2013 sobirch moose

[sobirch]

Here's the story of my Moose season.

Sept 1st to the 10th bow season - Went out a couple times but it was too hot everyday, up in the mid 20's. Not much was moving.

[kyleklassen]

killer story!

[tinhorse]

Got me hooked.........Maybe not so far. Come on knock this up a notch.

[sobirch]

Oct 1st to 8th bow season - Lots of rain not to cold most of the time but there was a couple cold mornings. I was on holidays so I was able to go out everyday. I managed to call 3 bulls.

[Whonnock Boy]

Could be a long night. :-D Looking forward to it.

[sobirch]

The first one was in some really thick alders.You moose hunters now how they grow in a 20 year old cutblock, thick as shit and the leaves hadn't dropped yet. It was raining and there was fresh tracks on the road in the mud so I stopped and thought it would be worth calling just for the hell of it.I laughingly told the guy I was hunting with that if anything answered this was going to be up close and personal as it was only twenty yards from alder to alder across the road we were on. .Almost instantly after calling we heard the grunt of a bull, he came to about 25 yards just a grunting away but I could only see the tips of his antlers through the alders and then the wind changed, hit the back of my neck. I was busted before he came closer and he smelled me and ran off.

[sobirch]

The second one I was by myself and calling with a cow call.
All of sudden I could see this rack coming through the alders and spruce at about 150 yards. He walked out into the small clearcut and stopped about 125 yards from me, I could see he was a prime bull.
I gave another cow call and he started coming again right to where I was hiding behind a small bushy spruce tree, this was the only tree close to me but it offered great cover and if he kept coming up the skid trail and walked past me I would have a shot with my crossbow of less the 30 yards.

[Stéphane]

Too bad you can't write it in one take. I was going to read it, but not sure I dig your strategy. Anyhow, congrats on the moose, no so much on your writing skills.

[sobirch]

At about 75 yards he held up again and started looking around for the cow, I gave a soft cow call and his head whipped around and looked directly at the tree I was hiding behind, he came at fast walk straight at the tree I was behind. He looked huge, his antlers were a deep reddish brown with the sun shining on them. Just a beautiful big rack, triple brow tine is all I could see, didn't even try to count his other points. At 30 yards he was still coming but it was straight on shot and I would have to step away from the tree to have a clear shot. To be honest, my shit was getting weak with this big sucker coming straight in my face, no gun no backup, just a mano a mooseo..

[sobirch]

Hello Stephane,

I like all your posts i have read, and feel you add to this site so don't take this the wrong way but this hunt did not happen in one take. I am just trying to set the stage for what has been the hunt of a lifetime for me so far. I wasn't even sure i should post my story but i really enjoy this site and thought I should try to contribute for the other members.

[Whonnock Boy]

Don't worry about him. I know what your doing, and I'm still waiting....... :wink:

[sobirch]

This was all happening so fast, at this distance he looked huge I admit I was nervous being on a collision course with this big animal. I decided that if he kept coming I would step out ready to shoot if he gave me a quick sideway shot at his vitals. At 10 yards I felt I had no choice, I would step out and hope for a shot but be ready to get back behind the tree if he charged. I stepped out quickly and he turned and ran into the timber without offering me a shot. I was still shaking from the adrenalin rush and just feeling a huge mix of emotions, excitement, disappointment, relief. He was so close but now so far.

[f350ps]

Keep it coming, you got me hooked! Nice job!! K

[Spy]

Good job loving it so far. Take your time, but you better have pics;-)!

[sobirch]

Well I went back the next day not really expecting to see anything at the same spot but more to play it over in my mind again and think what I could have done differently. I was cow calling as I walked down the skid trail to the small clearcut. All of a sudden I hear a cow calling and she sounds loud and pissed off there is another cow close to her, I seen her leave the clear cut just calling as she went. I kept calling also, then down near the bottom of the clearcut I heard some grunting and could see antlers in the same spot the bull had come out the day before. The cow was still calling and she must have sounded more horny then my cow call as the bull followed her into the thick stuff. I have never heard a cow call before this and was amazed how loud and how long she was calling. She really wanted this bull, not more then I did, but being a typical female she got her way.

