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Old 10-07-2024, 06:24 PM
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Moo Snukkle Moo Snukkle is offline
 
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Default Moose hunt in 356, 2024



3 of us got away for 6 days to fill a moose tag in 356. Had elk tag as well but wasn’t the main focus. Camp was set on Sunday the 29th in a lease near Lake X.
Mama grizzly and two cubs passed by at under 200 yds while setting up camp, but they were non confrontational.


It rained at least 1/3rd of the time we were there. Thankful we had a garage to park in. When I ordered the tent 10 yrs ago, the 10’ porch was to keep our kit dry. Just worked out we had room for bikes.
Sunday night we just called clear cuts, hoping to pick up a response.
Monday was a quad around day to survey for sign. Strange observation, there was no atv track on any cutlines. Just a single two track on one power line. Effectively we had the place to ourselves. Based on the sign we found, truly, we should have packed up and found another area to hunt. Was some leftover sign from the elk rut, but overall not a lot of track to speak of. The habitat around the lake though, was ideal for moose hunting. Wednesday am, Matt (tag holder) and I cow called the south end of the lake. Matt had hunted lots before but had never taken a moose.Right after calling second set, a big boy stepped out on the line at 500 yds. I estimated at least a 5 yr old bull, with impressive fronts. He stared our way about 3 minutes. He came in our direction only about 10 yds from where he stepped onto the line, before he lost interest and went back in where he came from. I can only assume he had a cow held up in there, as wind was in our favour. “I’ll see you again in the morning “ I thought to myself. We let him be for the day. Over lunch, Colin says “ there has to be a satellite roaming around “, to which we agreed.
Wednesday afternoon, the 3 of us were set up in a huge clear cut on north side of the lake. Matt was with me again and Colin was 300 yds further away. An hour into the hunt, I pointed to Matt to a black spot in the cut.


Being a rough clear cut, we wanted him to come out of the valley to where we were calling. If it worked out, we’d still have a 300 yd trail to cut in to a kill site.
Bull came in on a rope. We had good cover on edge of tree line, and when I gave Matt the ok, he expertly squeezed off the 30 yd broadside shot to the neck with the Parker-Hale 30-06.




The back slapping began. After photos and stories, it started raining pretty good. Temps were cool at night and we had only enough time to gut animal and prop it open. Trail cutting wasn’t going to happen in the dark, so we’d be back in the morning to retrieve.


There was game to be had by the lake after all. They were just held up tight in their honey holes. Getting near their core areas and letting the calling do the work was key.
This was the 38th year Colin and myself have hunted together. At our age , it’s just about getting out and making memories. Bagging game is a bonus.
With the rain starting and darkness approaching, it seemed unlikely the crows would give away location of the kill site. Knowing there was grizzlies in abundance, we left the gut pile not 6 ft from the carcass. We left the organs on top within easy reach, hoping if a bear found the kill, it would feast on the low hanging fruit first .
Boy did we get lucky.



Grizzly found kill site very early in the morning. Not hard for them to smell a rutted up moose. We made our way into the site at 9:00 the next morning with 30-30 in hand. Bear had carcass almost buried. Not a bite was taken out of carcass. Bear rolled moose from its back onto its side and had it 75% covered. Clear to see in picture, we just lifted the legs of moose to inspect and dirt just rolled off its back into a pile. Just pauch left of the guts. Luck was on our side.
So 1 guy stood guard at all times while the other two hooked up and cut trail back to lease we walked in from


Carcass was boned out into bags at our camp. Took hide, head and skeleton about 2 km away on Thursday afternoon. Friday morning we checked it after driving around looking for elk, and everything had been picked clean by a bear overnight. Made trip home on Saturday
Bags were weighed this morning at a touch over 500 lbs.

Thanks to my loving sister, and my wife for preparing home cooked meals for us.
We have never hunted this zone. I reached out to a few members for some intel on good areas, and would like to give thanks to them for any information they offered.
Matt’s father gave us a vague starting point, but we did most of the reconnaissance ourselves.
Get out there and do it fellas (and gals). You just never know what stories are waiting for you.


