Gamslayer's hunting adventure Pics & vids [Archive]

gameslayer

01-20-2011, 11:12 PM

Figured some of you may be bored like me so you can kill a few minutes having a read/watch while we wait for the next season.
So after several months of planning, investing in equipment and building equipment we were off on our annual Hunt up North. We ran into several complications just getting to camp due to the weather (rain storms) that caused us a lot of extra work, anxiety and adrenalin rushes. We make a huge effort to get away from other hunters and access areas where there is a lot of game. Even if you did not harvest anything the experience by its self is well worth it as it is an awesome adventure.
As soon as you start the Journey you are wet and covered in mud so this year we officially named it the shit show. As shit happens, shit breaks, shit falls off, shit covers everything, the drinking water looks like shit, the gumbo smells like shit, shit does not work, the weather goes to shit, things get clogged with shit, you lose shit, but mostly being covered in the shit and the most common used word is shit but we are always having fun.

Broken U joint after frozen drums needed to remove axle
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/18.jpg

The standard 12 gauge shell to plug the hole were the axle should be. 3 wheel drive

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/17.jpg
Shits how
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/13.jpg

I will not go into all the things that happened as the story would be even longer (hard to imagineJ) but we ended up losing 4 hunting days because of high water and had to set up a spike camp about 1/2 way in and we were not able to meet up and hunt with some of our friends that we had planned to that were in camp before us more than a week earlier.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/141.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/140.jpg

gameslayer

01-20-2011, 11:18 PM

On the fourth day we could not take it any longer and decided to make a second attempt, (as the first one failed on day 2 after we broke camp only to have to set up camp again too much water) we left early afternoon and we made it across. We passed our friends on the trail; we on the way in and they were spike camped as well due to the water levels on their way out. Had a quick beer and shared same tales, handed off some new parts as one of their machines had broke, they had called before we left home and one of our partners had some parts fabricated so our buddies could make it out safely. We then hit the road and we were on our last leg. It turned dark about 1.5 km from camp one of the machines caught on fire , we managed to put it out & do a damage assessment all looked ok and we pushed on & made it to camp, unload, set up and got ready for the morning.
We were late leaving camp in the morning and it took us longer than normal to hike to our spot being the first day, weather was clear and sunny so if I recall it was a slow morning with a few distant Bull Moose grunting back at my calls. We spotted a Grizzly leaving the area about 2-300 meters from where we set up which might explain the lack of immediate game in the area. Later that evening about 600 meters away or more my buddy spotted something move then this Bull step out:
Insert bull passed
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/144.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/135.jpg
It took an insane amount of very aggressive calling and switching from cow to bull but he finally turned and came in. Due to his brushed tops we did not feel confident in saying he had 10 points as he only had 2 point lower palm (after closer inspection the left brow looks like a point broke off) so we all opted to pass only to discover later at camp due to the digital zoom function on my camera that he did look legal but it was close so we were happy with our decision.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/145.jpg

We had some fun watching what he would do walking past a carcass of an immature carcass our friends left in the area on his way to us. Sorry but the video Quality is a little shaky (especially me laughing a little gitty I guess) as I do it free hand with a picture camera no tripod.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNfrcaX9rcI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNfrcaX9rcI)

gameslayer

01-20-2011, 11:26 PM

We had either the same Bull or a bigger one later that evening actually sneak up in between us as we had split up and were calling 40 yards apart from one another into 2 different valleys. My buddy 40 yards away thought the incoming grunting was me until it finally sounded too authentic and could feel the base in the grunt vibrate. I could not hear it due to the wind and he walked up on my other partner behind me with his pants around his ankles getting changed, he hollered my name I ran over and the moose was standing about 30 feet away staring at us 2 idiots flopping around. We had real good laugh over that after it smashed its way down the valley.
The next morning we called in another bull, which as he walked in stopped and looked to his right and I spotted what he was looking at 25 meters away. He was having a stare down with a large Grizzly. Turns out the other Grizz we saw leaving was being sent packing by this big boy:
Insert Grizz Pictures

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/138.jpg
This is the Bull he was staring at this bull :
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/139.jpg