[oclarkii]

As I read in a thread earlier this week, she must be busy sorting out her mascara..... On with it already

[sobirch]

This bow season ended without me taking a shot but I had some great memories and some lessons learned

But wait, this story isn't over yet. rifle season yet to come

[sobirch]

Rifle Season Oct 20th to 26th-
Well I was back at work and with the short season I would only get 2 full days to hunt and just a couple hours every day after work as it getting dark early, shooting light is gone about 6:45

Long story short went out every day. With no rain and colder weather it was hard to tell fresh tracks and I was getting no response to my calls.

I was hearing other people were getting some moose down and frustration was starting to set in as most of the moose being shot were by road hunters (no disrespect intended, I road hunt until I see sign then it's game on) and I had put in the time and miles on foot. On Friday after work I was going to take the afternoon off and then hunt hard Saturday which was the last day of the season. I got home after work and was sitting on the couch still thinking about just staying home and relaxing. I forced myself off the couch and told my wife, I have to go and try. I drove out to where I had my close encounter in bow season and planned on walking in giving some calls. The sun was starting to set and it would be in my eyes if a moose came out before it set so I decided to walk a different skid trail with sun at my back. As I left the truck I gave a cow call then headed up the trail, right around the first corner I heard something coming out of the timber and a bull came out at about 60 yards and started running away from me up the trail. Nothing but ass, legs and horns as he ran away from me. As he was running I gave couple of loud Bull grunts and he stops at 125 yards and turns broadside giving me a perfect shot in the vitals with my 270win. One shot and he drops in his tracks, didn't even take a step.

I can't belive my luck, I had 2 beer in my pack and thought it would be good to give a him few minutes to bleed out before going up to him as I could see his antlers move a bit and the way he dropped I didn't think he would go anywhere. I cracked a beer, lit up a smoke and just thinking how lucky I was he dropped right on the trail and I could drive my truck right to him. All of a sudden halfway through my smoke the moose stands up and takes a couple steps toward the thick timber, oh shit I think and put another shot in the vitals. He takes a couple more steps and is off the trail but only behind a few alders one more shot in the vitals and I can see his legs wobble then down he goes again. This time I get my ass up there in case I have to make sure he stays down. He is dead when I get to him, the deed is done, I can tell right away this is the same Bull that came to 10 yards in the bow season. I can still get my truck to within 20 feet and pull him out with a grab chain. I get back into town and get some help from my buddy in getting the guts out and the meat cooling, dam he is a big animal so we decide to get more help and come back in the morning and get him in daylight. My son and buddy were ready to go at 6:30 and we had him home 10:30 a few hours of skinning and quartering plus a few beers and photos and he was hanging in the shed.

[Whonnock Boy]

http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g398/whonnockboy/F2806B00-3DD2-49D1-A239-87EE5346E65B-454-0000014FC4D5E6FA_zps19f54fcc.jpg (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/whonnockboy/media/F2806B00-3DD2-49D1-A239-87EE5346E65B-454-0000014FC4D5E6FA_zps19f54fcc.jpg.html)
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g398/whonnockboy/C6B7BCAA-66C3-45FC-A6CE-83E181BA8F6A-454-0000014FACAE0338_zpsb9bf018d.jpg (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/whonnockboy/media/C6B7BCAA-66C3-45FC-A6CE-83E181BA8F6A-454-0000014FACAE0338_zpsb9bf018d.jpg.html)
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g398/whonnockboy/F793F982-E0FD-41DF-846E-70CAE89FA984-454-0000014FB8094F73_zpsecdf3b10.jpg (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/whonnockboy/media/F793F982-E0FD-41DF-846E-70CAE89FA984-454-0000014FB8094F73_zpsecdf3b10.jpg.html)
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g398/whonnockboy/0D820548-6E64-4176-B9F5-2EC8EEE170CD-454-0000014F9D7FA5EB_zps5b2a2dbd.jpg (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/whonnockboy/media/0D820548-6E64-4176-B9F5-2EC8EEE170CD-454-0000014F9D7FA5EB_zps5b2a2dbd.jpg.html)

[sobirch]

Thanks Whonnok Boy for your help with the photos

[BimmerBob]

Great story sobirch, with a fantastic final result! Thanks for sharing.

