Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: steveO on June 13, 2015, 09:37:31 AM

Title: white river shock!
Post by: steveO on June 13, 2015, 09:37:31 AM: Yesterday was the end of an 11 year wait for me. WHITE RIVER!!!!!! WHAT?? I am going to share something that the people on this site might appreciate.
My dad grew up in Lead, South Dakota hunting whitetail to help feed his family. For this I will forever be thankful. Dad was a scientist and later became super religious ( I know it doesn't make sense ) so we were never really close except for the 1 week a year when he took my brother and I hunting above Twisp . I believe for those 7 days dad didn't struggle with his inner self. when I turned 18 I stopped hunting with a riffle and went to a 30/30 contender (pistol) to make deer hunting a little more challenging. Well that didn't work either, dad taught his son to think like the food you hunt. On to the bow. Holy crap I was hooked. Yes It was hard wearing orange careering a cheap bow during modern season.
Life changed in the home front like it always does and one day, poof, no more hunting with dad in Twisp. Forward a few years .... brother moves to Alaska and we start hatching a plan. The three of us had not hunted in years together. Dad's parkinsons is pretty bad by now making this trip we are planning requiring even more thought. No guide, lots of maps , rented a pontoon boat , satellite phone , lots of mountainhouse chile mac , 30 miles of river that has more forks than an all you can eat buffet. fast forward ... got a nice moose or what dad would say " we got meat" .
Fast forward again ..... dad has past on. That had been his last hunting trip ever. I have continued to hunt because it is in my blood and I love the meat. I have never taken a record book animal but that's ok. Like dad taught us you can't eat the horns. I miss dad a little bite more than normal before the start of hunting season. This year is going to be a different. I love you dad but
" I AM GOING AFTER THE BIGGEST , STINKIEST FREAKING ELK IN WASHINGTON"
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: trophyhunt on June 13, 2015, 09:46:53 AM: Which weapon did you get?
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: Crunchy on June 13, 2015, 09:49:34 AM: Good for you. White River has some nice bulls in it. I would spend a little time and do some scouting to get some good starting points. I put in for that unit as a back up plan but didn't draw.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: steveO on June 13, 2015, 09:51:09 AM: archery
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: bearmanric on June 13, 2015, 09:52:36 AM: Great story. I got the modern firearm nov 7-18 excited. Rick
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: trophyhunt on June 13, 2015, 10:03:01 AM: On your thread Rick I said buck creek was free camping, I think I was wrong. Drove by a few weeks ago and I believe it's a fee area now. Can't be much of a fee because they offer only outhouses, no power or water or sewer. It's a nice central place to camp though. You might be able to camp for free at the bottom of crystal mnt road by the park boarder sign. I will be up there a bunch in the next couple months, I will check it out.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: billythekidrock on June 13, 2015, 10:03:30 AM: Congrats
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: bearmanric on June 13, 2015, 10:22:51 AM: I have a 24 ft trailer i Will scout soon. Looking into maps stuff like that. Going to be fun. Will spend my bear hunting there this year. Paid off last year on the coast. Rick
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: bearmanric on June 13, 2015, 10:28:44 AM: What I will be camped in Every one. Silver 2014 tundra RRcalls in back window Lol. THANKS for the help every one good people here. Rick
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: bearmanric on June 13, 2015, 10:29:02 AM: (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv68%2Fbearmanric%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2015-05%2F20150530_082728_zpsbqbnvgf1.jpg&hash=21156347bde92408183aa29013f8446ff8235488) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bearmanric/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-05/20150530_082728_zpsbqbnvgf1.jpg.html)
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: TikkaT3-270Shortmag on June 13, 2015, 11:28:47 AM: Fun hunt. Get in shape it's steep!!

