Late Huckleberry moose tag

[Shawn D]

After lurking for a couple of years I feel it is probably my obligation to join in and share a bit about my good fortune of drawing a once in a lifetime moose tag.  This is my first time posting anything online so please bear with me if there are some glitches.

I personally enjoy the reports that have a little more detail and don't mind dragging their feet, so I'll try to do likewise:) 

With 12 points I drew my fourth choice tag in the Huckleberry unit.  Even though it is only 45 minutes from home, It's been 20 years since I seriously tromped through those woods.  My luck continued however, when I learned from a good friend that his family has property in moose country between Springdale and Hunters and I was welcome to it.  Their help and generosity was certainly above and beyond.  We scouted together through the late summer and fall, they led me through the maze of public and timber land in the area, I stored atvs and gear at their place, they checked my trail cams when I was away, and they let me stay in one of their cabins during the hunt.

While we saw lots and lots of moose, I had a hard time getting trail cam pictures of them.  Here are a few I was able to get.

[Shawn D]

As everyone here knows, during the midst of scouting season a bunch of the state burned up including a lot of the very southern end of this unit.  It was surprising how quickly the area was opened back up and we could survey the damage.  It was certainly devastating but also amazing how large swaths were untouched and still held moose. 

So the scouting continued on both public and private ground.  Here are some other game cam pics and what a stealth cam looks like after a wildfire.  If your only going to only get one elk picture in 3 months, I guess this one will do. I got one other wolf as well but it wasn't a very good picture.

[WAcoueshunter]

This is great already, looking forward to the rest!   

[Timberstalker]

Holy cripes!  What an awesome elk!
Looking forward to your story.

[mkcj]

You're right, if you only get 1 elk picture that's a good one to get!  ...... waiting

[Shawn D]

When October rolled around the place got a lot more crowded.  I was kind of getting used to feeling like I had the run of the area but I knew that would come to an end as seasons opened up.  I suspected there would be other Moose hunters in there for the early hunt too.  We had seen 3 or 4 moose that I was pretty sure I'd hang my tag on if given the chance so surely at least one would be easy to find later.  Now there was nothing to do but wait for November so I took a couple weekends in another part of the state and put my multiseason deer tag to good use.

[Shawn D]

And just like that, It's time to go moose hunting!
 I didn't set any hard and fast rules about what moose I had to shoot.  I of course daydreamed about the booner stepping out at 75 yards but ultimately knew I would be really happy with any of the nice representatives seen to date.

My dad and a good friend came along for the fun.  I had prioritized the small basins, clearcuts and drainages in the area where we would glass, pick out a shooter, stalk it, kill it, etc.  Well, after a full day we finally found one cow just before dark.  HMMM? 

Even though this is only day one, I will admit to a serious bit of panic.  After all the scouting, it felt like day 90 and it just unraveled.

That night I told the guys to bear with me; we're going back to the drawing board and doing more scouting in the morning.  We decided to head over between addy and Cedonia to an area I had only scouted on google earth and OnX maps.  It turned out to be a good move.  In the early morning light we came into a big open vista with 2 bull moose in the distance.

[PlateauNDN]

  wow, what a bull elk...did you try and locate him?

[Shawn D]

I'm up way past my bed time but now I want to keep the story going.

The larger bull was about 600 yards away.  I took about a 10 second look through the spotting scope at him and determined he was a shooter for me.  My dad stayed back to keep and eye on him and Aaron and I headed out.  We had a great cross wind and a pretty good route to get in good position on him. 

While on our way a small lane opened up where we could just see his paddles moving back and fourth while he browsed.  That was when the first adrenaline wave hit me.  You know the one you get when a shooter whitetail suddenly appears right under your archery stand.  My heart was pounding, mouth got so dry my tongue was sticking to the roof of my mouth.  I love that feeling!

We had a couple hundred more yards to circle up and around to a large slash pile where we should be above him.  When we got to the slash pile I ever so gingerly took a look around the right side of it to see him 40 yards away but moving to our left and down wind.  Quickly and quietly i move down the old road bed to the other end of the slash pile.  I peer around it just as he picks up our scent and bolts. 

Luckily, Aaron is keeping his wits about him better than me and keeps tabs on the bull racing down into a brushy draw.  We parallel him and Aaron sets up the tripod he brought along to use as a rest; no clear shot.  The bull could have then disappeared from our lives forever but instead lopes up the hill into the perfect opening, stops broadside at under 200 yards and I'm able to put him down right there. 

Here is a panorama of the scene.  It started out of frame on the left ,then into the draw, then into the opening, then onto the ground.


the opening


the moose

[HUNTaHOLIC5]

Excellent write up and great moose! Congrats! 

[Shawn D]

As long as I'm at it I guess I'll add a couple more pics. 

Caping him out.  Wow, those nostrils are something else.  I never thought I'd get them turned inside out




Cut out a simple plaque out of a barn board while he simmered



All done until the cape is tanned

[Shawn D]

Plateau- He disappeared.  I was a little hesitant to post that picture because he is so nice.  It is not a high percentage elk hunting area.  That camera was on the private land I had access to.

Thanks for your kind replies

[carpsniperg2]

congrats on your bull and those are some great pictures!

[Fishhuntmike]

Congratulations on the moose and SUPER Job on your post!  Well done, story, pics, and all!

[Cat hunter]

Congrats good job!