Moose hunt trip: Florida to Manning, AB

[Ruger71]

Originally Posted by MooseRiverTrapper

I carved a face into a tree at the river bridge. Is it still there?

Didn't notice it - but will check this year for sure!

[A207X2]

Just checking in and a quick status. Hunt is still on, I've decided that I'll be bringing a 15 cf chest freezer and an inverter to run it.

This past spring we purchased a GSP pup (8 months old for pheasant hunting from a breeder in Kansas. Wife and I drove out to pick her up and brought her home. She has started her training, but we wanted to get her home and acclimated to the house and the other two dogs. I'll be bringing her with me on the trip, dropping her off in Kansas with the breeder who is also a gun dog trainer. She'll stay with him for 8 weeks to finish up her training, then I'll drive back out to bring her home. In January we'll head back to Missouri for a week of pheasant hunting.

I've taken the Browning 30-06 out to the range and have been sighting it in. I didn't get as much range time as I had hoped for as work got in the way. Hoping to get it all tuned up during the month of June. Sighting it in with Buffalo Bore 168 gr TTSX Supercharged Lead-Free ammo. At $3.75 USD per shot, I hope I get it sighted in quickly!



I'm bringing my Henry 45-70 along as my backup, using Hornady LEVERevolution 325 gr FTX ammo.



I'm up to 5 miles/day walking. Am looking to stretch that to 10 miles/day on weekends by July. Once I hit that number, I'll put my day pack on and gradually put some weight in it. Not too much, maybe 10 lbs or so. Outfitter tells me moose hunting is a lot of sitting and calling, but I still want to be able to hump it if we need to.

All lights are green for the trip.

[Twisted Canuck]

Ammo is expensive, but really the least expensive part of the hunt. Practice is good, and that's a good cartridge and bullet for your hunt. Confidence comes from practice. Getting in shape is so good too, you're outfitter will appreciate that almost.as much as you will. I'm sure you'll have a memorable trip.

[huntinstuff]

So you're taking a 30-06........

Good.

[sns2]

Really great to hear your plans are coming together. Hope you get a big bull and have a memorable trip!

[heretohunt]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

So you're taking a 30-06........

Good.

[buckman]

You might want to have a winch along. Get one fitted that can go on either the front or back.That road is nasty when it rains.Enjoy your hunt

[Big Grey Wolf]

If I remember our Florida moose hunter already has a winch on his truck.

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by buckman

You might want to have a winch along. Get one fitted that can go on either the front or back. That road is nasty when it rains. Enjoy your hunt

I have a 12k on the front of the truck. Do not have anything on the back. Been thinking about throwing one of these in the truck.

VEVOR Come Along 5-Ton Winch

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by A207X2

I have a 12k on the front of the truck. Do not have anything on the back. Been thinking about throwing one of these in the truck.

VEVOR Come Along 5-Ton Winch

Useless on your truck. Get three or four snatch blocks, some clevis hooks and tree straps. Then you can use the winch to pull yourself backwards.

There are lots of videos and different rigging method but this is the general idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVnbPNyLu_c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxP-Mjk23HA

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Useless on your truck. Get three or four snatch blocks, some clevis hooks and tree straps. Then you can use the winch to pull yourself backwards.

There are lots of videos and different rigging method but this is the general idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVnbPNyLu_c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxP-Mjk23HA

Dean, those are great videos. I will add some synthetic rope and a few more snatch kits and tree savers to my gear. What has me concerned is when I get into a situation where I cannot use the 12k winch (no power, nose jammed into a ditch where I can’t operate the winch. That’s where the Come Along would come in handy. Even if I just went with a rear hitch winch, if I don’t have any power to run the winch, it doesn’t get me anywhere. Having a manual ability could prove to be invaluable.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by A207X2

Dean, those are great videos. I will add some synthetic rope and a few more snatch kits and tree savers to my gear. What has me concerned is when I get into a situation where I cannot use the 12k winch (no power, nose jammed into a ditch where I can’t operate the winch. That’s where the Come Along would come in handy. Even if I just went with a rear hitch winch, if I don’t have any power to run the winch, it doesn’t get me anywhere. Having a manual ability could prove to be invaluable.

