Stolen Kill

[DaveMonti]

Something doesn't sound right with this story.

How so? 

[Muleyslyr]

Something doesn't sound right with this story.

Oh lord...here we go.. There's always one.

[Timberstalker]

Let me get the popcorn and TINFOIL!

[Blacktail Sniper]

 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Something doesn't sound right with this story.

I was thinking the same thing.  No ordinary man could have retrieved an elk by himself in that short amount of time.  Generally it take a while to gut it, he would have to split it into a few pieces to load it in his truck, and he had to decide right after the shot to do it, in order to get it out in time.

You may not have noticed OP, but Chuck Norris had actually been in a stare down with that cow, when you came along and shot it, you ruined his hunt.  However, he can move much faster through the brush than you and a quick snap of the elk finished it.  He then felt nature calling and after returning from his bathroom break he saw you had tagged his prize, he threw the tag on the ground in disgust and carried the elk out under his arm leaving the entrails for the scavenger that you are.  You are fortunate that you didn't catch him, I hear he likes elk meat and doesn't like being called a thief. 

[Boss .300 winmag]

Something doesn't sound right with this story.

First off this isn’t a sob story or a cry for help, I just wanted to share my misfortune so others may learn from my incompetence. This is my first year bow hunting and my second year since high school actually hunting so I have a lot to learn and the curve is sharp.
Wednesday September 14, I was bow hunting near Goat Mountain North of Cougar, WA and next to Mt. St. Helens. I was alone and began down a trail near Kalama Horse camp around 6 am. On my way I ran into another bow hunter, “Ray” from Centrailia, who also happened to be alone. He had a recurve and when I asked if I could tag along he said sure. Later down the trail we ran into some elk. I drew back and got a cow, it was a perfect shot, right through the lungs. He too drew back and missed another elk. Afterwards my elk ran down the hill and the two of us began down the hill after her, following her blood trail. We followed the trail to an access road, prior to reaching the road Ray said “hey I left my bag Im going back” I said ok and he returned up hill. I then found my cow on the other side of the road. Nervous to bump her I watched as she lay there. I waited for maybe a ½ hour for Ray to return. The climb wasn’t that far and I assumed he’d be back. He never showed. I quickly pulled up my GPS and searched for a route to access this area since it was near a gravel road. Luck be it there was one. So I ran off down the hill to get my truck. Down the road I stopped and thought to tag her. So I returned wrapped my tag on her leg and ran close to 3 miles down old abandoned roads back to my truck. I must note I didn’t gut or quarter the cow because I didn’t have a pack with me, it was in my truck, hence the mad dash back. Once at my truck I quickly drove into the spot and with help of my GPS I returned to where she lay. I looked around and couldn’t find her anywhere when all of a sudden I came upon her gut pile and lungs. I was so outraged I couldn’t believe it. Someone had stolen my kill. It could have been Ray or any other hunter that came upon her. I jumped back into my rig but before I did I found my tag laying in the dirt. I drove around all that day questioning every hunter I came across if they knew or had seen my kill. No avail.
I know there’s not much you can do in a situation like this. My mistakes were trusting other people and believing she would remain untouched. I should have taken her or at least part of her with me and then also hid her with brush or relocated her body for further retrieval. Needless to say I already feel really stupid, I have been working tirelessly for the past 2 years for my first bow hunt and when I finally got that kill I don’t know if it was sheer excitement that fogged my judgement or what but I will not be making that mistake twice. I wish people had more integrity and didn’t steal someone else’s kill. Although a giant part of this is my own fault I can’t help but blame the person who actually committed the action of finding a downed animal then harvesting it fully knowing they didn’t kill it. Adding insult to injury returning home to your family and telling them what happened is less then pleasant especially when you have young children that root you on.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT PERPLEXES ME, I WAS THINKING HIS TRUCK WAS UP HILL BECAUSE ROY WENT UP HILL AFTER HIS BAG, BUT ASTON WENT DOWN HILL AFTER FINDING HIS ELK TO GO TO HIS TRUCK.

[KFhunter]

Something doesn't sound right with this story.

I was thinking the same thing.  No ordinary man could have retrieved an elk by himself in that short amount of time.  Generally it take a while to gut it, he would have to split it into a few pieces to load it in his truck, and he had to decide right after the shot to do it, in order to get it out in time.

You may not have noticed OP, but Chuck Norris had actually been in a stare down with that cow, when you came along and shot it, you ruined his hunt.  However, he can move much faster through the brush than you and a quick snap of the elk finished it.  He then felt nature calling and after returning from his bathroom break he saw you had tagged his prize, he threw the tag on the ground in disgust and carried the elk out under his arm leaving the entrails for the scavenger that you are.  You are fortunate that you didn't catch him, I hear he likes elk meat and doesn't like being called a thief.

