Post by: hirshey on December 18, 2009, 02:38:59 PM
Four of us spent many hours and boot tread in the mossyrock area looking for a cow or bull with our muzzleloaders, and finally the hard work paid off for my boyfriend and father: they connected with two great animals. After spooking a herd right at daylight and many miles of tracking, my father was behind my boyfriend and same herd was grazing right toward them. My father shot, and my boyfriend exclaimed "I'm going after the lead cow!". He put a bead on her and waited for some kind of a quartering shot - he never got it, because the cow died. It had been the one my father had shot. He then put his sights on the bull and ended up making a great (maybe fortunate... shh!) neck shot. Two animals down! :) My boyfriend's bull has character, too... one of the left tines kick out!
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-snc3%2Fhs017.snc3%2F12465_839233641998_10720117_47140918_7078716_n.jpg&hash=6ae0954202aca31a77d668c46bf7f6f6a0a686d2)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-snc3%2Fhs017.snc3%2F12465_839233651978_10720117_47140919_5284443_n.jpg&hash=37a2306f8282e1f425b2f40e761e22736f7dad1a)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net%2Fhs017.snc3%2F12465_839233721838_10720117_47140931_3628065_n.jpg&hash=43357747a3607cf78108be397eb63a9ebfbeac79)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe323%2Fhirshey27%2FDSC02387.jpg%3Ft%3D1261175788&hash=cd684bf6b5c6afeaf6237137d80e80c228918a07)
I never connected with an animal in Mossyrock, but had the fortune of drawing a late season cow tag. Boy, was I disappointed with some of the hunters I ran into down in Toledo! From tresspassers, to poachers (we watched an archer draw on and injure a calf after their season had closed) and even some hunters bragging about shooting an elk in the face and seeing it run with the herd days later, there was some disappointment with the people.
The sights were still beautiful, and hunting in 7 degree temps on the west side was a new experience.
On day 3 of the special permit season, I connected with a cow and made a shot I'll never be able to reproduce: the animal stepped as I shot and the entrance wound was the exposed area behind the shoulder, double lung, and out the other side. NO wasted meat!
The bad news started when I approached the animal and saw she was pretty emaciated in the hind quarters. I was further shocked when I field dressed her and found that 80% of the blood in her body came out in a giant congealed brick... the heart had a gelatanous clear goo around it...this animal was obviously sick. After pulling the hide, we had a little more idea of why - she had an old archery injury that was proving to be slowly fatal, and almost all of the meat was discolored and fevered.
We called the proper authorities, and upon inspection we recieved a shocking answer to my plea for a new tag:
"If everyone didn't like the taste of their meat, we'd begiving replacement tags left and right. Just because you have a tag doesn't guarantee you an animal". So we did the best we could, and ended up with roughly 30 lbs of meat off the animal.
Pretty sad, but good that she is no longer suffering.
The only thing that I'm still upset about, really, is the principle of not providing another tag when you recognise that someone harvested a sick animal and is trying to go through the correct avenues. It almost caters to the dishonest. I could have abandoned the animal and not tagged it, or tagged it, discarded it and requested a lost tag replacement, but I didn't. I wanted to be honest and ended up being punished for it. Slightly discouraging... has anybody else had an experience like this? Or had a tag replaced? I know they do replace tags for sick animals, maybe I just encountered the wrong warden on the wrong day?
Anyways, still a good season overall... I learned a lot.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-snc3%2Fhs037.snc3%2F12465_845390328948_10720117_47335199_7231910_n.jpg&hash=c54fe77bafecad7394f155b0e8ac47eb332f26d6)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net%2Fhs017.snc3%2F12465_845390308988_10720117_47335197_2727624_n.jpg&hash=1df5328cd08b70f364ee18414c7ee9ffebbf410f)
Post by: alecvg on December 18, 2009, 02:46:02 PM
Post by: Kowsrule30 on December 18, 2009, 02:52:55 PM
Post by: lewy on December 18, 2009, 03:02:29 PM
Post by: NWBREW on December 18, 2009, 03:07:25 PM
Post by: hirshey on December 18, 2009, 03:19:05 PM
Happy holidays (and hunting),
-Kari Anne
Congrats hirsheygirl. You might not have gotten all the meat you could have with a healthy animal but at least you got the experience of a successful hunt and took out a sick animal. 30lbs. of elk meat is 30lbs. more then I have. And congrats to the boyfriend as well. Just think back on this hunting year and ask yourself...Was this year a success .....from the pics and stories you have posted, I would say 100% YES. Hunting with good friends and family....how could it not be. Congratulations on a very succussful year.
Post by: hirshey on December 18, 2009, 03:29:01 PM
I have heard that the game department is pretty good about it though, so I'm surprised to hear your story!
Post by: bucklucky on December 18, 2009, 03:37:01 PM
Post by: hirshey on December 18, 2009, 03:45:30 PM
Here's hoping for that moose tag I've been putting in for for 12 years!
NIce write up, congrats on your cow . Next year bull down for you maybee ;)
Post by: HntnFsh on December 18, 2009, 06:13:22 PM
I'm really surprised they didnt give you another tag.Usually they will send out a warden to inspect the animal.Then if its bad.The warden will write you a note or soemthing.I know of several people that have had their tags revalidated.
I hear ya on the happenings out this way.Its gotten terrible.
Unfortunately law enforcement is contributing to the problem by not citing people that have been caught in the act.Trespassing.Shooting illegal animals etc.It was terrible this year.