Showing teeth at the bull
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/126.jpg
The bull was too small so we kept watching the Grizz as he lay back down & slept:
Insert sleeping Grizz
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/132.jpg
Had a crap
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/146.jpg

gameslayer

01-20-2011, 11:30 PM

We continued to watch him as he was 2-300 meters from us but was obviously laid on a buried carcass so we figured he had no plans to come our way.
Not long later I called in this Bull and shot some video of him. He stuck around all day and would come out every time we called down the other valley were the Grizz was not.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/128.jpg

Thrashing Bull video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuFdHSPDwEs

After I shot that clip I went back to look at the Grizz and spotted a couple of wolves moving in.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/133.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/147.jpg
To my amazement one of the wolves moved in on the Grizz and they had a stare down, the Grizz was showing teeth and huffing at it but no serious action transpired and the wolf soon turned and trotted away.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/130.jpg
No shooters on day 2, we had about 5 different bulls grunting back at us from different directions spotted some cows far off but the light was fading so we decided to call it a day and the weather was turning, it started to snow. A few last calls and our friend came back out.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/121.jpg

gameslayer

01-20-2011, 11:35 PM

It snowed all night and we woke up in the morning to about 5-7 inches of snow.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/117.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/P9190058-1.jpg
I had a good feeling that the snow would cover up some of the predator scent and get more bulls moving in as we knew they were out there and could hear us from the previous days grunting. On our hike in discovered not only the bulls were moving but that Grizz had come to check out all our calling. He knew exactly where he had been.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/118.jpg
So sure enough the first cow call and we instantly got a close response within a few minutes, and out walked this fellow.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/115.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/114.jpg

gameslayer

01-20-2011, 11:38 PM

We did a quick confirmation and sure enough 3 on the lower brow palm and my buddy prepared to shoot but he was coming in fast and moved beneath us in some trees no shot. My other buddy, let’s call him golden boy (Mr. fitness) after discussing a plan ran way down the valley and circled back in an effort to call the bull out of cover towards him for a shot. As luck would have it the bull changed direction and walked out from the trees and my other friend was able to dump him.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/116.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/113.jpg
Once we got him quartered and hung back at camp we decided it was beer & rum time gathered wood and celebrated with a big meal and a 60 of rum. We had a fun night relaxing and telling stories, I love that almost as much as hunting. We had visitors in the night 2 wolverines decided to share our camp and packed away some of the hide. They hung around the rest of the hunt there seemed to be a lot of wolverines around and we spotted others in the area. Here is a snapshot of one of the wolverines I am disappointed I did not take more pictures.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/16.jpg
The next morning we helped 2 of our partners pack up and head off as the time they planned on staying was up and 3 of us remained. 2 of us headed out around noon & our other partner was not feeling well so he hung around camp watched the wolverines and the 2 of us in no time spotted a decent bull bedded down about 5-600 meters out. We at the time did not want to take him where he was so tried for hours to call him in. He would grunt back and thrash the willows but decided he was in no rush to come to us. He had a big body so we nick named him the buffalo.
Here he is bedded:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/19.jpg

gameslayer

01-20-2011, 11:42 PM

As the day continued my partner was calling in the other valley as I called the buffalo and soon he called me on the radio to tell me he had a bull coming in. I ran over to him and we waited and a nice bull came out of the trees grunting and thrashing up a storm. He waited until he was nice and close and put a well placed 180 grain bullet through his shoulder and the bull dropped within about 15 yards. We called our friend at camp to come give us a hand and I stayed in a position to guide my partner to the moose as he headed down the valley to gather equipment meet up with our friend and head to the moose. I had some time to kill so I hiked back to call the buffalo. Here are some pictures of my partner’s bull.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/P9190070.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/P9200084.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/1.jpg

gameslayer

01-20-2011, 11:45 PM

When I got to the other valley I called & the bull started to respond and was on the move. He thrashed his way through the bush to a nice opening and proceeded to make a wallow
See Wallow Video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpG_oKpXuhc

He soon was closing the distance and moving in, I had guided my partners to the downed bull and told them the news that the other bull was coming in and both of them told me to dump him. I got set up and turned on the video and the bull was coming in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t-HJqsdH-M (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t-HJqsdH-M)

My final look at him
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/110.jpg

