Moose Camp 2010 (pic heavy)

[SR80]

So, Jordo, I and two other buddies headed up to region 7 for our group moose draw at the end of sept. Two years before we got two bulls out of the same area. So we were all really excited, and were all counting down the days since summer. Jordo had been growing out his good luck moose camp beard for a while now. It turned out to be lucky the previous trip. Finally the day had arrived and we left home after work friday night, arrived to camp late that night. Set up a quick camp and grabbed some zzz's for a couple of hours before setting out in search for a bull moose or two.

Day 1 : First thing the next morning we set out and spread out in groups of two over a swamp and did some calling. No luck there, nothing came in to our calls.

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af86/scottreidy/moose%20camp/101_0358.jpg
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So after a couple hours of sitting we all went for a hike to a different area, found lots of beds and wallows. Still nothing though. We hiked through a swamppy area and then into some big timber which was surrounded by swamp and a river.

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af86/scottreidy/moose%20camp/046.jpg
http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af86/scottreidy/moose%20camp/101_0336.jpg

[SR80]

We decided to spread out in the timber and sit for a bit and try and call something out of the swamp. So I kept walking because I could still see my hunting partners, and I followed this game trail for a few hundred yards along the swamp when I saw a moose get up that was bedded down, I put my gun up and it was just a cow. The all of a sudden 20 ft to her right I heard a loud crash and the sound of antlers scrapping willows and a bull grunt, I just saw a flash of a moose running for the willow flats. I said holy f*ck to myself and starting running after the ******* into the willows but could never get a good look or shot, so I cow called and stopped the bull, but still couldnt get a shot because the willows were over my head. The bull ran again and I ran after it again cow calling and he was grunting back at me while running and thrashing the willows. Finally he stopped and I could just make out his body through the willows and saw his head poking out, so I judged where to shoot and let a 180gr TSX from the .300 mag fly, hit him high in the back, then one more into the hump and he dropped. It had to be the most exiciting moment of my life, my heart has never pumped that hard before for anything!

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This guy measured just under 40 inches. 12x9. So, we gutted and cut him in half, dragged it for an hour or so into the big timber while fighting off the sand flies, my arms were covered in bites the next day and were itchy for a week after. But it was worth it. We left the meat there for the night because we were in the middle of nowhere, and would have to make a trail for our quads the next morning to get the meat out.

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af86/scottreidy/moose%20camp/101_0343.jpg
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[SR80]

Day 2: We managed to get out quads right to the meat which was a lot of fun, took a couple of hours but it was a good time. After getting the meat back to camp we hung it and skinned it. That evening we went for a hunt higher up in the valley. Saw some sign but didnt see a moose. We were all pretty tired anyways.

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af86/scottreidy/moose%20camp/101_0351.jpg
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[Amphibious]

http://iruntheinternet.com/lulzdump/images/moar-bore-wants-more-boar-12563209896.jpg

[SR80]

Day 3: We headed down to the look out and sat for an hour first thing again, did some calling but didnt see anything. So we set out on a huge hike through some real thick country and did a huge loop along the river and ended up where we got the moose the first day, since there was the most sign down that way.

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af86/scottreidy/moose%20camp/101_0361.jpg
Jordo thought it would be a good idea to weave some moose hair into his beard for good luck.
http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af86/scottreidy/moose%20camp/101_0362.jpg

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af86/scottreidy/moose%20camp/101_0363.jpg

[SR80]

The hike took probably 5-6hrs total and then we spread out in the timber again and did some calling. I think we were all just sleeping against a tree though, I know I was nodding off. Still nothing, we were all a little discouraged as we hiked many hrs and saw nothing all day. So we headed back to the river bank where we left our packs with Paul in the lead, when all of a sudden him and Jordo start running, Paul yells its a moose, its a fu*king bull! It was on the river bank about 330 yards away. Paul leaned on a tree and took the shot, hit both lungs and the moose dropped on the beach.

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af86/scottreidy/moose%20camp/101_0365.jpg
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So we snapped some pics, got to work and quartered this one and drug it up the bank away for the river for the night. It was a big 3x4. We headed back to camp and had a little party that night. The plan for the next morning was to go back to the river and float the quarters down to a trail where our quads were.

[SR80]

When we got down to the river it had risen close to 8ft over night. So our plan was shot and we had to find another way to the meat. When we got to the meat the water was about a foot away from it. Paul partied a little too hard the night before too. So he wasnt feeling to hot the next morning. We made out way through some swamppy wet stuff to the meat and headed back to camp.

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af86/scottreidy/moose%20camp/062.jpg
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All in all it was a great time, lots of laughs, meat in the freezer. Killed a lot of beers, and a couple southern comfort bottles. Jordo's moose camp beard worked again. The first day I rubbed the beard and I shot a moose, and the 3rd day Paul rubbed the beard and he shot a moose

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af86/scottreidy/moose%20camp/083.jpg

[bridger]

wow! lots of hard work and a great time. hats off to you guys. way to go!!

[yama49]

great pics and story. congrats

[Jordo]

Thanks for putting the pics and story up. Great trip, great memories, great group of guys.

[Amphibious]

fantastic hunt, and great coverage with the stories and pics. jealous :)

[Mik]

Awesome photos, great story, Congrats to all.

[BimmerBob]

Nice pics and stories to go with them and the moosies were a bonus! Great job guys!

[Call of the Wild]

Great hunt guys and nice scenery!! You'll have enough meat for the winter now.

[Rattler]

Sounds like a hunt to remember. Thanks for sharing.

[#1fishslayer]

Excellent !!!!

[moosinaround]

Very good story and pics. Congrats on the mooses!! Moosin

[ElectricDyck]

Nice! Can I rub the beard?

[BlacktailStalker]

Good thiing all those grizz on your moose were the 4 wheeled kind :lol:

Nice write up and great pics :cool:

[375 ultramag]

Right On........Great pics and great story.

[Bighorn hunter]

Great job guys!!!!

Thanks for taking the time to post the story and pics

Cheers
BH

[LYKTOHUNT]

Say it isnt so, you cut a trail in to get the moose without a permit. Just kidding referring to another thread.Thanks for the great pictures and story good job it looks like fun

[LeverActionJunkie]

Good work guys and an excellent write up! Thanks for sharing.



Oh yeah and that is an epic lucky beard.



.

[moose2]

Nice pictures and story guys. It looks like alot of work went into those two. Nice looking moose.
MIKE

[Piperdown]

What the hell is there a PILSNER in the pic for ???? Great job love the pics.

[325]

Wow...you guys really earned those bulls

[mijinkal]

Thanks for the story.
You guys shure know how to work for em.

[Moosetang]

Congratulations on a successful hunt. Nice story and great pics but I couldn't help noticing the quarters strapped to the quads. Looks like you could use a small trailer to haul the critters out whole. We use a small tandem flat deck with a 3000 lbs winch on the front. Winch 'em up on the deck and head for camp. Whole operation takes about 5 - 10 minutes. Trailer goes anywhere you can get a quad. You can build one fairly cheap and the winches come on sale at Princess Auto every now and again.