2008 AK Moose, 55", DIY

[Vek]

After four days of packing a 90-lb raft and my camp about 10 miles in off the road in a no-motorized-vehicles area, I found this guy.  55" spread.  Shot with 30-06 and 180 partitions.  Should put to rest the notion that you need more gun than that for anything on this continent...the bull went 15' after the shot. 

Particulars - moose died about 300' above and 2/3 mile from the river.  I was able to make each round trip from moose to the river in about 75 minutes.  6 pack trips after my initial trip the evening before took 8 full hours (in reality, I got off very easy with that).  Boning a moose alone is very, very hard.  Took me 8 hours to get everything off the carcass and hanging 200 yards away.  Flipping the thing over alone after boning the one side was like a World's Strongest Man event - it took everything I had. 

For weights, I carried about 700 pounds of parts off the hill.  525 pounds of boneless meat, 150 pounds of bones, and 25 of heart/liver.  Bone-in hindquarters easily bottomed my 100-lb halibut scale once I got home.  He wasn't an absolute monster, but remember that no moose is small...

The float out to the road took 4 hours, which was a bit of an anticlimax after the 4-day insertion.  I took it pretty easy getting in - if I did that hunt again, I could get my raft and camp into position in 2 days.   

[DeKuma]

Awesome.  Congratulations.
Love the pack trip count pictures.

[popeshawnpaul]

Man, you are hardcore.  Nice job.

[GoldTip]

Congrats on a hard earned trophy.

[X-Force]

Congrats. Nice work

[Sagedawg]

 Awesome pics and congrats on your bull/ Sounds like you really put in alot of time and effort on that hunt, something you always remember.


  Sage

[Alpinegus]

Awesome....Nice bull, congrates.

[bow4elk]

LOVE THIS POST!!  Congrats!!

Love guys who just get after it and make their own success and have the wits to deal with AK weather and big animals...ALONE.  Well done!!  Those trip counting pics are icing on the cake.  That would be the last thing on most guys' minds facing all that work and strife.

[huntingnut]

Nice bull. The pics are great.

[bucklucky]

You are an ANIMAL! Way to go man!! Nice bull!

[Wea300mag]

That is awesome Vek, a lot of us dream about doing something like that but don't have the balls, you actually do it.

[300wsm]

Way to go!  When two of us where cleaning mine, we thought about how hard it would be to do it by yourself.  Would have liked to have been there to see you flip it over, you probably scared all the bears away.  Nice job on the moose!

[Hunting Cowboy]

Vek, you have my highest admiration and respect! Congrats on an awesome trip and trophy!

[bowsandhose]

very very nice congrats

[MuleySniper]

Great job man! That's no small task at all! Your freezer should be full for awhile now
MS

[Idabooner]

Good job Vek, congratulations.

[finnman]

If I had a hat on, I'd tip it to ya!!!!
I definately admire your determination! And great bull too!
I am starting to feel it..............7 days and counting

[bucklucky]

That is awesome Vek, a lot of us dream about doing something like that but don't have the balls, you actually do it.

I'll second that!

[ThePascoKid]

DIY, by yourself, in AK for moose,  they must clank when you walk.  GD that looks cool.

[Tony 270WSM]

Thats awesome! Would love to do that someday. About how much did it all run you? Or do you live in AK?

[DOUBLELUNG]

I seriously hope I never piss you off.  I'd rather read that post than watch any made-for-tv huntostitution, anyday.  I can only imagine the satisfaction you feel.  Thank you for sharing.

[cohoho]

Again, good job, fine solo, love the pics of the loads.....

[Ray]

Great job! Fine looking moose. I wish I could get one some day.

[Vek]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.  It was tough, but I spread the effort out over a number of days.  I'm a displaced Washingtonian and this was my first year as an AK resident.  I struck out on sheep, but count myself fortunate to get this moose.  I'm missing not doing the high deer hunt, but somehow I'll get by

[Curly]

DIY, by yourself, in AK for moose,  they must clank when you walk.  GD that looks cool.

I'll second that.              

[shag]

Great job!!   the old -06 is pretty topugh to beat.......   Love the pics and hand signals at the river!!    Do you hand load??

[bucksnort]

Congrats!  I know how you feel.  When you walk up to one of those on the ground and you realize the work ahead of you.  My father and  did that and I can't imagine doing it by myself. Well done.  Enjoy the meat too.  About the best there is.
 

[washingtonmuley]

Vek,
Congrats on a nice moose. That is one hell of an accomplishment.

[boneaddict]

I have had the priviledge of shooting the breeze with this man over the net for a couple now and he has my utmost respect, more so than any hunter other than my father.   Nice one Man.  Sorry the Dall sheep didn't pan out, but you and your normal partner will get it done next year.  You guys are animals.   Notice you didn't have the Mrs along to help with this one.  She must be taking care of the future Mule Deer/ Moose maniac.  Outstanding bull.  Only thing you did wrong was using that firestick.  haven't I talked you into a longbow yet?  I bet hornseeker would hook you up with a killer outfit.  Might be coming up again next year, try to save me one of those big buggers or a hillside for me to hunt.  You know what I like.  Nice job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS, if I don't shoot that bull close to camp this fall, I may be flying you down to help me pack it out of our reserved hole.

[robb92]

Great story and great pics!!!!! Thanks for posting it!!!

[PolarBear]

Kick ass!!!  You da man, or should I say mule!  Well done.

[Skyvalhunter]

Vek, saw your story on Larrys Forum. Congrats to you. Stick with those sheep hunts you will get one eventually. Try to stay warm up there the winter.

[NW-Eric]

THATS A SWEET LOOKING BULL AND LOOKS LIKE ALOT OF WORK HAHA