Downwind
10-14-2015, 01:49 PM
Well I got back late last week and finally have a bit of time to sit down to do a bit of a write up of my hunt this year. After being unsuccessful for LEH this year and because of some changes at work I made plans to head up and do a solo moose hunt for the archery opener in Region 6. I headed out after work on the 28th, on the ferry and drove through the night getting into my camp spot early the next morning. I got camp set up and decided to head out to get some firewood and do a bit of scouting before the moose opened the next day. Found out that they were doing a bunch of work on a bridge that lead into a few areas that I like to hunt and wouldn't be done until halfway through my hunt. That changed things a bit but no worries.
Next morning I was up early and hiking into a lake close to my camp. The deadfall from the beetle was terrible. It made it really challenging hiking in and I ended up spooking a moose coming through some brush and all I was able to see was a hump and a rump heading away from me. But hey at least I saw a moose. Made it into the lake got comfortable and started calling. An hour into it a cow and calf came down. I continued to call and watch them feed for the next hour and a half before they wandered off. Rest of the day didn't result in any other sightings. Next day I saw a cow and calf but nothing else for the rest of that day.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp221/Zanelike/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-09-30%20001%20013_zpsejbnkydv.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/Zanelike/media/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-09-30%20001%20013_zpsejbnkydv.jpg.html)
The third day was dead quiet in the morning. Just after lunch I spotted 3 mule deer, 2 bucks and a doe. Too far for a bow shot so I took my rifle from my pack and waited for the larger of the 2 bucks to clear the others. As the other 2 made their way off the third was by himself. I squeezed and he was down. I had an easy drag down to a logging road so that I could load him in the truck through a couple fields. Good start to the trip.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp221/Zanelike/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-03%20002%20004_zpst7skecoh.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/Zanelike/media/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-03%20002%20004_zpst7skecoh.jpg.html)
Over the next several days my hopes of getting a chance at a moose were dwindling. I didn't see hide nor hair of one. They weren't responding to calls and I was getting a little discouraged. The 6th afternoon I headed into an area that I hadn't checked out before. I was making my way between a couple patches of alders when I noticed a face staring at me through some brush. It was a cow. I crouched down, removed my pack, nocked an arrow slowly proceeded forward to see if there might be someone else with her. As I did there was a crashing in the patch of alders to my left. I spun to see another cow running off a bit before stopping. In that same instant a third moose stood up and I notice the shine of a paddle right away. A bull!
He walked slowly and stopping behind a patch of brush. He was following the more skittish second cow. They were milling about and not giving much of a shot. Finally I found an open spot, cow called and the bull stopped looking at me. I ranged him, drew back and released. And then there was distinctive sound of my arrow hitting an unseen branch and deflecting up and harmlessly over the back of the bull before he took off never to be seen again. I had to laugh. I had my chance and was beat by a twig!
The next day would be my last full day and I decided to drive some areas that I have seen moose in previous years but hadn't been to or seen anything this year. I didn't want to head too far off the beaten path as I know I wouldn't have the time to deal with anything if I did. I came into an area that I planned to walk in a short ways and had called in a couple days prior. As I crested the hill I noticed a few cattle feeding off to my right. As I continued on I noticed another black cow down on the side of the road. Except it wasn't a cow it was a moose and it was a bull! I slowly crept forward in my truck as I was nowhere close to in range. He was staring up a side hill, perhaps a cow was hanging around. As I got to the outskirts of my range he finally looked at my truck and took a few steps. I hoped out and cow called. He stopped quartering away from me. I ranged him and drew back and released. There were no branches this time. I watched as my arrow disappeared behind his should. As he took off I saw bright red blood come from his side. He crashed into the brush only to emerge on the road a few seconds later. He stood there, stumbled and fell over right in front of me.
