After the past few weeks I've had, I'm really looking forward to the season starting tomorrow morning. This blue bird weather is going to suck, but at least I'll be sitting in a tree stand watching squirrels act a fool.

Less than 24 hours to go...

Indeed! Looking forward to getting to our zone tonight and being ready to go in the morning.

Fish on...

Todd

Best of luck to you both!

I'm off to Curlew for a week so hoping for a tasty twinkie (ie whitetail).

After all these years I'm still not used to watching them run off like a dog. Just seems wrong. Which is why I prefer to watch them run off until they run out of blood and drop like they hit a trap door

So it begins...good luck out there!

Fish on...

Todd

Was out all day yesterday 7am till dark, saw 3 does but that was it.

I hunted some small units, Christmas trees and reap rod all within 2 miles of my house, saw little sign. Did some rattling and calling, had one doe come in to a fawn in distress. No sign of the rut starting over here yet.

We need some bad weather to get the deer moving around during daylight.

I had not seen any bucks around all summer, so I figured they were all nocturnal but after going out yesterday into my usual spots that I know are big buck bedding areas I found little sign, only one fresh rub, so that has got me scratching my head since these areas always have good bucks occasionally eager to come into a rattle session and some grunts. Did not hear so much as a twig break on one coming into check the situation out, which is odd, I have found that if you can get within 100 yards of a bedding location more times than not they will come into a rattle, most times you wont see them but you generally always hear them when they get close trying to wind you or spy you.

I blew a chance once on a masher 4 point, 150 class, He came in hard in some Christmas trees, head down and grunting he got 5 yards from me standing broadside only problem there was a Christmas tree between me and him the whole time. He stood there confused for a few seconds so I figured I had to try and shoot him, All I had on me was a scoped riffle so I poked it through the tree pointed it at his shoulder and pulled the trigger, I figure the shot deflected off a branch as he just stood there for a second before swiftly zig zagging away. Now when I rattle in the brush I carry my short barreled 870 loaded with buckshot and a 10mm Glock (220 grain hard cast double taps) so I can shoot right through the brush. Buckshot kills them pretty good within 20 yards and Id shoot out to 50 with the pistol if I have time for a good shot.

Besides the blue bird skies, it was a nice opening weekend for Todd and I. There was pretty good animal movement considering the weather. I had a small 2x2 stop by yesterday morning, but I let him walk. The "Masher" is back in town and is bigger than ever. He made a 9 am appearance on camera yesterday and had if Todd or I elected to sit in that particular stand, we be posting him here today.

One of these days, we'll be in the right place at the right time. Until then, happy hunting!

You do realize that the "Masher" has his own trail cam system that lets him know where you guys are at any time.

The elk hunt was pretty incredible. I missed a nice 6X6 opening day (no idea WTF happened). Spent the next 5 days passing on 5x5s and small 6 or 2. I got busted by a herd bull that came in silent and was staring at me at 20 yards when I turned around. Other bulls that would commit, made it into the national park before I could get on them, etc. Pretty much in elk the entire time. On the second to last morning, my gun didn't go off (cap did go off). No idea why, as I had been cleaning and reloading each day to avoid such mishaps. On the 2nd to last evening I shot the first bull I could and ended up with a 5x4. I'd passed at least a dozen bigger bulls at that point but getting everything to line up with a muzzy is dicey. It was a bittersweet ending to one hell of a fun week of elk hunting!

Congrats WSU! Post pics! Sounds like a great, tough and rewarding hunt. A 5x4 is nothing to scoff at and you have a freezer full of meat for the winter and lots of great memories.

My Dad, when asked why he was willing to shoot a doe, replied that he had cooked those antlers for weeks and they never were edible....

I'll see if I can figure out how to post some pics. While I am a bit bummed I couldn't connect on a masher, it was a really fun hunt with family and friends. We put in the effort, hunted hard for the 6 days we hunted, and I'm still sore! And, as you guys point out, we ended up with a decent bull and a freezer full of delicious elk!

Plus you have a couple of cow tags to fill as well if I'm not mistaken? Congrats on the bull and good luck on the remainder of the season!

Ike

Lots of cow tags. I have a pumice plains tag this weekend my dad and I are going to hunt. Then my dad and wife have late muzzy cow tags that I will be camp cook and babysitter for. Should be fun to take all the kids on and help family on the hunt. Then my dad has another master hunter cow tag. Lots of elk hunting coming up.

And, I’m almost embarrassed to admit, my dad has a quilomene tag for a masher muley. It’s been great so far and is just starting!!

We're getting ready for weekend #2. I did a short sit Tuesday evening and didn't see a thing. This weather stinks for Blackies, but what can you do besides pray for some rain!

The bucks are starting to be out and about here in Olympia. The big one could walk by any time!

There was a pretty good battle royale out in the hayfield behind the barn the other night, horns clattering and some goods oof's, ugh's and whomp's!, glad my 8 year old grandson got to hear the action,there's been a minor masher hanging about with a couple of dusktime sightings recently, I fully expect to hear a shot in the night soon.

Checking in from the island with a fresh cup of Joe. Just got back from a morning sit. Nuthin'. Toff is still out jerkin' his pud somewhere. Cams indicate everything has gone totally nocturnal. Bassturds. Song Dogs were out in full force last night. They're Bassturds too.

One Ol' Man Masher has really started to get his swol on since the last cam check.

Soon.

Nocturnal indeed ! It only took a couple daze of orange clad hunters, trucks, and this tommy bahama weather to get them all settled in for the starry nites.

Haven’t seen a deer in the last two daze around these parts. The only critters seen are elk, yotes, and the soon to be future grouse dinners...

Time to switch out the morning fog and zero deer pattern hunts to the evening sits. Should be much dryer on the butt to boot !

Good Luck y’all

A forkhorn or maybe 3-point with a mixed group of does and yearlings next door yesterday evening.