Moose/Grizzly Hunt 2010

[Mik]

Now that i finally have some down time, i figured it was time to post a story and few pics. Our group of 5 went up north the last week of September. The road trip was uneventful, no flat tires,trucks ran well and trailers held their load, and as always with 2 way radios, fun.




http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/P9240005.jpg
On our way up we stopped by at Tatogga Lake resort to fuel up grab a coffee and keep moving as it was getting late and we still had quite a ways to go. If you're ever up that way stop by and see the mounts inside.

On our way way we saw a cow moose on the road, and we thought this is a great way to start the hunt. It started to snow pretty hard and travelling on the dirt road was slow. We arrived and had to set up camp as it was snowing, (wet snow). Heres a pic of the wall tent after camp was set up,late in the evening.
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/P9240024.jpg
That was Friday, and then it proceeded to rain for 4 days. Kinda sucked as we hunted hard,covered a lot of ground, but no luck with the moose as of yet. The camps around us nailed a few moose, oh well luck of the draw.Hunting in the snow is much easier than rain as water just seems to get in no matter how well you get dressed.Here's a few pics of us in the rain
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/P9270055.jpg
...and some of you might recognise this dection of the road.
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/P9250033.jpg
Now whats a trip up north without a few Ptarmigan, atleast that kept our hopes up high. Yes, there were some sunny breaks, but very few the first 4 days.
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/P9290092.jpg

[Mik]

Part 2....

Well Tuesday Morning gave us new hope as there were quite a few camps that pulled out and the sun started to come out. We had a lot of fun after the rain and as expected we did get stuck quite a few times trying to get to our favorite spots.
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/P9260053.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/P1010657.jpg
Wednesday morning we got up early and headed out in different directions. 2 guys headed south, 2 guys headed north and were to split up accordingly up different valleys. I headed north then split off west to a little swampy area. I set up did some calling, but there was nothing to be had. A short while later I hear 2 shots and immediately turned the radio on and hear...."Moose Down". Our luck had turned around.
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/P1010664.jpg
Quick little chat, congrats and im off to help them as it turns out they were still quite close to me. With radios we check in with each other on the hour and as time flew by the other partners were in range,(20kms.) so they turned around and came back to us.
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/2010Hunt073.jpg
After quartering and loading the moose onto the quads, as were looking around to make sure we never left anything behind, one of the partners yells moose. Rifles are out and were running down a slight slope to intercept, as it turns out its a cow and we watch it go towards the tree
line and we spot another cow. We wait around a bit and head back to the quads. One of the partners says, we should stick around as its ruttin' time and a bull is sure to come. The other partner pipes up n says, lets not get greedy,we have one lets head back to camp and hang it. As this is all going down, I look up and all of us at the same time could'nt believe what we were seing. A moose running through the meadow...."A Bull Moose". Once again, rifles out and we 3 of us are running back down the slope, one guy falls into this sink hole and my brother n I are still heading down.We get down and as theres lots of time, i range it, grunt and this bull stops. The decision was made for me to take it, so bam and our second moose is down. Double Header.
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/P1010674.jpg

[BiG Boar]

So far so good! Now, about this grizzly! Looks like a really neat area to hunt. Will stay tuned.

[Mik]

Part 3...

Heres a pic of the meat hanging at camp. Quite a busy day, time to celebrate.
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/DSC03713.jpg
Next morning we all decide to head in the same direction as there are many valleys still left to be explored. Once again we split off and away we go. It was getting well past lunch, we were having no luck so we thought lets go down and follow our partners trail up the mountain just incase they stirred something up. Well we met up with them and nothing. As were discussing our plan we hear 1 shot. Radios on and no response. We were all thinking its from the direction of our last partner so lets keep the radio on. It felt like eternity. The crackle from the radio comes on and "Moose Down". My brother nails one.
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/DSC03721.jpg
He tells us his location and away we go to pack our 3rd Moose.
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/2010Hunt127.jpg
....more to come

[4 point]

WOW super great hunt so far.....more to come can't wait.

[Steeleco]

Well done Mike and gang, now where's the Grizz?

[Mik]

Part 4...

The week flew by way to fast! Its our 2nd last day. The night before we discussed what we were going to do and came up with a game plan.
As we had 2 Grizzly tags, we were quite disappointed that we had not seen any,down low or even up high. We all did a lot of glassing through out the week.

Morning came way too fast and we were up n at 'em. Brewed a huge pot of coffee and away we go. We decided that the 3 of us would quad in as far as we could and then walk into this little valley. The other 2 partners were going cross country to find a Caribou.

