Raymond Cow Tags....12 yr old Daughter

[Encore 280]

Anybody hear from PABen t'day? Hope he knocks something down. Been rootin for him and his daughter since his first post after he got drawn. I hope he's packin meat out right now. Nice weather t'day in Kitsap. Hope he's got the same down there. Good luck Ben where ever you are.

[buckhorn2]

Weather down here is better today hope today is the day he has gotten some good local support so he knows where they are at.

[Encore 280]

Sure can't say he hasn't been trying. I hope he nails a nice big, fat, tender cow!!

[mrgoodwrench]

Today's weather is far less conducive to killing an elk than the last few days.

[PLUVIUSWAPITI]

Haven't heard from PA BEN today yet. I was on a herd of elk last night north of Raymond called him and he was out at Trap crk on hwy 6 and just missed a cow. To far for him to get back to where I was with the elk. Been out this morning tough walking because of the frozen ground. He has been hunting his butt of, just hasn't connected.

[PA BEN]

Will it's tag soup. I would have had one Friday night, 180 yd broad side shot very good rest and what did I do? That’s right, I took a head shot and missed. I am kicking myself now. Will to make my long last day short, I did get into a heard of about 25 head. Got permission to hunt them and got on their trail. The wind wasn't right to go right after them so I went way down wind and to the top of the Mt. they went up on. Cut their trail at the top and got on them. I was sure they would be bedded down at any moment.  I followed them until I got too far in that I didn’t want to kill an elk by myself and not knowing the area I’m in. I then worked my way down the side of the Mt. I was on and almost ended up in a bad hole, backed tracked and was back to my truck at 1:30. Come to find out when I talked to PLUVIUSWAPITI on my way back to Raymond to pack and dry out he knew the area I was in and would have no problem helping me out with an elk. I sat in an area that evening at 3 until dark. It was a good area that I have seen lots of elk but they didn’t show up. Thanks to all the guys on here that helped me out with this hunt. My Daughter and I had lots of fun and will never forget this time together. If there is anything I can do for you guys just ask. A BIG THANKS.

[Encore 280]

Jeeze!!! What a bummer! Sorry to hear that. After all that hard work you shoulda had one to bring home. I went thru the same thing you did only the opposite. I was dialed in at 200yds for a head or neck shot and I shot quite a bit just to make sure. Hunted in the Margaret for 4 days and was getting pretty frustrated. Then when it came time to go for the shot at 115yds and had a perfect head or neck shot I chickened out and went for the shoulder. Mostly because my gun wouldn't hold still, if ya know what I mean. She only went about 100 feet and crashed. Anyway, sorry to hear ya didn't connect but ya had a good time with your daughter and that's what counts and now you can look forward to and plan for this year. Been following your thread since the first post. Looking forward to another this year. Happy New Year.

[PA BEN]

It's all good. I hve to shoot my gun soon. Maybe because of all the rain every day my stock moved my barrel, I did check it after I got home w/a dollar bill and it was still floated. She did duck, so I just miss her. Had two guys w/me that PLUVIUSWAPITI set me up with. One with bino.'s and the other w/a range finder. Both said she moved real funney after the shot. I couldn't bleave I missed a big head like that.  

[PLUVIUSWAPITI]

Hey guys if anybody has one of these hwy 6 tags for the Jan. hunt let me know. Now that I just hunted for the last 4 mos. I will be going through hunting withdrawls soon. Sorry we couldn't hook you up PA BEN.

[Encore 280]

I think a friend of mine drew one of those tags. I'll have to check with him and see.

[PA BEN]

I don't know if anybody can make me feel better but every time I think of the head shot I missed I get stressed out. I've never missed a head shot I've taken. Each one has been a good rest and up tp 250 yds. This 180 yd head shot has me upset.
 

[Encore 280]

I know what you mean! It's like getting a big fish up to the boat and then watching it shake it's head and away he goes! That picture sticks with ya for a long time. Ya go to bed with that image and ya lay there all nite with that image and ya wake up with that image and on and on and on. :bash:Just think how much it would be haunting you if it was a big bull. It's enough to drive a guy to drinkin. Hang in there Ben.