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Old 10-07-2024, 06:33 PM
ghfalls ghfalls is online now
 
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Great write up and great bull. Congrats.
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Old 10-07-2024, 06:33 PM
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Well done Boys, great story and pics!
Cat
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Old 10-07-2024, 06:48 PM
Howard Hutchinson Howard Hutchinson is offline
 
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Very happy for you boys and yes, great story, Even happier the undertaker didn't mess up the animal or return while you were dealing with it or you might have been able to take back your moose heart, if you know what I'm saying. 30 yards, your friend must have been over the moon he came in that close. Awesome!!
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Old 10-07-2024, 07:51 PM
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Thanks for sharing. Going back the next morning to find it partially buried must have got the heart rate up a tad. Congrats on a nice bull!
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Old 10-07-2024, 08:11 PM
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Good job boy's, congrats on the nice bull, you had a bit of luck that the grizzly was not at the kill site on your moose in the morning when you got there or it would have been a show down, they won't give it up easily.
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Old 10-07-2024, 08:48 PM
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Great write up and pictures! And a huge congrats to you guys, that is truly awesome that you connected on a perfect bull.

Something to try in the future is to prop a jacket up on a tree or with some sticks at man height.
I don't know if it works all the time, but we've never had an animal scavenged overnight when we did it.
Having said that, I've never tried it in an area so infested with Grizzlies.

Thanks for posting your adventure.
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Old 10-07-2024, 09:27 PM
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Moo Snukkle Moo Snukkle is offline
 
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Thanks all for the well wishes.
I did leave a chainsaw on the carcass
Dumped some fuel around as well. It may as well have been honey.
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Old 10-07-2024, 10:23 PM
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Greatwest Greatwest is offline
 
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Great read and congrats on the success. Love seeing other people’s success as much or more than me being the one making the kill shot.
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Old 10-07-2024, 10:25 PM
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CBintheNorth CBintheNorth is offline
 
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I known guys who have had bears bite and poke holes in all their Jerry cans. I think they're actually slightly attracted to the smell of gasoline.

Regardless, I'm glad your meat wasn't really touched.
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Old 10-08-2024, 12:21 AM
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Stinky Buffalo Stinky Buffalo is offline
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Great story and pictures! Sure is a relief that you didn't have issues with that grizzly!
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Old 10-08-2024, 12:52 AM
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Very nice hunt indeed ,darn bears they can make things difficult. Glad it all went well.
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Old 10-08-2024, 06:51 AM
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Congrats on a successful hunt! Grizzly country brings in a whole other dynamic , especially Bears that have never been hunted. Glad it all worked out for you. Great story!

Craig
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Old 10-09-2024, 12:02 PM
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Great adventure and great write up, I always enjoy reading about your trips.
Congrats on the moose and glad that Grizz left long enough for you guys to get that moose out!!
I worked in that area years ago and there was no shortage of Grizz then, I can imagine it's even worse now.....
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Old 10-09-2024, 12:11 PM
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Great write up and pictures. Thanks for sharing!
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Old 10-09-2024, 12:20 PM
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Great report!
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Old 10-09-2024, 01:44 PM
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Thx for sharing, great adventure for sure tossing in bears and buddies
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Old 10-09-2024, 02:23 PM
aragor764 aragor764 is offline
 
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Well done great write up! cheers.
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Old 10-09-2024, 03:59 PM
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Good job, I'm glad the area worked out for you, and that the grizzly didn't mess up the carcass. That would have been disappointing to say the least. I figured you'd have an encounter or two in there, glad there was no undue excitement.
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Old 10-09-2024, 08:39 PM
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Great write up and pics.
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Old 10-09-2024, 08:44 PM
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Sounds like a perfect trip. This has been a boon for great storytelling and write ups this season. Loved the detailed write up, photos and encouraging words to us all to get out there and make it happen!


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  #22  
Old 10-09-2024, 09:53 PM
Sitkaspruce Sitkaspruce is offline
 
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Congrats on the moose and the great trip, thanks for sharing!

When we got an animal late, quickly quarter it using the gutless method and pull the quarters away from the carcass. I would find a 10-15" (depends on how far you can view the animal from) pole, tag the end of the pole with a bunch of flagging tape and drive it into the ribs or other part that can hold the pole up. Make sure it is held firm and the wind or birds don't knock it over.

Then look for the flagging the next morning. If it still standing, no worries, if you cannot see it, then use lots of caution. It has saved me a few bear confrontations

The clothes trick or the pee around the animal has never worked for me. I have had a few issues with bears, but for me, the biggest PITA was wolverines, nothing deterred them and they made of with more than one quarter. They would p*ss all over the quarter so it stunk bad!!

Cheers

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