in a couple mornings just to break up a hunt of this length. Day after day can make it hard to keep motivated sometimes. Being in that kind of cold sleety wet rain is pretty brutal. Walking in the thick second growth timber, peeling ferns and salal from around you to keep quiet is a whole different puddle of H2O. It’s no wonder they call it a rain forest. That’s the perfect way to describe it. It was relentless, with plenty of snow storms, and sleet to make sure you were uncomfortable. But that big 5x7 bull kept me motivated.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0004.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0021.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT2454.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT2471.jpg

[BiG Boar]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT3526.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT3528.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT3535.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT4840.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT4841.jpg

[BiG Boar]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT6711.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT8395.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0013.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0018.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0019.jpg

[BiG Boar]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0026.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0047.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0050.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0059.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0064.jpg

[BiG Boar]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0085.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/PICT0032.jpg

[Crazy_Farmer]

Screw those sheep and elk, get after those GREENHEADS!!

Awesome thread so far! Nothing better then making it last!

[tristanmac]

great trail cam pics. looks like a productive area!

[BiG Boar]

I did have a few people tell me I was crazy for not taking a smaller bull when I could have. I replied that I would be crazy to not hold out in the situation I was in. This wasn’t a weekend hunt. This was a once in a lifetime draw, and I had everything right there at my disposal for the full pull. I had to give it my best.

I was encouraged to meet and talk with the other hunters with the draw, a father helping his son. They also saw lots of elk and even turned some down at the beginning of their 9 day hunt. Al who had the draw was a very serious hunter like myself. It was good to see someone win it that would really put a good effort in. He had also won a sheep permit this year and had come very close to completing that. He had taken a couple elk in the past and so he really knew what he was doing. I would meet up with them every few days and we would encourage each other with what we had seen, and what we were learning from the hunt.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4582.jpg

About day ten I was nearing the top of the mountains on my quad. It was snowing heavily and I couldn’t see 100 yards ahead of me. I figured I knew where the herds were down low, but a friend of mine who I had been corresponding with during the hunt had told me to look higher up in the hills. The big bulls would be separate now, and would be way up top forming bachelor groups.

With no goggles I was moving slowly on the quad. I looked up by pure chance and there at 70 yards was a nice lone bull. Surprised, I shut down the quad and grabbed my bow. He didn’t even wait for two seconds before he disappeared into the second growth timber. I would have to track him down. That I did. It took two hours. I don’t know how I out walked an elk, but he hadn’t even stopped once. I caught sight of him going up the side opposite of the creek I was dropping into...

[325]

I'm getting adrenalized just reading your account...no wonder hunting is so addictive.

[Phil]

Stop resting your fingers and get on with the next installment of story time.......NOW!

[shaydog65]

I love the trail cam pics too.

[savage99f]

I love it,cant wait to the next little chapter.

[gwillim]

OK, you revived my interest with some nice trail cam pictures. I was starting to think this was just a big bore...

[Ghillie]

I was starting to think this was just a big bore...
I see what you did there......................

[redthorn]

From those trail cam pics you can tell it ISN'T the Chilliwack Valley due to the lack of earflap hats and Walmart Camo. But they do appear to be around 200lbs....

Nice write up so far, the pics do the rest of the talking.

[mark]

I thought i was shy on patience, after reading this thread I see Im way above normal! LOL

[hntcrazy]

" I have hunted 110 days this season"
only one person hunts that much ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Mark..
You guys work together?
great thread ....

[BiG Boar]

Too many trees were in the way and he wasn’t stopping. I couldn’t even get a great look at the antlers. However he was big, and this had been my first real chance. I soon gave up as it was getting dark, as he was dropping elevation like mad. I pointed my iphone to the place I had left the quad and my two hour walk in, was a straight line thirty minute walk out in the almost dark. On the way back down the mountain I cut his track crossing the road and noted the block he was going into. I would have to try for him in the morning.

That next morning I woke up to….you guessed it….rain! It would be snow farther up the mountain, I had to get back onto his track and check that block. Six kilometers away I cut a frozen track of a lone bull from the night before heading down hill. Not even really thinking this would be the bull I followed that track three quarters of the way up the mountain before deciding this WAS likely the same bull. Back down I raced. I found his last direction and turned onto a road that he should have crossed.

Going up the mountain his tracks got fresh. But then I noticed a tire track that was also REAL fresh. There was some logging going on up this hill so I just hoped that’s who it might be. Turning a bend about 3 kilometers up the road I saw the other hunters truck pulled over with one head in the passenger seat. He rolled down the window and told me his son (Al) was stalking a good bull they had just tracked down and found bedded. The only thing I could do was turn around. So I headed back to the area he had been the night before and set up on his trail thinking that he might head back that way, if this hunter didn’t connect. Sitting there in the cold for 2 hours I soon gave up.

That afternoon I went way back and way up high. I found another group of 10 or so with a few medium bulls in it. At this point my trigger finger was getting rather itchy. The wetness really takes its toll on you mentally. I almost made a play on these bulls, but settled on giving it a couple more days.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4592copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4595copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4601copy.jpg

I also ran into a group of hunters as I was doing some spotting. "What you lookin' at through that spotter?"

"A black wolf." I replied. To which I showed them the wolf through my spotting scope at about 900 yards.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4550copy.jpg

After talking to these other (deer) hunters for about half an hour, I got a kick out of hearing one of them say, "See Doug, I told you we should have brought binoculars, thats SUCH a good idea!"

