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.