jkthomps 2016 Elk Hunt

[jkthomps]

Good luck to everyone that will be out chasing elk this next week! There are so many good elk hunting threads this year that I can’t wait to read the stories and see photos!!! I am more excited about other hunts planned out on here than my own and I really hope everyone is successful! There are stories this year that give me goosebumps and truly make my eyes water and motivate me to be and do better all around. Seeing the friendships, new and old, come together through the forum and how “we” as a hunting community come together when it is most needed makes me feel like this group, even if we have never met or never see eye to eye, is truly a group I can take pride in and know that, in one way or another, things will be okay. Whether it be a life challenge, a sickness, death, new job, loss of job, or whatever might be going on, I truly feel that there are good people on this forum and in the hunting community that help people get through life. A big Thank You and Good Luck to everyone that is heading out!

Due to a crazy past couple of weeks and months, some unfortunate and fortunate events (deaths and births), I will be running solo this elk season. I will be hooking the trailer up tonight, loading it up, and heading out tomorrow afternoon. Being solo and with influence from my wife, I decided to kind of cheat this year and reserved a camp spot at Camp Kalama. My wife said she would feel better knowing I was in a RV Campground, and given the unfortunate deaths we have had in my family the past few weeks, I won’t argue with her this year. Besides, full hookups = warm showers, hot meals, dryness, and elk hunting at its finest hahaha. I will definitely have to go back to the backcountry next year to make up for this year, maybe lol. Heck, I might even be able to hunt hard in the mornings and fish for salmon in the afternoons! We will see!

I am just glad that my wife encouraged me to still head out. I was so close to just bagging my plans, but with time spent with @DaveMonti and @Bow_mon hanging out, tuning my bows and spending money on new gear, and with my wife encouraging me to stay on track, I am glad I did not bag my trip. Sure, I feel bad that she will be home with our two little ones and new puppy, but she said she knows how much I need this time right now and bagging my trip was not an option. She also reminded me that she has to deal with me on a daily basis, so the puppy and kids will be a cake walk; wait, maybe she is trying to tell me something there lol. I am pretty lucky, even though she doesn’t hunt and wouldn’t hurt a living thing, she is pretty amazing and I count my blessings every day I see her smile back at me. Not to mention our kids get their looks from her, so she has that going too.

I should be able to update this, my first official Hunt-Washington Elk Hunting thread, nightly. That is if I get back to camp and have internet. I am packing my cameras and tripods as well, so hopefully I will be able to share my experience with everyone. I am not as good as others at taking photos and videos, so you might see a lot of blurry bigfoot photos, but it will be fun for sure. Who knows, maybe I will surprise you guys.

If anyone is hunting in or around the Weyerhaeuser Longview – St. Helens permit area and needs a hand or wants to try and meet up, feel free to send me a PM. I will be up there the 10th - 17th. I have the motorized vehicle pass for down there and don’t mind helping out where I can. I know the area pretty well. If you happen to see me on the roads or in the campsite, stop by and say hi! Silver F150 – Coug Plates.

Good Luck!
Jim

[Rainier10]

Sorry for your recent losses.

I hope you enjoy your time in the field.

Be safe and give updates when you can.

[jkthomps]

Thanks, Rick!

You and I had some losses this year, but we have a lot to live for. You know you are raising your kids right when they out hunt you

Hope to see some great photos and threads of your buddy's elk!

[DaveMonti]

Be Safe Jimmy!  You're not in your mid 20s anymore!  Text updates when you get a chance and best of luck to all!
Dave

[Bow_mon]

Good luck out there jkthomps, have a great time, safe trip and I hope you find yourself in the middle of a herd that is overly vocal. Looking forward to the reports.


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[jkthomps]

Be Safe Jimmy!  You're not in your mid 20s anymore!  Text updates when you get a chance and best of luck to all!
Dave

You know it! Thanks!

[jkthomps]

Good luck out there jkthomps, have a great time, safe trip and I hope you find yourself in the middle of a herd that is overly vocal. Looking forward to the reports.


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I will also do some serious testing on the packs! I am curious how well this Cabelas Instinct 63L will hold up out there.

[coachcw]

Best of luck and stay safe !

[jackelope]

Sorry for your loss, dude.
I sent you a text....wish I would have known you were an archery guy.
Have fun.
 

[TheHunt]

Good luck, I will be hunting the some of the units close to you.  I will PM you my phone number if you get something down and need some help let me know. 

[jkthomps]

Sorry for your loss, dude.
I sent you a text....wish I would have known you were an archery guy.
Have fun.
 

Thanks! We will have all year to plan out next year 

[jkthomps]

Good luck, I will be hunting the some of the units close to you.  I will PM you my phone number if you get something down and need some help let me know.

Awesome, thank you! I can return the favor if you get one down too. Just let me know.

[Karl Blanchard]

Tagging along!  Good luck, be safe, shoot straight, but most importantly....have fun!  Oh and go cougs

[Rainier10]

Don't leave elk to go find easier elk and never give up, pain is temporary.

Nuff said. 

[jkthomps]

Tagging along!  Good luck, be safe, shoot straight, but most importantly....have fun!  Oh and go cougs

You too man! I know you will get it done!

Go Cougs!