AK Moose Pics

elknut · Sep 22, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Sep-22-07 AT 10:50PM (MST)[p]What a fantastic hunt, wolves, rivers, lakes, bugs, rafts, 10 airplanes, and Moose. The trip took 13 days (two hunters) and we both scored on nice bulls. Mine is 66" and my friend's is 56" (I'll post his pics later, if he gives me the OK). Three shots from the 300 Ultra Mag put the bull down.

couesbitten · Sep 22, 2007

Congrats on a fantastic moose. That thing is huge! Looks like you had to carefully pick your route through the trees. Tell us some more about your hunt. Was it a DIY, float hunt, fly-in drop camp, rough cost for hunt, etc. I know I'm dying to get up there and do some hunting, and all the info that i can gather helps out. Thanks, Scott

Hiker · Sep 23, 2007

Elknut, sounds like you had a adventure. Congrats on getting your bull and congrats to your hunting partner too.

Hiker

Proverbs 3:5-6

Edpre · Sep 24, 2007

Congrats! Beautiful moose. Had the pleasure of dropping one myself and partner did the same. It was definitely a great hunt.

Ed

Gator · Sep 24, 2007

66' look huge on your pack, Looks like you had a time getting thru those trees.

Flatlandr · Sep 24, 2007

Great pics elknut! A big Bull Moose is definitely a dream of mine. Can you give us some details about the hunt? I would especially like to know what it costs to do a hunt like you went on.

Mark

hntnelk · Sep 29, 2007

Had a great trip with elknut! You are welcome for passing your bull at 100 yards the night before so you could get a crack at that monster... Hardest but funest hunt ever... Can not wait to see your wife's Utah MZ bull. I wish I had more time off so I could be down there with you. I will post pics of my bull as well as my son's 5 point bull elk soon.

hntnelk

elknut · Sep 30, 2007

This was a DIY hunt, the area is a draw unit in the ?Koyukuk? Wildlife Refuge - look up the odds and harvest reports on the DWR site, several of the refuges will provide good stats and I'm sure a good hunt. I'd say we did a river hunt, but we only used the river to get from one glass / calling location to another. We wanted to drop near a river so after much research we booked with Sportsman?s Air & Guide Service (outfitted hunt $5,500). I found researching for a good bull moose is much the same as quality elk /deer hunt, you need to hunt in a location with little pressure as you are looking for 1 or 2 large bulls in miles of country, an air drop on the same lake year after year will reduce odds of seeing the best / older bulls ? seems that happens often. If you decide to look at the draws for a permit, also decide on the air service before you draw because the best fill up vary fast. One can not go wrong with Joe ? his support was fantastic, a top rate outfit and is very well networked with other transporters. A small cub can get you into the best locations, however after the bull is down they will need to move the meat several times ? thus it's worth the money for a good air service. The weather can be a huge issue ? I would not book an air service that is not close to you ? keep safety first in this country as things can and will go wrong.

We called 4 bulls in from miles away, it takes time but they come to a call well ? learning to call can be key to killing a good one. I took my bull on day 3 and the other bull was killed on day 7 I think.

One last thing ? managing the meat is very hard going, and will take much of your time until it's out, so make sure to pick locations to get the meat out ASAP, not over 6 miles of river as a map reads unless you only plan on taking only one moose during your hunt.

Send me a PM if you would like more info ? hope this helps.

elknut · Sep 30, 2007

One last thing - take a friend you can count on I'd say it's one of the most important points - thank you Tim you are a stud moose killer!!

FamilyMan · Oct 2, 2007

Outstanding moose!!!

Would love to take that hunt one day. Perhaps in 10 years when leaving the wife home with the kids isn't as much of an issue.

Mark

DonVathome · Oct 5, 2007

Great pics Steve, I have been wondering how you did, congrat's! What camera did you use? DonV

ForkWest · Oct 5, 2007

Oh baby, a DIY north country moose hunt, a dream of mine some day. Love the pics!