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Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: steveO on June 13, 2015, 12:08:56 PM: I already know where a few of the monsters like to hang out . I just cant believe its my turn. I hope my nerves don't get the best of me. Feel like a little kid again. I have been acting like a goofball and I don't care
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: bearmanric on June 13, 2015, 12:48:18 PM: You will do great. Been working out have diabetes now. This is a great reason to get in shape. Heading over to Cabelas to look at a bigger pack. I'm like a little kid to. Need to turn me some elk calls. The guy that put the new well pump bought all I have. Hope to meet others. Rick
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: trophyhunt on June 13, 2015, 01:39:03 PM: I have a feeling you guys will be ok! Lots of advice and guys WANTING to help pack elk meat on here. Including myself, with that late rifle tag I would almost shoot any rag horn or better. This isn't the blues, I've hunted the white since I was 18. Killed a few elk up there. It's a good tag and it only gets better if the early deep snow come to the park!
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: steveO on June 13, 2015, 01:48:34 PM: I definitely agree on meat packers. lucky I am a local and have some tuff farm boys on speed dial.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: scottfrick on June 13, 2015, 02:17:00 PM: Cousin got it last year! You will have a blast
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: trophyhunt on June 13, 2015, 02:25:10 PM: Quote from: scottfrick on June 13, 2015, 02:17:00 PM
Cousin got it last year! You will have a blast
your family knows that unit well, no doubt you guys had a blast!! Keep the secret spots secret! :chuckle:
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: scottfrick on June 13, 2015, 03:32:54 PM: This is the bull he got last year.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: trophyhunt on June 13, 2015, 03:41:13 PM: Scott, do you have a pic of your dads last bull?
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: scottfrick on June 13, 2015, 03:44:12 PM: I do:( His would of been in the Puyallup unit tho.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: trophyhunt on June 13, 2015, 04:06:46 PM: This is a pic of my second white river bull, the first year they did permit. I'm next to my dad. Pic taken at buck creek, the snow that year was incredible! This was my first branched antlered bull. Rifle 1994
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: GETOUTSIDE on June 15, 2015, 09:42:02 AM: Quote from: trophyhunt on June 13, 2015, 04:06:46 PM
This is a pic of my second white river bull, the first year they did permit. I'm next to my dad. Pic taken at buck creek, the snow that year was incredible! This was my first branched antlered bull. Rifle 1994

Trophy, random question. The tall guy in the back... Is he a USDA inspector in Spokane? He looks just like one of the inspectors that comes to our facility, who i know hunts. Maybe it's not but it just stuck out as a "Hey I know that guy!"
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: trophyhunt on June 15, 2015, 09:49:59 AM: His name is John, a life long friend of mine, he isn't the guy your thinking of.

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Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: GETOUTSIDE on June 15, 2015, 10:37:59 AM: ahhh got ya. Nope our guy's name is Don. Your buddy looks exactly like our inspector even though it is an older picture. Like I said, random haha.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: trophyhunt on June 15, 2015, 11:37:52 AM: That pic with my buddy's and dad, that was the last time I drew for an elk permit! 1994.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: Falcon on June 15, 2015, 02:44:07 PM: Quote from: trophyhunt on June 13, 2015, 04:06:46 PM
This is a pic of my second white river bull, the first year they did permit. I'm next to my dad. Pic taken at buck creek, the snow that year was incredible! This was my first branched antlered bull. Rifle 1994

Great pick.
That's what I call back in the day👊💥👊
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: trophyhunt on June 15, 2015, 02:49:59 PM: Thanks, wish my pops still looked that young though.

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Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: lewy on June 15, 2015, 02:56:20 PM: Good luck guys, I'm jealous. Don't sweat it if you don't get snow, there's plenty of elk lower than the park these days.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: steveO on June 15, 2015, 03:31:05 PM: spent saterday running through the hills looking where to put my satellite camp. ( should have said walking slowly, breathing hard) It was tuff keeping the bugs out of my teeth from smiling so much.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: swanny on June 16, 2015, 10:31:06 AM: Congrats! My buddy had it last year and got a real nice 6x6. His dad got it this year for modern also.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: rosscrazyelk on June 17, 2015, 02:27:58 PM: Quote from: swanny on June 16, 2015, 10:31:06 AM
Congrats! My buddy had it last year and got a real nice 6x6. His dad got it this year for modern also.
Pic?
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: brianmtsinc on June 17, 2015, 11:27:58 PM: Damn Jerry (Trophy), Your dad was fat and you were young - What happened to you two?? :dunno: :chuckle: :chuckle:

Man that pic brings me back.... Can't wait to have a few more days with him this year in elk camp and really hope he joins us on the moose again hunt this year!! :tup:
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: wannahunt on June 27, 2015, 08:08:34 AM: I got the white river archery tag this year also. Like you it took 11 points to draw. I was getting used to the "not drawn" so what a shock for me also. Gonna head up there this afternoon and get the adventure started. Good luck and maybe I'll run into you scouting or hunting.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: rondog on June 27, 2015, 09:26:33 AM: Great story. Seems to be like that for a lot of us hunters nowadays. The kids of the guys that hunted in the "hayday" Have a great trip and make your dad proud brother.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: Crunchy on June 10, 2016, 09:03:25 AM: What ever happened to the end of this story. Did he shoot a masher? Just curious as I drew this tag this year.
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: elkrack on June 10, 2016, 10:27:50 PM: Damn Jerry that is a awesome pic!
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: trophyhunt on June 11, 2016, 08:12:52 AM: Thanks Mike, I'd also like to hear how his hunt went?
Title: Re: white river shock!
Post by: Falcon on June 11, 2016, 09:34:06 PM: Quote from: trophyhunt on June 15, 2015, 02:49:59 PM
Thanks, wish my pops still looked that young though.

Heck I wish you still looked that young :yike:

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