Successful Guide Trip into the SNAKE

[Shay Mann]

The outfitter that I work for had the pleasure of booking 3 great guys from Sacramento and the Arcata area. Father (67) and 2 sons (Mid 30's), on their 1st elk hunt.

We had 1 full time cook (Dutch Oven Cook) in camp, 2 full time guides (myself and Jordan). And a total of 3 wranglers for meat hauls, and packing in and out.

We hunted the Snake River unit in NE Oregon. This is some of the toughest country around. We were in for 8 days. We ate great, hike our azz off, hunted hard, and we hopefully gave the boys from CA the time of their life. I believe we succeeded.

Of course, I had both my video camera and still camera and I took some photos of our adventure....

 

[Shay Mann]

1st day - loaded up 16 animals for the trip in. We had so much gear, that Jordan and I had to walk and lead horses in.
[attachment=46676:1.jpg]
[attachment=46677:2.jpg]
[attachment=46678:3.jpg]

 

[Shay Mann]

The ride in...

Jordan
[attachment=46679:4.jpg]
Dude 1 and 2
[attachment=46680:5.jpg]
Dude 3
[attachment=46681:6.jpg]

 

[Shay Mann]

Bob the cook
[attachment=46682:7.jpg]
The string
[attachment=46683:8.jpg]
[attachment=46684:9.jpg]

 

[Arrowslinger]

Well, if they're from Sacramento, they must be killers!!

That place looks kinda familiar.

 

[Shay Mann]

One more of the string...
[attachment=46685:10.jpg]

 

[Shay Mann]

Father Dude and Son Dude
[attachment=46686:11.jpg]

 

[Shay Mann]

First Bull Down
After an earlier miss in the morning, Dude got another chance at a good bull. We had about 120 elk below us, and bulls were screaming. In this herd we picked through 8 or 9 bulls to come up with this one. There was a larger bull out at about 230 yards, flashing through the brush. But when Jordan spotted this bull at about 100 yards and in the open. He told Dude that he should probably take this one. Being his first bull, he was pumped, being a 6x6, well that was a bonus.
[attachment=46691:12.jpg]
[attachment=46692:13.jpg]
[attachment=46693:14.jpg]

 

[Shay Mann]

Where is the standard grip and grin photo shoot...
Well, I dropped my pack about 500 yards above (with camera inside). The bull was killed about 10 minutes from dark. We were 3 hours from camp. And the dudes didn't want to take the time for me to hike back up to get the camera. I started hacking, Jordan went up to get my pack, which had my game bags, sharpener, and head lamp. By the time Jordan got back, I already had 1 ham off, and 1 shoulder off. The clients wanted to get back to camp as early as possible. They were not comfortable at all riding in the dark. Saying that they couldn't see. Which I replied, you don't need to see. The horses do, and they can see great in the dark. Nonetheless, we still didn't get back to camp until midnight, and got to bed about 1:30.

[attachment=46695:15.jpg]
[attachment=46696:16.jpg]

 

[Shay Mann]

Packing the bull out the next day...
Jordan making sure the load is secure.
[attachment=46697:17.jpg]
Joe, the wrangler, came in the next day to get the bull and get it to the meat locker in the nearest town.
[attachment=46698:18.jpg]
[attachment=46699:19.jpg]

 

[Shay Mann]

The bull heading up the mountain.
[attachment=46700:20.jpg]

 

[Shay Mann]

We would leave camp just before light, and come back well after dark. So a well needed one hour nap during the day, was just what the doctor ordered.
Jordan using a rock as a pillow. Looks real comfortable.
[attachment=46701:22.jpg]
[attachment=46702:21.jpg]

 

[Shay Mann]

Some more photos...
[attachment=46704:23.jpg]
[attachment=46705:24.jpg]
[attachment=46706:25.jpg]

 

[Shay Mann]

more...
[attachment=46707:26.jpg]
[attachment=46708:27.jpg]
[attachment=46709:28.jpg]

 

[Shay Mann]

The father had a good opportunity at a great 5 X 5 on the first day of hunting. However his bullets missed the mark. So on the last day, he was able to work down a super steep open face of a mountain, and get a 120 yard shot at this spike. He was totally pumped. And I was so stoked for him. After 7 days of hunting, I was getting wore out. I was impressed that at 67 he was even out there at all. And to put together a shot on the last day was awesome.
[attachment=46710:29.jpg]

 

[BDB]

Man, you guys post up some awesome hunt threads with great pics, keep 'em coming, makes the work day go faster. Congrats to your hunters

 

[Shay Mann]

Well that is it for the photo montage.

Overall we saw over 25 different bulls and over 220 head of elk. We were into rutting herds, with fighting bulls, bulls mounting cows, bulls screaming all day long. Being a bowhunter, and usually not in the woods during this time of year, I was totally suprised by the rutting activity. Over all on this guided hunt there were 5 bulls shot at, and 2 dead ones. Everybody got a shot, and we were 2 out of 3 in taking bulls home.

We had 2 other drop camps in the unit. And out of 9 tags, our clients filled 5 of them. With just about everyone having shots. What an odd elk hunting year. The weather was in the 50's and 60's and it didn't rain a drop during the entire week. Normally up high there is about 2 feet of snow, and where we camp there is usually 18 inches or so. But this year, it wasn't the case.

 

[jhuhtala]

Great write-up and pics!! Looks like an absolute blast. Thanks for posting!

 

[Kentuck]

Great shots and story. Thanks for sharing. I can relate to the nap part!

 

[RVRKNG]

That is just too awsome!!