Moose Hunt 2013

[talkiemuir]

After several years of LEH "nil" we finally drew 2 bull tags for the Mackenzie area.
So as a group of 5 we headed North in pursuit of our illusive moose.
This was my first BC moose hunt north of Prince George, so I was looking forward to seeing and learning some new territory.
After driving from the island through the rain, and a quick stop in Mackenzie we hit the gravel for a couple hours. Upon arriving at the camp site we had chosen on Google Earth we realized that another "meat wagon" had already set-up shop there.
We pulled out the backroads map and quickly chose another which was a little further off the beaten path but had all of the necessities.
The rain had let up just long enough for us to get our tent setup, and stove lit before it started again. The rain didn't really stop for 3 days, during which time we scoured the local area for fresh moose sign with little luck. While driving between areas we did jump a cow on the second day but this was more of a tease.

Camp
4596

Muddy Tent
4597

[Wrayzer]

All these moose threads are giving me the itch for a trip up North again.
Keep it comin'!

[thetroutkiller]

I got a spike fork yesterday at tunkwa seen 4 in total will post pick when I get off work

[monasheemountainman]

I got a spike fork yesterday at tunkwa seen 4 in total will post pick when I get off work

Howbout you start your own thread

[talkiemuir]

Sorry but what is the easiest way to add more than 2 pics, I want to add a bunch but i'm over my size limit.
Looking like a rookie here :(

[horshur]

Sorry but what is the easiest way to add more than 2 pics, I want to add a bunch but i'm over my size limit.
Looking like a rookie here :(

download pics on pic hosting site like photobucket...post links to photo on this site.

[Sitkaspruce]

Search "Coach" on this site under community/members list (top left corner), at the bottom of his posts he has the instructions on how to do it. You can only post 5 pictures per post, make sure they are on top of each other, like you did above and not side by side.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of your hunt.

Cheers

SS

[BlacktailStalker]

And the 5 pictures includes any smilie faces etc (icons)

[coach]

Photo posting directions are in my signature line. Looking forward to the rest of your thread.

[talkiemuir]

Apologies for the delay, life (1 year old) can jump to the top of the list
On the forth day there were no shortage of discouraged bottom lips dragging in the mud, we were sick of asking each other "where next"
So we decided to do a quick hunt in the am and then make a run for Manson's creek for gas and supplies.
After another morning of no leads we hopped in the trucks and headed for Manson's Creek.
Little to no sign on the way there but we did make some notes on good looking roads to hunt on the way back.
We arrived in Mansons to find a well kept store, and diesel at 1.35/liter, only 5 cents more than Mackenzie.
Manson's Creek
http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b540/talkiemuir/photo3_zps8e86df3a.jpg
Chef in the kitchen
http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b540/talkiemuir/Chefinthekitchen-001_zpsee2d05d5.jpg

After saying our goodbyes to the folks at Mansons Creek, we started back, a quick stop at the Nation Lakes campsite to see a moose hanging in a tree wasenough encouragement to get us re-focused. We were in 2 trucks and decided to split up for the hunt on the way home. After arriving at the best looking location we could find we realized that the other truck in our group had beat us there. Rather than hunting the area together we decided to carry on and find some different area. This did not prove fruitful, we found dead end after dead end, so back to camp we went. It was 4 pm when our truck arrived back at camp, the chef wanted to get dinner going so, my partner and I decided to scout some area within walking distance of camp. I walked out of camp for 5 minutes and in no time at all found the frshest sign I had seen all week, tracks were on the road and looked like they were a couple hours old at most. After watching every step, listening for subtle hints and watching the wind direction, I heard a grunt, and turned around to see a large moose standing in the middle of the overgrown road facing away from me.......

[r106]

Copy the "IMG" link on photobucket and paste it in your post, that way the pics will show up hear. Great story so far I like were it's headed

[talkiemuir]

I knelt down and put one in the chamber and got my scope covers off, but by the time I got a bead on the moose it had walked off the road and into the bush, but I thought I saw antlers. The blood was pumping at this point, how perfect would that be to get a moose in the middle of the road less than 200 yds from camp. Then a moose came onto the road, a quick look through the scope, but I confirmed it was a cow, then another smaller moose, it was a calf, and calfs didn't open until the following day (10th). The cow and calf criss-crossed the road for a half hour but no sign of the bull that I thought I saw (and heard) first. After not seeing the cow and calf for a half hour I re-traced my steps to where I watched the bull go into the bush, looked at the tracks, and then noticed a fresh rub, THAT WAS A BULL. I made a long cow call...... and received an immediate grunt in response, and then heard him coming, like a freight train from < 50 yds. He closed the distance quickly but stopped about 20 yds shy and let out one more grunt, I could hear him walking through the bush parallel to the road trying to get a look, or sniff of me. I could see flashes of him occasionally but not enough for a shot. I scanned up the road and saw a clearing that he would eventually come to so I ran up to the edge of it and got ready. Sure enough he came out of the bush and was walking through the clearing when I pulled the trigger on the back of his neck at 25 yds. He dropped like a stone. I walked up to him to make sure it was a fatal blow but when I left the road I could see that he was not getting up. What a beauty.

http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b540/talkiemuir/61e0544c-008b-4649-9d07-ece58ac291f4_zps5875eed9.jpg (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/talkiemuir/media/61e0544c-008b-4649-9d07-ece58ac291f4_zps5875eed9.jpg.html)

http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b540/talkiemuir/scott1_zps8a3b1390.jpg (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/talkiemuir/media/scott1_zps8a3b1390.jpg.html)

http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b540/talkiemuir/group2_zps9ec462cf.jpg (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/talkiemuir/media/group2_zps9ec462cf.jpg.html)

[talkiemuir]

Thanks to Coach, and r106 for the picture advice.

[Sitkaspruce]

Nice bull!!!

Congrats on your hunt....and way to stick with figuring out how to post a picture.

Saw it on FB with a link to the wife from Nicks wife. Nice job guys!!

Cheers

SS

[talkiemuir]

Small World,
Cheers SS!

Talkiemuir

[ElliotMoose]

Wicked! Love the antler colouring. Good work

[dabber]

Great story. Cool that it was close to the road. Sounds like you messed up the cooks dinner plans.

[markt308]

thats a beautiful bull. congrats on a successful trip

[r106]

congrats great bull.