Grouse Creek Elk Hunt

This weekend we went out to Grouse Creek to spend the day. 

Nickie, Dusty and all the kids were out there for her Limited Entry Elk hunt. It had opened the day before. We were hoping she had a big bull down that morning when we drove out but she didnt. We hung out for a while at camp. We had a knife throwing contest. Kennedy did pretty good at it!

We had lunch and then headed back for home. Its just over a two hour drive. We made it home just about 10 minutes when Nickie called saying she shot her big bull! We were sooooo excited. It had taken her over 18 years to finally draw the tag! She started sending us pictures and we hopped back in the truck and headed another two hours back out to help them get it off the mountain. 

We made it out there in record time. They had gutted the elk and were just getting ready to start quartering it. We hiked about a mile to the elk. They were able to get the ranger about 1/4 of a mile from it. So while they were quartering it Chris and Zach (Jessies boyfriend) took the hind quarters down

Dusty, Cody, Jessie, Nickie and KayCee

 Todd and I jumped in and helped piece it out. I had to stop a few times to take pictures!

 Then I hauled the back straps off the mountain as Chris and Zach took the front shoulders

 Then it was time to finish caping it and cutting the rib cage and neck into manageable pieces

 The elk was a big ol bull. His neck was soo thick. Like almost 3 inches. He even had a 3 inch piece of horn embedded in his neck from fighting.  We got most the elk down and it was time for the head and cape. Todd and Chris tried to take it together but its so heavy and awkward.

 Chris ended up just putting it on his shoulders and it about did him in carrying it out.

 I took the rest of the tenderloins and backstraps. They were so big Dusty had to cut them out in pieces

 We got everything down to the side by side in just under two hours! That was pretty impressive but we had a good crew of people!

Dusty, Nickie, Cody, Jessie, Zach and KayCee

 And the Richards Family group. Dusty is Todds nephew.

It was such a fun night! We were so glad we were able to go out and help! We made it home just about 11pm that night. It was so worth it! We were so happy for Nickie! She worked so hard for it!