Sunday morning I slept in, just to give myself some refreshment and rejuvenation. The 9 days had come and gone and the father and son team were leaving empty handed. I had grown to like them and even had them by for dinner one night. When they weren’t sure if they would be able to make it back to hunt again, I asked them for the last direction that big bull had headed. We parted ways and I headed up to the last place he was known to be. With about six inches of snow I thought maybe I would cut his track and find him bedded or out feeding in a cut block. Needle in a haystack I just kept thinking to myself. This is BIG country.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4586.jpg

I got to a high position to look over many kilometers of cut blocks and do some glassing. I hadn’t cut his track on the way up. He was probably long gone. About 30 minutes of glassing later, I lowered my binoculars. As I lowered them I just happened to glass through some thick second growth timber. Through the trees there was a small rock bluff, and bedded just below it was a massive bull elk.

[doubled]

You SOB, how in the #^@% am I supposed to get to sleep with this crap you got going on?? Awesome read but this is not going to be nice in the morning.

[Johnnybear]

Great read and photos Dave. You really took some great pics man. Those trail cam shots are awesome too!

[jaeger]

You R good!!!

[pro 111]

Great game pictures ! I especially like the CAT!

[LeverActionJunkie]

Subscribed for entertainment value:)

[fireguy]

Anyone taking bets, he will get withing range of a shot, then back to the sheep, or better some other critter that was hunted somewhere else this year, or three years ago..

Doesn't matter really, it's a fun read.

[Johnnybear]

Anyone taking bets, he will get withing range of a shot, then back to the sheep, or better some other critter that was hunted somewhere else this year, or three years ago..

Doesn't matter really, it's a fun read.

Shhhhhh..........don't give him any ideas:-D.

[Spy]

On the first Day of Christmass Big Boar gave HBC 3 pictures & a paragraph of his elk hunting story!LOL This is going to take weeks to finish!Pm me when its done!

[hunter1947]

I did have a few people tell me I was crazy for not taking a smaller bull when I could have. I replied that I would be crazy to not hold out in the situation I was in. This wasn’t a weekend hunt. This was a once in a lifetime draw, and I had everything right there at my disposal for the full pull. I had to give it my best.

I was encouraged to meet and talk with the other hunters with the draw, a father helping his son. They also saw lots of elk and even turned some down at the beginning of their 9 day hunt. Al who had the draw was a very serious hunter like myself. It was good to see someone win it that would really put a good effort in. He had also won a sheep permit this year and had come very close to completing that. He had taken a couple elk in the past and so he really knew what he was doing. I would meet up with them every few days and we would encourage each other with what we had seen, and what we were learning from the hunt.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4582.jpg

About day ten I was nearing the top of the mountains on my quad. It was snowing heavily and I couldn’t see 100 yards ahead of me. I figured I knew where the herds were down low, but a friend of mine who I had been corresponding with during the hunt had told me to look higher up in the hills. The big bulls would be separate now, and would be way up top forming bachelor groups.

With no goggles I was moving slowly on the quad. I looked up by pure chance and there at 70 yards was a nice lone bull. Surprised, I shut down the quad and grabbed my bow. He didn’t even wait for two seconds before he disappeared into the second growth timber. I would have to track him down. That I did. It took two hours. I don’t know how I out walked an elk, but he hadn’t even stopped once. I caught sight of him going up the side opposite of the creek I was dropping into...

Dave I do agree with you holding out for the big bull a dream hunt of a life time ,like you said you won't get a big dream bull by shooting a smaller bull ,I like you pictures and story so far lets see what happens in the end ???? so far your story is one of the best that I have ever read on HBC I have tons of time and waiting for an update is not a problem for this old cowboy :mrgreen:...

[BiG Boar]

I worked quickly, grabbing out my spotting scope and centering it on him. He looked alone, and he had big horns. That was all I needed to know. He must be a good one. Now how to get to him? He was in the middle of the timber, on a sort of ridge, just bedded below a mound of rock, with a cliff on his far side. If I could get to that cliff and get up it I would have a shot on him at no more than 40 yards and the wind was blowing steadily in the right direction.

I slowly made my way into the timber, trying to be as quiet as possible. The salal was covered in 2 inches of fresh wet snow, that slopped off with each step I took. Lifting twigs and branches out of the way I made my way down and behind where I thought he would be. The forest was alive with the sound of wet snow dropping from branches all around me. After close to an hour stalk I looked over the first knob, I was unsure if this was the right spot. Which it turned out not to be. Then I saw what I thought might be the cliff just up the ridge from me. The rock face was about seven feet high and straight up. I put my bow up on it and used a tree branch as a foot hold. I ever so quietly dug my fingers into the snow and climbed up.

As I peeked over the edge my heart almost exploded as I saw what I had hunted so hard for. There, not 25 yards away was a gorgeous set of deep maroon and ivory tipped antlers. I eased up and very slowly crept five yards to the next rock in front of me to where I thought I would have a good shot at the bedded bull. Each knee step forward I took in the six inches of snow seemed to make the noisiest compacting sound I had ever heard. There I was, kneeling, with my arrow knocked; wind in my face, bull bedded facing away a mere twenty yards away. This was one of, if not the most challenging stalks of my life. I could see his heavy antlers heaving with each breath he took. His ears were pinned straight back in my direction. I rested my bow lifting arm and breathed deeply, calming myself. After what seemed like an eternity, but was probably closer to a minute I saw the falling snow swirl ever so slightly towards the bull. On command he rose to his feet...

Stay tuned for the exciting conclusions to both stories tonight...

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http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/Roosevelt%20elk%20hunt/IMG_4589copy.jpg

[ianwuzhere]

oh man what is with that ear ring?? sure hope its just for this story??

[Blainer]

This story is really heating up.
Great tale
Now time for these beautiful banana pancakes that only Hawaii can produce,then a casual day on the beach.
Check back tonight

[MB_Boy]

This story is really heating up.
Great tale
Now time for these beautiful banana pancakes that only Hawaii can produce,then a casual day on the beach.
Check back tonight

What island you on?????


