Amanda took me Elk hunting.

[pitw]

  I got up at six this morning to check on the curing I got going on and made the mistake of going online .  Mandy was on and asked if I would go Elk hunting with her as she wanted to shoot one before she buggers off for New Zealand on the 26th of December.  Being as bright as a two watt bulb in a power outage I said OK and started my truck.  Off we go in the dark to an area where they usually cross back to there daily safety zone.  On the way there we saw one bull out in the middle of a perfectly flat and open field but nothing else, so we continued to where we would hunt.  Parked the truck and Mandy went North of where I was going to be and fella's I had a great happening as I was walking East over some sandhills.  I was going up one so I could look around at the top and just as I was cresting it a White tail buck of approximately 163 was coming up the other side.  We were maybe 30 feet apart and all I could see was from the middle of his chest up and we just stood there looking at each other for a good 15 seconds[It was one of them moments you don't forget ] after which he turned and bolted down.  I ran[yeah right] up the last few steps to get another look at him but he was gone and I checked the other side of that hill for a hole .   I stood up there for maybe 15 minutes just enjoying the day and could hear elk whistling and chirping off to the North of me[This bothered me cause I just knew ]
   Then out of the silence Bang rolls across the still morning air and I was glad I had passed on the buck .  I waited for ten minutes in case a nice little calf with blood stains was going to come by and then off North I go.  I found Mandy sitting on another sand hill as we all learn to sit tight if an animal has been hit and doesn't fall immediately .  Once she saw me she pointed East which surprised me as they always go west but once again I was proven to be wrong[twice in the same decade ].  When I got to her she said it had turned and went around a little hill to the East with 20 others.  I can't see like I once could but I found some blood [like six drops] and I studied the landscape to figure where it would head.  I then went East leaving her to watch along the big bush just in case.  I wandered through the trees to a swamp area and decided no it must have went North so I went North .  Going through the heavy stuff was not fun but I found a trail that would lead me out just North of Mandy and just before I got out of the bush I found more blood[pure luck] and softly whistled for Mandy to come down and follow this track.  She got within 30 feet of me and whispered there she is [I didn't see it but I sure saw her leveling her 25-06 and I baled to the East again.  Bang again and the hunt was over.



I then had to look around for how I was going to get it out[I ain't heavy into packing] and saw this.


Didn't like this so I made a circle to see where I could get the Rider Green Nissan the closest.  Found a spot that was 50 yds and came home got 10 chains from my sprayer trailers and 4 ratchet straps and got back up there to carry all them in and it was 6 feet to much .  Hooked up and pulled two chain lengths at a time until we had her close to the truck so I could back out of the forest and to a hill I had espied on my way in to facilitate the loading.


Got it home and Mandy went to work.




She had her helpers so I just stayed in the house where it was warm .


It is now residing in the shop skinless for tomorrows cut up job

[bambam]

That's awsome . Tell Mandy congrats. Why didn't you just drive the old Nissan in there ? Those saplings didn't look big enough to stop it. 

[Dave]

Congrats to you both on a great story and hunt.  Looks like she's done this before, or her helpers are more than just turkeys (it's been a long day and that is about as witty as I can get).
And have fun in New Zealand, Mandy.  Vacation?

[FinsnFur]

Yeah, you can tell this isnt her first rodeo

Nice work by both
How the heck did you get it actually INTO the truck? Back to a hill and pull it down in?

[KySongDog]

Niiiccceeee!!   Congrats to Mandy!    

How much do you think that cow weighs?  

[FOsteology]

Very nice! But looks COLD!!!

Looks like your larder is set for winter.

[Hawks Feather]

WOW!  Tell Mandy congrats on the elk.   I also think that if she is going to be around you need to get a bigger truck.  There was a moose and now an elk.  Next will be an elephant . . . . . .

Jerry

[pitw]

Jim being a lazy man[and boy] I paid attention to the sciences[especially physics] and yes that was exactly how we got the front end in and then with the back leg sucked up with a come along until it was off the ground, Mandy backed the Nissan up the hill until she just gave it a little shove and I was pinned to the front .

Semp the dang thing weighed more that the old single tree would hold .  Somewhere over 450 lbs is my best guess.

Mandy is vacationing Dave as her work season starts pretty close to mine .

Thanks guys she has been reading them all and her chest is stuck out even more than usual .

[iahntr]

Super job ! 
Congratulations ! 

[HuntnCarve]

Way to go Mandy!   And to you too Barry for being a good helper.  We know you love an adventure.    Thanks for a great story.

Dave

[coyotehunter_1]

Mandy   on the elk. That's awesome !!!

[FinsnFur]

Thanks guys she has been reading them all and her chest is stuck out even more than usual .

How hard did she slap ya after that one?
Seriously...did your hat fly off?

[KySongDog]

I hope she brings back some pics and stories from New Zealand that she could share with us.   

[coyote101]

Way to go Mandy.  Congratulations on a great hunt. 

Pat

[weedwalker]

Congradulations Mandy!!! Way to go.
New Zealand is where they have those big stag deer ain't it? You going to hunt while you're there?

[alscalls]

Thanks guys she has been reading them all and her chest is stuck out even more than usual .

How hard did she slap ya after that one?
Seriously...did your hat fly off?

^^^^^^^
Yup......we gotta know......  Did your hat fly off? !!!         

[alscalls]

WTG on the elk Mandy!!!!!!!     

Looks closer to 500lb.  and it looks YUMMY!!!!!!   

[Todd Rahm]

Man, thats truck filler, and she SKINS TOO!!!!!!! 

[pitw]

Todd around me if you are big enough to pull the trigger your dang well big enough to clean the kill.
Jim I put that up after she left but I think I'll maybe send her a link now so the mad on wears off .
Al I think your closer too.

[golfertrout]

good story Barry as usual she looks like she knows what she is doing for sure. i thinks its closer to 498 pounds