farside
10-12-2008, 08:25 AM
We just got back from our moose trip and what a great trip it was. Had to bring my job with me and work in the evenings but it was all worth it and I got to go.
We arrived on Oct 3 and had a fantastic dinner with Chris and his family. After dinner, we made plans for the next morning. Chris was to spend a couple of days with us getting me re aquainted with the area as much had changed with more logging and de-activated roads.
We met up on Saturday morning and were off and running. The day was slow with only cow/calves showing themselves. There is a story to this day but I will let my daughter tell it as it turned out to be her day. All I can say is I am so proud of her I could bust.
We met up again on Sunday morning. This was the last day Chris could show us around due to work and family obligations. The day was slow but the company was great. Then around 5:00pm we spotted moose way up in a slash. 4 of them 3 bulls and 1 cow. And one os the bulls is a good one. After a bit we found the road that went in their general direction. A little ways up and it was impassable so the rest was a hike in but the wind was in our favour so we continued up and in. As we were heading in we would get glimpses of the moose but the last 200yds they were out of our line of sight. We sneak around the corner and they are GONE. :confused: We decided to hunker in and wait. They might come back out. After about 5 minutes 3 bucks walk out. One is a 4x4 but nobody wanted to shoot. The moose couldn't be far. After sitting for about 45 minutes and no moose, the decision was made to head out and come back in the morning for 1st light. 300yds back out and a moose is spotted way down at the bottom of the slash. They had walked down through the timber and came out below us. And there was the big guy. He had the cow at his side and was giving the smaller bulls the evil eye and the odd shove if they dared to come close enough.
We did a short sneak down the slash to narrow the distance, I got set-up on a dirt pile and waited for the shot. Couldn't shoot until that cow moved. Finally, the bull got ticked at one of the smaller bulls and kind of rushed him to give him a shove. All clear and BOOM, nothing. Chris says fling another, BOOM and he's on the move. Fling another, BOOM and he's down. High fives all around then the looks of dismay as we all know how hard its going to be to get him out. Chris and I hiked down to him and my jaw dropped at the size of his body. He was huge! I have never seen a mature bull up close so was amazed at his size. The light was going fast and the terrain was steep and rough. We were going to have to leave him be overnight. Nothing is worth getting friends or family hurt over. We gutted him and proped the body open to cool. The wind was howling and it was getting cold so we hoped he would cool quickly. I did not sleep well that night!!
We were back in before 1st light to start the task of getting the animal out. Nothing had touched him and it was cold out. A skiff of snow was on him and the animal had chilled out well. Chris had called James to come help and the silly guy said sure. I figure James might weigh in at 175lb and he was packin out 1/4's that weighed more than 120lb. Tough as nails that boy!!
Anyways, the job was done and we were back at the truck by 11:30. Chris measured him when we got home and he was 46". To me, this was a huge bull and a huge success for me.
A huge thanks to Chris for his time and effort in getting that animal out. And a huge thanks to James for loaning us his muscle. Hope the blister heals soon!
Now I have to figure out how to post a pic.
We arrived on Oct 3 and had a fantastic dinner with Chris and his family. After dinner, we made plans for the next morning. Chris was to spend a couple of days with us getting me re aquainted with the area as much had changed with more logging and de-activated roads.
We met up on Saturday morning and were off and running. The day was slow with only cow/calves showing themselves. There is a story to this day but I will let my daughter tell it as it turned out to be her day. All I can say is I am so proud of her I could bust.
We met up again on Sunday morning. This was the last day Chris could show us around due to work and family obligations. The day was slow but the company was great. Then around 5:00pm we spotted moose way up in a slash. 4 of them 3 bulls and 1 cow. And one os the bulls is a good one. After a bit we found the road that went in their general direction. A little ways up and it was impassable so the rest was a hike in but the wind was in our favour so we continued up and in. As we were heading in we would get glimpses of the moose but the last 200yds they were out of our line of sight. We sneak around the corner and they are GONE. :confused: We decided to hunker in and wait. They might come back out. After about 5 minutes 3 bucks walk out. One is a 4x4 but nobody wanted to shoot. The moose couldn't be far. After sitting for about 45 minutes and no moose, the decision was made to head out and come back in the morning for 1st light. 300yds back out and a moose is spotted way down at the bottom of the slash. They had walked down through the timber and came out below us. And there was the big guy. He had the cow at his side and was giving the smaller bulls the evil eye and the odd shove if they dared to come close enough.
We did a short sneak down the slash to narrow the distance, I got set-up on a dirt pile and waited for the shot. Couldn't shoot until that cow moved. Finally, the bull got ticked at one of the smaller bulls and kind of rushed him to give him a shove. All clear and BOOM, nothing. Chris says fling another, BOOM and he's on the move. Fling another, BOOM and he's down. High fives all around then the looks of dismay as we all know how hard its going to be to get him out. Chris and I hiked down to him and my jaw dropped at the size of his body. He was huge! I have never seen a mature bull up close so was amazed at his size. The light was going fast and the terrain was steep and rough. We were going to have to leave him be overnight. Nothing is worth getting friends or family hurt over. We gutted him and proped the body open to cool. The wind was howling and it was getting cold so we hoped he would cool quickly. I did not sleep well that night!!
We were back in before 1st light to start the task of getting the animal out. Nothing had touched him and it was cold out. A skiff of snow was on him and the animal had chilled out well. Chris had called James to come help and the silly guy said sure. I figure James might weigh in at 175lb and he was packin out 1/4's that weighed more than 120lb. Tough as nails that boy!!
Anyways, the job was done and we were back at the truck by 11:30. Chris measured him when we got home and he was 46". To me, this was a huge bull and a huge success for me.
A huge thanks to Chris for his time and effort in getting that animal out. And a huge thanks to James for loaning us his muscle. Hope the blister heals soon!
Now I have to figure out how to post a pic.