Moose

DRT

Member
Messages
63
Been wanting to post something on here for a while about my moose hunt, but I didn't really have any pics of scouting/hunting, and I have been a little disappointed in the moose activity on here, nothing to get the blood flowing.

Anyway, I drew a Wyoming moose tag, unit 26 and scouted and had trail cams set all summer, without much success. I elk and deer hunt in the area regularly and generally see quite a few moose each season, so I wasn't too worried about finding one. Went out the 2nd weekend and saw plenty of moose, but nothing that was big enough to hang a tag on the first weekend out, plus the weather has been so hot, I wasn't sure I wanted to kill this early and risk spoiling the meat, so I passed on 8 bulls that weekend and felt good about the remainder of the season.

I really wanted to shoot my moose with my bow and this past week was my last chance, otherwise I had one more week in October to tag out with a rifle as we have some other tags in the family that we had to split our time with. So, I headed up with my brother, he hunted elk while I looked for a moose, turned out we pretty much looked for moose the whole week! Saw some bulls, saw some cows, then on Wednesday afternoon, we spotted this guy and it was game on.

I got on him and got a 50 yd shot and didn't make a great hit, high and forward in the shoulder, lots of blood right away, but it didn't last long and the bull headed for the high country. We tracked him for a few miles, and got on him a few more times, but he never presented me with a shot. Finally about a half hour before dark, he got in a spot that made for a good finishing shot. 40 yds and a perfect hit low behind the front leg, he made it about 60 yards more and was done. It was the most exciting hunt I have been on in a while, and although I am happy with the outcome, I am sad that it is over so soon.

He is 39" wide, with 20 1/2" paddles, I'm sure I could have found a bigger one once the rut really started to kick in but I like the choice I made.

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Thanks for looking

Chad.
 
Heres some more pics, didn't do real good at taking pictures, was a little excited and it was pretty warm out, so had to get him taken care of quickly.

This was after the first shot, when he headed up the hill.

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LAST EDITED ON Sep-24-12 AT 05:14PM (MST)[p]Great bull! How much do you figure the head and cape weighed?


I know your brother, but can't place from where. Star Valley?
 
Thanks for posting! I have been accumulating points for 8 years now and looking forward to hunting them someday if the F&G does not price me out. I'm starting to resent WY F&G for taking advantage of blue collar non residents once they had us over a barrel with the points. I always justified it by reminding myself that the price of the tag would still be cheaper than a moose hunt elsewhere, but now I'm not sure I can justify this with a family to raise. I'll probably continue to be a points sucker for now, but will not continue it indefinitely.
 
I have 8 points as well. I am just afraid that point creep is going to make it such that I am always a few points behind. I hope I have time to wait, but this is a dream hunt for my Dad. I just hope I get him drawn while his health is still good. We should have a while, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I hear what you are saying about being priced out. I hope I can continue to do a trip most years and save up for an occasional big trip like moose would be. The price of the tags are one thing, but it is this $4 per gallon gas that is killing me. I have to fill my truck up every week whether I am going hunting or not!

Thanks for posting the pics and story. I enjoy seeing the success of others on here.
 
>LAST EDITED ON Sep-24-12
>AT 05:14?PM (MST)

>
>Great bull! How much do you
>figure the head and cape
>weighed?
>
>
>I know your brother, but can't
>place from where. Star
>Valley?


Yeah, he lives in Star Valley, works at the mine. I really couldn't tell you what the head and cape might have weighed, I packed that out last and as far as I'm concerned it was right at or just over 1000 lbs.
 
DRT - great bull congratulations!

I had a tag in 26 last year as well. It was a fun hunt!

PM sent.

Horniac
 

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