Western WA Elk hunting 09

[hirshey]

Well, this season was full of ups and downs for me and my group... mostly ups I suppose.

Four of us spent many hours and boot tread in the mossyrock area looking for a cow or bull with our muzzleloaders, and finally the hard work paid off for my boyfriend and father: they connected with two great animals. After spooking a herd right at daylight and many miles of tracking, my father was behind my boyfriend and same herd was grazing right toward them. My father shot, and my boyfriend exclaimed "I'm going after the lead cow!". He put a bead on her and waited for some kind of a quartering shot - he never got it, because the cow died. It had been the one my father had shot. He then put his sights on the bull and ended up making a great (maybe fortunate... shh!) neck shot. Two animals down! My boyfriend's bull has character, too... one of the left tines kick out!









I never connected with an animal in Mossyrock, but had the fortune of drawing a late season cow tag. Boy, was I disappointed with some of the hunters I ran into down in Toledo! From tresspassers, to poachers (we watched an archer draw on and injure a calf after their season had closed) and even some hunters bragging about shooting an elk in the face and seeing it run with the herd days later, there was some disappointment with the people.

The sights were still beautiful, and hunting in 7 degree temps on the west side was a new experience.
On day 3 of the special permit season, I connected with a cow and made a shot I'll never be able to reproduce: the animal stepped as I shot and the entrance wound was the exposed area behind the shoulder, double lung, and out the other side. NO wasted meat!

The bad news started when I approached the animal and saw she was pretty emaciated in the hind quarters. I was further shocked when I field dressed her and found that 80% of the blood in her body came out in a giant congealed brick... the heart had a gelatanous clear goo around it...this animal was obviously sick. After pulling the hide, we had a little more idea of why - she had an old archery injury that was proving to be slowly fatal, and almost all of the meat was discolored and fevered.

We called the proper authorities, and upon inspection we recieved a shocking answer to my plea for a new tag:
"If everyone didn't like the taste of their meat, we'd begiving replacement tags left and right. Just because you have a tag doesn't guarantee you an animal". So we did the best we could, and ended up with roughly 30 lbs of meat off the animal.

Pretty sad, but good that she is no longer suffering.

The only thing that I'm still upset about, really, is the principle of not providing another tag when you recognise that someone harvested a sick animal and is trying to go through the correct avenues. It almost caters to the dishonest. I could have abandoned the animal and not tagged it, or tagged it, discarded it and requested a lost tag replacement, but I didn't. I wanted to be honest and ended up being punished for it. Slightly discouraging... has anybody else had an experience like this? Or had a tag replaced? I know they do replace tags for sick animals, maybe I just encountered the wrong warden on the wrong day?

Anyways, still a good season overall... I learned a lot.

[alecvg]

Congrats, looks like a great season!

[Kowsrule30]

CONGRATS!!!! I've never had that experience with an animal not being edible..... Kind of discouraging to find out you can't do a thing about it....

[lewy]

I had to through away a good portion of a bull last year due to a previous archery injury, but didn't request a new tag. I have heard that the game department is pretty good about it though, so I'm surprised to hear your story! Being ethical and honest will pay off in time, nice job to you and your family.....

[NWBREW]

  Congrats hirsheygirl. You might not have gotten all the meat you could have with a healthy animal but at least you got the experience of a successful hunt and took out a sick animal.  30lbs. of elk meat is 30lbs. more then I have. And congrats to the boyfriend as well. Just think back on this hunting year and ask yourself...Was this year a success .....from the pics and stories you have posted, I would say 100% YES. Hunting with good friends and family....how could it not be. Congratulations  on a very succussful year.

[hirshey]

Its very true; I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to spend so much time out in the woods. And as the fellow I took my game meat to said, I'll have the elk on my side next year. Karma... even if it doesn't exist I still like to pretend it does... after all, doing the right thing is so much less stressful.

Happy holidays (and hunting),
-Kari Anne

 Congrats hirsheygirl. You might not have gotten all the meat you could have with a healthy animal but at least you got the experience of a successful hunt and took out a sick animal.  30lbs. of elk meat is 30lbs. more then I have. And congrats to the boyfriend as well. Just think back on this hunting year and ask yourself...Was this year a success .....from the pics and stories you have posted, I would say 100% YES. Hunting with good friends and family....how could it not be. Congratulations  on a very succussful year.