FamilyMan · Oct 5, 2007

I've got to say it again. Congrats on a beautiful moose!!!

Mark

elknut · Oct 5, 2007

Thanks for the nice comments all!

Don - I use a Nikon D200 / 18-200 VR, plus picked up a Pelican case for it to protect from the weather. If you haven't done this trip go, just same the $$ and go before they require non-res to be guided.

Flatlandr · Oct 5, 2007

elknut,

Thanks for the info about your hunt. Sorry for the delay replying. Just simply forgot that I had asked!

Awesome photos! Thanks again.
Mark

Gator · Oct 6, 2007

That's a great last picture, that country is just beautiful.

wmidbrook · Nov 25, 2007

Those are some super photo's of a it-doesn't-get-any-better-than-that moose! I look forward to seeing the results when you get it back from your taxidermist...then again, it might be kinda tough to beat those photos...lol.

Roy · Nov 26, 2007

Way too freaking cool. Makes me sooooooo want to go do it! Awesome bull! Great pics!

UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)

elknut · Dec 2, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Dec-02-07 AT 03:05PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Dec-02-07 AT 01:28?PM (MST)

Just for fun, a few more pics to get the blood pumping.

We used both a ?cub? (white) and a ?beaver? (red), the beaver will move a much larger load.

Do to the remoteness, draw restrictions and cost, very few have ever been on this river. With so many rivers in AK and some homework, you can stay away from high traffic rivers.

We camped next to a den of wolves on a lake, we had wolf tags but our primary quest was for Moose so we just watched the wolves at 800 yards for 4 days. I'm not a ?pro? wolf person; however it was an experience of a lifetime to just see them interact as a family unit (mom / dad and 5 pups). We took our second bull apx 200 yards from the den ? and never did kill the wolves.

We used this ?Bull Magnet? to call; it really pushed the sound out. We called and raked trees every few hours, more often in the morning / evenings and after dark. We called in 4 legal bulls, two showed up in mid afternoon so you need to stay with it all day.

Did you know AK has a ?Sand Dunes??

FamilyMan · Dec 12, 2007

Thanks for sharing the additional pictures. The river shot is beautiful.

I wanna go!!

Mark

Torch · Dec 16, 2007

Great pics and congrats on a dandy bull! Is that a Bullpac you were using to pack out the head? If so, how do you like it?

HunterHarry · Dec 16, 2007

You know....
I can't afford Stone Sheep, Hell even a good Dall hunt..
Can't draw a Bighorn...
I've done the big bear thing.
Got pretty good muleys, elk, blacktails, blackbear, caribou, antelope, wolves.
What I really want to hunt is a big moose.
Those big racks really add to a trophy room.
I think I gotta step out and do it.
You got a dandy there.
HH

elknut · Dec 19, 2007

Torch - here is a review I did last Sept on the Bull Pac.

We recently put both a ?Bull Pac? (Regular Bull) and ?Cabela?s? (Alaskan) to work in AK and Utah. When I first received both packs I really preferred Cabala?s; I liked the support in the belt system, it's wider and overall felt good without a load. I thought I had over paid ($75) for the Bull Pac. Well after moving a moose and a bull elk, hands down the Bull Pac came out on top. The overall frame is smaller and for me centers the weight much better (with a load) even after we made adjustments to Cabela?s it's still long. The hooks on each side of the Bull Pac allow you to use one tie (about 15? long) and lace the meat in like a boot, saves time and holds the load very secure. We ended up packing out camp to a lake and the hard shelf of the Bull Pac secured a full cooler (Cabela?s would not allow a wide load due to the shelf straps). Plus, clean-up is much faster with the Bull Pac, the belt system is smaller and the type of material they use sheds the water/blood better. I felt the extra cost was worth it.

Thanks everyone for the kind comments on my bull - he should be home (UT) in about a week.