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Author Topic: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle  (Read 593278 times)

Offline Colville

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #885 on: June 06, 2016, 09:26:14 PM »
Kiticass,

Sure sign one has a crap argument? Pointing at other peoples bad behavior to defend your own.  Not yours litterally of course.

I know zip of the other hunt. I'll defer that if a comparably public, renown bull in an area that has no season for such was killed, heck even if there was a season, but killed in a green field,like a cow, there's no honor in it. Legality? Sure or maybe i dont know that story. But theres nothing to be proud of and depending, something to be ashamed of.

I cant understand this greed to kill an adored public critter at the cost of all hunters reps. How could you ever tell the story to someone looking at the mount??  "Yep, got that off I82 in some alfalfa. Braced the muzzy on a spigot and shot him at 40 yards. He still had a mouth of greens when we got to em. What a hoot....the memories"

Offline kiticaashunter

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #886 on: June 06, 2016, 09:27:05 PM »


Here is a scenario,  Speed limit is 60mph from point A to point B, (point B is their destination)

1. A person drives their car from A to B @ 80mph. Did they break the law? Was this action illegal or legal?

2. A person drives their car from A to B @ 80mph. Before arriving at their destination, a cop pulls them over and cites them with a speeding infraction. Did they break the law???  Again, illegal or legal???

This is why I believe most on here are furious with the happenings of this killing.

1. Of course speeding is illegal, just because you got away with it....does not make it the right thing to do.
2. Of course they broke law by speeding.

What about person C who calls an officer before leaving on his trip and asks if it is okay to drive 80 from point A to B?  And the officer says go ahead?

And the officer was told he was on speaker phone when the conversation started and was told there were several people there listening to what he said........

Offline klickman

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #887 on: June 06, 2016, 09:27:43 PM »
.....So, preach to me about how you have never broke a law before hunting...   :rolleyes:


Pope, there may be some people butt hurt about his money.  And you are right, most will have broken game laws somewhere along the line.

This is a Clintonian what’s the definition of “is” type of argument that is being made. It’s a legalistic bit of maneuvering, a charade. People aren’t dumb. They can read the regs.  It’s plain as day that  this discussion of true vs regular spike was an attempt to thread a legal needle.   They were hoping, angling and prying to get someone at WDFW to contort the regs into a pretzel in order to claim the unit was open to branch bull hunting. Not caring that even if they would say it’s “ok” that it should never be done.  That particular bull, where it lived, should not have been shot as a matter of good public relations and decency.

To the others that think his reputation is at stake in the court case.  No, it isn’t.  A very popular animal, open to public view and regularly photographed, safe from any legal hunting pressure, living in wide open alfalfa fields, no longer behaving like a wild elk in or out of elk season was shot with the ease of a killing a heifer by a someone who paid $50k+ for the privilege, observed now by hunters who see the rules as clear as water.  The harm to reputation has nothing to do with the case outcome. Many legal, yet repugnant, things can be done.  If you know that bull has notoriety and is loved in the community and you wiggle around a way to shoot it anyway right on that open field, you are putting a stick right in those people’s eye.  There’s no way around that fact. A call may insulate you from legal penalty, but it can do nothing to protect someone from the public’s judgment.

A satirical description of the hunt:

I drove up on the black top and parked.  A school bus and a mom in her minivan passed by.  Still in the cab, the wily creature was hard to make out as it stood in the thickest cover, the deepest 10 inches of alfalfa this field was choked with.  I put down my road mug of starbucks and the second half of my bear claw on the dash. I pulled up my Swaro 10x50’s, yep, that’s the bull. He was a bit faint, but at 100 yards I was able to pick him out through the thick stuff.  My door closing behind me with a thud I made for the back of the truck.  My buddy Zeb helped and loaded the gun.  My friends and I all wore jeans and flannel shirts so that we would fit in the bull’s natural environment. Just another farmer  over here, no worries mr elk (at least that’s the theory). I could hear traffic and children’s voices in the distance of this wild place.  Next we came up with a plan to get on this beast.  After much debate…. I began to walk straight at him.  One, two, three steps, stopped.  Forgot my hat on the hood of the truck. Darn it!!! I hope this doesn’t spoil the stalk.  I went back for my hat when it occurred to me that I hadn’t finished my danish so I opened the rig and stuffed the 2nd half in my mouth and pulled my hat down tight for the stalk.  My pulse rate was easily 70 now with the anticipation. I pulled up my Swaros again, there he was, now laying down and chewing cud in the gnarly thicket, looking straight at me.  Though he was unable to see me in the extreme farmer break up pattern we’re wearing.  Two, three, four steps.  I’m getting sweaty now and a little nervous so I take a couple minutes to calm down.  Five…. That oughta do it. BANG. Flop.

YEAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!  WHAHOOO!!!!!  What a hunt, what a great animal…!!   Hi Mrs Johnson, we’ll get it out of the field in just a minute, nice dress you have on, is that paisley?

Doesn't seem most on here agree with this post. They are just fine when another member on here helps kill a yard bull that some called Cupcake and even used bait. It was also a very well known bull. In fact your story you came up with much more resembles that situation than the one we are talking about here.if one shouldn't have been done for public relations and decency, the other one should definitely not have either. But the some on here call Cupcake a trophy, but not the other....

Where you on this hunt?  How do you know what happened?  You question everyone who goes against TR yet you continue to try to muddy the waters about a completely LEGAL hunt. It just reeks of jealousy. Maybe it's because a big payday was missed when another hunter shot the other bull TR was after????


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Offline kiticaashunter

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #888 on: June 06, 2016, 09:36:20 PM »
.....So, preach to me about how you have never broke a law before hunting...   :rolleyes:


Pope, there may be some people butt hurt about his money.  And you are right, most will have broken game laws somewhere along the line.

This is a Clintonian what’s the definition of “is” type of argument that is being made. It’s a legalistic bit of maneuvering, a charade. People aren’t dumb. They can read the regs.  It’s plain as day that  this discussion of true vs regular spike was an attempt to thread a legal needle.   They were hoping, angling and prying to get someone at WDFW to contort the regs into a pretzel in order to claim the unit was open to branch bull hunting. Not caring that even if they would say it’s “ok” that it should never be done.  That particular bull, where it lived, should not have been shot as a matter of good public relations and decency.

To the others that think his reputation is at stake in the court case.  No, it isn’t.  A very popular animal, open to public view and regularly photographed, safe from any legal hunting pressure, living in wide open alfalfa fields, no longer behaving like a wild elk in or out of elk season was shot with the ease of a killing a heifer by a someone who paid $50k+ for the privilege, observed now by hunters who see the rules as clear as water.  The harm to reputation has nothing to do with the case outcome. Many legal, yet repugnant, things can be done.  If you know that bull has notoriety and is loved in the community and you wiggle around a way to shoot it anyway right on that open field, you are putting a stick right in those people’s eye.  There’s no way around that fact. A call may insulate you from legal penalty, but it can do nothing to protect someone from the public’s judgment.

A satirical description of the hunt:

I drove up on the black top and parked.  A school bus and a mom in her minivan passed by.  Still in the cab, the wily creature was hard to make out as it stood in the thickest cover, the deepest 10 inches of alfalfa this field was choked with.  I put down my road mug of starbucks and the second half of my bear claw on the dash. I pulled up my Swaro 10x50’s, yep, that’s the bull. He was a bit faint, but at 100 yards I was able to pick him out through the thick stuff.  My door closing behind me with a thud I made for the back of the truck.  My buddy Zeb helped and loaded the gun.  My friends and I all wore jeans and flannel shirts so that we would fit in the bull’s natural environment. Just another farmer  over here, no worries mr elk (at least that’s the theory). I could hear traffic and children’s voices in the distance of this wild place.  Next we came up with a plan to get on this beast.  After much debate…. I began to walk straight at him.  One, two, three steps, stopped.  Forgot my hat on the hood of the truck. Darn it!!! I hope this doesn’t spoil the stalk.  I went back for my hat when it occurred to me that I hadn’t finished my danish so I opened the rig and stuffed the 2nd half in my mouth and pulled my hat down tight for the stalk.  My pulse rate was easily 70 now with the anticipation. I pulled up my Swaros again, there he was, now laying down and chewing cud in the gnarly thicket, looking straight at me.  Though he was unable to see me in the extreme farmer break up pattern we’re wearing.  Two, three, four steps.  I’m getting sweaty now and a little nervous so I take a couple minutes to calm down.  Five…. That oughta do it. BANG. Flop.

YEAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!  WHAHOOO!!!!!  What a hunt, what a great animal…!!   Hi Mrs Johnson, we’ll get it out of the field in just a minute, nice dress you have on, is that paisley?

Doesn't seem most on here agree with this post. They are just fine when another member on here helps kill a yard bull that some called Cupcake and even used bait. It was also a very well known bull. In fact your story you came up with much more resembles that situation than the one we are talking about here.if one shouldn't have been done for public relations and decency, the other one should definitely not have either. But the some on here call Cupcake a trophy, but not the other....

Where you on this hunt?  How do you know what happened?  You question everyone who goes against TR yet you continue to try to muddy the waters about a completely LEGAL hunt. It just reeks of jealousy. Maybe it's because a big payday was missed when another hunter shot the other bull TR was after????


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No I wasn't there but did speak with someone who saw it. Your right it was legal and I don't have a problem with it. I was quoting a post that had commented about shooting a field bull and the trophy factor in that, I was just pointing out how some on here will call one a trophy and not the other.

Offline M_ray

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #889 on: June 06, 2016, 09:48:20 PM »

In the 2016 regs unit 334 is listed under modern firearm for true spike bull. So should the guy that shoots  a spike bull with a rifle in that unit be ticketed because it is actually a firearms restricted area? Should he have known this is a restricted area even though the regs have it listed for modern firearm?

It's always the hunter's responsibility to know ALL the rules and regulations for the unit he is hunting.

Was that really a serious question?

And for the record I agree it is the hunters responsibility to know the laws. For me personally if I have a question on legality I would think I did my due diligence if I called the WDFW and got an answer to my question.

Let's say someone this season Looks at the regs and sees unit 334 says it's open for modern to shoot a spike. Then calls WDFW to verify they can shoot a spike with a centerfire rifle in that unit, and are told it's fine. Do you believe A, they should be sited for that, and B be labeled all over these forums a poacher?

Yes,
It's also in the regs that its restricted. You can't choose which regs your want to read and follow. If they can read certain parts of the regs they can read the whole thing. I don't understand the selective reasoning by you.

I don't see how that is selective reasoning?  If I have a question, you are saying calling WDFW for clarification is not enough?  Let's say I can't read because of a disability so I call WDFW to ask about the rules, I a a poacher if they give me bad info?

Most logical people would and do agree a person who is proactive and calls WDFW  to make sure they are legal should be able to trust that info. Guess there is always going to be that jealous crowd of guys like you and a few others on here that will jump on a witchhunt.

The calls shouldn't even have to have been made, at least us city guys understand what we are reading and don't need to make a call to figure this one out! Perhaps if you had stayed in Renton you wouldn't be having difficulty understanding that 334 isn't open to the harvesting of branch bulls?

P.S. I have told you the name of the person who told the party to please not kill that bull so you are wrong ... They did know this bull was in 334.
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Offline time2hunt

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #890 on: June 06, 2016, 09:57:52 PM »
M-Ray
I followed through on my part and went and talked with are mutual friend and I think you called him the night what were his words to you?