[hirshey]

I was, too... when we contacted the regional office, they said it doesn't happen often but it happens every year.. they made it sound like we had fairly good chances. But, alas, like I said... more upset in principal than anything, especially after seeing such a shocking number of dishonest people in the woods that week. It was still a great trip overall.

I have heard that the game department is pretty good about it though, so I'm surprised to hear your story!

[bucklucky]

NIce write up, congrats on your cow . Next year bull down for you maybee 

[hirshey]

Thank you. If I get one bull in my lifetime, I'll be happy. I have a feeling I may need to build up some points again, though...

Here's hoping for that moose tag I've been putting in for for 12 years!

NIce write up, congrats on your cow . Next year bull down for you maybee 

[HntnFsh]

Congrats on the elk.

I'm really surprised they didnt give you another tag.Usually they will send out a warden to inspect the animal.Then if its bad.The warden will write you a note or soemthing.I know of several people that have had their tags revalidated.

I hear ya on the happenings out this way.Its gotten terrible.

Unfortunately law enforcement is contributing to the problem by not citing people that have been caught in the act.Trespassing.Shooting illegal animals etc.It was terrible this year.

[hirshey]

Thanks... yeah, warden came and checked it out... said to salvage what meat we could... to try meat "further away from the affected area".

The archer we caught shooting the calf after their season had closed had the game warden called on him.. he admited to shooting the animal, and while they never found it, cited him $300 for shooting an animal out of season, and $500 for the loaded rifle he had in his car. Tsk tsk.

Congrats on the elk.

I'm really surprised they didnt give you another tag.Usually they will send out a warden to inspect the animal.Then if its bad.The warden will write you a note or soemthing.I know of several people that have had their tags revalidated.

I hear ya on the happenings out this way.Its gotten terrible.

Unfortunately law enforcement is contributing to the problem by not citing people that have been caught in the act.Trespassing.Shooting illegal animals etc.It was terrible this year.

[jager]

Three for three! Thats awesome!

Nice job to all!   

[WAPITIHUNTER]

Well done. Sounds like a great elk hunt for the three of you. Looks like you will just have to eat some of your Dad and BF's elk.

The nicest thing about other peoples elk is it tastes just as good as one you would have shot.

[hirshey]

That is a fact. I will enjoy it all the same. I'm pretty spoiled overall;great deer and a nice elk.

Well done. Sounds like a great elk hunt for the three of you. Looks like you will just have to eat some of your Dad and BF's elk.

The nicest thing about other peoples elk is it tastes just as good as one you would have shot.

[NWBREW]

Did you get any points for turning in the archer that shot the calf elk after the season had closed. You may be eligible for 10 points added to the species of your choice.

[hirshey]

I don't know yet. We haven't heard a peep about it; we were wondering how to go about asking.

Did you get any points for turning in the archer that shot the calf elk after the season had closed. You may be eligible for 10 points added to the species of your choice.

[vfilbert]

that area is too close to winston, you get all the meth head crazies over thier, its too bad, mossyrock can be a great hunt ive been in elk lots thier, congrats on the elk, ill try and post a picture of a bull i got in mossyrock a few years back, it looks alot like the bull hangin out the back of that white pickup.

[THINK_N_ELK]

.

Unfortunately law enforcement is contributing to the problem by not citing people that have been caught in the act.Trespassing.Shooting illegal animals etc.It was terrible this year.

I would disagree.  I think Enforcement Officers are doing their job.  However it is the Bureaucrats (politicians), Prosecuting Attorneys and Court System in all, are the problem.  They don't place or have as high of a value for Wildlife as we Avid  Ethical Sportman do.

Hirshey I glad to hear you got an animal. It is too bad bad, that there are people out there. That will make an unethical or questionable shot.  Long after the meat is gone, you will still have memories of the hunt.

Nice Job.

Already looking forward to next season.

[julzzz]

congrats, I would be upset too.  Our family lives off elk and deer meat, we never have to buy steaks or burger from the store.  We know how our animal is taken care of in the field and hanging.  We make sure we do not take our scraps in to the sausage makers until Jan or Feb,we bag the scaps in garbage bags and put them in the freezer.  I have heard that during season they mix the scaps from one hunter to another because of how busy they are.  Dont know if this is true or not. Some hunters do not clean their animals so we do not want to take the chance.  I have heard of the WSDFW giving out tags to hunters that harvest an animal that is rotten or diseased.  Keep on it.