Sorry. I decided not to take the shot as I knew my partners were working hard with the other bull, one was not feeling well with a medical condition, and this one was still in a bad spot below a swamp and we would have a very long night ahead of us with a Grizz nearby. I was feeling selfish for making my partners do the extra work and the thought of all the more work I was about to cause; it felt like the right choice at the time. I ran down the valley and helped quarter up the moose and get it back to camp and we celebrated my buddies Kill another great night.

todbartell

01-20-2011, 11:46 PM

nice man, keep them coming!

gameslayer

01-20-2011, 11:51 PM

That night I heard our bear bell (bottles clanging) go off twice and investigated both times, I could hear snow crunching but figured it was the 2 wolverines , next day discovered the moose head that we were going to dump in the morning was gone and saw we had bear tracks in camp. Turns out it was just a black bear as my buddy spotted it about 1km from camp. No kills that day we split up in the morning, we called in some smaller bulls watched the squirrels work:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/123.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/122.jpg
The weather started to turn and fog was rolling in. I was aggressively cow calling as we had a bull moving in grunting for the past hour but he just kept staying out of site in the trees. I just finished a loud series of calls and heard branch’s breaking and I see a Grizzly charging straight towards my direction about 250 meters out coming from the same direction of the bull. I radioed my buddies to give them the heads up as they were hiking back to camp and the way to me was the same trail they were on. I pondered what to do and decided to grab my pack and high tailed it down the trail with my rifle ready. I caught up with my partners no sign of the bear. Kind of and unnerving sight, those friggin things move fast. We made it back to camp with no events. It is hard to say if it was purposely running at me because of the calls, or from the bull that was held up or a bigger bear. The timing was uncannily synced with the end of my call.
Some scenery
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/14.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/112.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/142.jpg

gameslayer

01-20-2011, 11:56 PM

The next day was foggy no visibility so we decided to stay low split up and hike and call. I through my elderly partner’s wise advice decided to go well past that bedded G-bear and then start calling. A bull instantly responded to my first call I called the moose in twice in about a 10 minute span very aggressive, he winded me and ran the first time, I cranked it up and tossed in a pissed off bull call and he came charging back in within 15 feet. He did not walk into the shooting hole I had planned but circled back and right of me. I had a hard time counting for points, me trying not to move with him beside me about 20 feet away, and his 10 point side was on the opposite side I was on. He was down wind of me and started to spooked a bit and trotted in front of me. Verified the points took a quick shot that shamefully learned latter hit low in the brisket that ricocheted back into the same leg as I was standing shattering the bone and the bullet lodged in the forearm (JFK shot ??) and the bull took of running.
Unfortunately not far away was that Grizz that bedded on a carcass and he ran straight back towards that general direction. It was foggy so I was having a hard time pin pointing the exact location of the big boar not able to see surrounding vegetation and land marks so I was a little on edge tracking the bull. There was a lot of blood and he bedded within 200 yards. I unfortunately pushed him and the chase was on. Because this Grizz was in the area and we had spotted other bears, with all the blood, I was not comfortable with leaving it as I figured my moose would be claimed by a bear, so I ended up tracking him & pushing him from close to a dozen different beds. All I can say it was an experience of a life time. We had cows calling and other bulls calling and it appeared my bull was chasing the cows even though he was shot. I hooked up with a buddy after a few hours using the GPS radio’s & we could see he was dragging one leg lot’s of blood. We ended up having other bulls come to us as we attempted to call him being as he was following a calling cow and after another couple hours we found him standing on a knoll (bugger went downhill then back up) head shot. He was over 3 km from the original shot as the crow flies 2km off any trail and zigzagged covering about 6 km.
That ended a great hunt, we worked until dark finding our way out, getting our gear, getting the bull quartered and back to camp.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/2010hunt379-1.jpg

I can not wait until next year
Cheers :-D

guest

01-20-2011, 11:58 PM

Great Pics !

Cool story, good on you and your hard working buddies!

Congrats, you earned your rewards.

CT

bruin

01-21-2011, 12:15 AM

Awesome pics, especially the wolverine. A rare opportunity

yama49

01-21-2011, 01:00 AM

Wow great story and pictures. thx for sharing...

pmj

01-21-2011, 01:05 AM

Congratulations on a great hunt. Thanks for the extra effort taking all the video and pictures. Sounds like you have a great group to hunt with. Good on you for taking into consideration your partners and passing on that bull late in the day at the swamp. You are a true sportsman.

