Author Topic: January 1st 2012 Cow, Thank you Weyerhauser (Read 10373 times)

ICEMAN · « **on:** January 01, 2012, 08:39:59 PM »

No bull for me this year during the modern rifle elk hunt. I did receive one of the new Winston late rifle hunt permits, with a bonus invite from Weyerhauser to feel free to drive on their land to hunt, this hunt started today.

Here is another poor me story, sort of... Between getting hit by a car at age 14, working in construction field for many years including a 12 foot fall onto my azz thru a building where I broke my back..... (back is better now...) but my hips have suffered over the years. Being heavy has not helped I am sure. I have not been nice to my body over the years. My doctor cringed at my xrays five months back, was shocked enough to write a referral for immediate replacement of both my hips to start immediately. I told him it was going to have to wait until I finished my house...and hunting season of course.... Advanced osteoarthritis of both hip joints, bone on bone contact in both hips. Nice.

Long story short. Drug my wife and kids along today to the winston. Started off in state land. ROAD HUNTED 7:25am to 9am. Hiked into a clearing at 9 and bumped a herd into some guys who have no problem firing at a moving herd at over 450 yards. Never understood how guys do this, especially since if an animal does not drop, and you rechamber, which do you shoot at next? ANYWAY, I passed on moving animals. Finally a spike stopped at 300. I admired him from my bipod and the soggy snowy ditch I was laying in.... No quality shots for me, I move on. (So did the elk) Steep stuff, too steep for me this year or I would have pursued...

More ROAD HUNTING into Weyerhauser lands..., usually gated lands. Finally spied a single 2yr old cow all by her lonesome in the middle of a clearing above me. Walked down the road to close distance. Very windy. Got to 150 yards and could not find any firm tree for support. Flipped out the bipod and extended high cause the shot was steep uphill. I slogged my legs and hips off the grassy skid road and positioned for a shot. Bad juju. Took forever to get into a sane position to shoot by, too steep up, crippled fat guy on ground and in ditch. Finally it worked, one shot thru the lungs at 175 yards. The cow spun around but did not run. Placed a second rib shot in and she flipped belly up, legs sticking straight up and not moving.

Here is the cool part; my 15 year old went up to survey the area. He blazed a reasonable trail up and my 13 year old daughter drug a rope up to the elk. My wife and I traded off repositioning the rig and pulling the elk downhill. Radios helped a ton, and the kids worked miracles yanking the cow around stumps and other probs..... Not adviseable pulling stuff down hill, I know, I know...but "these legs AREN'T made for walking" lately.

Drug the elk to the roadside, rolled out a tarp, gutted, skinned in T-shirt weather. We had to carry the quarters 15 feet to the truck. Could not have asked for better weather, or a better crew to help this crippled hunter out. Very proud dad and husband.

In picture (1) I circled my daughter carrying the rope up to my son above with the elk. My kids are awesome.

ANDERWAGON · « **Reply #1 on:** January 01, 2012, 08:42:16 PM »

Nice work Iceman and fam!

EDT · « **Reply #2 on:** January 01, 2012, 08:46:09 PM »

Fun Sunday outing.

Widgeondeke · « **Reply #3 on:** January 01, 2012, 08:47:58 PM »

congrats on filling the tag and freezer

frostman · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2012, 08:49:06 PM »

Good job! What a great way to spend the day with the family!

big wood · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2012, 08:49:17 PM »

NICE WORK ICE. THAT IS WHAT FAMILY SHOULD BE LIKE!

Bob33 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2012, 08:50:33 PM »

What a great way to start the new year. Congratulations and thanks for the story and pictures.

Wenatcheejay · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2012, 08:52:07 PM »

buglebuster · « **Reply #8 on:** January 01, 2012, 08:53:27 PM »

Congrats! Awesome way to bring in the new year with your family! I can't wait till my daughter is old enough.

SniperDanWA · « **Reply #9 on:** January 01, 2012, 08:59:58 PM »

Nice, good times with the kids. Congrats to a good shot and more to come.

bobcat · « **Reply #10 on:** January 01, 2012, 09:04:08 PM »

Quote from: ICEMAN on January 01, 2012, 08:39:59 PM

ROAD HUNTED 7:25am to 9am.

More ROAD HUNTING into Weyerhauser lands...,

I like how you emphasized that.

Good job, it's nice that you got it done on the first day. Did you see a lot of other hunters?

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #11 on:** January 01, 2012, 09:08:14 PM »

Way to go Kevin!!!

