Westside Elk Raffle Tag - Banned for Life - video added**

[cjensen]

Hi Guys,

I'm here to do a bit of a write-up on my Westside Elk Raffle Tag.   I have been putting in for Washington Raffle tags since 2012 without any sort of luck, but this year I ended up drawing the Westside Elk, NE Combo, and the Moose.   To say the stars aligned is an understatement.  I ended up checking my results mid-draw and saw that I was drawn for a moose tag.  I was beyond pumped.  I called down a buddy to take a look at my moose tag and found I was drawn for two more and then became a combination of elated and beyond stressed.   I figured I'd be lucky to get out of this year with my job and marriage intact. 

Many folks seem to have all sorts of expectations for me to kill some monsters and hunt every second of the day between now and December 31st, but it simply isn't possible for me.   My brother flew from Alabama, for a month, and my Dad, brother-in-law, and another friend came out at different times for a few days.   So far, I have harvested two moose and the Westside elk.   Once I feel like sharpening the knives and cleaning the gun I'll get back out in November to try and fill the other tags. 

The Westside elk was the first tag I allocated a week to fill.  We spent the first 5 days backpacking into the White River unit freezing, getting rained on, and having very little luck seeing much action.  The weather and heat had them nocturnal for the days I was in there (Sep 14 - 19th).  Here is where the banned for life comes in.  On the 20th, Kapowsin invited the access permit holders onto the property once the archery general season ended.   I had a tag that allowed me to hunt for 4 months, I was legally on the property, and the Kapowsin rules do not restrict elk harvest.  They only restrict access during general season.  I have seen countless threads on this forum debating this topic, and the general consensus and even folks that called the office was that that the raffle or governor tag holder can legally hunt here.  In fact, in the past, Kapowsin had apparently given permission to a raffle tag winner, but he was unable to get an access pass before they sold out.  We went in on the 20th and entered what seemed like Jurassic Park for elk.   In the first 15 minutes of legal light, we had passed on multiple big bulls.   Only 30 or so minutes after first light on the first day in there I ended up harvesting my best Washington elk or game animal by far. 

I ended up filling out the Green Harvest card, reported the harvest, and then went back home to deal with the elk.  No big deal for about a week and then I got an email from Kapowsin letting me know they were going to revoke my permit and ban me for life.  They haven't yet articulated a rule that I broke, but have made it clear that it is their prerogative to do whatever they want.  They are in the process of sending me a prepaid envelope to mail back my key and stickers.   For all of those folks on this forum that read the rules and speculated whether or not it was allowed or legal, I went ahead and found out for you.   It is legal and there is no issue with WDFW, but Kapowsin sure doesn't like it.  It doesn't break any explicit rule, but they will ban you for life.   I'm not proud of this and wish I wasnt banned, but I cant change it now.

At the end of the day, I had a great hunt with family, got in better shape, and harvested a great elk.   We also process all the game meat ourselves and I am happy to have a full freezer and plenty to share.   My brother will be doing a video on Youtube of this hunt, as well as the other two moose hunts that we got on camera.   I think several of you on here have subscribed to his channel and checked out the 2022 goat video (

) and 2023 elk video (

t=57s ). Subscribe to get notified of the new 2024 videos when they come out.

[highside74]

Holy trophy elk!

That's a bummer it went down that way but man you sure did shoot a giant. Hopefully you can appeal your ban.

[boneaddict]

Wow, that is a bull of a lifetime.    I think I need to get my camera in there.   Incredible bull, congratulations.  Sorry about the controversy

[Rainier10]

That is a monster elk. Thanks for posting.

[The G Spot]

Hell of a bull. As a permit holder and someone who puts in for that draw every year not sure how I feel about it just yet. Harvesting September 20th means OP was in there before muzzy and rifle guys got their opportunity.

[cjensen]

Hell of a bull. As a permit holder and someone who puts in for that draw every year not sure how I feel about it just yet. Harvesting September 20th means OP was in there before muzzy and rifle guys got their opportunity.

I totally understand the thought here.  True that I potentially took a bull from some future hunter no matter where i went.  Anyway, thanks for the comment and I understand that by posting I'm opening myself up to all kinds of comments and criticism

[Karl Blanchard]

Hell of a bull. As a permit holder and someone who puts in for that draw every year not sure how I feel about it just yet. Harvesting September 20th means OP was in there before muzzy and rifle guys got their opportunity.

Totally understand.  That's true no matter what unit I went to, but i understand the controversy and am putting myself out there for plenty of criticism

There's no criticism,  or at least there shouldn't be. There's always a tag holder before another tag holder.  Archery guys before muzzy, muzzy before gun. Hell the rifle tag holders may shoot a bull that an archery guy could have taken next year. It's a silly statement that ranks right up there with "you shouldn't shoot cows in the late season because they're pregnant ".

Congrats on a WOW to the max factor bull

[highside74]

Hell of a bull. As a permit holder and someone who puts in for that draw every year not sure how I feel about it just yet. Harvesting September 20th means OP was in there before muzzy and rifle guys got their opportunity.

I totally understand the thought here.  True that I potentially took a bull from some future hunter no matter where i went.  Anyway, thanks for the comment and I understand that by posting I'm opening myself up to all kinds of comments and criticism

I can also see where he is coming from but...

In your defense my buddy has killed a cow in there during the late Mashell cow draw tag. Sure it's not a bull but they do allow special tag holders that also have the access pass to harvest cows outside of their elk closure periods.

[pianoman9701]

Fantastic bull and well done.

[luvmystang67]

I can't help but laugh.

This is truly and awesome story.  You're one lucky SOB, and I'd take banned for life to have the kind of season you're already having.  My favorite is that you broke none of their rules, but you did break their minds.  Their lawyers must be in a tizzy trying to rewrite the rules.  Everyone works the system in business, I'd say you worked it in a way that optimized it for you.  Hope you enjoyed your OIL elk experience!

Congrats on the bull, good luck with the moose.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Great bull!

Lol.... my guess someone with some "pull" had eyes on that guy. Tough to miss. I bet if you had dumped an average 320 the drama would have been significantly less.

Congratz on a OIL opportunity and possibly bull!!

[KNOPHISH]

Holy freezers full Batman, 2 moose and a monster bull. Congrats!! Did you buy lotto tix yet? I bet that elk was being saved for a friend is the reason for ban. Heh heh more pics please.

[High Climber]

That’s an awesome bull  you have a knack for finding monster bulls with character

[highside74]

I can't help but laugh.

This is truly and awesome story.  You're one lucky SOB, and I'd take banned for life to have the kind of season you're already having.  My favorite is that you broke none of their rules, but you did break their minds.  Their lawyers must be in a tizzy trying to rewrite the rules.  Everyone works the system in business, I'd say you worked it in a way that optimized it for you.  Hope you enjoyed your OIL elk experience!

Congrats on the bull, good luck with the moose.

 

My buddy and I were saying the same thing. Someone is rewriting the rules as we speak.

Odds are he was never going to draw the Kapowsin tag so I think he got the better end deal.

[addicted1]

Super cool bull, sorry ended in a ban for you though. I won’t pretend to understand how all that works, but hopefully it doesn’t tarnish the experience too much.