(given the amount of time it has taken for this story to be told....this is FAR from a hijack; more of a chat while we wait)

[bcmulie]

BB, this is awesome. Although maybe I'm just saying that because I know the outcome. Seems like it's torture for some of the guys on here! When I get a free moment I'll post my own elk and sheep hunts from this year. I can't promise I won't drag them out more than you are stretching out this one though! Keep it up!

Bcmulie

[835]

Im thinkin Big Bore likes watching the squirming!

[Johnnybear]

Im thinkin Big Bore likes watching the squirming!

Hence his post about the definition of entertainment ha ha:-D.

[twr]

Ive had the pleasure of meeting Dave, and I''m not one to pump someones tires. but the guy has a passion for this sport. and He's a great story teller. with the adventures he gets to go on,this thread is an indication of just that. it's like he brings all of us with him. great thread Big Boar. Once again. Cheers!!

Ps. what kind of camera are you using? or are you editing them in a program to enhance colors?

[BiG Boar]

Ps. what kind of camera are you using? or are you editing them in a program to enhance colors?

I am using an absolute piece of crap cannon. The thing is only a year old or a bit more and inside the lens is just filled with particles of dust. Not to mention it now has fog inside the body, as you will see in some up coming photos. I get to see some pretty cool stuff on my adventures, but I just havnt decided to buy a big SLR to lug around. A lot of the photos need major adjustments. Hopefully I get one for Christmas or something. Great photos are worth it, but I hate packing weight around. Especially with waterproof issues.

[tightgrouper]

West coast hunting will find all the waterproofing issues you have with your glasses, bino's, scopes, cammeras... the list goes on and on.

[325]

I am using an absolute piece of crap cannon. The thing is only a year old or a bit more and inside the lens is just filled with particles of dust. Not to mention it now has fog inside the body, as you will see in some up coming photos. I get to see some pretty cool stuff on my adventures, but I just havnt decided to buy a big SLR to lug around. A lot of the photos need major adjustments. Hopefully I get one for Christmas or something. Great photos are worth it, but I hate packing weight around. Especially with waterproof issues.

Give the Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS10 a look. Small, light, with 16x optical (not digital) zoom. Perfect for hunting.

[bcmulie]

Give the Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS10 a look. Small, light, with 16x optical (not digital) zoom. Perfect for hunting.

x2 I have the ZS7, and it's fantastic.

bcmulie

[BiG Boar]

Kneeling I drew my bow and put my 20 pin on his chest. He looked me in the eye and I squeezed the trigger on my release sending 400 grains of displeasure charging into and through his chest.

Like a heroin junky as the needle plunges I felt a rush of adrenalin that really can’t be put into words. I was more than excited. I was breathless and shuddering, frozen in a moment of absolute achievement. I had just shot a giant bull elk with my bow. The shot felt perfect, I picked my spot, I hit my spot, I felt like I was on top of the world. And for a minute I was. That all came to a screeching halt as I found my arrow 25 yards away. Caked in blood I lifted it to my nose to smell the unmistakable smell of gut. My heart plummeted like a skydiver without a parachute. `When in doubt back out’ rang through my mind. And I did just that. It would be dark in 2 hours, so why not just give it 4 hours, I thought to myself. There was good blood covering the arrow. But I didn’t need to make any mistakes at this point. So I headed out and back to camp for dinner dragging my feet in the snow so I would be able to find my way back in as it was snowing pretty good.

Dinner was great. The caretakers of the place we were camping at had made us a feast of salmon that night, but I could barely eat. I was so worried about my elk, and getting it out in the dark. I even phoned a good friend back home as he said he would be willing to come and help me out if I thought I needed it. He canceled his appointments and headed towards the ferry. That is a good hunting partner right there. He re assured me it would be dead and we would have no trouble packing it out that night or early in the morning. Thirty minutes later I called him back to tell him not to come. It was my mess and a long long way for him to come. He turned his truck around near Burnaby after receiving my phone call and headed back home.

We finished dinner and our incredibly generous host volunteered to help me go find my bull in the dark. Back we went 5 hours after the shot. We found my tracks which were already snowed in, and followed them up to the site of the shot. Instantly we were on good blood. We followed his tracks slowly shouting “Hey bear!” on the way in as there is an incredibly large population of black bears in the area. At 70 yards of easy tracking with lots of blood we found his bed. There was no snow in it but it hadn’t hit me yet. We followed on further until we came to a white strip of snow. Shining my light ahead I saw the snow covered road and the tire tracks our quad had just made. Then I connected the dots. We weren’t following a dead bull….

We once again backed out till first light. In a situation like this, you sleep about as good as a first time mother with a sick baby.

I don’t know how I managed to sleep, but at dark again I was on the quad with my incredibly helpful caretaker friend and my wife in the truck. There was some snow in the camp site. As we climbed the mountain the night’s snow got deeper and deeper. At the top where the bull was, there was over a foot of wet heavy snow. The quad with the dif locked in, barely made it up the hills. At times my friend had to sit on the front rack to give it enough traction.

The Elk tracks would be gone due to the heavy snow. So we made our way up and above the cut block that he had last headed into. Maybe his tracks would be on the road above, just faint or something. Hopefully we could glass down and see him lying dead in the cut block below. But an hour later we had nothing. I guessed he was heading for a small thicket with twenty foot tall cedars about 100 yards into the cut block.