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Offline 257 Wby Mag

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #891 on: June 06, 2016, 10:14:11 PM »
If I had the gov tag, or raffle tag, I'd think I could hunt in said units, but hey, I'm just a big dumb lewis county boy, not neatly as savvy as the city slickers up north....thank God for the pierce and king county folks...
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Offline Bullkllr

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #892 on: June 06, 2016, 10:54:36 PM »
I can see trying to defend a friend, or whatever. But come on...from the outside looking in, this does not look like a simple mistake, an oversight, or anything that could  possibly be legitimized with a phone call.

And compared to the several other websites I have seen this issue addressed, the discussion here has been calm and civilized.
What other sites is this being discussed on. I wanna see other train wrecks

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Several pages here:
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11165637/Re:_Charges_Filed!!!__-_2015_W


In the comments, if you haven't seen this:
http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/hunter-facing-charges-after-death-of-beloved-elk-named-bullwinkle/article_844ec8ac-1a65-11e6-8639-53981ae0fc80.html

A bit here; nothing new:
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=1243914

Letter to the editor, and comments:
http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/members/letter-as-a-hunter-disgusted-with-killing-of-bullwinkle/article_af72f16e-1e09-11e6-af5a-134c6e038aed.html

Hard to imagine a 'win', regardless of what the court decides.

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Offline mfswallace

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #893 on: June 06, 2016, 11:23:43 PM »
I'm wondering why the case is even being prosecuted if wdfw gave permission. Why would they even investigate? Is it simply because wdfw really had no legal authority?  Sure would be nice to know the exact wording of the questions and conversation with wdfw. Too bad there isn't anyone in the know responding to this thread to put and end to the speculation. ..........

I think the last thing the WDFW wanted was for this case to get prosecuted.  That was a decision made by the county due to outside pressure they were receiving i believe . As far a the WDFW investigation, to the best of my knowledge not a single person in the party was even interviewed. That seems really strange to me if there truly was a investigation done.


Who were the people in the party??

Offline grundy53

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #894 on: June 07, 2016, 05:04:05 AM »
.....So, preach to me about how you have never broke a law before hunting...   :rolleyes:


Pope, there may be some people butt hurt about his money.  And you are right, most will have broken game laws somewhere along the line.

This is a Clintonian what’s the definition of “is” type of argument that is being made. It’s a legalistic bit of maneuvering, a charade. People aren’t dumb. They can read the regs.  It’s plain as day that  this discussion of true vs regular spike was an attempt to thread a legal needle.   They were hoping, angling and prying to get someone at WDFW to contort the regs into a pretzel in order to claim the unit was open to branch bull hunting. Not caring that even if they would say it’s “ok” that it should never be done.  That particular bull, where it lived, should not have been shot as a matter of good public relations and decency.

To the others that think his reputation is at stake in the court case.  No, it isn’t.  A very popular animal, open to public view and regularly photographed, safe from any legal hunting pressure, living in wide open alfalfa fields, no longer behaving like a wild elk in or out of elk season was shot with the ease of a killing a heifer by a someone who paid $50k+ for the privilege, observed now by hunters who see the rules as clear as water.  The harm to reputation has nothing to do with the case outcome. Many legal, yet repugnant, things can be done.  If you know that bull has notoriety and is loved in the community and you wiggle around a way to shoot it anyway right on that open field, you are putting a stick right in those people’s eye.  There’s no way around that fact. A call may insulate you from legal penalty, but it can do nothing to protect someone from the public’s judgment.