One Shot

01-21-2011, 01:56 AM

Great accounts, thank you for sharing.:-D

hunter1947

01-21-2011, 03:24 AM

Looks like you had a fun adventure i like it when things break down its a challenge to get them back up and running again http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon6.gif when things break down it is as challenging as finding your game animal and shooting it ,nice pictures excellent story http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif..

proguide66

01-21-2011, 04:37 AM

thats some quality hunting/game and camera work there!!! especially with no plane or horses!!! cool!!

The Hermit

01-21-2011, 06:42 AM

Thanks for posting up all the great pics and footage of your excellent trip! NO SHIT!!! ;-)

doubled

01-21-2011, 06:52 AM

Great story, thanks for a very good read.

Stone Sheep Steve

01-21-2011, 07:52 AM

Awesome hunt and presentation!!
A moose hunt doesn't get much better than that!:cool::cool:

SSS

pg83

01-21-2011, 08:08 AM

Thanks for sharing the pics and story. Looks like you guys had a great trip.

BiG Boar

01-21-2011, 08:27 AM

Wow! You had me captivated the entire story! Great pictures too! Thanks for taking the time to post up. Curious as to why you didn't shoot the wolverines or wolves?

ydouask

01-21-2011, 08:47 AM

Excellent account of your Moose hunt. From beginning to end it points out that wilderness hunting is not for the faint of heart. Congratulations !

killer

01-21-2011, 09:08 AM

Excellent pics .

rocksteady

01-21-2011, 09:45 AM

Excellent presentation....Standing Ovation from this viewer :mrgreen::mrgreen:

Everett

01-21-2011, 10:01 AM

The perfect balance of writing and pictures thanks for shareing.

4 point

01-21-2011, 10:18 AM

Very well done post. Great writing and excellent pictures. A hunt of a lifetime for most.

knighthunter

01-21-2011, 10:46 AM

Great pic's and story. I can see a great time was had, other than maybe the break down.

Barracuda

01-21-2011, 10:47 AM

Great writeup and Videos Paul and congrats on what looks to be an awsome hunt.

Blair

01-21-2011, 10:51 AM

I enjoyed reading the story and seeing the pics and video. Sounds like the kind of hunt most only dream of. What MU were you in?

luckynuts

01-21-2011, 12:21 PM

Awesome story and pictures. Thanks. Love moose hunting always lots of action and good times in the bush and around the camp fire. My neighbor pulled a really good bull out of that area this past season unbelievable palms on it. Loved the pics of the G-bears they seem to be increasing every year.

Thanks again,

W.

d6dan

01-21-2011, 01:25 PM

Excellent story and picture presentation Gameslayer!.. Enjoyed it very much. Thanks for posting..

haligan

01-21-2011, 02:09 PM

That was a fantastic read, nice work, made my morning! It's stories like these that keep you going until next season

6 K

01-21-2011, 02:49 PM

good story and Great job on that last bull! I know what it is like to long range for those.
Do you have another pic of him?

150fighter

01-21-2011, 04:19 PM

That pic with the griz and wolf is cool!!! Sounds like an awesome hunt!

gameslayer

01-21-2011, 07:57 PM

Thanks for all the positive feed back, like most of you folks on here I absolutly live for this stuff. I will take the "Shit Show" over Mexico any day.

I enjoyed reading the story and seeing the pics and video. Sounds like the kind of hunt most only dream of. What MU were you in?

Thanks Blair Up in 7B North :wink:

Wow! You had me captivated the entire story! Great pictures too! Thanks for taking the time to post up. Curious as to why you didn't shoot the wolverines or wolves?

Thanks for your positive feed back Big Boar
The wolverines were closed and to this point a few of us have chosen to just use the camera for shooting the wolfs. Thought I was going to get some video of shooting wolves last year. One of my Partners who has whacked his share, was with me and just as I (with camera) and he with rifle were set up the Wolf picked up our scent and was gone. He always wanted a black one I sem to see one every time alway's the way eh ?
Saw an absolutely massive extremely well muscled white one last year it was with a grey almost looked hybrid because of the thickness of his face/ jaws. Our other friends that we missed hooking up with took a crack at a huge black one this year and missed.

jaeger

01-21-2011, 07:58 PM

Thanks for sharing this hunt with us! Looks like you guys have got it figured pretty good! was that a tri palm bull area only? no immies?