The cut blocks are so deceivingly hard to walk through. One minute you’re on top of the snow, the next you are nipples deep in snow, with your feet wet in a creek. You just can’t tell where to step and where not to step. We searched for 3 long hours. It was tough going. But I wasn’t one to give up that easily. I finally decided we should head back to where he walked into the cut block and see what the easiest line for him to go would be.

About 5 steps into the block, my wife Cory trailing me saw that I had kicked up some blood almost a foot under the surface of the snow. Keep kicking and digging I told them. “Here’s more! Over here, found some more!” With my heart racing I pushed on, kicking down in the snow and digging with my hands! I couldn’t believe this was actually working. He had originally headed for the small stand of trees but then had veered off. Seventy yards later I came around a bushy cedar and let out one of the loudest Rick Flair “Woooooooooo!” you could have ever heard. The other two lit up in yells as well! Then out of the corner of my eye I saw its head turn to look at me….

Back to the quad I raced, motioning and whispering to the other two to look and listen for movement fifteen yards ahead of where I had been. On the way to grab my bow, I broke through and plunged into the icy waters of the creek with one foot. That boot filled right up. I didn’t care. I just about had my elk at this point.

Coming back to the elk I moved slowly to within seven yards of the dying giant. He could barely move, he was lying there, nearly covered in snow. It was not something I would have ever thought possible. I didn’t think a lying shot would be a good shot so I waited and coaxed the 1000 plus pound monster to its feet. Slowly he rose. Not having the strength to even walk I could not believe he had made it through the night with the amount of blood he had lost. He stood there almost threatening with those ivory tipped daggers pointed right at me. However, I could almost see in his eyes what he was asking me to do. I drew and sunk an arrow deep into his heart and lungs. He stood there for two minutes, as I walked away and let him bed down, one last time.


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/black%20bear/IMG_4611copy.jpg

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[BiG Boar]

I learned a lot from this hunt. Coming from a rifle hunting background, I have always aimed just behind the front leg a few inches, so as to not waste any meat on the front quarter. It’s been programmed into my mind to shoot behind the leg. I put the arrow exactly where I would have shot a deer with my rifle. But I only got part of one lung and the liver. The lesson learned is that, it is simply a little too far back for an arrow to do its massive hemorrhaging.

The second arrow ended its life very quickly. Not as instantaneous as with a rifle, but still very effectively. I did feel awful for not making a better first shot. Even at the 3D archery competitions I shoot at, I always program my mind to shoot for the 10 spot, which I believe is not in the correct spot a lot of the time. It’s something that I will have to work on in practice more.

I also have a new respect for the strength of elk. I have heard they are a big tough animal and have stamina to go for miles once being shot, but I had yet to experience it myself. I did do the right thing by backing out both times, and not pushing the animal further. The story is a little disappointing in the end to learn that this magnificent creature was not killed as effectively as possible. That is something every sportsman I know tries hard to do every time. It doesn’t always happen the way things are supposed to happen unfortunately. But I feel the real truth in this story will give people more respect for the power of these animals, and maybe they can learn a thing or two from it as well.

The pictures were taken and the elk was packed out not fifty steps to the road. What a blessing that was. Roosevelt’s are the biggest bodied of all the 4 species of elk. This one was probably close in body size to that of the 48 inch moose I had shot last year. It will definitely top up the freezer and it’s probably a good thing I come from a big family where I’m sure it will be enjoyed.

Sitting here looking at the horns I can’t actually believe I have done what I set out to do. I knew this was probably my best chance at getting a B&C animal and I held out a long time. A massive effort was put in as I hunted hard each day alone. I definitely had a lot of help from a lot of generous people who guided me in the right direction with ideas and suggestions of how to best go about getting my first bull elk. To those people, thank you so much. I can’t tell you how you carried me and inspired me in times of despair, alone on the cold wet west coast.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/black%20bear/IMG_4682copy.jpg

[BiG Boar]

Now, back to the RAM

[BiG Boar]

I calmed my nerves and lined him up. I waited for him to feed broadside. 5 minutes seemed like forever as I waited. He was heading out of sight right below me again, and then he turned and put his head down for one last meal.

At 320 yards the bowl became a symphony of thunder as the shot smacked into him and he dropped. Flailing on the ground I put one down and into his spine to ensure he wasn’t leaving. It was finally over. I had my first ram down. It was 9:30 and nearing darkness. This was going to be a long night.

With a bounce in my light step I made my way back down to my pack and got my stuff. I left everything there I didn’t need, like spotting scope, binos, gun and bullets. I got to the ram after dark. As I got up into the bowl he was in, the cool mountain air filled my nostrils with the first time of smelling a sheep. I put on my headlight and when I thought I was nearing him I looked all around me. His eyes lit up and I made my way to lay my hands on my first set of BC horns. Somehow unsure of how legal he was I lifted his horns and looked over the bridge of his nose. Wow! He was way over, on both sides, and broomed off really far! What a hog! I then remembered Houdini from before the opener. Could this be him? I am still not sure, but somehow I think it is. You be the judge.

I skinned him for a life size mount, and tied my first set of horns to my pack. Actually, I didn’t skin out the head or hooves just yet. It was near 2 in the morning. I was alone. Without a gun. It was dark. I prayed I would make it out with no problems. Negotiating cliffs at night, and rocks so big they will snap your leg with one wrong move I negotiated the pack slowly back towards camp. I was praying for the strength and well placed footsteps to make this journey home, with well over 100lbs on my back. I had no choice. My inexperience didn’t let me bring even a sil tarp, let alone my sleeping bag.

I got back to camp at 4:40am. I whistled footslogging my way into camp to not spook my friend into thinking I was a grizzly. His words were, “You better have a ram on your back or your grounded mister!” I have never felt so satisfied and so exhausted. It was over. Truly the best hunt of my life.

