Moose - Mica Peak B!!

[brianb231]

I had a buddy and his son head up Weller and enter the Idaho side yesterday for the day and stayed in there til dark and didn't see a thing........?

[trophyhunt]

No worries cuz, I'm sure you'll tag out in a couple days.  I just hope I can stop by and hang with you guys.

[brianb231]

Oh We ARE getting it done. just saying! In 2009 when I had my tag I remember they were nowhere and then they were everywhere!

[brianmtsinc]

Well, after thinking that work and "life" was going to derail this hunt, I am excited to say that I am heading out tomorrow afternoon and should be in the woods by Sat AM!!   

Any last words of advice?? 

Thanks in advance!
Brian

[bobcat]

"Any last words of advice?"

Don't try to pack out too much meat at once. You could hurt your back.

Good luck!

[Bob33]

Shoot one so big you don't have to lie about or Photoshop it.

[brianmtsinc]

 

[Falcon]

Brian,

Best of luck on your hunt.  I know you hunt hard and will get it done.
Have a great time. Look forward to the story and pics. 

[brianmtsinc]

Thanks Brian!

Day one in the books. 12 miles hiked, feet throbbing , saw 1 bull , no cows.... Time for a whiskey 

[lokidog]

Keep at it, good luck!   

[Falcon]

Thanks Brian!

Day one in the books. 12 miles hiked, feet throbbing , saw 1 bull , no cows.... Time for a whiskey 

That's some serious boot leather.   If the bull was good send him up North for me to shoot, and I'll round up all the cows I have seen and send em South😜      Keep at it and stay safe👊💥👊

[splitshot]

   brian,  if you have not bagged one by the time you get this pm me and I will give you my cell.  we could talk where I saw some cows and an orphan calf.  did you see the bull known as uni  with only one horn.  he is a big bull.   my friend got   a nice bull and there were 5 cows with it.    mike w

[brianmtsinc]

Brian, I think the bull we saw was "uni" that Mike mentioned.   We saw him at about 850 yards, knew he was a bull but couldn't really define him well.  No Bulls at all for you yet? 

Mike, I sent you a pm.  Thanks!!!   

We have seen 4 moose now.  1 bull and three cows.  We saw two cows at 1,000+ yards, hiked about 3,000 to get close and could never find them    ... Cut 1 set of fresh tracks in the snow today, but was so crunchy we couldn't sneak up on a marching band. 

I think we are well over 30+ miles in 2.5 days and are as beat up as I remember from hunting.... We basically just have tomorrow left so we will leave it all on the field tomorrow and see what happens

Thanks for all of the advice and insight guys!  Much appreciated  

If anyone has a deer tag available- we saw an AWESOME whitetail!  Beautiful , wide and tall 5 pt👍.  Lots of scrapes and rubs so I think I know where he lives

[Falcon]

Brian

Just messing with ya. I have passed on 5 smaller Bulls. Going back for the big guy😁

Keep humping hard😁  Give it all ya got and cap off on a cow tomorrow👊💥👊

[brianmtsinc]

Well, I am sorry to report that this moose tag will be going unfilled.       For the first time in probably 20+ years, work seriously interfered with my hunting time.   I know I am fortunate to be able to say that as many only get to hunt  weekends, but considering that after 18 years I finally drew this moose tag, it stings a bit. 



5 years ago, my hunting partner  BrianB drew this tag and we saw moose everywhere.  It was a blast and in the end he took a HUGE cow.  I couldn't wait to get my chance and this year I finally did.     I had high hopes of spending at least a week or two enjoying this hunt, with a goal of using my bow.  But life happened and threw me an awesome business opportunity that I simply could not turn down, so early archery season was missed completely and my moose hunt was cut to 4 days.  Knowing that time was such an issue, I decided that I would take a rifle and get out there and fill this tag. 

Unfortunately, in 4 very difficult days of hunting, pushing well over 30 miles and blisters on blisters, we only saw 4 moose.  Nothing like our last trip up Mica Peak 5 years ago.  Our final day started with us on TOP of Mica Peak at day break.  Fresh snow from overnight, rain and sleet falling, and winds blowing in the 30 mph range.  We had to question ourselves if this was wise, or if we should simply turn around and head back to camp (safety).  But the excitement and anticpation drew us into the dark timer where we had hopped to find them holding up in the storm.  We put in over 8 miles, saw several deer, but never even cut a moose track.       As the day wore on, and the winds increased, we realized we needed to get out of the woods before a tree feel on us!         This was the night of the big wind storm in Spokane that caused so much damage.  Imagine what the winds were like on Mica Peak!   

I want to say a HUGE thank you to my hunting partner, Brianb321, as he not only stepped up and handled a lot of the planning in my absence, he walked every painful step of this hunt by my side.  I couldn't ask for a better hunting partner or friend.  Thank you!  Also, big thanks to Huntnnw and Tbar!  I really appreciate the pm's!

We had a great time, and I know are both proud of the effort we put in.  I don't think either of us could have pushed another mile on this trip, and there is solace in knowing that we left it all out there.  Many memories made, lessons learned, and I left that "hill" a bit humbled. 

Thanks again for all of the help and kind words!  Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and happy hunting this late season! 
Brian C.