You can't really prepare for every single eventuality. Even if you get it unstuck manually, you now have an unstuck vehicle that still doesn't have power. I have spent a great deal of time very far away from main highways but you can't take an entire recovery vehicle and all the repair gear every time you go out, for that one time when you need it. At some point, if it gets bad enough, time to call a tow truck. That said, in 50 years of putting on hundreds of thousands of miles off pavement, never needed to get towed out. We have rope towed a few folks back to town that we found broke down and couldn't fix enough to get them mobile.

All in however, you have to remember where you are going you have an outfitter to rely on, plus a bunch of other people who will be using that road. The Chin is pretty heavily travelled, you aren't stranded in a zero other traffic area.

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by Dean2

You can't really prepare for every single eventuality. Even if you get it unstuck manually, you now have an unstuck vehicle that still doesn't have power. I have spent a great deal of time very far away from main highways but you can't take an entire recovery vehicle and all the repair gear every time you go out, for that one time when you need it. At some point, if it gets bad enough, time to call a tow truck. That said, in 50 years of putting on hundreds of thousands of miles off pavement, never needed to get towed out. We have rope towed a few folks back to town that we found broke down and couldn't fix enough to get them mobile.

All in however, you have to remember where you are going you have an outfitter to rely on, plus a bunch of other people who will be using that road. The Chin is pretty heavily travelled, you aren't stranded in a zero other traffic area.

Great post! The reason I was looking at a Come Along was in the event that I had no power to the winch, or something that would preclude me from being able to use it. With a Come Along it might get me just enough to get back on the road again. For less than $100 it might be worth it to throw one in the toolbox.

[huntinstuff]

Originally Posted by A207X2

Great post! The reason I was looking at a Come Along was in the event that I had no power to the winch, or something that would preclude me from being able to use it. With a Come Along it might get me just enough to get back on the road again. For less than $100 it might be worth it to throw one in the toolbox.

You wont have room for a moose with all that gear! Lol

[NCC]

I still think the trailer will be more trouble than it's worth and would figure out to get everything you need packed into the box of the truck.

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

You wont have room for a moose with all that gear! Lol

[eaglemountainman]

I've changed up my plans and decided to drive from Florida as well, rather than fly. Just too much stress involved being tied to a return flight with all the variables of meat processing and shipping. Not really looking forward to all that windshield time, but this way I can roll with whatever happens without any timing issues. I'll be putting a chest freezer in the truck as well.

Thinking I might want to break up the return trip a little by stopping in North or South Dakota, for a few days chasing pheasants.

[outofbounds]

Maybe if he has room, he can maybe bring the cup up to Edmonton on his way by, just sayin....

[eaglemountainman]

Originally Posted by outofbounds

Maybe if he has room, he can maybe bring the cup up to Edmonton on his way by, just sayin....

I'd be happy to. But what makes think that after more than 30 years, it wants to come back now!? 🤣 It sure looks like it wants to live in sunny Florida for awhile.

J/K I have no right to talk.....I'm a NY Ranger fan.😉

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by eaglemountainman

I'd be happy to. But what makes think that after more than 30 years, it wants to come back now!? 🤣 It sure looks like it wants to live in sunny Florida for awhile.

J/K I have no right to talk.....I'm a NY Ranger fan.😉

Lifetime Montreal Canadiens fan here! Wooden sticks rock!

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by A207X2

Lifetime Montreal Canadiens fan here! Wooden sticks rock!

Ok, now you are pushing it!

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by fishnguy

Ok, now you are pushing it!

Hey, c'mon! I'm old school "6-teams-in-the-NHL" days.