[BiG Boar]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/black%20bear/DSC04505copy.jpg

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[BiG Boar]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/black%20bear/DSC04550copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/black%20bear/DSC04533copy.jpg

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http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/black%20bear/DSC04504copy.jpg

[BiG Boar]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/black%20bear/IMG_4702copy.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/black%20bear/IMG_4703copy.jpg

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http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/bigbore14/sheep%20hunt/IMG_3770copy.jpg

The End

[snareman1234]

Hell Ya Buddy, congrats on the perseverance to find that elk! great story too!

[BlacktailStalker]

Two hunts you'll never forget or possibly top :cool: !

[BCrams]

Just like in August when I saw the photo's ... I am impressed with your persistence and also with what I would consider to be a once in a lifetime ram. Congratulations on a tremendous Stone's ram.

Great story with a great ending with your bull elk as well!

[d6dan]

Dave, you have just completed two hunts that most people only dream of. Congratulations on a fantastic year of hunting!!. Truly a super Ram and Rosie!..Well done!, oh and good story and pictures:-D:-D:-D

[pg83]

Those are two spectacular animals you got yourself this fall Dave and as a bonus they will both taste much better than coyote! Congrats to you on both and kudos for tracking that elk down after a tough first shot. Those happen to everyone at some point in their hunting career. Thank you for sharing your story and your pictures with us and I look forward to your future adventures. What is your BC Slam count up to now?

Peter

[WKCotts]

awesome read! hell of a ram! are you mounting the bull??

[hunter1993ap]

nice final pic!!

[MB_Boy]

Well that was "somewhat" worth wait.....congrats on some fine animals.

[Johnnybear]

Well worth the wait Dave. Congrats on two incredible animals and trophies. They will remind you of the excellent adventures endured in the quest for them. Thank you for sharing the stories and photos with us:-D.

[WKCotts]

Ps what happened with the grizzly???

[spear]

Right on, A lot of us will be chasing that dream for a long time, great photos and great writing. Thanks for taking the time to post it
Congrats on the killer ram and bull.

[OutWest]

Simply amazing Dave. Congrats on two exceptional hunts that most guys will only dream of being able to do.

[Phil]

Great story, superb pictures and a really happy ending. Outstanding hunts Dave! Congratulations!

[hellojello74]

and here i was wanting you to draw it out a bit longer..... Great Job, great pictures, animals, and good o'le hard work

[BiG Boar]

Now for a list of people I must thank.

My God and Creator for giving us such an incredible place to hunt, and such spectacular animals to hunt. The more time I spend in the wilds, the more I see the beauty and intelligent design behind it all.

My wife Cory, for letting me fulfill my dreams of hunting all throughout BC, for all sorts of terrible beasts.

My very good hunting partner Digger Dogger. Without him I would never have taken a ram, in fact the hunt would never have happened. You’re a great guy, I can’t speak highly enough about you. He also came on my grizzly hunt this year, going well out of his way to help me.

My other hunting partner Open-Sights. You were willing to drop your life to help a brother out. You are always encouraging and a great friend. It was this guy who taught me to shoot a bow, with many hours practicing at his place.

bcmulie – learned lots picking your brain. You’re a great hunter, I was so happy to find out you connected. It was a pleasure meeting you.

The Hermit – Gave me great insight on the area and even offered to come and hunt with me.

Slednecks – Had the draw before me. He gave me a place to stay and showed me all I needed to do on my first elk hunt. A huge inspiration to me before my hunt started.

Lorneparker1 – your hospitality and offer of help was incredible to a complete stranger. An incredible meal, and an awesome duck hunt.

Bill – Definitley wouldn’t have a sheep if it wasn’t for you. I owe you big time.

And in absolutely no particular order, all of these guys were great helps, drawing maps, giving me ideas of how to hunt, locations, hospitality, countless PM’s and emails, offers of helping me pack out my elk, information on the area, and great inspiration to keep me going in tough times on my elk hunt:

blacktail_junkie, powertool, scallywag, sitkaspruce, hunter1947, 5 spike, quadrakid, Weed782, smoothbor

If there is anyone eles I've forgotten, I want to make sure to thank you too.

I can’t thank you all enough. I definitely didn’t do this all alone.

[BiG Boar]

Ps what happened with the grizzly???

If you mean my spring grizzly hunt, it was a total bust. Did see 3 bears, but nothing legal. 12 days made for an expensive camping trip in the Spatsizi plateau. Did have fun though.

[lorneparker1]

Couldnt have happened to a better guy!! Great animals sir!

[WKCotts]

If you mean my spring grizzly hunt, it was a total bust. Did see 3 bears, but nothing legal. 12 days made for an expensive camping trip in the Spatsizi plateau. Did have fun though.

Awesome area though. I was actually referring to the cuts on your face in that one pic

[BiG Boar]

awesome read! hell of a ram! are you mounting the bull??

The bull is at Ray Weins taxidermy getting a head mount of some sort done.

[Johnnybear]

Thanking everyone. That's a class act in my books. You don't see that everyday on here8-).

[BiG Boar]

I was actually referring to the cuts on your face in that one pic

It was my 700lb Yamaha Grizzly that got on top of me. I did something stupid, and now I have a reminder.

[Bighorn hunter]

Great stuff Big Boar! Got chills when you let the arrow fly. Hope to see you down near the loops soon

BH

[proguide66]

WOW! , great job Mr.!! Yer racking up 'once in a lifetimes' in a pretty short time!! pretty cool and much to be envied!! congrats!

[LeverActionJunkie]

EPIC adventure! Incredible animals and a job well done. Thanks for taking us along with you! You did a hell of a job yo!