A satirical description of the hunt:

I drove up on the black top and parked.  A school bus and a mom in her minivan passed by.  Still in the cab, the wily creature was hard to make out as it stood in the thickest cover, the deepest 10 inches of alfalfa this field was choked with.  I put down my road mug of starbucks and the second half of my bear claw on the dash. I pulled up my Swaro 10x50’s, yep, that’s the bull. He was a bit faint, but at 100 yards I was able to pick him out through the thick stuff.  My door closing behind me with a thud I made for the back of the truck.  My buddy Zeb helped and loaded the gun.  My friends and I all wore jeans and flannel shirts so that we would fit in the bull’s natural environment. Just another farmer  over here, no worries mr elk (at least that’s the theory). I could hear traffic and children’s voices in the distance of this wild place.  Next we came up with a plan to get on this beast.  After much debate…. I began to walk straight at him.  One, two, three steps, stopped.  Forgot my hat on the hood of the truck. Darn it!!! I hope this doesn’t spoil the stalk.  I went back for my hat when it occurred to me that I hadn’t finished my danish so I opened the rig and stuffed the 2nd half in my mouth and pulled my hat down tight for the stalk.  My pulse rate was easily 70 now with the anticipation. I pulled up my Swaros again, there he was, now laying down and chewing cud in the gnarly thicket, looking straight at me.  Though he was unable to see me in the extreme farmer break up pattern we’re wearing.  Two, three, four steps.  I’m getting sweaty now and a little nervous so I take a couple minutes to calm down.  Five…. That oughta do it. BANG. Flop.

YEAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!  WHAHOOO!!!!!  What a hunt, what a great animal…!!   Hi Mrs Johnson, we’ll get it out of the field in just a minute, nice dress you have on, is that paisley?

Doesn't seem most on here agree with this post. They are just fine when another member on here helps kill a yard bull that some called Cupcake and even used bait. It was also a very well known bull. In fact your story you came up with much more resembles that situation than the one we are talking about here.if one shouldn't have been done for public relations and decency, the other one should definitely not have either. But the some on here call Cupcake a trophy, but not the other....

Where you on this hunt?  How do you know what happened?  You question everyone who goes against TR yet you continue to try to muddy the waters about a completely LEGAL hunt. It just reeks of jealousy. Maybe it's because a big payday was missed when another hunter shot the other bull TR was after????


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No I wasn't there but did speak with someone who saw it. Your right it was legal and I don't have a problem with it. I was quoting a post that had commented about shooting a field bull and the trophy factor in that, I was just pointing out how some on here will call one a trophy and not the other.
So you weren't even there yet you spout off like you actually know the truth ? You act like you're the only one that knows what actually happened, except you weren't there. You had to be told the story, so you don't even know how much of the story is actually true.

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« Last Edit: June 07, 2016, 05:58:58 AM by grundy53 »
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Offline Skyvalhunter

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #895 on: June 07, 2016, 05:40:57 AM »
 :yike:
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Offline HntnFsh

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #896 on: June 07, 2016, 06:04:21 AM »


Here is a scenario,  Speed limit is 60mph from point A to point B, (point B is their destination)

1. A person drives their car from A to B @ 80mph. Did they break the law? Was this action illegal or legal?

2. A person drives their car from A to B @ 80mph. Before arriving at their destination, a cop pulls them over and cites them with a speeding infraction. Did they break the law???  Again, illegal or legal???

This is why I believe most on here are furious with the happenings of this killing.

1. Of course speeding is illegal, just because you got away with it....does not make it the right thing to do.
2. Of course they broke law by speeding.

What about person C who calls an officer before leaving on his trip and asks if it is okay to drive 80 from point A to B?  And the officer says go ahead?

And the officer was told he was on speaker phone when the conversation started and was told there were several people there listening to what he said........

 This comment is very interesting. If true, sounds like witnesses were wanted in case they got the answer they were looking for even if it was wrong. Why else would you need witnesses to a phone call about a question of the regs. I think most people that would make a phone call to try to clarify something WDFW would just make the call and then tell their buddies. "Yep, they said it was ok." Or "they said no, let go find another one." or something of the sort. Obviously some planning went into this one.
« Last Edit: June 07, 2016, 06:14:32 AM by HntnFsh »

Offline M_ray

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #897 on: June 07, 2016, 06:08:43 AM »
M-Ray
I followed through on my part and went and talked with are mutual friend and I think you called him the night what were his words to you?