Who say's the thief hauled it to their truck?  They probably stashed it a ways away in the brush then sat and waited for the OP to return, find the thief, giggled at his temper tantrum and cursing, then packed it out hours later.  They probably stashed their truck or atv as well if they've been doing this for awhile. 

[Becky]

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT PERPLEXES ME, I WAS THINKING HIS TRUCK WAS UP HILL BECAUSE ROY WENT UP HILL AFTER HIS BAG, BUT ASTON WENT DOWN HILL AFTER FINDING HIS ELK TO GO TO HIS TRUCK.

Why is that perplexing? He said he met Ray alone on a trail, he didn't say "I met a man named Ray at the top of the hill on the trail-head where we both parked our trucks with our gear and walked down the hill together." ... He said - "I was alone and began down a trail near Kalama Horse camp around 6 am. On my way I ran into another bow hunter, “Ray” from Centrailia, who also happened to be alone."

Unless you're hung up on him saying he went "down a trail", which is a figure of speech that many people use when they go along a trail (up or down in elevation), then not sure what part of the story says he also had his truck parked up the hill?

[DOUBLELUNG]

I've known more than one game warden who carries an indian head penny or mercury dime that can be slipped inconspicuously into a carcass or part thereof, to later be able to confirm that animal was the same one earlier encountered. 

[lokidog]

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT PERPLEXES ME, I WAS THINKING HIS TRUCK WAS UP HILL BECAUSE ROY WENT UP HILL AFTER HIS BAG, BUT ASTON WENT DOWN HILL AFTER FINDING HIS ELK TO GO TO HIS TRUCK.

Why is that perplexing? He said he met Ray alone on a trail, he didn't say "I met a man named Ray at the top of the hill on the trail-head where we both parked our trucks with our gear and walked down the hill together." ... He said - "I was alone and began down a trail near Kalama Horse camp around 6 am. On my way I ran into another bow hunter, “Ray” from Centrailia, who also happened to be alone."

Unless you're hung up on him saying he went "down a trail", which is a figure of speech that many people use when they go along a trail (up or down in elevation), then not sure what part of the story says he also had his truck parked up the hill?

 

[Boss .300 winmag]

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT PERPLEXES ME, I WAS THINKING HIS TRUCK WAS UP HILL BECAUSE ROY WENT UP HILL AFTER HIS BAG, BUT ASTON WENT DOWN HILL AFTER FINDING HIS ELK TO GO TO HIS TRUCK.

Why is that perplexing? He said he met Ray alone on a trail, he didn't say "I met a man named Ray at the top of the hill on the trail-head where we both parked our trucks with our gear and walked down the hill together." ... He said - "I was alone and began down a trail near Kalama Horse camp around 6 am. On my way I ran into another bow hunter, “Ray” from Centrailia, who also happened to be alone."

Unless you're hung up on him saying he went "down a trail", which is a figure of speech that many people use when they go along a trail (up or down in elevation), then not sure what part of the story says he also had his truck parked up the hill?

 

THE MODS ARE GANGING UP ON ME!

 JUST WAS WEIRD TO ME, THAT'S ALL. 

[Mauser]

This stuff happens more than we like to think. I went back with a friend to pack his animal out a few years back only to find his tag tied to a stick in the middle of the gut pile. On another occasion, an acquaintance packed his buck out to the road and then went for his truck. When he returned, the deer was gone and his tag was in the middle of the road.

[Muleyslyr]

Amazing that guys are gonna come on here and try and pick his story apart! I'm sure dude didn't swallow his pride to come on here and make up some BS story just because. I totally believe Ray stashed that Elk and came back later to get it. Could've easily gutted it and drug it off into some thick crap. Guess we'll never know, but cut the guy some slack!

[Boss .300 winmag]

Amazing that guys are gonna come on here and try and pick his story apart! I'm sure dude didn't swallow his pride to come on here and make up some BS story just because. I totally believe Ray stashed that Elk and came back later to get it. Could've easily gutted it and drug it off into some thick crap. Guess we'll never know, but cut the guy some slack!

WASN'T TRYING TO PICK HIS STORY APART.  BUT I DO BELIEVE RAY IS EATING ELK NOW. 

[snake]

You did nothing wrong.  Some things in life just happen and there is nothing you can do about it.  Either way, you had a successful hunt and you should focus on that.