[Spy]

X2 great story & pics awesome job well done.:-)

[buckshot]

Great bull and story Sobirch!

[d6dan]

Awesome bull Sobirch!. Well done. :-D Thanks for posting your hunt.

[skid]

good stuff, it was a good year for moose up here.

[f350ps]

Well that was worth the wait, beauty Bull, thanks for taking us along! K

[pescado]

Good morning read, thanks. Congrats. Well hunted.

[nature girl]

Congradulations on your moose its a good thing you decided to go out and not stay on the couch at home.
And there was nothing wrong how you wrote your story. That way it didnt get deleted on you.

[jaeger]

congratulations on a nice Moose Sobirch! Great story too love the part with the moose getting up again lol.
This happened to a group of Polish hunters a few years back up in 5-2 they shot the bull he went down and without making sure the bull was dead i.e.. slitting throat gutting etc. they went back to camp to get the camera they forgot and when they came back the bull was gone!
LOL

[mddat]

Great story, nice looking animal. Well done!

[ElliotMoose]

Good read and beautiful animal! Thanks for taking us along

[Knute]

Good looking moose, you put in the time and it paid off big time, congrats.

[Stéphane]

Hey man, that was quite the adventure. I can't imagine being 10 yards away from a beast like that. Congrats on that awesome hunt, and yes, it was worth reading through. I was just so anxious to know the outcome and I wanted to go to bed . . .hence the frustration on my first comment. But Dure glad I read the whole adventure.

[treehugger]

Great job man! Looks like you'll have to get yourself a bigger truck for next season... the poor guy looks real cramped in there!!

[buckguy]

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us. Heck of a moose.Congrats

[Brambles]

I'd much rather read it in segments then one huge long paragraph..

thanks for the story and pics, great moose! Don't listen to the peanut gallery!

[bigben]

Nice job partner great looking moose goes to show sometime you have to stick to it when you think your luck is running out things happen in a hurry congratulation on a fine hunt

[Blainer]

Fantastic share!
Great bull!

[ru rancher]

nice moose you got there!

[JIL_24/7]

Well done. Beautiful moose!

[Ghillie]

I think I recognize that SMP Chevy Silverado. Great bull!

[1899]

Congrats. I became skeptical, however, when I noticed you said he dropped from 1 shot with a .270 Win...so I looked at your picture...it looks like two holes in the ribs. :)


I knew a .270 doesn't have enough jam to drop em with 1 shot!

[Neff]

Great bull. Loved the write up. Curious where the other shot landed. Can see two in the ribs, but can't see the other. Presumably the first shot? Curious what type of hit makes them collapse but doesn't keep them anchored.
My buddy had a white-tailed buck do a similar thing, drop like a stone then get up a minute or two later....:(

[j270wsm]

Congrats. I became skeptical, however, when I noticed you said he dropped from 1 shot with a .270 Win...so I looked at your picture...it looks like two holes in the ribs. :)


I knew a .270 doesn't have enough jam to drop em with 1 shot!

95% of my hunting is done with a 270. I've shot 2 moose that were 1 shot kills that dropped in their tracks. 270 has more than enough jam.

[BigfishCanada]

WOHOOO wow, great season finish! Love how you said you got off your butt to go look and then Success

[1899]

j270wsm - It was a joke...:-D

Hey look at that, your post was your 270th post.

[1899]

Great bull. Loved the write up. Curious where the other shot landed. Can see two in the ribs, but can't see the other. Presumably the first shot? Curious what type of hit makes them collapse but doesn't keep them anchored.
My buddy had a white-tailed buck do a similar thing, drop like a stone then get up a minute or two later....:(

There is a place above the lungs but below the spine that can make them drop on the spot, but allows them to get up and go after a brief time.

[kennyj]

Great story, great bull!! Thanks for sharing your moose hunting adventures.
kenny

[sobirch]

Well to clarify the missing shot, went in just behind the front leg, entered the rib cage at the very front (can be seen in the pic) and came out his neck in front of the other shoulder. My wife said I have been on a moose high since I got him so when I wrote the story I should have been more specific and said a quartering away shot and a bit uphill, not broadside. I was just glad he turned for the shot.

[sobirch]

Thanks for the thanks everybody, he taste great, Big job cutting up an animal this big, but well worth it,