Alaska - Sept. 2010

FullCryHounds · Oct 20, 2010

A couple of pics from camp last month. The grizzly had a moose killed in a pond and was there for a week. Ron watched him all week until our client showed up to start his hunt. They shot him the next morning. This grizzly will score well up in B/C. Probably the biggest we've taken up there. This is one of four moose we shot this year.

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BGbasbhat · Oct 20, 2010

Man FullCry, looks like fun! I just got back my AK hunt a few weeks ago, and I already want to go back!!

Do you guide up there?

"...I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six..."

FullCryHounds · Oct 21, 2010

Yes, I guide for Brown bear on the Pennisula in the spring and Grizzly, Moose and Caribou in the fall out of Kotzebue.

rutnbuck · Oct 24, 2010

Great animals. Great pics.

Rutnbuck

Garion33 · Oct 24, 2010

Fullcry, great animals and bruisers as well.

Thanks for sharing,

Garion33

eldorado · Oct 30, 2010

Impressive bear and moose. Simply outstanding trophies.
Congrats.

ELDORADO

WAPITI39 · Nov 7, 2010

Alright, I have a question probably best answered by you Alaskan hunters. What does the average Moose quarter weigh? can it be packed out on a packframe by one man? I am asking more in reference of the Shiras Moose we have here in Idaho which I know are much smaller, but I thought this would be a good starting point. Thank you for your time. Also fantastic Animals you have pictured above, looks like a fantastic time and beautiful country....

littlejoe · Nov 7, 2010

I cannot tell you the weight but I know a tough guy can take a rear quarter. I was not tough enough but my guide was. We made nine trips to get my moose back to the plane. 4 quarters, neck, cape, horns, both sides of ribs; basically everything but the spine. I could carry a front quarter but the back quarters were to much for me. We had 1 3/4 miles to get to the lake through the $hit tangle and earned every step. I think if the walking was better i would have carried the back quarter but not where i felt like i was tripping every other step. Shiras should not be a problem.

Garion33 · Nov 7, 2010

Wapiti, Moose are just like Elk, in that there will be really big bulls, mid size bulls, and somewhat smaller bulls. I can't speak for the Shiras Moose, but for Alaskan Moose, I've seen rear quarters that are in the 140-150 lb range. I wouldn't try humping it myself as once you screw up your back, it's never the same. The bull I harvested this year I would call a mid size bull) had a hanging weight of around 500lbs, with the rears at about 100lbs or so. We left the ribs at the kill site and took the meat strips instead, since we were doing a float hunt. This reminds me that I have a story to post on this years float hunt too. I have humped large Elk rears and would guess that the Shiras Moose rears would be somewhat larger. I would recommend you ask the biologists in the area you are looking to hunt to get a better idea of size. I'm sure Fullcry, as a guide can give you better numbers than most of us can.

Take care,
Garion

FullCryHounds · Nov 8, 2010

In the area we hunt, it is required to bring out all meat ON the bone. So that increases the wieght quit a bit. A rear moose quarter in AK will wiegh 140-160lbs. We have two extrememly strong packers, (one an ex linebacker for Iowa State). He is probably the strongest guy I've ever met. A rear quarter is the max they can take and that is for short distances, less then a mile. I would say that a rear quarter is way too much for the average guy. Remember, the terrain also has a lot to do with it, and in AK, the terrain and brush make most packing jobs even tougher. It takes 10 trips to get everything out on a moose.

WAPITI39 · Nov 8, 2010

Wow, Thank you all for your insight. That certainly puts things into perspective. I have packed Elk quarters a few times and they were not too bad, like you all said definetely changes with the terrain. I guess I will just look for a small Bull or just pack in some matches and steak suace instead. Thank you all again, very good info.

stanley · Nov 9, 2010

Awesome pics Fullcry!!! I'm assuming still Bear Lake??

I'm saving my pennies for retirement, and hope to someday hunt bears or moose (probobly moose!!

) there!!

Thanks for sharing!

S.

FullCryHounds · Nov 9, 2010

No, these pictures are out of Kotzebue, AK. We hunt there every Sept. for Grizzly, Moose, Caribou and wolves.

EVILNR · Dec 17, 2010

Hey Fullcryhounds

looking for a grizzly/brown hunt,
got a link?

FullCryHounds · Dec 17, 2010

Sent you a PM

flyfishingak · Apr 7, 2011

I was a packer the first season I spent in AK. I though I was tough and strong during the caribou hunt and could pack the whole bou off which was about 100 - 110 pounds. Come moose season the realness was at hand that a rear hind quarter of 140 -160 pounds is a HUGE difference. To actually stand up with that much weight on your back is amazing in it's self. You have to get into your pack sitting down and then have a buddy help you stand up it is CRAZY!!! I once spent 3 days on the mountain packing a moose off the mountain, the Guide took a front quarter and the rib meat the other 7 trips of 3 mile packs and 2500 feet of elevation were all me. I think back to the hellish 4 months I spent packing and wonder how the hell did I do it.. You do however need an extremely good pack and a great pair of hiking boots don't go cheap on either of those or you will pay the price in other ways. I hope this helps, have a good one and happy hunting.