Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Brushbuster on August 18, 2025, 01:08:19 PM

Title: Would you like to go on an Idaho Elk Hunt this Year?
Post by: Brushbuster on August 18, 2025, 01:08:19 PM: I thought I’d reach out to the Hunt WA Community to see if anyone would like to tag along on the hunt & help recover an elk if we're lucky.

At the end of July, I was doing great. I went on a salmon fishing trip to a remote lodge in BC. Four days after I returned, I was in Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup in the ICU, battling pneumonia with an unknown mass in my right lung. Fast forward to now. I am home recovering from my 8-day hospital stay and trying to rehab so I can possibly go on an Idaho Controlled Elk Hunt I drew this year.

The hunt: I drew a controlled elk hunt with 6-8% drawing odds this year, with a harvest rate of about 59-60%. The terrain is Big Desert & not too intense, but rugged (mostly agricultural land and lava flows). I did this hunt fifteen plus years ago & harvested a nice Bull. The season opens Oct 1st & I would like to hit the opener if possible. I’ve reached out to a Disabled Vet group in Idaho that may be able to provide some assistance, depending on their availability. Just thought I’d throw it out for ideas to make this happen. Thank You, Brushbuster.
Title: Re: Would you like to go on an Idaho Elk Hunt this Year?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 18, 2025, 01:29:44 PM: Sorry to hear about your health issues. Whats with all the pneumonia!?!?! I had it about three weeks ago and my o2 is still in the low 90's :dunno: My brother in law had it even worse than me and spent two days in the hospital.

Just out of curiosity, did you ever get Covid and if you did, did it wreck your lungs? Ive never had lung problems but covid absolutely destroyed me back in 2021. Haven't had so much as a sniffle since until now but wondering if there is a correlation between covid hammering my lungs and now being more susceptible to lung issues in the future :dunno:
Title: Re: Would you like to go on an Idaho Elk Hunt this Year?
Post by: Brushbuster on August 18, 2025, 02:07:33 PM: Hey Karl: Nope, I don't think I ever had Covid. Pretty sure I've had RSV twice & that's what I thought this was at first.

I've learned way too much about O2 levels. Going from the high flow to the low one. I still have an O2 machine they brought to the house, but I'm trying not to use it.

Looking forward to reading your hunting adventures this season. :tup:
Title: Re: Would you like to go on an Idaho Elk Hunt this Year?
Post by: bearhunter99 on August 18, 2025, 02:54:45 PM: Quote from: Karl Blanchard on August 18, 2025, 01:29:44 PM
Sorry to hear about your health issues. Whats with all the pneumonia!?!?! I had it about three weeks ago and my o2 is still in the low 90's :dunno: My brother in law had it even worse than me and spent two days in the hospital.

Just out of curiosity, did you ever get Covid and if you did, did it wreck your lungs? Ive never had lung problems but covid absolutely destroyed me back in 2021. Haven't had so much as a sniffle since until now but wondering if there is a correlation between covid hammering my lungs and now being more susceptible to lung issues in the future :dunno:

Not wanting to derail the topic, but... Karl - our neighbor had a really bad case of COVID and it wrecked her lungs. She is in her late 50s and she ended up having to have a double lung transplant.

Brushbuster - If I didn't have so much on my plate this fall I would have loved to go help out and see some new country! Best of luck with finding a hunting partner! I will reach out to a couple of buds that live in ID and see if they have any ideas. What part of ID are you hunting?
Title: Re: Would you like to go on an Idaho Elk Hunt this Year?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 18, 2025, 05:52:14 PM: @Brushbuster your in box is full
Title: Re: Would you like to go on an Idaho Elk Hunt this Year?
Post by: Brushbuster on August 18, 2025, 07:21:38 PM: Thanks, Karl: I "pruned" my messages that should have freed up some room.
Title: Re: Would you like to go on an Idaho Elk Hunt this Year?
Post by: jjhunter on August 21, 2025, 11:17:12 AM: I had a suggestion, but it sounds like you have already made contact with the resource I was going to suggest. He’s a good buddy of mine and will treat you right if things work out.
Title: Re: Would you like to go on an Idaho Elk Hunt this Year?
Post by: Brushbuster on August 21, 2025, 12:22:31 PM: So you were the person Dennis mentioned today when I spoke to him? I would never have guessed. Thank You. Dennis has an opening on Nov 15th when he could take me. I told him I was trying to hit the opener on Oct 1st because the Bulls will still be bugling, but if no luck, I would love to go with him in Nov.

Health stuff: Getting stronger each day. Dr says it will take about a month to get over this infection. I will go in for some scans to verify it's just pneumonia, not anything more. When I was first admitted, two oncologists said 90% chance it was the big C. After further X-rays, I am down to 10%. It's a good day.

Thanks, guys!! :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Would you like to go on an Idaho Elk Hunt this Year?
Post by: jjhunter on August 21, 2025, 04:05:48 PM: Quote from: Brushbuster on August 21, 2025, 12:22:31 PM
So you were the person Dennis mentioned today when I spoke to him? I would never have guessed. Thank You. Dennis has an opening on Nov 15th when he could take me. I told him I was trying to hit the opener on Oct 1st because the Bulls will still be bugling, but if no luck, I would love to go with him in Nov.

Health stuff: Getting stronger each day. Dr says it will take about a month to get over this infection. I will go in for some scans to verify it's just pneumonia, not anything more. When I was first admitted, two oncologists said 90% chance it was the big C. After further X-rays, I am down to 10%. It's a good day.

Thanks, guys!! :tup: :tup:

Good news on the health and good luck on the elk!

I’ll be down there at that time in Nov if you end up going then.