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 01, 2012, 09:13:19 PM »

WELL....I be damned man .... drive right to it and with your family ..Thats cooler than sheet man ...congrats ..ICE !!! Good eats their now !!! we headed that way next week ...Coweeman ..a little pumped to see my kid get his first elk ...I hope !!

PolarBear · « **Reply #13 on:** January 01, 2012, 09:14:52 PM »

Awesome! Congratulations!!!

ICEMAN · « **Reply #14 on:** January 01, 2012, 09:18:14 PM »

Quote from: Skyvalhunter on January 01, 2012, 09:08:14 PM

Way to go Kevin!!!

Thanks.

Bobcat, I did not see a ton of other hunters amazingly. We decided to hunt a few areas in state land and down low at first, thought the open gated lands would be crawling with permit holders so we waited..... First Weyerhauser gated road we explored we found the lone elk on... Alot of guys get back to camp by 10am IMHO.... We intended to glass till our heads ached. Did not need to, got lucky I guess.

Hunterman · « **Reply #15 on:** January 01, 2012, 09:19:55 PM »

Congrats Ice

Hunterman(Tony)

igotbigbulls · « **Reply #16 on:** January 01, 2012, 09:29:08 PM »

looks like good eatin. nice work

jackelope · « **Reply #17 on:** January 01, 2012, 09:31:34 PM »

Congrats Iceman...looks like a great way to spend a new year's day.

HairTrigger · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2012, 07:04:58 AM »

Good job awesome that the family was there too an helpin out I can't wait till my boys are old enough to tell them get up there an get it to.the truck lol another big

nice got the liver on the grill already lol heart too or was it to damaged from the shot here's to a good year of eating elk

ICEMAN · « **Reply #19 on:** January 02, 2012, 07:27:08 AM »

Quote from: HairTrigger on January 02, 2012, 07:04:58 AM

Good job awesome that the family was there too an helpin out I can't wait till my boys are old enough to tell them get up there an get it to.the truck lol another big nice got the liver on the grill already lol heart too or was it to damaged from the shot here's to a good year of eating elk

Yeah, heart was in great shape, I will stuff and bake it tonight. Nothing better than fresh heart or liver and my family loves it. I did shoot up one half of the liver on one of my shots, so not as much for the family, but no meat loss on this animal. Lucky day for sure.

C-Money · « **Reply #20 on:** January 02, 2012, 07:49:26 AM »

Congrats Iceman! Great way to start the new year! Family time in the field and a full freezer!

Camp David · « **Reply #21 on:** January 02, 2012, 08:05:00 AM »

Congrats...Nice to hear how much the family enjoyed the outing.....better than Christmas tree hunting

TommyH · « **Reply #22 on:** January 02, 2012, 08:27:12 AM »

:tup:Nice job! Thats a good day!

bearpaw · « **Reply #23 on:** January 02, 2012, 08:59:01 AM »

Congrats Ice, some good eating there.....

Huntbear · « **Reply #24 on:** January 02, 2012, 10:04:36 AM »

Hey, that clearcut looks all to familiar.

Congratulations on getting some meat in the freezer. Those cows make for some good eating.

Angus · « **Reply #25 on:** January 02, 2012, 10:55:47 AM »

Congrats, cool story

actionshooter · « **Reply #26 on:** January 02, 2012, 11:21:37 AM »

Right on Ice, way to make it happen with the family!

Whitpirate · « **Reply #27 on:** January 02, 2012, 11:46:44 AM »

Great day with the family and provisions for a mild winter!

christopheri · « **Reply #28 on:** January 02, 2012, 11:52:46 AM »

Congrats and great job Iceman.

ICEMAN · « **Reply #29 on:** January 02, 2012, 11:55:55 AM »

Quote from: Whitpirate on January 02, 2012, 11:46:44 AM

Great day with the family and provisions for a mild winter!

Mild winter is right. Look at that dry grass on the road there in the pic. The ditches are wet, but the road was basically dry and warm. Weren't we supposed to get above average rain this fall/winter?

Whitpirate · « **Reply #30 on:** January 02, 2012, 12:12:05 PM »

I've got new grass growing in my back pastures. My horses aren't sure what to do.... grow hair, shed, eat, sleep, but it is making for a lower feed bill. Here's to hoping for a mild 2012 winter finish so we can have a gang buster 2014 hunting season.

bobcat · « **Reply #31 on:** January 02, 2012, 12:51:38 PM »

Quote from: ICEMAN on January 02, 2012, 11:55:55 AM

Quote from: Whitpirate on January 02, 2012, 11:46:44 AM
Great day with the family and provisions for a mild winter!

Mild winter is right. Look at that dry grass on the road there in the pic. The ditches are wet, but the road was basically dry and warm. Weren't we supposed to get above average rain this fall/winter?