We were up quite high, looked around and couldn't spot anything so we decided to head our way back down, taking our time. On our way down we crossed some Grizz tracks, but there was no way of telling how fresh they were as it had drizzled the night before. We hooked up with our quads, and down we go. On our way down we noticed this liitle side trail, so we had nothing to lose and up we go. As it turns out, it became quite a nice Quad trail and it was sidehilling up towards where these Grizz tracks headed off when we were up top. Its amazing at how many little meadows,slopes,mounds, nooks and cranny's that are actually up there, that you can't notice when you're glassing.(I know, thats hunting...LOL).

As we come up to the top of the mountain, the trail seems to get smaller and smaller and so we hop off to take a little walk. As we near the end of the trail towards a cliff, a little game trail leads to the left, so i decide to go up there and my buddy follows me. The other partner decides to go look beyond the cliff, which turns out to be more of a very steep ravine.
As we round the corner, over a knoll, my buddy says, wolf, and now by this time our other partner is right there beside us. Through the tall buckbrush, all my buddy could se was the shiny back, thinking it was a grey coloured wolf. I had a different angle, and could clearly see that it was a Grizzly, now about 2 paces from the tree line. It was a a meadow with a creek flowing through it, and it seems the Grizz was having a drink......his last one as I had now release the fury of my 30-06 165 grain into its body. With the slam of the bullet clearly hitting it, the bear was now grabbing at its front quarter as if to sooth the bee sting. Second shot goes off as I do not want to go look for this bear in the woods and then BAM! All is quiet and we cant see it at all.
We waited for an hour. During this time our other 2 partners had reached us on the radio and were heading up towards us to find us. I had lots of time to now range the shot, it was 178 Yards. With time ticking away, we decided an hour was more than enough time and so we neared the spot to where the bear was. The closer we got the exitement grew and now we could see that the bear was piled up not more than 5 yards from where i had shot him. Awesome, we didnt have to go looking for this bear in the woods. Heres a few pics..
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/DSC03734.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/PA012195.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/2010Hunt154.jpg

It turns out he was a Boar, and about 6'6'', nevertheless..."Grizzly Down"
By this time our other partners found us, and a few more photo ops and the work began. Skinned him out, 4 quarters later and were off. As we had a few more hours of daylight left and we were quite high up, 2 guys decided to go ahead down into the valley and the other 3 were exploring the other trails up the mountain. On our way down we were thinking this is such an excellent spot, we might even flush something out into the open for our pals down below.

We came down and out into the valley bottom, with still some daylight left. Our other to partners had been down for quite a while now and in radio contact said they thought they heard a few grunts. So we decided to stop at the tree line and do some calling. A few minutes later, we hear a grunt, so we call again and it sounds like its getting closer. By this time, our other buddy is coming along around the corner up towards us and eventually meets up and stops, we dont even speak, as i let out another grunt, and you definately hear a response back, then the famous line....Holy S***, its a bull, massive bull!

Now the guy that yells this out has already nailed one, ive nailed 1 and so has the other partner. The one guy that was with us hasnt got one yet and now the fun begins. I let out another grunt and this thing is running full tilt towards us, i range him at 789 yards and hes still closing in. The last partner is now motoring towards us, joins in and the fun continues. I grunt, give out a slight cow call, and he pauses. With all the excitement he figures theres something wrong, so he turns broadside at 450 yards and starts to trot away. One more big Grunt, he stops and BAM! 4th bull down. It turns out he was the largest of all 4 Bulls. It was now getting dark so quick photo op and the work begins again.
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/Kozynest/Hunt%202010/2010Hunt183.jpg

All in all it was a great hunt with great friends/hunting partners.

[d6dan]

Great Hunt Mik!, Very nice Griz bear!:-D. Thanks for the great written story and pics!. Congrats all around to the crew on a successful moose hunt.:-D

[bowhunterbruce]

absolutly stunning pics and a very well wrote story,had me on the edge of me seat all the way through.congrats to everyone of you on being so successful.
the wife and i had leh grizz and leh moose last year and didnt have anywheres near the success you guys did.

[warnniklz]

This thread makes me want to get a spring grizz draw soooooo much more!

[hillclimber]

What a beautiful area that you hunt. Looks like it was a slaughter house! Congrats on all the game.

[Ride Red]

Gorgeous country you were in !!! Very nice right up also. When I figure out how to post pics, I will post too.

[Gr8 white hunter]

Looks like the Jade mine rd up Deese lk way brings back memorys beutiful trip.

[shawnwells]

nice thread...nice country.

[greasysidedown]

Hey Mike. Great story. Well done.

You've been reading those romance novels again, haven't you..

......released the fury of my..........hahaha........

[Rattler]

Congrats on an awesome hunt. Thanks for sharing...

[swampthing]

Good hunting men. Moose huntin is a hoot but the bear huntin is a rush.

[srupp]

well done gentlemen..4 for 4 on moose is awesome...hunting the rut is incredible...

well done..