BlacktailStalker

01-21-2011, 08:06 PM

Great hunt, write up and pics.
You're fortunate to see all that different game.
Cant say those wolves would have walked away though :)

gameslayer

01-21-2011, 08:09 PM

good story and Great job on that last bull! I know what it is like to long range for those.
Do you have another pic of him?

Thanks 6K

It was foggy and we had a lot of work to do before dark so I did not take a lot of pics of him whole but I have a few others.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/148-1.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/149.jpg

Used the gutless method on him so the rest have a lot more blood in them.

gameslayer

01-21-2011, 08:33 PM

Thanks for sharing this hunt with us! Looks like you guys have got it figured pretty good! was that a tri palm bull area only? no immies?

It is 10 point , Tri Palm or Immy so lots of opportunities :mrgreen:.

Slee

01-21-2011, 08:43 PM

Great story! great moose! Thanks for taking the time to post it. Were just planning our trip right now for next Sept. Cant wait!

kennyj

01-21-2011, 08:57 PM

Great story and photos. Really enjoyed them.
kenny

.330 Dakota

01-21-2011, 09:10 PM

Awesome story and pix, the wolverine, grizzly and wolves really were a treat

Sako7

01-22-2011, 12:19 AM

Never mind the Golden boy,who's the poster boy standing on the trail???:mrgreen:

The Dawg

01-22-2011, 12:53 AM

Wow...simply wow...thanks :)

Deaddog

01-22-2011, 07:30 AM

wow, those are world class pics...great job, sounds like a hunt of a lifetime, thanks for sharing. DD

CanuckShooter

01-22-2011, 08:21 AM

Great story & pics...really liked the grizz/wolf shot...you don't get to see that everyday!!

whitetailsheds

01-22-2011, 10:19 AM

Great thread.....easy to read along....and great photos.....and some critters, both live and some "not quite" in the freezer yet. Thanks for posting!

BillyBull

01-22-2011, 12:07 PM

Great hunt, great read, great pictures..... thanks for letting us relive your hunt.

gameslayer

01-22-2011, 01:09 PM

Never mind the Golden boy,who's the poster boy standing on the trail???:mrgreen:

Ha Ha Ha :razz: Sako7 You always seem to be able to Ham it up for the camera and enforcement officers .

Pit Crew here, When you buying us a new Machine & trailer :wink: we need to pack more Rum
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/P9200081.jpg

Poster boy posing

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff263/gameslayer_photo/2010%20stuff/151.jpg

BuckEye

01-22-2011, 07:10 PM

I absolutely love these hunting story threads. The pictures are great, rare wolverine one especially. I'm living vicariously with only smell and taste missing from the experience you shared with us. It gives me a future hunting goal to aspire too.
I think the site needs a hunting story forum category. We can post our small or big experiences, and have stories to inspire and keep the flame burning during the off season. The hunting magazines just don't come out often enough and the stories of this caliber are far and few in between. Who better can tell the hunting stories of our province than us:-D

spear

01-22-2011, 07:36 PM

After reading this i have for the first time, a desire to go moose hunting. thanks for the post and pics

gh300

01-22-2011, 08:41 PM

Unbelievable!!!!! What an adventure. It would be incredible to experience a hunt like that. Makes hunting in my area look like child's play. You guys are very fortunate. Cheers!

tomahawk

01-22-2011, 08:55 PM

Great pictures and stories!!

traderphil

01-23-2011, 02:07 PM

Sounds like an AWESOME hunt!!! Good stuff gents!!

fearnodeer

01-23-2011, 02:27 PM

Take me with you i'd make a great pack mule, just kidding well done on the story and pics,

M.Dean

01-23-2011, 02:47 PM

Reading about your Adventure makes me want to hook up my Quad trailer and leave right from here! I've always said"Every trips a good trip" and it sounds like that was one for the Record Books! It's nice to be able to go onto a Hunting Site and read and watch a good Moose Hunting story, I've about had it with Wild TV's Bow Hunting White Tails in Kansas, Texas, Georgia, Maine, and any other God Dam Southern State for a life time!!!! Thanks for sharing, I needed that "Fix" about this time of year!!!