Sorry for the wait but back home now, meat is at the butcher and the head is at the taxidermist. So....
We spent a coupled boring days on a mountain in the south of the unit and called in more wolves than moose. Moosezilla had to be on that mountain somewhere but we circled it twice, high and low and couldn't find him again. We also went back and looked for FrankenMoose again but couldn't find him either. I saw him just prior to the opener but he disappeared as soon as season opened. Must have a set of hunting Refs in his head.
Both my sons (Mules) had to leave Sunday morning so I really wanted to get it done before they left. Decided to punt and check a new spot Saturday afternoon and wasn't too impressed. We discussed and decided to go back up high and hunt like we scouted, spot and stalk from road and trail lookouts.
At the very first lookout I saw 2 moose on a far ridge and as we were pulling out the scope 2 other bulls started calling on the closest ridge. Close is good so I dropped in on them. Took a bit to locate and they moved up towards the road (good thing!). I finally saw bull 1 and just saw 1 palm. Decided to pass and move off to bull 2. Bull 1 then moved and I saw the rest of him and he was a shooter.
He moved into the thick stuff and I thought the last chance to fill the tag while my boys were there was over. I got aggressive and moved straight at him and started calling. He came back out with more than a little attitude. His head was down and he looked like he was ready to fight. Shot once straight on and again when we started to walk down hill. He flinch at both but fell a second after the last.
There is nothing that can prepare you for walking up to a bull moose on the ground. They are huge. I am sooooo glad I got him before my mules left. I've bagged and packed several elk solo but a moose is on a whole other level. After smiles, hugs and pics a passing truck and other moose hunters came down to check it out, another good thing as they helped us turn him around. 6 guys grunting and growning just spinning the bull. We can bone an elk in an hour but the moose took us over 4.
The rack makes just turning him over a huge chore. We only had to pack him about 200 yards to the road but even that was difficult. 7 meat loads and the head. Elk are usually 3 bags and the head. Got back to camp and in bed about 230 in the morning. Got up at 630, made the drove back to the wet side, dropped meat and the head off with pros and passed out.
I didn't get FrankenMoose or Moosezilla but exceeded my minimum of 43. He taped at 47 1/4". His palms and point count, 8x7, aren't so good but his fronts are massive and long. I'm very happy with him.
Lots of people to thank, I got alot of advice from HW guys and the the board was the best source of info learning about moose, the unit and areas to hunt. Thanks for all the PMs. Most of all I want to thank my sons. We hunted most of the week miles behind gates (good thing we didn't shoot one there ) and they keep up great spirits thru it all. The help nagging and packing was invaluable as was the extra set of eyes and ears. They both gave up a week of vacation and elk hunting to help me out. Thanks guys.
This was a great hunt and we had a great time. I hope the pics work, 1st time posting them.
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