Stolen Kill

[csaaphill]

Well............ Welcome to the forum and grats on getting back into hunting, or taking it up. My moneys on Ray as well. He's going with you at first to help with your elk then all of  a sudden say's he forgot his bag and is later gone from the camp ground he said.
No one has asked though did you notch the tag or just tie it to it's leg? If not then you could still use same tag, but if so then yeah report it lost and get another one. Not sure if there's a late hunt over there or no but worth a shot.
I'd report it as well I think you never know.
It does suck that crap like that happens I've heard horror stories worse than this happening that's for sure. Where armed confrontation came of it.  and the ones pulling the gun weren't even the ones who'd shot that animal
If nothing more if you have a deer tag still go get a deer. 

[Astonb86]

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?

Yes thank you, we did meet down the hill at the trail head and I meant we continued on the path which actually went up hill... A lot 
Way to look out Smossy's Girl 

[Astonb86]

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!

Hey thanks man, yeah already feel like crap just spreading the word. Dont want anyone else making my mistake but Ill take the heat regardless it was a stupid move and I can admit that.

[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?

Yes thank you, we did meet down the hill at the trail head and I meant we continued on the path which actually went up hill... A lot 
Way to look out Smossy's Girl 

OK, NOW IT MAKES SENSE.

I HAD MY FIRST DEER TAKEN FROM ME, I KNOW YOUR PAIN IT SUCKS.

[DaveMonti]

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!

Hey thanks man, yeah already feel like crap just spreading the word. Dont want anyone else making my mistake but Ill take the heat regardless it was a stupid move and I can admit that.

I really don't think you did anything stupid.  You put your tag on it, so anyone who came across it would know it was found and claimed.  As far as field dressing it, I've left game in warmer weather for longer and have had no problems.  For some reason, folks here in Washington think that if you don't gut and quarter and get meat on ice within 15 minutes of it dying, you'll spoil the meat.  I've never had meat go bad, even by leaving an animal over night on a warm fall evening when I didn't want to bump it.  Turns out it it was a good hit and it didn't go far, but with a night over 70 degrees, the meat was fine. 
The person or people who took your elk are just flat out poor examples human beings.  They are wrong, not you. 
Keep working hard and you will have plenty of freezers full of game in the future!

[jagermiester]

You know the worst part about this. The scumbag that took this elk only did it so he could appear successful to the people in his life. The truth is he's not only an unsuccessful hunter he is also unsuccessful at life. I hope Every bite of that elk taste like guilt. I don't care how long you were away from that elk or weather or not it was tagged or out in the open or whatever. If I and most every other guy on this forum came upon a dead elk. We would look for the successful hunter and pitch in and help. Next time will be better. Good luck deer hunting Aston.

[Becky]

The person or people who took your elk are just flat out poor examples human beings.  They are wrong, not you. 
Keep working hard and you will have plenty of freezers full of game in the future!

You know the worst part about this. The scumbag that took this elk only did it so he could appear successful to the people in his life. The truth is he's not only an unsuccessful hunter he is also unsuccessful at life. I hope Every bite of that elk taste like guilt. I don't care how long you were away from that elk or weather or not it was tagged or out in the open or whatever. If I and most every other guy on this forum came upon a dead elk. We would look for the successful hunter and pitch in and help. Next time will be better. Good luck deer hunting Aston.

Yes! I hate hearing/reading about theft of animals. I've read quite a few stories on here where kills were taken at gunpoint, I know in my family there was a couple that had their animal stolen. Why is that a thought in someone's mind?! It's so disgusting, I'm pretty sure they're not starving homeless migrants who need the meat to survive, they're doing it for the trophy/bragging rights/story! What is wrong with those individuals. You should be hunting for personal accomplishments and providing for yourself or your family. You want to steal something go stuff your pants with ham at a supermarket. It's such a disheartening theft to steal someone's kill when they worked so hard at getting mentally (mostly) and physically prepared to take a life and these parasites just show up and treat it like it's theirs for the taking.  </rant>

[Timberstalker]

You want to steal something go stuff your pants with ham at a supermarket.

It just got really weird in here.

[jackmaster]

You want to steal something go stuff your pants with ham at a supermarket.

It just got really weird in here.

or a huge smoked sausage

[coachcw]

I will never gut another elk in less its laying in a road which also will probably never happen where I hunt . Sucks that we have to worry about such dushe bags  .Move on and learn a lessen , maybe cut off the head or a ear and take it with you next time or change areas .

[crowinghen]

I will never gut another elk in less its laying in a road which also will probably never happen where I hunt . Sucks that we have to worry about such dushe bags  .Move on and learn a lessen , maybe cut off the head or a ear and take it with you next time or change areas .

That's what my husband said- take the head- I guess it's illegal to have a game animal in your possession w/o the head?
 anyway thanks for sharing to remind us to be on the  alert, sorry this happened to you.
Did you talk to the WDFW about it?

[Becky]

You want to steal something go stuff your pants with ham at a supermarket.

It just got really weird in here.

Family Guy reference  but really just pointing out how ridiculous it is to steal meat.

[TriggerMike]

Were there no drag marks on the ground around the gut pile? Were you not able to tell if it was dragged to the road and loaded in a vehicle or if the ground was disturbed in any other way?

[Landowner]

Bizarre. 

Wonder what a few whiskies do to this story.   

[ldjbuff]

So sorry to hear about your elk