Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: tmike on January 19, 2009, 08:02:03 PM

Title: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: tmike on January 19, 2009, 08:02:03 PM: After many years trying for her first big game animal, between 2 kids, city council, and putting up with me my wife got her first elk. When she first drew her cow tag down near Satsop she was pumped. We decided she would use my 06 with 180 grain Nosler handloads. We shot, and shot, and shot, trying different positions until she could group well at 200 yds. Next came the cardboard cutouts of elk and practicing shooting at the "spot" not the elk. She shoots better than me :bash:. The season comes around and the first week we are all sick, next time we go we hear the "you should have been here yesterday". This goes on and on. We Zig, they Zag. They Zag we Zig. We hunt all weekend to get a call the next day that "25 head are just laying out there in the clearcut" and on and on. We had pretty much resolved the fact that she was going to eat her tag. OK one last try. We get there at daylight, look in the usual places and BAM, I see elk. There was a perfect high bank about 75 yds we could crawl up and there they are 150 yds, 2 cows feeding. I throw down my backpack and she lays down for a perfect rest. After several minutes the one we want turns broadside and she whacks it. It takes 4 steps and drops. Heart shot! I'm proud. Oh and I forgot, she also has Multiple Sclerosis. Here's the happy hunter.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi238.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fff110%2Ftkswhanson%2FDSCN1247.jpg&hash=b6afd6f47d09194ea38dae979c10ba6b685cb158)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi238.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fff110%2Ftkswhanson%2FDSCN1246.jpg&hash=55993b3d8ed146332385f7c89f64aecaf5e1709e)

The Proof
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi238.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fff110%2Ftkswhanson%2FDSCN1263.jpg&hash=4143abd9564c9290446d8f42abf269382c9af6b1)
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: rougheye on January 19, 2009, 08:04:41 PM: Awesome , tell her CONGRATS
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: MLBowhunting on January 19, 2009, 08:06:18 PM: nice job way to support the family and wife , hey and she is a great shot. :)
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: bobcat on January 19, 2009, 08:07:26 PM: Good job. That looks like a very good sized elk! I'm glad she was finally able to get into some elk after all that work.
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: M_ray on January 19, 2009, 08:13:59 PM: I've allready told her congrats! I am proud of both of you way to get her out there and support her! :) And I forgot to tell her way to provide for the family when you cant find an elk! :chuckle:
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: RPM on January 19, 2009, 08:14:41 PM: one for the memory book :tup:
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: bucklucky on January 19, 2009, 08:17:01 PM: Awesome Job! Glad to see that she dumped her cow! Nice job Tom!!
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: m.v.hunter on January 19, 2009, 08:20:00 PM: Thats Great,one shot and first elk, congrats.
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: archery288 on January 19, 2009, 08:22:00 PM: Nice Tom!! Tell her congrats for me!!
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: chukar-ridge-quest on January 19, 2009, 08:24:29 PM: Now that's what hunting is all about. Congrats to the family.
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: bow4elk on January 19, 2009, 08:25:02 PM: CONGRATS!! Way to get her prepped and ready BEFORE you hit the woods. I love the cardboard cut-out approach to shot placement - great tip for new gunners out there, and especially kids getting ready for their first hunt.

Good size elk to boot! :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: buckhorn2 on January 19, 2009, 08:25:26 PM: nice pictures and story it show that determination and practice pays off when it is crunch time.
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: SuperDave on January 19, 2009, 08:26:39 PM: Right on!! Great story and Pics!! Congrats to both!!
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on January 19, 2009, 09:35:44 PM: :tup: Great looking animal! That is one big cow elk!
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: robb92 on January 19, 2009, 10:18:37 PM: Congrats to her on a very nice cow!!! Good eatin right there!
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: mossback91 on January 19, 2009, 10:21:58 PM: AWESOME!!!
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: Aneoakleaf on January 19, 2009, 10:30:12 PM: :IBCOOL:Awesume Elk !!! Congradulations to your wife! She rocks!! :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: MeatGETTER24 on January 19, 2009, 10:33:43 PM: tell your wife GREAT JOB!!!! :bow: shes kickin MS right in the pants!!!
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: Backstraps on January 20, 2009, 04:54:09 AM: Congrats to the family! Nice shot!
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: Gobble on January 20, 2009, 04:59:59 AM: Awesome, congrats! She should be proud :tup:
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: tmike on January 20, 2009, 07:18:48 AM: Thanks everyone for your kind words. She is kicking MS in the pants. I think the adrenaline helps.
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: PacificNWhunter on January 20, 2009, 07:28:27 AM: Congrats! That's an awesome story. Glad to hear that heard is still doing well, used to do most of my hunting up the Satsop growing up.
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: WAPITIHUNTER on January 20, 2009, 09:12:56 AM: Congratulations! That is a special thing that your wife did there. Your first animal and it is a giant cow elk, how awesome is that. RIGHT ON!

Any idea how much it weighed? I think getting a giant cow is just as special as killing a bull. My biggest cow to date was 367 lbs hanging weight.
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: cohoho on January 20, 2009, 09:24:37 AM: Tom- Too cool, showed my wife the pic of her and the elk, she's like Wow! She actually thought it might be something fun to do in the future... You had a busy weekend for certain... Again congrats to the you and the Misses.... Job well done for sure...
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: hornhunter on January 20, 2009, 12:04:18 PM: NCICE SHOT! 8)
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: bowsandhose on January 20, 2009, 12:08:54 PM: sweet, congrats to her
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: fc2038 on January 20, 2009, 06:56:17 PM: nice job. thats looks like a FAT cow :yike:
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: rasbo on January 20, 2009, 06:59:13 PM: WAY TO GO YOUNG LADY! :hunter: :cue:
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: tmike on January 21, 2009, 08:49:45 AM: rasbo that will make her feel good. I don't know what it weighed but I'm guessing the 4 quarters hanging are in the 350 plus range. It was a fatty!
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: NW-Eric on January 21, 2009, 08:55:22 AM: congrats to you and your wife
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: C-Money on January 21, 2009, 09:25:16 AM: Congrats! Great story. That looks like a big cow! :cue:
Title: Re: She Finally Got It Done
Post by: LongTatLaw on January 21, 2009, 12:55:10 PM: Well...

i have been following the story all along and I have been holding my breath hoping Mrs Tmike would score on a nice elk. She did and what a great elk!

I have spent a little time with with Tom's family and they are all awesome. Mrs Tmike is an amazing woman and this sure as hell dont hurt her cool points in my book!

Tom...tell K Im proud of her...thats a picture perfect shot for sure!

This is a great addition to your family hunting record!

dave