[hirshey]

Yeah, my family has always been the same way; the year we bought a quarter of a buffalo was the only exception. We take great pride in taking wonderful care of our animals.

A tip if you want to get some process done early (so that you have a snack for those late season elk hunts) is to request an uneven poundage of final product. (instead of 50 lbs... ask for 55, or 35...) That way it generally sticks with the meatcutter and your batch stays sepearate. Also request they weigh the scraps you bring in, and the final product in front of you. We found, however, none of this is necessary with the new wild game processing store up in Twisp. They are incredibly affordable, do whatever you wish, and have the product ready generally within the week. If you ever want to take a chance at a new place (and are in the area) I would strongly recommend this business.

Cheers, and congrats on your own great hunt this year.

congrats, I would be upset too.  Our family lives off elk and deer meat, we never have to buy steaks or burger from the store.  We know how our animal is taken care of in the field and hanging.  We make sure we do not take our scraps in to the sausage makers until Jan or Feb,we bag the scaps in garbage bags and put them in the freezer.  I have heard that during season they mix the scaps from one hunter to another because of how busy they are.  Dont know if this is true or not. Some hunters do not clean their animals so we do not want to take the chance.  I have heard of the WSDFW giving out tags to hunters that harvest an animal that is rotten or diseased.  Keep on it.

[steen]

How old do you think that 4 point was?  Just curious.  I think it is great that there are spike hunts in the trophy units cause it removes the weaker genes.  I always wonder how many points most yearly bulls have or should have. 

[Crunchy]

the four pt probaly 2.5 to 3.5 years old

[hirshey]

Yeah, we traded the cape for a euro mount and the taxidermist aged him around 3-4 years. Pretty nice sized/aged bull for Mossyrock I hear.

the four pt probaly 2.5 to 3.5 years old

[SGM R]

hirshey,

nicely done an all accounts. Your honest is the right thing to do no matter what. 

[AKBowman]

Hey congrats on your guys successes! Sounds like you and your family worked hard and earned your bounty!! 

I'm not sure if I would drive around with a couple of dead elk in the back of my rig with the tailgate open though. Some people may get the wrong idea and take a picture that could easily get in the wrong hands and be used to make hunters look bad. We as hunters need to use just a little more discretion than that. But thats just my 

[hirshey]

It was simply for about a mile drive to a place where we could pull hides and take care of our meat. We have great respect for our animals and wouldn't do anything to tarnish that.

Hey congrats on your guys successes! Sounds like you and your family worked hard and earned your bounty!! 

I'm not sure if I would drive around with a couple of dead elk in the back of my rig with the tailgate open though. Some people may get the wrong idea and take a picture that could easily get in the wrong hands and be used to make hunters look bad. We as hunters need to use just a little more discretion than that. But thats just my 

[hirshey]

Thank you... I would do it again even knowing the result. I was simply saddened by the fact that there were so many bad deeds going unpunished while the only honest deed I witnessed resulted in a less than desirable outcome. But still a good hunt overall. How did 09 treat you? Happy new year, by the way.

hirshey,

nicely done an all accounts. Your honest is the right thing to do no matter what. 

[jagermiester]

I used to live in Montana and I shot a buck that had a tainted hind quarter due to an injury. I called the warden and he told me I could have another tag if I did not want to risk it. I took it to a butcher and he told me that he could cut the bad meat out and the rest of the meat would be fine so that is what we did. But it is funny the difference between these to states. Living in Montana as a hunter is pleasurable the state is your partner they want people to kill animals to control populations can you imagine.

[hirshey]

Yeah, I suppose... I really think I got the wrong warden on the wrong day. I think there are many good law enforcement officials out there that understand what hunting is about and have a good grasp of what laws are put into effect and why. I now understand different interpretations of the law can end up in favor of the honest or dishonest. I still have faith in our hunting officials; when I contacted the regional office they too said it should not be a problem to get a replacement tag... this particiular warden simply had never (and I don't think ever will) supplied a replacement tag. *shrugg* what can you do?

Still a great hunting season overall. Happy new year!

I used to live in Montana and I shot a buck that had a tainted hind quarter due to an injury. I called the warden and he told me I could have another tag if I did not want to risk it. I took it to a butcher and he told me that he could cut the bad meat out and the rest of the meat would be fine so that is what we did. But it is funny the difference between these to states. Living in Montana as a hunter is pleasurable the state is your partner they want people to kill animals to control populations can you imagine.