2015 Wounded Veteran elk camp

[CplRaines]

I can't use the term "Wounded Warrior" or will get sued by Wounded Warrior Project.    What a joke of an organization. 

Anyway, doing my annual camp again this year. Heading out in less than a week to set up camp. I have 3 Jarheads and 2 Dogfaces coming to camp this year. The 3 Marines will be flying in Thursday before opening day. Army boys are from in state and will probably be in Friday night. Fun will most definitely be had by all. 

Going to be a long week at work until I get to head out Friday morning. Short-timer syndrome in full effect. 

I will start posting pictures when I can after I set up camp.

For those that hadn't seen it in the other thread, I had to swallow my pride and ask for help this year. I started a gofundme to help with the overhead costs. Link is in my signature line below.

[Netminder01]

Good luck and appreciate what you're doing

[CplRaines]

Good luck and appreciate what you're doing

Thank you. It's amazing the feedback I get from the guys who attend on how much the time spent on the mountain means to them. The most common theme being it is almost impossible to explain, just has to be felt. 

[CplRaines]

I know that a few of you on this site have contributed to my gofundme without any fanfair on here.
Without betraying your anonymity, I wanted to express my gratitude. It is truly humbling when a (for the most part) stranger helps out.
Thank you. 

[kirkl]

 

[CplRaines]

Much coolness. 

[BENCHLEG]

Sorry I'm late but where is it this yr

[CplRaines]

Sorry I'm late but where is it this yr

Setting up camp near or at the Kalama Horse camp.

[CplRaines]

One and a wake-up. 

[Wapiti1812]

Sounds great, thanks for all you do and TYFYS.

[rfhd69]

 

[Reaper4]

This is awesome. If you need any extra help next year at camp or doing administrative stuff to set it up feel free to let me know and I will gladly do what I can. I served and would love to help those guys out.

[Chesapeake]

Good luck guys. We'll be on the mountain as well.

[Lincoln4]

I gave.  Come on people, every little bit helps...  Also shared on Facebook.  Hoping that'll help out even more!

[CplRaines]

Just got home from camp late last night. Been up there since Friday before Halloween. Have a lot of unpacking, cleaning etc. to do.
Season definitely had it's ups and downs.
Will give a sitrep in a couple days.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Just got home from camp late last night. Been up there since Friday before Halloween. Have a lot of unpacking, cleaning etc. to do.
Season definitely had it's ups and downs.
Will give a sitrep in a couple days.

Sitreps from elk camps are due in less than 24 hrs of camp being packed up. 

You must not have gotten the memo. 

[jtrammell]

My buddy and I went  looking for yall

Just got home from camp late last night. Been up there since Friday before Halloween. Have a lot of unpacking, cleaning etc. to do.
Season definitely had it's ups and downs.
Will give a sitrep in a couple days.

[CplRaines]

We were camped right next to the shelter at the Kalama Horse Camp.

[CplRaines]

Just got home from camp late last night. Been up there since Friday before Halloween. Have a lot of unpacking, cleaning etc. to do.
Season definitely had it's ups and downs.
Will give a sitrep in a couple days.

Sitreps from elk camps are due in less than 24 hrs of camp being packed up. 

You must not have gotten the memo. 

I figure, if simple stories of a successful hunt can be drawn out over several days/week, I can take a day or two for a 3 week stint on the mountain.

[CplRaines]

OK, just copy and pasted this from my facebook instead of doing a whole new write up.

Elk camp 2015 - Season is in the books. The weather was great for hunting. Cold temps, rain and snow. I got the vets on a lot of animals, many legal bulls were seen, just no ethical shot opportunities. We four Marines spent our Marine Corps Birthday up top of the 8117 rd in the snow. Beautiful views and great brotherhood. Hopefully they will add their pics to my album soon. As of Sunday the 15th, I was alone in camp for the last 3 days of the season. On Monday the 16th, I went up top to the alpine lake across the goat trail at first light. Went and said hi to Pop and Ron. On the way back down decided to go through this heavily rutted/partially washed out road. Only about an inch of snow on the ground, but snowing still. Made it through the rough area and went on up several hundred feet. Went to go around some trees that were leaning over the path loaded with ice and snow, and slid off the road. Spent the next several hours trying to dig my truck out to no avail. With 2 hrs of daylight left, soaked to the bone in 26deg temps and falling, still snowing and about 5-6 inches on the ground, I gave up on digging out and started the 10+ mile trek out back to camp. On the walk out my orange vest had frozen solid and snow was building up on me. Had to shake it off every once in awhile. I set the trip log on my gps when I left the truck. I was luckily picked up by another hunter at 5.38 miles mark. By that time I was pretty hypothermic, unable to walk a straight line, no longer shivering, feeling warm when I shouldn't have. Got back to camp, stoked the woodstove, stripped and stood right next to it drinking a couple large mugs full of hot cider. After a couple hours I was doing better and walked to another camp to get a ride down to where I could get cell reception. Called my friend Scott Thompson and he and his son Kaleb Thompson came to my rescue. I broke camp that next day and Scott brought me down to his home down in Toledo, Wa. We went up to the Margaret unit for the last day of the season on Wednesday the 18th. I shot my cow elk with an hour left of daylight. We spent 4 hrs that night chainsaw winching her up the bank, down the road, and through a washout to get her into my truck whole. Got into my truck to head out at 0230 hrs Thursday morning heading back to Scott's place. Had her hung, cleaned up, and finally in the rack about 0600 hours. That afternoon Scott pulled my travel trailer and I pulled the cargo trailer up to my house. Finally home after 3 weeks. I left half my elk with Scott for all he and his family did.
 Way more to the whole season, but enough for now.

[CplRaines]

See if this works - link to the pics I posted on FB.
https://www.facebook.com/jason.c.raines/media_set?set=a.10206438193846608&type=3&pnref=story

[CplRaines]

Silver lining to the day I got my truck stuck. My wife is now all for me getting a hitch mounted warn winch and putting the wiring and receiver on both ends of the truck. 

[CplRaines]

Silver lining to the silver lining. She who must be obeyed suggested that to go with the new winch, I get the new truck accessory. 

With the cold weather, was able to hang the meat for a whole week. Got it cut up last night, will do the grinding next week.