The season started September 1st and I opted to start on the 9th as I felt it would put me closer to the rut. I found a nice camp spot about 9 miles up Tacoma Creek and planned to hunt up hill from there.
The first morning I did a bit of driving looking for sign and checking the cameras I had out since June. The cameras showed some moose but nothing too exciting. I lo n g walk through some cedar bottoms and around some ponds I managed to jump one moose out of bed but never saw it.
Driving back to camp just before dark I heard a crack in the trees next to the road. Stopped the truck and saw moose legs about 30 yards in. Got out with bow in hand and tried to sneak through the cedars when the cow busted me. I now saw a dandy bull that was 45+. They proceeded up the hill out of sight.
The next day I ventured to the top of Timber Mt. Not the best road by the way. Coming down I noticed dust in front of me. Hopped out and saw where a large moose had just crossed. I pursued with no avail. The woods were very cruchy.
Next morning I was on Timber early with call in hand. I managed to call a very small bull to 74 yards. Put on a couple more boot miles with no action. I did find a lot of fresh sign.
The 13th I woke up a little late and was up to my spot just after day light. Walking up and old overgrown road, I hear what I thought was a bull rubbing a tree. I called for a few and hear crashing and figured it was another bear riding a stump apart. I continued on my nature walk. Couple hours later I return to my truck and hear sounds of very excited people and a four wheeler. I knew now that the bear I heard was a bull and it had been shot by the other tag holder. I went to investigate and met some very nice folks as they just finished loading the large bull on a trailer. I believe this was the same bull I had seen just a couple nights before.
By day 6 I'm beginning to talk to myself and feeling a bit discouraged as I had only been seeing cows. I moved camp to the Ruby Creek side as I was given some tips. The road across from Tacoma to Ruby is a bit bumpy. That night I check my new area and bump a bull off the road but he goes to the wrong side. He was maybe 40 wide.
I start early on day 7 and drive up to the Timber Mt road about and hour before light. I then head back down the road to where I had seen the bull the night before. About a half mile down I see a bull in my headlights. He is a good 45+. He jumps off the road on the Right side and proceeds to grunt and shred trees. I get in position as it becomes light and a cow calls from half a mile up towards Timber. The bull busted up the hill and never stopped. The rut was obviously starting.
Day 8 I was back up by Timber and in the woods by light. About a half mile from the road I did a round of calling using a scapula I had found and a grunt tube. The scapula is a great alternative to using an antler for rubbing trees. 8 days by myself was really wearing me down. As I sat and thought about my wife and kids, I heard a grunt in the distance.
I was in an area with multiple old roads and the walking the easiest I had in a week. I continued my calling hoping the bull was coming my way. A few grunts later it was obvious he was going away. This had happened a few times to me already as the cows seemed to want nothing to do with another bull and they head out. I made the decision to head towards his grunts in hopes to catch up to him.
I walked around a small tree and see the bull about 200 yards away and going away. I picked up the pace and continued my calling. I now had him turned and looking as I had my bow and scapula in the air like it was my rack. It was looking like all the YouTube videos I had watched.
When I was about 60 yards away from him, he turned and started the head wag. It was obvious that he was partially broke off on one side and I contemplated not shooting him for a second. Then I thought about ending my adventure. I continued my calling as he walked towards me and stepped up off the road as he tried to flank me. He was now at 20 yards and ready for a fight.
I drew on him twice before he present a shot. I decided this was the bull I was going to kill and loosed and arrow. I immediately saw blood as he rand back down to the skitter road. I call loudly and he stopped facing away. I again started grunting as I flanked him for another shot. I was at 30 yards and could see the first shot was low. Next arrow was quartering away and it also passed through. He ran up the hill and laid down in some alders. I figured he was done.
I let him lay as I went back and found my arrows and good bubbly blood. I sat and watched him for 20 minutes and he was still alive. Snuck in and put another in him and he got up and walked a few steps away. I decided it would be a good time for me to exit the area and let him expire.
Went back to camp and ate breakfast and got all my game retrieval stuff. Headed back in about 2 hours later and found him bedded again. I was about 10 yards from him and he didn't move. I then saw his head turn. To my amazement he was still alive. I'm beginning to think I don't know how to kill stuff now. I put another one into his heart and the deal was done. I had killed my one and only moose and I was alone.
If you have never seen a dead moose on the ground, they are bigger than you think. I knew I had a lot of work if I wanted to be done by dark. Some quick pics and the knife was out. My father in law who is 59, volunteered to come help and he headed up from Spokane.
I laid out a tarp and did the gutless method. The quarters on a moose are not light. It must have been very comical for the squirrels as I struggled to get the quarters off. By the time I had all the meat off it was about 2 pm and my hand and arm muscles were spent.
I loaded up a rear I took my first load. By 4:30 I had another load to the truck and father in law just arrived. Two more trips and about 11 hours from first shot he was all at the truck.
I am happy with this bull and how it went down. He has some character. We have meat to last a year and I didn't eat the tag. Hope you enjoy.
P.s.
For next year's tag holders, I have a grunt tube and scapula they can have. I also have a pretty good idea of the unit now and would gladly help.