I could not believe my luck. Bull moose down with a bow on my last day. I couldn't have asked for a better end to this trip. I was satisfied with just getting the opportunity at a bull the day before but this was just incredible. Got him cleaned up, packed up and was on the road the next morning and on the last ferry and home.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp221/Zanelike/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-06%20001%20014_zps1bmzigzj.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/Zanelike/media/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-06%20001%20014_zps1bmzigzj.jpg.html)
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp221/Zanelike/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-06%20001%20017_zpsdq0mscbf.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/Zanelike/media/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-06%20001%20017_zpsdq0mscbf.jpg.html)
Next morning I was up early and hiking into a lake close to my camp. The deadfall from the beetle was terrible. It made it really challenging hiking in and I ended up spooking a moose coming through some brush and all I was able to see was a hump and a rump heading away from me. But hey at least I saw a moose. Made it into the lake got comfortable and started calling. An hour into it a cow and calf came down. I continued to call and watch them feed for the next hour and a half before they wandered off. Rest of the day didn't result in any other sightings. Next day I saw a cow and calf but nothing else for the rest of that day.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp221/Zanelike/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-09-30%20001%20013_zpsejbnkydv.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/Zanelike/media/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-09-30%20001%20013_zpsejbnkydv.jpg.html)
The third day was dead quiet in the morning. Just after lunch I spotted 3 mule deer, 2 bucks and a doe. Too far for a bow shot so I took my rifle from my pack and waited for the larger of the 2 bucks to clear the others. As the other 2 made their way off the third was by himself. I squeezed and he was down. I had an easy drag down to a logging road so that I could load him in the truck through a couple fields. Good start to the trip.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp221/Zanelike/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-03%20002%20004_zpst7skecoh.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/Zanelike/media/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-03%20002%20004_zpst7skecoh.jpg.html)
Over the next several days my hopes of getting a chance at a moose were dwindling. I didn't see hide nor hair of one. They weren't responding to calls and I was getting a little discouraged. The 6th afternoon I headed into an area that I hadn't checked out before. I was making my way between a couple patches of alders when I noticed a face staring at me through some brush. It was a cow. I crouched down, removed my pack, nocked an arrow slowly proceeded forward to see if there might be someone else with her. As I did there was a crashing in the patch of alders to my left. I spun to see another cow running off a bit before stopping. In that same instant a third moose stood up and I notice the shine of a paddle right away. A bull!
He walked slowly and stopping behind a patch of brush. He was following the more skittish second cow. They were milling about and not giving much of a shot. Finally I found an open spot, cow called and the bull stopped looking at me. I ranged him, drew back and released. And then there was distinctive sound of my arrow hitting an unseen branch and deflecting up and harmlessly over the back of the bull before he took off never to be seen again. I had to laugh. I had my chance and was beat by a twig!
The next day would be my last full day and I decided to drive some areas that I have seen moose in previous years but hadn't been to or seen anything this year. I didn't want to head too far off the beaten path as I know I wouldn't have the time to deal with anything if I did. I came into an area that I planned to walk in a short ways and had called in a couple days prior. As I crested the hill I noticed a few cattle feeding off to my right. As I continued on I noticed another black cow down on the side of the road. Except it wasn't a cow it was a moose and it was a bull! I slowly crept forward in my truck as I was nowhere close to in range. He was staring up a side hill, perhaps a cow was hanging around. As I got to the outskirts of my range he finally looked at my truck and took a few steps. I hoped out and cow called. He stopped quartering away from me. I ranged him and drew back and released. There were no branches this time. I watched as my arrow disappeared behind his should. As he took off I saw bright red blood come from his side. He crashed into the brush only to emerge on the road a few seconds later. He stood there, stumbled and fell over right in front of me.
I could not believe my luck. Bull moose down with a bow on my last day. I couldn't have asked for a better end to this trip. I was satisfied with just getting the opportunity at a bull the day before but this was just incredible. Got him cleaned up, packed up and was on the road the next morning and on the last ferry and home.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp221/Zanelike/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-06%20001%20014_zps1bmzigzj.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/Zanelike/media/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-06%20001%20014_zps1bmzigzj.jpg.html)
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp221/Zanelike/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-06%20001%20017_zpsdq0mscbf.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/Zanelike/media/Moose%20Hunting%20Trip%202015/2015-10-06%20001%20017_zpsdq0mscbf.jpg.html)