Down to the wire Bull Moose

[Rattler]

So it all started pulling a Kootenay bull moose leh draw with my kids and Brambles son. We knew the area really well. Brambles pulled the draw several years ago and despite his best efforts he and his moose partner only killed one bull in their shared hunt. We knew it was a tough draw and was going to take some serious effort to get a bull let alone two. Well how little did we know then how much effort it was going to take.

Scouting started in July and on our first trip out Brambles and I spotted a nice 40” bull. Hopes were high. We put out a few cams in our moose spots and let them soak for almost a month. We checked cams and no moose, just elk which was good Intel regardless.

Brambles and I both purchased crossbows for our kids and we had them dialed for the opener. We covered a lot of ground for the first three days and nothing to show for our efforts. Good times had nonetheless.

http://i.imgur.com/dXiQd4e.jpg

[Rattler]

A couple more days during the first week turned up very little. I spotted a lonely cow one morning and watched her for over an hour but no bull showed.

http://i.imgur.com/xIfAVUo.jpg.

Brambles and I decided to hunt a high mountain lake. We split up and decided on a meeting place. I hiked into my spot and spotted a cow bedded along a wet marshy area. I made a stalk with the crossbow and got within 75 yards and lost sight of her. I called but nothing showed. I was in the process of getting closer when all of the sudden elk cow calls. Next thing I know the cow busted out of her hiding spot and left the country. I watched her leave and unfortunately no bulls showed. Turns out Brambles made his way to the lake and did some cow elk calls that spooked this moose.

We made plans to hunt elk during the rut and left moose hunting till the first week in October. I should state WK moose are archery from Sept 1-Oct 14 and rifle from Oct 15-Nov 15.

[Shikari300WSM]

This sounds like its gunna be good...

[Rattler]

After a successful elk hunt I turned my attention to moose hunting. Over the next month we called, hiked and drove many km’s and had spotted zero moose. I really thought our best chances were calling in a bull moose during the rut but that didn’t happen.

November 2nd now and Brambles and I we’re hard at it for the last 13 days. We finally spotted a bull high in a block but the fog rolled in and we were forced to hike in not knowing exactly where he was. Well the fog saved that bull as we walked right by him. Doh!!

I took my son out on a snowy Friday (ProD day). We saw a bull but he was on to us and spooked into the timber before we could get our rifles off our backs.

A good buddy called me that night with some moose intel and Brambles and I made plans to head into this spot. We loaded the quads and headed in at first light. We arrived where my buddy saw the bull and after 5 or so minutes I spotted a moose bedded down. A quick check through my spotter confirmed he was a bull.

http://i.imgur.com/2YHB4ED.jpg

[Sundown]

I like where this is going!

[RICKADY]

Sounds good so far, lets hear it!

[walks with deer]

continue please

[Rattler]

We assessed our options and quickly realized our best bet was a long shot. This bull was bedded in a brushy area with no chance for a closer shot. We anticipated a longer shot so Brambles brought his 338 Edge powered with a 22x nightforce scope shooting a 300gr burger bullet. We finally found our best shooting spot and I practiced dry firing. Having shot this rifle previously I knew the recoil was less than my 300wm. I was comfortable with the shot which was 610 yards. I should mention we practice long shots and I have watched Brambles shoot this rifle out to 900 bang on. Brambles acquired the wind speed which was zero, humidity, pressure, bearing etc... and dialed the turret for the shot.

The bull finally got up to feed and presented a quartering away shot which I confirmed was brush free and decided this was it...I placed the crosshairs behind his front shoulder a squeezed the trigger. After the shot I will never forget seeing that bull go ass over tea kettle. I quickly reloaded and found the bull struggling to get to his feet. I squeezed off a second shot and the bull disappeared behind a wall of brush.

We loaded our packs and headed for the moose. Well we were in for a surprise, a rather large stream was between us and the moose. I eventually found a sketchy log to cross. Brambles cut down two small trees and we used these as poles for stability. We slowly crossed the slippery frozen log with much doubt on how we were going to cross fully loaded.

http://i.imgur.com/wAUixZa.jpg

[Rattler]

We scrambled up to where the bull was and discovered he got to his feet and was headed downhill. Good news we thought, less distance to pack. We followed the blood trail for 70m or so and lucky for us the bull died a few feet from the river, but he didn’t cross it, so it still left us with our sketchy log crossing. We high fived and to say we were elated was a major understatement.

http://i.imgur.com/c9CkbY9.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mlFBs02.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Sy2jWmy.jpg

[Rattler]

We quartered the bull and loaded our packs and realized we could get this bull out in two trips. This is a two year old bull we estimated and thus didn’t have a huge body..perfect we thought!! I’m pumped because he should be an awesome eater.

