NH Moose Success

Zim · Oct 29, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Oct-30-12 AT 03:19AM (MST)[p]Attached are photos of my New Hampshire bull moose taken October 27th near town of Berlin.

Bull has 20 points, weighed 780#, with a rack width of 53 1/4". This moose will score in the top 5% size wise in the state of New Hampshire for 2012. Only one bull wider than 53 1/4" was taken in my unit C2 all of last year. I spent 8 days of scouting, and 7 days hunting. The first 6 days hunting produced very few sightings. I had only passed on one small bull up to that time. We decided to shift gears and abandon my scouted land. Instead went around looking for new timber cuts. Came across a timber cutter Harold. Super nice guy who gave us a few specific suggestions where he had seen moose. He claimed I would have my bull within the next 3 days. It only took me 1.

On Saturday I got up early and made the 45 minute drive there from camp. Was extremely foggy. Could only see 40 yards at sunrise. Finally cleared enough to creep down the ridge glassing as I went. From this ridge I could glass 200 yards on either side on the basin. Very beautiful terrain. Heard some clicking of antlers, hunkered down and spotted a small bull. Given there was only one day left to hunt, I was planning on taking anything. Put my rifle crosshairs on the tiny bull and clicked the safety. Started squeezing the trigger when I heard additional tickling of antlers by another bull just to the right of the first one. Eased up and decided to gamble. Let the small bull walk, hoping I was doing the right thing. After 15 minutes I decided to try a stalk to get a look at the other bull. Stood and snuck up for a better look. There he was, king of the timber, 60 yards away, flashing his rack. Seemed like a mirage after 15 days of no big bull sightings. Settled in shooting stacks slowly as bull watched me. Bull dropped in his tracks. After lengthy getting out, we got 2 hours sleep and took him to check station in West Milan. From there we drove down to my hunting partner's home in Shapleigh, Maine, where I am now. We spent all today prepping meat for my return drive to St. Charles tomorrow. Hope hurricane remnants subside for my drive.

I was extremely lucky to take a moose of this calibre.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

PleaseDear · Oct 29, 2012

Way to go Ken!

My hell---you got him out whole?

congrats

Robb

Zim · Oct 30, 2012

Hey Robb, How's all your adventures going!?

Ya they got some different ways of doing things here. It is legal to quarter, but 99% of folks insist on extracting whole. After an epic fail by one service, I called the logger and he came with his timber skidder, like a tractor. Drove 1/4 mile in to hook him up and carried him out whole. I am getting some pics of that. Unusual traditions here.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

nfh · Oct 30, 2012

mighty fine looking bull

eldorado · Oct 30, 2012

Awesome bull. Congrats.

Eldorado

264mag · Oct 30, 2012

Nice bull you got! Congrats

sticksender · Oct 30, 2012

Fantastic bull, congratulations.

Horniac · Oct 30, 2012

Monster bull - congratulations! Glad you had some help and heavy equipment to get him out of the woods...

Horniac

littlebighorn · Oct 30, 2012

Mighty fine bull Sir Zim!
Since you got him out whole, perhaps you can life size mount him! LOL

DoeNob · Oct 31, 2012

Congrats!

WapitiBob · Nov 1, 2012

I was wondering how you did. Congrats, looks like you had fun.

Zim · Nov 2, 2012

Hi WB, Thanks again for your GE tutorial. I got good at it and ended up outlining and scouting 15+ large clearcuts. Worked like a charm. Altough ultimately the productive one had been shot out by the time I returned from the wedding. An old fashioned tip from a logger produced my bull.

However, it was great to learn and I will apply it to all my hunts from now on, including my current Iowa deer hunt. In fact I just drove 20 miles out of my way today jus to buy a replacement USB cable so I could do more tonight.

The moose hunt was physically and mentally rough. It took 20 days just to set eyes on one mature bull. I only had one day left and the season was over.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

Zim · Nov 2, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Nov-02-12 AT 09:17PM (MST)[p]I want to say a special word of thanks to SFW for staying the hell out of at least one state, New Hampshire, thank god. I never would have gotten this opportunity if they were there. My hard earned bonus points would have been raped, and my tag auctioned off to some fat cat. Thank you New Hampshire for never cheapening my points and conducting a fair lottery.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

one_dryboot · Nov 3, 2012

Great bull but man you sure BIT-ch alot!!!! more than most women! Can someone please get this dude some cyber tissues!!!

Zim · Nov 3, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Nov-03-12 AT 08:05PM (MST)[p]Just stating the facts boot. It has come to the point where entitlements and potential future entitlements must be evaluated by anyone investing in these lotteries. New Hampshire is one of the few with a clean slate. Good info to know. SFW has made their bed and must now lay in it. It's not going to go away.

SFW stole my Pauns tag. New Hampshire bailed me out due to their integrity. It's not a mere cooincidence I was able to draw in NH and not in UT. It's the result of the systems each operates under. Ethical vs. unethical..........period.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

littlejoe · Nov 4, 2012

I was going to say congrats but after ranting about the SFW and making this a political post and not talking about your moose I will have to pass. What a joke.

Stay in NH and don't apply in UT. That would be a win win for both of us.

Zim · Nov 4, 2012

There's no end to the list of those on the SFW payola, and thus those that ardently defend the tag thefts. BTW I don't live in NH, but I am thankful for their F&G's ethics.

The NAMWC is still alive and well in a few places. The results speak for themselves.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

littlejoe · Nov 4, 2012

Definitely not on the SFW or any other conservation group payroll.

Definitely don't agree with all they do but think they do some good.

Don't agree with MDF, RMEF or SCI but still support them all.