Post by: hirshey on December 18, 2009, 07:49:22 PM
The archer we caught shooting the calf after their season had closed had the game warden called on him.. he admited to shooting the animal, and while they never found it, cited him $300 for shooting an animal out of season, and $500 for the loaded rifle he had in his car. Tsk tsk.
Congrats on the elk.
I'm really surprised they didnt give you another tag.Usually they will send out a warden to inspect the animal.Then if its bad.The warden will write you a note or soemthing.I know of several people that have had their tags revalidated.
I hear ya on the happenings out this way.Its gotten terrible.
Unfortunately law enforcement is contributing to the problem by not citing people that have been caught in the act.Trespassing.Shooting illegal animals etc.It was terrible this year.
Post by: jager on December 18, 2009, 11:11:06 PM
Three for three! Thats awesome!
Nice job to all! :bow:
Post by: WAPITIHUNTER on December 19, 2009, 12:38:41 AM
The nicest thing about other peoples elk is it tastes just as good as one you would have shot. :chuckle:
Post by: hirshey on December 19, 2009, 09:45:10 AM
Well done. Sounds like a great elk hunt for the three of you. Looks like you will just have to eat some of your Dad and BF's elk. :chuckle:
The nicest thing about other peoples elk is it tastes just as good as one you would have shot. :chuckle:
Post by: NWBREW on December 19, 2009, 09:50:26 AM
Post by: hirshey on December 19, 2009, 09:57:48 AM
Did you get any points for turning in the archer that shot the calf elk after the season had closed. You may be eligible for 10 points added to the species of your choice.
Post by: vfilbert on December 20, 2009, 09:31:38 AM
Post by: THINK_N_ELK on December 20, 2009, 04:08:26 PM
.
Unfortunately law enforcement is contributing to the problem by not citing people that have been caught in the act.Trespassing.Shooting illegal animals etc.It was terrible this year.
I would disagree. I think Enforcement Officers are doing their job. However it is the Bureaucrats (politicians), Prosecuting Attorneys and Court System in all, are the problem. They don't place or have as high of a value for Wildlife as we Avid Ethical Sportman do.
Hirshey I glad to hear you got an animal. It is too bad bad, that there are people out there. That will make an unethical or questionable shot. Long after the meat is gone, you will still have memories of the hunt.
Nice Job.
Already looking forward to next season.
Post by: julzzz on December 20, 2009, 07:59:40 PM
Post by: hirshey on December 21, 2009, 09:23:35 AM
A tip if you want to get some process done early (so that you have a snack for those late season elk hunts) is to request an uneven poundage of final product. (instead of 50 lbs... ask for 55, or 35...) That way it generally sticks with the meatcutter and your batch stays sepearate. Also request they weigh the scraps you bring in, and the final product in front of you. We found, however, none of this is necessary with the new wild game processing store up in Twisp. They are incredibly affordable, do whatever you wish, and have the product ready generally within the week. If you ever want to take a chance at a new place (and are in the area) I would strongly recommend this business.
Cheers, and congrats on your own great hunt this year. :)
congrats, I would be upset too. Our family lives off elk and deer meat, we never have to buy steaks or burger from the store. We know how our animal is taken care of in the field and hanging. We make sure we do not take our scraps in to the sausage makers until Jan or Feb,we bag the scaps in garbage bags and put them in the freezer. I have heard that during season they mix the scaps from one hunter to another because of how busy they are. Dont know if this is true or not. Some hunters do not clean their animals so we do :) not want to take the chance. I have heard of the WSDFW giving out tags to hunters that harvest an animal that is rotten or diseased. Keep on it.
Post by: steen on December 22, 2009, 12:55:27 PM
Post by: Crunchy on December 22, 2009, 01:06:46 PM
Post by: hirshey on December 28, 2009, 09:31:45 PM
the four pt probaly 2.5 to 3.5 years old
Post by: SGM R on December 28, 2009, 10:24:10 PM
nicely done an all accounts. Your honest is the right thing to do no matter what. :twocents:
Post by: AKBowman on December 29, 2009, 10:54:24 AM
I'm not sure if I would drive around with a couple of dead elk in the back of my rig with the tailgate open though. Some people may get the wrong idea and take a picture that could easily get in the wrong hands and be used to make hunters look bad. We as hunters need to use just a little more discretion than that. But thats just my :twocents:
Post by: hirshey on December 31, 2009, 08:54:30 PM
Hey congrats on your guys successes! Sounds like you and your family worked hard and earned your bounty!! :IBCOOL:
I'm not sure if I would drive around with a couple of dead elk in the back of my rig with the tailgate open though. Some people may get the wrong idea and take a picture that could easily get in the wrong hands and be used to make hunters look bad. We as hunters need to use just a little more discretion than that. But thats just my :twocents:
Post by: hirshey on December 31, 2009, 08:56:26 PM
hirshey,
nicely done an all accounts. Your honest is the right thing to do no matter what. :twocents:
Post by: jagermiester on January 03, 2010, 11:26:55 AM
Post by: hirshey on January 04, 2010, 01:45:06 PM
Still a great hunting season overall. :) Happy new year!
I used to live in Montana and I shot a buck that had a tainted hind quarter due to an injury. I called the warden and he told me I could have another tag if I did not want to risk it. I took it to a butcher and he told me that he could cut the bad meat out and the rest of the meat would be fine so that is what we did. But it is funny the difference between these to states. Living in Montana as a hunter is pleasurable the state is your partner they want people to kill animals to control populations can you imagine.