We arrived at the log, took a break and I decided to go first. What a pucker factor 101 that was crossing that log fully loaded!! Our poles would drop down in the deep spots causing us to have to lean forward which with our full loads was super uncomfortable! Brambles crossed successfully and we were off for the second load. On our way back we decided to cross with our poles facing upstream. This was waaaayyy better!!

Poles on downstream of log:
http://i.imgur.com/NEzGjlO.jpg

Poles on upstream of log:
http://i.imgur.com/9alv4lN.jpg

[Rattler]

We arrived at the quads at 6:30. It took 6.5 hours to break him down and pack him out. What a grunt of a pack the last three hundred meters was. All uphill in snow through brush and blowdown. We leapfrogged the meat three times which as always really helps physically and mentally.

While packing in the dark wolves started howling. Nothing makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end when I hear wolves howl...especially when I’m soaked in blood packing meat!! We yelled a few f bombs at them but that didn’t seem to matter. I was happy to see the quads after the howling I can tell ya...

A huge shout out to Brambles for all his help and for letting me use his rifle. I’m a pretty lucky guy to have such a great hunting partner like you, plus you can pack like a mule!! Looking forward to our hunting adventures next year!!

[moosinaround]

338 edge at 600 yrds is a chip shot! 44 magnum velocities and FtLbs at 1000 yrds!! Plenty of oomff for moose hunting!! Nice work, you guys are animals!! Nice work men, every year is a new adventure! You trying to out do every year previous? Thanks for posting men!! Moosin

[tinhorse]

Great young bull. Looks nearly identical to the region 5 November bull me and my buddy took. Great table fare. Those late season bulls know where to hunker down. Ours was in some crazy blowdown. Spotted him from 3.8 km away. Great shot at 600 yards and nice job crossing that log! I would have opted to hike back in with an inflatable. Lol. Not as braves as you guys

[HarryToolips]

Congrats on the bull moose, great shot at 600 yards, lol love the pack out over the log, that looks like a cold time if you fell in, nuts must have been hiked way up as you were crossing lol I know mine would have been,...

[Brambles]

A huge shout out to Brambles for all his help and for letting me use his rifle. I’m a pretty lucky guy to have such a great hunting partner like you, plus you can pack like a mule!! Looking forward to our hunting adventures next year!!

Always a pleasure, it was an awesome hunt. That log crossing was certainly outside my comfort zone even before the packs were loaded. I'm strong but far from a ballerina. When we spun 180deg and put the poles upstream it was a game changer....you were just hoping the snow would stay on the log and not chunk off.

We are big fans of leap frogging the meat away from the kill site keeping the trips broken up into smaller managable sections. This time with the wolves proved to be a smart idea as they were likely on the kill before we got the first load to the quads....but the second load had already been leap frogged and was only 100m away..

[325]

What an adventure! Congratulations!!

[tomahawk]

Nicely done! Bull looks in prime shape, should be great meat. You boys have big balls, possibly could have done the log crossing in my younger days but would be way out of my comfort zone now!!

[ydouask]

Another wonderful story. You and Jeff are an awesome team always demonstrating determination, strategic planning, preparedness, excellent bush skills, and perseverance . Somewhere along the way you've learned to write too.. very proud of you Ken, and I'm sure your Dad would have been too Jeff. Also really good to see you starting the kids off on a lifetime of hunting enjoyment. :-?

[IronNoggin]

Great story and excellent pix!
Congrats on the moose, and even more so on not falling off that log!! :shock:

Cheers!
Nog

[Blainer]

Another Fantastic share
congratulations

[todbartell]

good job guys! Nice pics

[RackStar]

Cool adventure.

Good work! Looks like a tasty bull

[ElliotMoose]

Great share, great pics, congrats on some of the finest table fair available!

[Sitkaspruce]

Another awesome adventure Ken!!

Thanks for sharing it and bring us along!!

Cheers

SS

[murph83]

damn nice moose fella's..well done. yes, wolves will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck, had that experience myself, not fun.

[REMINGTON JIM]

Excellent Storey of a Awesome Adventure ! RJ

[Arctic Lake]

Nice moose ! Way to get it packed out ! Good eating to you !
Arctic Lake

[Bugle M In]

Again, nice job! glad you take the time to post it up as well.

[fuzzybiscuit]

You guys are machines...! Congrats on another successful hunt and thanks for posting up the pics and story.

[kennyj]

Another awesome tale! What a great season you've had.
Keep up the good work.
kenny