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He told me that two years ago he asked you "please don't kill that bull" he said that you are right he had not seen you in awhile but admitted there is no question you know the boundary of the unit and the fan fare surrounding this bull. besides you said you weren't there right? So my comment should make no difference to you if you weren't part of the group?  :dunno:
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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #898 on: June 07, 2016, 06:22:07 AM »
.....So, preach to me about how you have never broke a law before hunting...   :rolleyes:


Pope, there may be some people butt hurt about his money.  And you are right, most will have broken game laws somewhere along the line.

This is a Clintonian what’s the definition of “is” type of argument that is being made. It’s a legalistic bit of maneuvering, a charade. People aren’t dumb. They can read the regs.  It’s plain as day that  this discussion of true vs regular spike was an attempt to thread a legal needle.   They were hoping, angling and prying to get someone at WDFW to contort the regs into a pretzel in order to claim the unit was open to branch bull hunting. Not caring that even if they would say it’s “ok” that it should never be done.  That particular bull, where it lived, should not have been shot as a matter of good public relations and decency.

To the others that think his reputation is at stake in the court case.  No, it isn’t.  A very popular animal, open to public view and regularly photographed, safe from any legal hunting pressure, living in wide open alfalfa fields, no longer behaving like a wild elk in or out of elk season was shot with the ease of a killing a heifer by a someone who paid $50k+ for the privilege, observed now by hunters who see the rules as clear as water.  The harm to reputation has nothing to do with the case outcome. Many legal, yet repugnant, things can be done.  If you know that bull has notoriety and is loved in the community and you wiggle around a way to shoot it anyway right on that open field, you are putting a stick right in those people’s eye.  There’s no way around that fact. A call may insulate you from legal penalty, but it can do nothing to protect someone from the public’s judgment.

A satirical description of the hunt:

I drove up on the black top and parked.  A school bus and a mom in her minivan passed by.  Still in the cab, the wily creature was hard to make out as it stood in the thickest cover, the deepest 10 inches of alfalfa this field was choked with.  I put down my road mug of starbucks and the second half of my bear claw on the dash. I pulled up my Swaro 10x50’s, yep, that’s the bull. He was a bit faint, but at 100 yards I was able to pick him out through the thick stuff.  My door closing behind me with a thud I made for the back of the truck.  My buddy Zeb helped and loaded the gun.  My friends and I all wore jeans and flannel shirts so that we would fit in the bull’s natural environment. Just another farmer  over here, no worries mr elk (at least that’s the theory). I could hear traffic and children’s voices in the distance of this wild place.  Next we came up with a plan to get on this beast.  After much debate…. I began to walk straight at him.  One, two, three steps, stopped.  Forgot my hat on the hood of the truck. Darn it!!! I hope this doesn’t spoil the stalk.  I went back for my hat when it occurred to me that I hadn’t finished my danish so I opened the rig and stuffed the 2nd half in my mouth and pulled my hat down tight for the stalk.  My pulse rate was easily 70 now with the anticipation. I pulled up my Swaros again, there he was, now laying down and chewing cud in the gnarly thicket, looking straight at me.  Though he was unable to see me in the extreme farmer break up pattern we’re wearing.  Two, three, four steps.  I’m getting sweaty now and a little nervous so I take a couple minutes to calm down.  Five…. That oughta do it. BANG. Flop.

YEAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!  WHAHOOO!!!!!  What a hunt, what a great animal…!!   Hi Mrs Johnson, we’ll get it out of the field in just a minute, nice dress you have on, is that paisley?

