Post by: Rainier10 on November 07, 2016, 08:42:04 AM
I tell them what ridge to go down and where the elk are going. I turn around as they are heading out the door and there is my oldest daughter, 14, dressed in hunter orange with a rifle. She says "you said there was a spike, let's go." So I throw on my coat, hunter orange and grab the shooting sticks and two knives.
We bail down the opposite ridge and work to catch up to the elk. About a 1/4 mile in I ask how she is doing and if she brought her inhaler. She is doing fine but didn't bring her inhaler. I tell her to let me know if she needs a break.
We keep seeing the elk in front of us and off to our left, we are gaining on them. At 1.5 miles we get busted and they start to move faster so we do as well. As they crest the top of the next ridge about a mile in front of us I start to get concerned about if there really is a true spike. Skylined it looks like there are two spike by two's. I ask how she is doing and she says fine. I ask if she wants to keep going and she says yes.
I know that there is a valley just about 300 yards over the top of the ridge that they like to hang out in so we push on. Up the hill we go, it starts to wear on me and I am sure it is giving her fits as well. I slow the pace as we get close to the top and tell her to breath deep and work to catch her breath. We need to be steady for the shot and are getting close to having an opportunity.
As we work towards the draw I can see ears and yellow of their backs about 80 yards out. We work closer and through the binocs it looks like the back one is a true spike with a little velvet at the top of the one antler that made it look like it was a spike by two. We get set up and just watch as they walk away. I tell her to make sure the one in the back is a spike and wait for them to work up the side of the draw. Going up they will surely turn broadside to look back at us.
Sure enough at 150 yards they all bunch up and turn broadside. We take a long look and both agree it's a true spike. I tell her to just wait and they will clear and give her a shot. Just like they read the script they all start to move up hill and the spike just stands there broadside. I say whenever you are ready and she lets the 308 bark. We hear the smack and the elk barely moves. He is hit hard and the other elk don't move at all. I tell her to shoot again as I am watching the elk. Boom, smack another solid hit. This wobbles the elk and he takes about 5 steps. He is in big trouble but still standing. I grab the shootings sticks in my left hand, wrap my right arm around her, squeeze in tight to hold her steady and tell her to put one more in him. Boom, smack and he hits the dirt.
Spike elk down. High fives, big, I mean really big hugs and lots of congratulations. I tell her at 14 she is now in the spike bull club. What an accomplishment. She says she is really tired and was glad that we pushed on up the hill to make it happen.
We get over to the elk, notch her tag and take some photos.
I check my watch and it's been 40 minutes since we took off until the elk is down. I check my gps and we had done almost 3.5 miles in that 40 minutes. What a trooper.
We called for help and started to break the elk down. She was much more involved than she has been in the past and I went over everything in great detail. With as successful as she has been in the past couple of years she is going to have to be ready to process her own at some point.
Heading out for her final tag next weekend, second deer in 154. If she fills that all she will have left is a cougar tag.
Post by: bracer40 on November 07, 2016, 08:53:11 AM
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on November 07, 2016, 08:55:29 AM
Post by: Woodchuck on November 07, 2016, 08:56:41 AM
Post by: bowhunterforever on November 07, 2016, 08:58:08 AM
Post by: Elkrunner on November 07, 2016, 09:04:49 AM
Post by: elkrack on November 07, 2016, 09:18:08 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on November 07, 2016, 09:25:14 AM
Pain is temporary. She was a trooper and I am glad it paid off for her.
Every time we go out I am prouder of her. She is really turning into a great huntress and outdoor girl.
Wife and both daughters are up next weekend for second doe tags. Look out Blue Creek does, the Rainier10 girls are coming for you.
Post by: Timberstalker on November 07, 2016, 09:30:25 AM
Awesome deal.
Post by: Slaysthefish on November 07, 2016, 09:42:05 AM
Post by: 724wd on November 07, 2016, 01:14:38 PM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 07, 2016, 01:47:10 PM
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on November 07, 2016, 01:48:23 PM
Post by: mhbrewster71 on November 07, 2016, 02:29:18 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on November 07, 2016, 02:58:45 PM
Post by: SniperDanWA on November 07, 2016, 02:59:29 PM
Post by: arees on November 07, 2016, 03:17:47 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 07, 2016, 03:22:28 PM
Post by: wadu1 on November 07, 2016, 03:25:13 PM
Congrats! What Cal is that model 600?.308, see 7th paragraph
Great job young lady, and dad.
Post by: SkookumHntr on November 07, 2016, 03:38:15 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on November 07, 2016, 03:39:55 PM
Yep, .308. Long winded story I know, sorry it got lost in there. 7th paragraph? Man I was long winded. Just a really proud dad rambling on.Congrats! What Cal is that model 600?.308, see 7th paragraph
Great job young lady, and dad.
My father in law got the gun for my wife 20 some years ago. She is only 5'2" so it fits her great. I have actually used it in Alaska for bear hunting. Great gun for using in the brush, the scope flips out of the way so you can use open sights up close.
In the last two years it has dropped 5 elk. My wife, my daughter and myself all got elk with it last year. My wife and daughter did this year. Just a great gun for putting down game.
Post by: SkookumHntr on November 07, 2016, 03:42:21 PM
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on November 07, 2016, 04:52:50 PM
Post by: csaaphill on November 07, 2016, 06:14:52 PM
Post by: KM1986 on November 07, 2016, 09:17:49 PM
Post by: DaveMonti on November 07, 2016, 09:33:57 PM
:chuckle:
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on November 07, 2016, 09:54:31 PM
Post by: johnnyaustin44 on November 07, 2016, 10:41:07 PM
Post by: TVHunts on November 08, 2016, 03:31:15 AM
Model 600's are an awesome set up!
Post by: Jpmiller on November 08, 2016, 06:43:47 AM
Post by: X-Force on November 08, 2016, 06:51:10 AM
Post by: Lefthook on November 08, 2016, 09:46:32 AM
That is so cool for you two, must feel real good. I hope you guys have many more seasons like the last two. Good luck in all your outdoor quests. 8)
Lefthook
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on November 08, 2016, 09:57:04 AM
Post by: millerwheeler on November 08, 2016, 04:28:34 PM
Post by: King Krok on November 08, 2016, 05:23:44 PM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: brew on November 08, 2016, 05:29:58 PM
Post by: steen on November 08, 2016, 05:44:46 PM
Post by: SpringerFan on November 08, 2016, 06:26:30 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on November 08, 2016, 06:33:04 PM
If you read my thread about my youngest daughter's muzzleloader deer hunt where she texted Jackelope saying "I'll never give up" you see how focused they are. They are both strong minded girls that are motivated to succeed no matter what effort it takes on their part.
I know I have something to do with that but I also think it is just the way they are wired as well. A natural drive that they were just born with.
Thanks for all the kind comments, I am relaying them all to her.
Post by: bear hunter on November 08, 2016, 09:59:11 PM