[Blainer]

Although I knew the outcome,I must say that was a well written thread.
Absolutely Brilliant would better describe it!
This thread really tells a tale of your character and dedication to the sport.
My hats off to you!
Great trophies!

[bcmulie]

Big Boar,

Thanks for the kind words. I learned a lot from you (and from the elk!) on that hunt as well. You should be very proud of those two animals. Both are once-in-a-lifetime trophies. I'll post a live pic of your elk once I get a free moment at home. I still haven't downloaded all my pictures from the hunt. I had a blast hanging out with you - you are welcome in my hunting camp any day.

I forgot to mention when we spoke last night that my dad went out on his own on Saturday and smoked a beauty 4x4 Island blacktail. Still waiting for my Mum to email me the pics, but I'll pass them on when I get them.

Congrats again.

bcmulie

[Deaddog]

congrats on a fantastic season, story was great, will buy you a beer in kamloops this march.. Jim

[SURGE]

WOW BIG BOAR that there is a very awesome elk to get in a hard place to hunt at that time of year.give yourself a huge pat on the back for you trophy.you put in all the effort and truly deserve to reep the rewards.sorry i could not of been more help to you on digging up info on your area but it looks like you did very well all the same. congrats way to go!!!!!!

[BimmerBob]

Awesome Dave, simply awesome and the bonus is no "junk shots" in the entire story! Congrats on another successful hunting season.

[orangestepside]

thanks for bringing us along on your amazing hunts had fun reading the story ..... drove me a little nuts with having to wait but worth it in the end

[quadrakid]

Great to see an HBC,er get a Conuma bull. Great stories Big Boar,i,m sure you will inspire some young hunters to follow their hunting dreams after reading your stories.

[nano]

Well done Dave, with all the hard work you put in you deserve it!

[Rubberfist]

Beautiful animals you took! Thanks for sharing your story so eloquently. Would be nice if the anti's saw this side of hunting.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Congratulations Big Boar!! You're one helluva a writer, entertainer and of course, a hunter!!

Thanks for taking us all along on your journies!! Incredible recount of your experiences!!

SSS

[MadCat]

one hell of a ram, one of the better ones I've seen this year. Whats the length and bases?

[BiG Boar]

one hell of a ram, one of the better ones I've seen this year. Whats the length and bases?


Any guesses out there? Not that it came into weather or not I was pulling the trigger or not.

[moose2]

Hey Dave
Congratulations on these two great animals. You had a great season glad to see you check a couple more species off your list. I am still keeping an eye out for a wolverine for you with no luck yet. If I do see one I will be sure to send you all the details of when and where. Thanks for posting a great thread I will talk to you later.
Mike

[Brian011]

great pics and great story! nice animals too!

[lightmag]

Truely one of the best threads/stories i've read on hear!! well done, two true trophy animals of a life time!! thanks for sharing and bringing us a along with you !! congrats!!

[shotgunjohn]

Wow dave two great B.C. trophies in one year. Congratulations and what are you planning for an encore?

[benttip]

Very cool..what a gift...thanks for sharing

[Everett]

Great story loved it. Curious how many pounds you have lost since you started hunting?

[guest]

OMG B B !! What is a rough score on that Ram and ....... yes what did the bio age him at, what a smoker !

A couple of Dandy Specimens you have for your home, great eating animals, great experience, solid determination earned these critters so good on ya !

Congrats

CT

[Lillypuff]

Thanks for the story and photos. CONGRATS sure sounds like you earned your animals

[BuckEye]

Thank you for allowing us all to live through your experiences on these two trips. Your efforts with the pictures and timelines of the story are greatly appreciated. I also completely enjoyed the format in which you posted. It was like reading a few pages of a book and being able to come back later for more. I wish more HBC'ers would tell their stories in this manner with posted pictures. I don't read a great deal of books, but if they were written in this manner and hunting related, that would change. I for one am inspired and will try to provide other HBC'ers with the same details of my successes. They may not be to the calibre of some, but I think we all enjoy a vicarious read during our down time.

[303Brit]

Awesome story Dave, 2 great hunts and trophies of a lifetime.

303

[Spy]

Well worth the wait! :-D Once again you did not disappoint,well done on two awesome animals.

[kennyj]

Great storys and great animals.Thanks for sharing your awesome photos and adventures.
kenny

[tomahawk]

Congrats on the ram and bull.

[Knute]

This thread is very entertaining and inspiring.

Great write up and fantastic pictures. The format kept the reader hanging in there waiting for the "money shot", way to go BB !

[mark]

Wow, from the replies seems about 25% of HBC'ers all knew about these critters before you posted, and here I was keeping it a secret????? :confused:

2 Amazing animals there, you're doing pretty dam good for a rookie! :)

[Rattler]

Awesome ram, a true monster...Congrats on a ram of a lifetime. What did he score?

Congrats with your elk as well. Some real perseverance displayed there...

[Trophyslayer]

that ram is a f>>>ing pig!

[Sitkaspruce]

Finally!!!!:mrgreen::wink:

David you are the man!!!!!

Congrats again on your amazing adventures!!!!

Your persistance and honour of the animals we hunt has been rewarded.

Now on to?????

Congrats again David.

Cheers

SS

[BiG Boar]

Thanks for all the great responces guys. I knew it would be worth the effort put in. I don't like list hunting as such. What I want is to experience all the hunting variety BC has to offer. In my now 4 years hunting with you guys I have really covered some ground. A lot of people say this, this or that is the best thing to hunt. In 4 years of incredibly great memories I have experienced a lot of different animals.