Well, winter's only been here for a week and a half so there's plenty of time for cold and snow/rain. The latest article I read in the newspaper said that although we did have a dry December, they still expect above average snow and colder than average temperatures this winter.

Didn't we get a ton of snow last year in March/April?

buckhorn2 · « **Reply #32 on:** January 02, 2012, 01:23:54 PM »

Great to have a family that goes together and helps get food for the winter.

Huntboy · « **Reply #33 on:** January 02, 2012, 01:31:47 PM »

Congrats Iceman.

Yelm hunter · « **Reply #34 on:** January 03, 2012, 09:10:25 PM »

Quote from: ICEMAN on January 01, 2012, 09:18:14 PM

Quote from: Skyvalhunter on January 01, 2012, 09:08:14 PM
Way to go Kevin!!!

Thanks.

Bobcat, I did not see a ton of other hunters amazingly. We decided to hunt a few areas in state land and down low at first, thought the open gated lands would be crawling with permit holders so we waited..... First Weyerhauser gated road we explored we found the lone elk on... Alot of guys get back to camp by 10am IMHO.... We intended to glass till our heads ached. Did not need to, got lucky I guess.

Ya with only 200 tags to be filled and some of those getting bulls it was a great hunt... Not to many people at all. I think all I seen were probably 15 trucks total in 3 days. Wow there wasn't any pressure at all. I seen elk all 3 days I was there and got my elk at 8am this morning!! Check my pics and story out!!

ICEMAN · « **Reply #35 on:** January 04, 2012, 05:40:09 AM »

We were starting to worry about you Yelm Hunter...

rasbo · « **Reply #36 on:** January 04, 2012, 06:06:50 AM »

wat to getter done Ice,those times right there with the whole family make the best trophies in my mind..great team work Ice family

GoldTip · « **Reply #37 on:** January 04, 2012, 06:32:51 AM »

Good job Ice, congrats on some great eats for the winter and on some awesome family time!

Yelm hunter · « **Reply #38 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:34:14 AM »

I could have had my cow down less than an hour into the season but why would I want to pack 500 lbs 4 miles out or across a 3 foot creek in the conditions we had on sunday... snow, cold and freezing!! I got a nice one though check out my pics and story!!

elkboy · « **Reply #39 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:38:33 AM »

Nice job! Hard to find better meat than a cow elk! Way to put the kids to work, too!

sharpshooter1000 · « **Reply #40 on:** January 04, 2012, 11:22:03 AM »

I think i saw you guys drive past . nice work. i shot mine at 7:25am and was cleaning things up by my trailer when you guys drove up the hill.

doyourtime89 · « **Reply #41 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:54:40 PM »

great job filling the freezer....big plus having the family on the trip!!!

HUNTINCOUPLE · « **Reply #42 on:** January 04, 2012, 01:17:15 PM »

Thanks for the family story! Also thanks for the radio intertainment. We wernt to far away.

PlateauNDN · « **Reply #43 on:** January 04, 2012, 03:13:39 PM »

Quote from: rasbo on January 04, 2012, 06:06:50 AM

wat to getter done Ice,those times right there with the whole family make the best trophies in my mind..great team work Ice family

Good story Ice and the setup on the back of your SUV is the type of setup I've been looking into. I thought about maybe a powerchair type setup I've seen being used but thought it might drag or catch on something but seeing yours has given me some ideas to use.

Hope there's no patent pending or anything.

ICEMAN · « **Reply #44 on:** January 04, 2012, 07:23:37 PM »

Sharpshooter, you guys camped just below the 500 in a medium sized white trailer?

Huntingcouple, we must have sounded funny on the radio....

Plateau, no patent.... This rack is really neat. I designed it to simply push into each end of the open tube of the tow package, then we bolt the rack onto the arms. Strong as heck!

Big Horn · « **Reply #45 on:** January 04, 2012, 08:26:20 PM »

Great story and congrats!

sharpshooter1000 · « **Reply #46 on:** January 05, 2012, 10:12:56 AM »

yes that was us... my father and me. i shot my cow at fist light ill say 7:25 on the dot, Jan 1... scouted saturday and saw 3 different herds one all bulls, 9!... the other two cows and spikes.. made a plan that night sat in a clearing before sunrise and then pulled the trigger!

ICEMAN · « **Reply #47 on:** January 05, 2012, 05:54:51 PM »

Good job!

Yeah, I know the area pretty well, but got lucky, on one herd and then the single by 10am.... I will take it. Need all the luck I can get!

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Author Topic: January 1st 2012 Cow, Thank you Weyerhauser (Read 10373 times)

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