Have the biggest beef with the MDF upper management but still support them.

The list goes on.

Honor the moose you shot and argue politics in other forums.

Since you "hate" SFW and Utah DWR do you still play the draw game? I hope people like you that "hate" things like this at least don't apply in the draws or support the state in anyway since you "hate" what it is all about.

Zim · Nov 6, 2012

Wow, excuse me. I was simply extending my gratitude to those who contributed to my NH hunt success. SFW definitely did, by keeping their hands out of the NH cookie jar. Thanks you SFW.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

one_dryboot · Nov 8, 2012

And how many years did it take to draw your moose tag??? You'll draw utah deer if fewer years??? what??? Must suck to be a NR in so many states!

TineMaster · Nov 8, 2012

Congrats.
How does moose meat taste?
~Master the Tines~

Zim · Nov 8, 2012

>Congrats.
>How does moose meat taste?
>~Master the Tines~

Some like it best of all game meats. I like elk just a bit more, but they are similar.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

PleaseDear · Nov 8, 2012

You damn near have your Moose Slam Ken!

Robb

Zim · Nov 9, 2012

Robb,

An Alaska trip is probably out of my price range, although it was something I had hoped for some day. If I never go it's OK though, because I'll have a top end canadian species mount from this trip.

In Iowa today trying to fill my buck tag. They were going crazy when this cold front inturrupted things with 35 mph winds! So I am takinbg 2 days off to work from computer and burn my remaining vacation days next week when winds subside. My buddy's dad shot a ~140" unicorn buck here Thursday! Returning home the 15th to mentor a youth for his first gun and archery hunts Nov. 16-27.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

DonVathome · Nov 20, 2012

Awesome! I had a tag in VT and ate it congrat's!

Zim · Nov 20, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Nov-21-12 AT 07:10AM (MST)[p]Don, I was preparing to eat mine too. Making departure plans for Iowa deer. Then the guys with me demanded a shifting of gears. Drove to the opposite side of my unit and tracked down the timber guy for suggestions. The hunt was over 12 hours later, with just one day to spare.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

Zim · Dec 4, 2012

Rest of the Story

LAST EDITED ON Dec-04-12 AT 08:22AM (MST)[p]
They have a few methods of "extracting" moose from the field in NE timber country. One is dragging out with a vehicle or chain saw winch. People even drive around boasting who has the most rope in the back of their trucks........1,500'......2,000'? The first guy I hired had an epic fail. Winch let loose and flew 100' down the trail, coming to rest as shown. Operator was hit in shoulder and partner had to take him to hospital. He was about 1" or 2" from being dead.

The operator's friends and sons came to get his gear and abandoned us at 6 PM. Told us help was on the way, which wasn't. At 10 PM I gave up and called the same timber cutter who put us on the bull. He was at a Halloween party but promptly left with his g/f & 2 kids to help us. His skidder had no lights so the kids and myself guided him using lanterns. Thanks Harold! He never even asked what I was paying! (I knew the going rate there and paid him top dollar+, and he'll get a Christmas present too.)

I recommend method #2. Or just bone it out & backpackpack it western style. I have no interest seeing another rope.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

jodog · Dec 8, 2012

RE: Rest of the Story

Congrats...sounds like one to remember for sure.

Santana · Dec 9, 2012

RE: Rest of the Story

Zim, I just saw your post, I've been wondering how you did. What did I say about the way they get moose carcasses out of the field?! Sounds like you had an interesting hunt and it all turned out in the end. That's a beautiful bull - congrats.

Zim · Dec 9, 2012

RE: Rest of the Story

>Zim, I just saw your post,
>I've been wondering how you
>did. What did I
>say about the way they
>get moose carcasses out of
>the field?! Sounds like
>you had an interesting hunt
>and it all turned out
>in the end. That's
>a beautiful bull - congrats.
>

Santana, Ya this hunt was a totally different experience, in a unique culture. I had everything planned out well in advance, including extraction. Only a major monkey wrench got thrown in. After harvesting my moose I went directly back to my vehicle to get a list I had prepared of 5 extraction outfits. That list was gone. Still haven't found it. I had to make due with one name which my sub had recorded. That guy ended up being a complete idiot, per the photos above. Just bad luck.

Am glad all our meat was good, I got a good rack, and we were not hurt, despite having a partially damaged cape.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

Zim · Oct 26, 2013

RE: Rest of the Story

Took my guy a year, but finally picked up my completed mount today. Not on the wall yet though. Back is still sore from a 1/4 mile swamp doe drag yesterday. Just say no to liver shots! :-(

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, NRA, UWC & DP Hate Club

PleaseDear · Oct 26, 2013

RE: Rest of the Story

Ken--he looks bigger mounted than in the field!

congrats

Robb

Zim · Oct 26, 2013

RE: Rest of the Story

LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-13 AT 05:01AM (MST)[p]I have one perplexing question. Why doesn't he have a neck bell?! I have very little moose hunting/scouting experience, so I looked at many photos online and did a Google search. Found zero posts about moose with no bells. Anyone know?

I never saw one while in the field either, so I highly doubt it was a casualty of the TNT chainsaw winch massacre. Go figure.

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, NRA, UWC & DP Hate Club

johnnycake · Oct 27, 2013

RE: Rest of the Story

In many areas older moose have a reduced dewlap or no dewlap. I've been told that this is due to frostbite. Awesome bull btw

Zim · Nov 6, 2013

RE: Rest of the Story

Check this out. NH still issues the old school metal check station tags. I saved mine. It's stamped 2012 NH Moose #073. I thought this was really cool.

Anybody know of any other states that still issue these?

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Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, NRA, UWC & DP Hate Club