Stolen Kill

[Vandal44]

This is not the first story I have heard about an elk being stolen.  I don't know how a person could steal another individuals elk. I would report my tag s lost and get another tag.

[Duckgtr]

Hey Aston, you can hunt with me anytime..  There is no reason we shouldn't be able to leave a dispatched animal in the field to come back and get it..  There are plenty of hunters on here that have killed animals and needed more than one trip to pack it out..  Gutted, quartered, tagged, not gutted and tagged, skinned, not skinned...  A thief is a thief and can still take a gutted animal plugged with cards, shells, pennies and other methods..  If stolen, it's stolen and it still makes the thief a thief..  Good luck to you in your future hunts and adventures and don't let this discourage you.

As for everyone giving the guy a hard time as Monday morning quarterbacks, this is why people don't share stories..  Good on Aston for sharing an experience we can learn from.  Welcome to the site Aston, not everyone on here is a jack wagon.  Thanks for sharing and good luck man.

- Ray

  couldn't help it

[Bill W]

I had an older guy tell me about one that was almost stolen from him in the 70's.  The older guy had a bit of the wild man in him, probably why we got along back then.

Anyways he was down on the coast and shot one on the other side of a small river.  As he was getting ready to find a way across another guy walked up to the elk and was working on tagging it.  He told my friend he wouldn't be able to get across before it was tagged.   Words were passed and my friend told me he shot the other guy's rifle in the floor plate to disable it.  There was no discussion on who's elk it was after that.  The 70's were a different era and people were different back then.

[JDHasty]

I had an older guy tell me about one that was almost stolen from him in the 70's.  The older guy had a bit of the wild man in him, probably why we got along back then.

Anyways he was down on the coast and shot one on the other side of a small river.  As he was getting ready to find a way across another guy walked up to the elk and was working on tagging it.  He told my friend he wouldn't be able to get across before it was tagged.   Words were passed and my friend told me he shot the other guy's rifle in the floor plate to disable it.  There was no discussion on who's elk it was after that.  The 70's were a different era and people were different back then.

I have a friend who shot one across the Clearwater River back in the 1980s and he had some guys giving him the finger etc as they proceeded to steal his elk.... it did not work out well for them.

[OutHouse]

I've taken a little time to examine this thread and it made me come to a disturbing conclusion. This thievery happens so often it means when hunting public land we have to pursue the wounded animal even if it means we push it out of range and perhaps never find it or have an opportunity to put it down. Those instances where the elk could otherwise be left alone to die now have to be pursued differently i.e. do not let it rest and die because some criminal will steal the kill. This could result in more lost animals. I hope you find the guy...

[JDHasty]

And Harry Callahan has an excuse.
Harry Callahan: Anybody can tell I didn't do that to him.
Chief: How?
Harry Callahan: Cause he looks too damn good, that's how!

[Astonb86]

Hey Aston, you can hunt with me anytime..  There is no reason we shouldn't be able to leave a dispatched animal in the field to come back and get it..  There are plenty of hunters on here that have killed animals and needed more than one trip to pack it out..  Gutted, quartered, tagged, not gutted and tagged, skinned, not skinned...  A thief is a thief and can still take a gutted animal plugged with cards, shells, pennies and other methods..  If stolen, it's stolen and it still makes the thief a thief..  Good luck to you in your future hunts and adventures and don't let this discourage you.

As for everyone giving the guy a hard time as Monday morning quarterbacks, this is why people don't share stories..  Good on Aston for sharing an experience we can learn from.  Welcome to the site Aston, not everyone on here is a jack wagon.  Thanks for sharing and good luck man.

- Ray

  couldn't help it

Haha well played

[Astonb86]

That sucks!!!! I know the feeling. I shot a 5x4 whitetail above 150" 8 years ago and had someone steal my deer heading back to my vehicle to get my pack frame. When I returned my buck was gone, only a gut pile remained. It was my biggest whitetail I have ever harvested and was also my longest kill shot at 387 yards. I don't know how people can even do it. You got that elk, so hold your head high. Sorry about your luck. As for the POS who stole it, as the say Karma is a .....!

Sounds like a greater loss than mine. I would be livid had that happened to me. At least we have the memories of the action. Cant take that away. 

[npaull]

I really can hardly believe stuff like this happens. So, so low. Sad that there are people who behave this way, and sorry it happened to you.

[Billy Fudd]

Tag in the ear.  Cut off head.  Take with you or hide well away from the carcass.  Sorry for your loss.

[scottr]

Not sure if this was mentioned. But here is solid advice.

Always carry a blank card or business card with you. If you ever have to leave a kill alone for any length of time. Stick this card with your name, number, wild I'd number etc etc with the animal. Tightly roll the card up and slide it into the mouth of the animal. Deep into the cheek. A place you can inform wdfw of. And a place no hunter would really think to look....well until now since I spilled the beans.

Easier than this, use a dollar bill. One half with you, the other hidden in your elk. Waterproof and serial numbers that match. 

[DaveMonti]

I know all this talk of leaving something in the animal that can be used to identify it as yours is well meant, but has anyone actually done this, found the animal that was stolen, and had a LEO there to find the secret stash and recovered their animal?  Sounds like a lot of "Ha, I can outwit a thief" back patting, but once your game is gone, you've got to find the thief in possession of the game and have quite a few things line up just right to get your meat back.  I'd bet that most of the folks that plant something on their game and have the game stolen lose the game AND whatever they planted on it.  I'd also bet most folks stealing game are butchering it themselves instead of taking it to a processor. 

Let's get real, we're not hunting in Little House on the Prairie days where everyone is only as mobile as their horse and everyone knows one another.   

I always thought that the best way to stay out of trouble is to avoid it.  Same can be said here, the best way to keep your game is to prevent it from being stolen.

[RC3]

Sorry about how it all went down.  Good learning experience, one thing I'd say for advice is to always have a knife with you.  I also don't gut my animals anymore but, I don't agree with some others if I was going to wait any length of time at all i'd gut it.  I am more on the get it on ice as fast as you can boat!

[Fullabull]

Hey Aston, my dad was talking to an elderly fellow overlooking the big clear cut who told him about your story. We have hunted that area and camped above horse camp for the last ten years or so.was really sorry to hear the story but glad you are sharing it here. I drive a dark red Ram with licence plate ELKNUT. If you ever need help there, come find me.

[The100Road]

Hey Aston, my dad was talking to an elderly fellow overlooking the big clear cut who told him about your story. We have hunted that area and camped above horse camp for the last ten years or so.was really sorry to hear the story but glad you are sharing it here. I drive a dark red Ram with licence plate ELKNUT. If you ever need help there, come find me.

is your name Ray?