This is what I have done so far:

Black bear (mainland and island bears)
Moose
Roosevelt Elk
White tail deer
Mule deer
Columbia black tail
Mountain Goat
Stone's Sheep
Wolf
Coyote
Bobcat
Bison

If I could say I have learned one thing it would be that no two animals present the same challenge. Some seem to be more plentyful, but, all are fun in their own way. I can't think of one I wouldn't want to hunt again. If I had to say which 1 I like best I would say which ever animal is open....

Black bears are fun, you get a bonus spring season, they are plentyful and you can get right up close to them, even with a bow, like I did this spring.

Moose is great because you can call them in fairly close, and when you see one up close, you just have to give them respect.

Roosevelt elk are great because you see so many of them in a day. They just arn't pressured as much when on draw, so you see them often. They are so big, and so cool looking. A hunt I won't ever forget.

White tailed deer are fun because they are predictable. You just have to be more patient then them. Learn them, outsmart them. Good eating too.

Mulies I have never been good at. I shot a couple small ones. They are unpredictable. I could see why this is probably the most addictive hunt in BC.

Columbia blacktail. Close to home. As a city hunter, they are something you can try for regularly. Plus they are not really easy.

Mountain goat. Probably one of my favorite hunts. If you are a risk taker at heart, this will make your heart pound. I love the hunt. Each one will burn into your mind.

Stone's sheep. Wow. Just finding one is impossible. Getting into range, equally as hard. Nothing seems to be as majestic. Anyone with a dead sheep is an incredible hunter.

Wolf. Get lucky. I think thats all that there is too them.

Coyote. Not great eating. Plentiful. Fun to hunt when everything eles is closed. Not as easy as you may think.

Bobcat. Without dogs, rare at best. With dogs, you best have a great dog. None of my doing, I was the trigger man.

Bison. Great eating. Definitley top 2. Getting a draw is 75% of the battle. The other 25% is hard work and luck. They are just big and fun to hunt. Once you shoot one though, look out.


The animals YET to be experienced are:

Grizzly
Rocky Mountain Elk
Sitka Black Tail
Rocky Mountain Big Horn
California Bighorn
Dall Sheep
Caribou
Lynx
Cougar
Wolverine

If you can help or guide me on the road to any of the above animals thank you. I appreciate all help I can get. I don't have a family who hunts. This road I have paved is only through HBC and the great people I have met along the way. I have developed many great relationships, many have even become great friends. I value the friendships more than I do the hunts I have done with them. Nothing is easy about the animals left to hunt. I am not a trophy hunter, I just try to take a mature animal that represents the species, and is conservation minded. In the end I may put together a book of my stories and adventures that I have done along the way.

This is not a check list of animals I have to kill. This is a checklist of great experiences waiting to be tried and loved, and I really can't wait till the next one! Thanks for coming along on my adventure. I am glad to share it with you! Dave

[BCbillies]

Love to see guys succeed in their dreams. Thanks for sharing the adventure . . . was just as exciting (only longer) as the first time I read it. :smile: Dave, you're a guy living life to the fullest and hunting with passion, commitment and respect! Your post #186 is to be commended . . . giving thanks where thanks is due. btw - most of us can't keep up to your pace! :wink:

[ROEBUCK]

Great thread and great hunts !
I look forward to your future hunts
All the best !

[yama49]

Wow congrats on your dreams... Thx for taking us along, i really look foward to your storys.

[BiG Boar]

congrats on a fantastic season, story was great, will buy you a beer in kamloops this march.. Jim

Will definitely take you up on that...



Wow dave two great B.C. trophies in one year. Congratulations and what are you planning for an encore?

I asked myself that last year when I thought I had had an excellent season. Then I started planning this episode.


Great story loved it. Curious how many pounds you have lost since you started hunting?

I started spring bears at no word of a lie, 240lbs. I currently am around 208lbs. Wives, get your men out in the field....


OMG B B !! What is a rough score on that Ram and ....... yes what did the bio age him at, what a smoker !

A couple of Dandy Specimens you have for your home, great eating animals, great experience, solid determination earned these critters so good on ya !

Congrats

CT

A rough score I would like to see guessed. Any ideas? It was guessed all over the place. It was aged at 10.5 by fur and feathers. I am convinced after seeing many rams and asking many other people that it would actually be 11.5. Frank was the one guy of very few to tell me it was 10.5 years old. The sheep was so good eating, he has been ate.


Wow, from the replies seems about 25% of HBC'ers all knew about these critters before you posted, and here I was keeping it a secret????? :confused:

2 Amazing animals there, you're doing pretty dam good for a rookie! :)


There were a lot of people who found out through the rumor mill. Most did not know about the roosevelt though. Thanks to everyone for keeping your yaps shut. It would have been a boring thread if it had been 15 pages of my drizzly with a few pictures up front.

I am a rookie still. Eager to learn. I am soaking it in. BC is such an incredible place, I just don't understand the guys who only hunt one type of animal. I specifically remember you saying last year Mark, "you can't shoot the big ones, if you tag out on the dinks" and I did exactly that with my elk. So thank you. You are a machine to be learned from yourself.


Finally!!!!:mrgreen::wink:

Now on to?????

SS, you have been a great help to me over the years. Your insight and many emails have been encouraging and very helpful. Now on to??? The next mountain, swamp, praire, or valley.

Sorry for taking so long guys posting up this story. It has been great entertaining you all. I will try to keep my posts under 1 day from now on. Its been a great season, and the best part is.....its not quite over yet!!!

[GoatGuy]

Congrats and good stories. Keeps things entertaining.

[hunter1947]

Dave two very nice animals you got this year you can't get it any better then that my score guess on your Roosevelt elk is around the 290+ mark very nice set of antlers on this elk ,I am glad that I was big help on your Roosevelt elk hunt all input helps big time ,again congrats on your dream sheep elk hunt ,H-47.