[Ruger71]

We've hauled an RV and a cargo trailer to 100km each year - and the cargo beyond - for the last 4-5 years. Never any issues - you meet a grader every 30km or so it seems. A few soft spots, but never anything close to being stuck. Even was in there when it snowed with the RV trailer and no issues. Unless you're off the main drag (which we use ATVs or hike in) - no worries...there's trucks by during the day every 20 minutes at least. Plus cell service all the way back along the main road and within about 4-5km of the road into the woods...

Get into trouble 5km and beyond, it's a 'pleasurable' hike to the main road...don't see many people off the main road.

Countdown for us is on for sure - we're excited to get back up there each year. Feel free to pop in - we'll be either at the river at 108km or the airport at 100km - in a wall tent.

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by Ruger71

We've hauled an RV and a cargo trailer to 100km each year - and the cargo beyond - for the last 4-5 years. Never any issues - you meet a grader every 30km or so it seems. A few soft spots, but never anything close to being stuck. Even was in there when it snowed with the RV trailer and no issues. Unless you're off the main drag (which we use ATVs or hike in) - no worries...there's trucks by during the day every 20 minutes at least. Plus cell service all the way back along the main road and within about 4-5km of the road into the woods...

Get into trouble 5km and beyond, it's a 'pleasurable' hike to the main road...don't see many people off the main road.

Countdown for us is on for sure - we're excited to get back up there each year. Feel free to pop in - we'll be either at the river at 108km or the airport at 100km - in a wall tent.

Sounds like there may be a few of us up there at the same time. It’d be fun get together if even for one day.

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by A207X2

Dean, those are great videos. I will add some synthetic rope and a few more snatch kits and tree savers to my gear. What has me concerned is when I get into a situation where I cannot use the 12k winch (no power, nose jammed into a ditch where I can’t operate the winch. That’s where the Come Along would come in handy. Even if I just went with a rear hitch winch, if I don’t have any power to run the winch, it doesn’t get me anywhere. Having a manual ability could prove to be invaluable.

I took your advice and picked up 3 additional snatch blocks, tree savers, and 100' of synthetic cable. When I first hooked it all together my geometry was wrong; I didn't use the 2nd snatch block at the back, so it was a 1:1 ratio between front and rear. Once I figured that out, I added the 2nd snatch block to the rear and it worked perfectly.

Thanks for that tip!

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

You wont have room for a moose with all that gear! Lol

Methinks he's over thinking the whole trip, he's not going to the end of the world, we're a relatively civilized country. Nice drive, shoot moose, go home.

[huntinstuff]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

Methinks he's over thinking the whole trip, he's not going to the end of the world, we're a relatively civilized country. Nice drive, shoot moose, go home.

True. But then again, those guys from that certain place up there usually take offense to "strangers" on the Chin road.......especially guys with lots of shiny new gear and such......btw did they ever find that guy from a couple years back? The suspects in that were relatives of the OP's outfitter, weren't they?

[MooseRiverTrapper]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

True. But then again, those guys from that certain place up there usually take offense to "strangers" on the Chin road.......especially guys with lots of shiny new gear and such......btw did they ever find that guy from a couple years back? The suspects in that were relatives of the OP's outfitter, weren't they?

I never heard about this?

[huntinstuff]

Originally Posted by MooseRiverTrapper

I never heard about this?

Yeah it was weird
This guy drove up from the States or Mexico (same thing) had a whack of new gear in his truck, like he was going into "no man's land". Turned onto the Chinchaga Road and disappeared like a box of Smarties at a Jenny Craig convention.....only evidence the cops found was a brand new come-a-long and a lever gun with a muzzle brake......

[MooseRiverTrapper]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

Yeah it was weird
This guy drove up from the States or Mexico (same thing) had a whack of new gear in his truck, like he was going into "no man's land". Turned onto the Chinchaga Road and disappeared like a box of Smarties at a Jenny Craig convention.....only evidence the cops found was a brand new come-a-long and a lever gun with a muzzle brake......

Wow. Do you have a link?

Hopefully it goes better for the OP haha