Steven:mrgreen:

[leadpillproductions]

heck of a trip congrads spring hunting cant come quick enough

[nano]

Congrats on a successful trip!

[Pioneerman]

That is a great story and great photo's thanks for sharing and telling it very well also. You mentioned about 1/4 up the grizzly. I have asked others before about eating the meat and never got a positive response from anyone about it. I have had spring grizzly draws and was told they will stink so bad during mating season that you would never dream of eating them. but I love black bear meat, how was this meat ?

[tomahawk]

Awesome........!!

[browningboy]

Congrats, looks like a great trip!

[BiG Boar]

Awsome hunt man! Not many that go so well!!! Put that one in a book!

[Mik]

That is a great story and great photo's thanks for sharing and telling it very well also. You mentioned about 1/4 up the grizzly. I have asked others before about eating the meat and never got a positive response from anyone about it. I have had spring grizzly draws and was told they will stink so bad during mating season that you would never dream of eating them. but I love black bear meat, how was this meat ?
We BBQ'D some steaks that night, it was awesome, although 1 partner refused to eat it. All around it was great, Red in colour, stringy like Elk, but good. Smoked some meat and it was like any other roast that i have had... i guess to each is own!

[Maxx]

Well done, you guys did very well, Congrats!!

[whitetailsheds]

What a great thread.....love the photos! Thanks!

[sneg]

good hunt.thanks for sharing story and pics.

[SR80]

Great story and pics!! Glad to see you're all driving the right trucks too!

[BillyBull]

Really great story and photos... quite the trip when you get 4 nice bulls and your bonus grizzly. I guess you'll skip next year if it snows you seem to be a very good rain hunting group. lol.

[Mik]

Really great story and photos... quite the trip when you get 4 nice bulls and your bonus grizzly. I guess you'll skip next year if it snows you seem to be a very good rain hunting group. lol.

Its amazing at how a group can adjust :-D; but then again, thats Hunting-one never knows what to expect-to a point.

[Blainer]

Beautiful Bruin!
Great story!Great hunt!

[6 K]

Love the color of that grizz.

[BigfishCanada]

Great story, Awesome pics, awesome game taken,

Thanks for sharing this!!


Ice Fishing Now!

[uraarchr]

Sounds like an awesome hunt and great pics! Wish I was there!I guess my bull is still runnin around up there somewhere ; maybe next year.I
'm the only guy with a Dodge now, so I probably won't get invited now.Great story!!!

[375 ultramag]

WOW great hunt, great pics, Congrats to all you guys.

[jaeger]

looks like a great hunt with good friends and a lot of tasty meat to fill the freezer. Good on you guys to take the meat from the grizz! That is what hunting is about!:-D

[hunter1947]

Your freezers are full of some of the best game meat you can put on the table ,hunting with a group like this makes for a good time ,animal pictures are great ,story is great what more can I say except congrats to the whole hunting party on a very successful hunt http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon6.gif..

[brno375]

Well done!

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Congrats on a great hunt!
It's nice to know a northern hunt can still be cost-effective with regards to bringing home a good supply of meat:).

Also nice that some guys can save their hunting stories for the slower times on HBC!

SSS

[325]

Awesome hunt! That grizzly is georgeous!

[Crossfire]

Great story, thanks for sharing. It's inspiring for the rest of us.

[ydouask]

Thanks Mik, have to agree with SSS on the timing of your post.... the great ones just get better when the hunting season fever has slowed down. I'm rightaway thinking... that was such a great hunt, we can do that too... hey, how about that spot where just past where we got the trailer stuck three years ago ? Or... yeah, yeah... oh, I know, remember that big valley where the bridge is washed out...? And so it begins once again...

[Maxx]

Congrats on a great hunt!
It's nice to know a northern hunt can still be cost-effective with regards to bringing home a good supply of meat:).

Also nice that some guys can save their hunting stories for the slower times on HBC!

SSS


Thats a great point, speaking of that, you have been awfully quiet about how your fall deer season went, unless I missed some stories?

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Thats a great point, speaking of that, you have been awfully quiet about how your fall deer season went, unless I missed some stories?

Nothing too note-worthy but I did put two stories in the Fall Contest...just because I might win a prize:wink:.

I'm sure you must have had some interesting adventures this year??

SSS

[Maxx]

Nothing too note-worthy but I did put two stories in the Fall Contest...just because I might win a prize:wink:.

I'm sure you must have had some interesting adventures this year??

SSS


Sorry, I missed your post, I will check that out in the fall hunting contest. All my adventures were early in the year, no fall hunting at all for me...

back to the thread, Love the pictures and the story, thanks for sharing Mik.

[xfactor]

Hey, Mik great story, great pics, good to see some familiar faces:) check your PM