[shallowH2O]

congrats on two magnificant animals. and thanks for the time and effort you spent sharing it with us.

[bowhunterbruce]

hey dave ,the story on both of these truely great animals was as epic as the creatures themselves.very well done all around.

[digger dogger]

Wow, the perfect thread Dave. even tho I was there for the sheep, it brought back some great feelings from the hunt. And the Rosie story got my heart pumping, the write up was awesome. You have a gift of the gab. You are turning into one i would call a true friend.(glad I p.m'd last year to meet up)
CONGRATES on an unbelievable year!!!!

[eric]

Big Boar, congrats on two awesome animals, and thanks for a fantastic read.
What a frikken hog of a ram, and a rosie with a bow.
Doesn't get any better.

[BiG Boar]

Dave two very nice animals you got this year you can't get it any better then that my score guess on your Roosevelt elk is around the 290+ mark very nice set of antlers on this elk ,I am glad that I was big help on your Roosevelt elk hunt all input helps big time ,again congrats on your dream sheep elk hunt ,H-47.

You were a great help on this hunt Wayne. You are inspirational to all new elk hunters. Not to mention, you know your stuff.
The Rosie grossed 303 and netted 292 8/16 green. Good thing I then cut the rack in half so it can't be measured again!
You were the one guy who insisted to hold out for a monster the first half of my hunt. Sure glad I did.
Thanks Wayne.

[whitetailsheds]

Very nice Dave...that ram is incredible! And the Rosie? Wow! As Greg mentioned, patience and persistence will pay off....but a few bucks helps as well! Congrats!

[snareman1234]

You were a great help on this hunt Wayne. You are inspirational to all new elk hunters. Not to mention, you know your stuff.
The Rosie grossed 303 and netted 292 8/16 green. Good thing I then cut the rack in half so it can't be measured again!
You were the one guy who insisted to hold out for a monster the first half of my hunt. Sure glad I did.
Thanks Wayne.

LOL what happened there?

[cainer]

Good job BB.. Great reAd. Are you gonna use those Rosie antlers to rattle in a big rocky next sept? :)

[steepNdeep]

Great hunts & animals!! Way to make the most of your freedom of youth...

[Tenacious Billy]

A season of success! Congrats on a couple of real trophies.

[bisonhunter]

That was great man, just great. I love the way you were killing them with the suspense. Good luck on the rest of your adventures.

[markt308]

nicely done BB.

[BiG Boar]

Good thing I then cut the rack in half so it can't be measured again!


LOL what happened there?

I want my antlers removable from the mount. So I cut them just below the horn base. This way I can also use my dermestid beetles to do a euro mount in the mean time. As there is no chance of them fitting into my enclosure.

[srupp]

hmmmm congradulations Dave.extrordinal stone sheep...absolutely wicked...I dont know enough about the elk but he looks wonderful also....

A man of determaination, doesnt know the meaning of no or stop..and has no fear...hmmm sort of explains the success...without great risk excludes great reward.

Remember give me a call PRIOR to spring LEH for interior grizzly bear ideas..nice to get that one stroked off while there is a season..

congradulations

Steven

[craigo]

Congratulations on such a experience. Your hard work paid off in something most of us will only dream about. Thanks for sharing your story.

CVS

[bighornbob]

I want my antlers removable from the mount. So I cut them just below the horn base. This way I can also use my dermestid beetles to do a euro mount in the mean time. As there is no chance of them fitting into my enclosure.

I hope you are not interested in getting it listed in the B&C book as they wont take a green measurment.

Also did you talk to your taxidermist first before cutting off the horns. I know mine wants the antlers attached (even if doing a removable set). He says its a lot easier mounting them that way.

I was wondering when I would read the story about the ram after seeing the pics.

Great animals you got there.

BHB

[835]

. In the end I may put together a book of my stories and adventures that I have done along the way.

Dave

With the way you write Dave, I hope you keep these stories you have posted here and do just that. Serious. I would buy it.
Like i always say to the Rosie Guys,,, "Its the weather that makes the hunt memorable"

[hunter1947]

You were a great help on this hunt Wayne. You are inspirational to all new elk hunters. Not to mention, you know your stuff.
The Rosie grossed 303 and netted 292 8/16 green. Good thing I then cut the rack in half so it can't be measured again!
You were the one guy who insisted to hold out for a monster the first half of my hunt. Sure glad I did.
Thanks Wayne.

I am very happy that I give you good solid feed back on this fantastic elk you got with your compound bow ,Dave its hard enough trying to get a Roosevelt elk with a rifle you did it with a bow I take my hat off to you buddy it was a real accomplishment to get this Roosevelt with a bow.

You worked hard for the bull and your dream bull of a life time came true as for your stone sheep you are a true hunter in my books and have come far for just a beginner many hunters will never accomplish in there life time what you did in a short time ,I was real close on your final score on your elk I guess I can still got it LOL ,again congrats to you and company on the dream two animals you connected on ,H-47 :)..

[BiG Boar]

I hope you are not interested in getting it listed in the B&C book as they wont take a green measurment.

Also did you talk to your taxidermist first before cutting off the horns. I know mine wants the antlers attached (even if doing a removable set). He says its a lot easier mounting them that way.
BHB

I would likely never put an animal into a book unless it was like top 10. Sure then its worth it, to give the animal the respect it deserves.

I don't know what place it would be in with that score in either Boon and Crockett or the BC book or pope and young. But I am betting like 2000th. It seems to me more of a money grab than anything these books.

I did talk to Ray Weins and got clarified the best way to remove the horns off, so they can be reattached. It was quite a process, but its done now. I'll post up the Euro mount once it is completed. Probably a week or so.