Doesn't seem most on here agree with this post. They are just fine when another member on here helps kill a yard bull that some called Cupcake and even used bait. It was also a very well known bull. In fact your story you came up with much more resembles that situation than the one we are talking about here.if one shouldn't have been done for public relations and decency, the other one should definitely not have either. But the some on here call Cupcake a trophy, but not the other....

What you conveniently left out of your little yarn is:  How many other hunters held a 100% legal, no doubt about it, no questions have to be asked after reading the Game Regs, tag that was legal for that very same bull you call "cupcake?"   And on top of that:  How many LEGAL hunters had tried and failed to connect on this bull that you claim hung out in a front yard?  And also conspicuous in it's absence is how your attempt to flim flam your way onto that bull turned out.  Do you want that property owner in the dock as a character witness?  I think not. 
« Last Edit: June 07, 2016, 06:31:57 AM by JDHasty »

Offline popeshawnpaul

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Re: Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle
« Reply #899 on: June 07, 2016, 07:33:56 AM »
Speaking for myself...

I see a lot of hatred of the fact that the guy has been successful in life. This is America, we all have a choice in what direction we take with our lives and we all have the option of doing what it takes to make a better living so we can afford to buy these tags. The irony that nobody considers is that the money from these special tags helps fund wildlife management and ultimately keeps the price lower for everyone else to hunt cheaper.  :dunno:

FACT, many comments involve: his wealth; that he got a big bull most thought was off-limits; or that it was easy to shoot the bull, he didn't have to hike 20 miles and summit a dozen mountains to kill it. We all have different reasons why we hunt and we all have different methods how we hunt, but none of that should be a part of this conversation, ethics is a different conversation.

It sounds like he had landowner permission and WDFW permission to shoot the bull, unless that is proven false in court it may be pretty hard to convict him of breaking the law. The question is did he violate the law or not, in my opinion we should let the court figure out the truth!

(These comments are my personal opinion, Hunting-Washington is an internet service provider and has taken no official position on this issue.)

Hunters just like to bring down other hunters for some reason.  They claim it's not jealousy but I see that in many responses on this thread.  The moral hunt police are the most hypocritical people I meet.  Those that claim and preach they follow the law and bash someone that makes a mistake only makes me more suspicious of them.  It's no different than the preacher or politician railing against gay people.  Yep, they are gay.  I see it time after time in my profession with hunting charges.  They get up and say to the judge they teach hunter ed, work for WDFW,, never break the law, etc. in front of the judge.

Unlawful Big Game hunting encompasses a lot of different types of conduct.  Whether you have a tag but are just out of the unit, tag an animal later, tag it for someone else, etc.  I'm still maintaining probably half the people calling out TR have done this or a Title 77 charge at some point in their life.  Those that preach the loudest are probably the biggest offenders.  I've hunted with zillions of people over the years and tons on Huntwa.  So has Bearpaw and I bet he sees small issues daily.  Maybe they don't have their hunter orange on, have their clip loaded in the car, etc.  Most guys cut a corner here and there but maybe not that serious of a crime.  Do the best you can and they are so confusing your bound to error into an issue you didn't realize.  Lots of archers don't have the proper arrow for their bow under the law.

So, preach to me about how you have never broke a law before hunting...   :rolleyes:

Pope, you seem to be a very reasonable guy. I don't recall seeing a post you made that I don't agree with. I think you nailed it on this one. I have been told a guy who has been very vocal on this and many other forums on this issue has had more than one legal issue himself with game laws. Is that type of thing public information? I don't know where to find it? If it is public info I would like to know how to find it so if it was posted here no rules were broken by posting personal information.

Most criminal history info is public info.  By the way, the police report on this case is public info.  The private info will be redacted but the report is public.  The only exception is when they try and say the investigation is not over with.  Why doesn't someone make a public records request and put the reports and affidavits on here?  Then at least we will have a summary of what people might testify to in court even if it's unchallenged statements made out of court that might change or get clarified under cross examination...

 


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