Raffle moose down

[Cat hunter]

This story starts earlier this summer with an evening check of messages on my phone. I find a message from dept. fish & game asking me to call at my earliest convenience. This makes for a long night; I call about one minute after the office opens. I am informed that my raffle ticket had been drawn for one of the raffle moose tags, Will I accept it? Uh yes!!!!   A trip over to the Colville area mid-august for maps talked to two biologists, drove thru 49 north. This was pre-fires, after this it seemed like a good idea to wait until the fire danger dropped. On Sept 18 my oldest son and I went over for our first hunting trip a short three day adventure. We only saw one bull but it was a nice one (this one haunted me for a couple weeks) it was with a cow and really didn’t seem too worried about us. The following Thursday a friend and I drove back over for a five day hunt. Benny’s in Colville was starting to feel like my home away from home before we were done. We saw eleven bulls on this trip no shooters, but heard several more in the brush. They seemed to be with cows and unwilling to leave them. They would come to our calling but then we would hear a cow and the bull would hang up. Oct 8 back over for another three days saw one young bull. I farm in Whatcom County and it is easier for me to make several short trips rather than one long one. Back to farming for a bit, then deer season. Couldn’t stand it two friends and I abandoned deer camp in the Sinlahekin back to Colville for two days no moose sightings this time! Nov 3 head back over with my youngest son, we have half a day so decide to try a different area in the Huckleberry unit, and we had spent the bulk of our time in the 49 north unit. We found a drainage that was lightly burnt surrounded by more severely burnt areas. This basin had a lot of fresh sign! Just starting thru we see a bull on the side of the road. He a younger bull but is close to 50” wide just not a lot of points. After he ran off we glass another small bull across the canyon. We talk to a logger who suggests anther clear-cut four miles up the road; this does not work out so we head back to the first drainage for the last hour of daylight. Once there we see a third bull, smallish; and two cows. Then just before dark we see a large bull across the canyon! We drive around I bail out, walk as quietly and fast as I can (yah right) the last 300 yards of road. Over the edge about 150 yards thru the willows breaking into the clearing the bull was standing in. He’s still standing there broadside at 50 yards he knows I am there but does not move. The problem is now it is getting dark he looks big but I can’t see his horns well enough to be sure. He finally walks off and we head out. We spent the next day in 49 north, saw two small bulls early in the day but nothing the rest of the day. That evening Matt my son wants Chinese food ok. I’m not partially superstitions’ but I like the fortune in the fortune cookie. The following morning we head back in to try and get another look at the bigger bull. We glass across the canyon, no bull but have a cow run across the road right next to us. On another half mile and we spot a 40 inch bull, still not the right one. Ten minutes later and approx. 400 yards from where we had seen the larger bull two days earlier,  I spot him above the road (above the road is good!!!) . He looks good, 8:10 AM bull down. We spent the rest of the day field dressing, quartering, loading and savoring the moment! And yes a Chevy S-10 can haul a moose!

[bracer40]

Sounds like lots of great moose sightings. Congrats! Any pics to share?

[CNELK]

Sounds like a awesome hunt! Congratulations

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[bobcat]

Sounds like you earned that moose! Thanks for posting the story.

[Cat hunter]

cookie

[bobcat]

cookie

 

[Cat hunter]

I am trying to post pictures, but having technical difficulties.

[quadrafire]

LOL. love the fortune cookie bit.
Congrats, sounds like you had fun. I'd like to see a pic of him in the s-10

[WALLEYEGUY]

Without pics never happened; Just kidding way to go  Nice to see time and effort pay off.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Fortune cookie and a S10 full of moose! Must see pics!!! Congrats!

[hunting4sanity]

Anxiously awaiting your photos.  In the meantime, do you know where I could get myself a fortune cookie like that one? 

[Cat hunter]

as it lay

[hunting4sanity]

Whoa! WOW! Holy $#%!  Congratulations!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Oh ya nice Bullwinkle! Now the S10???

[Cat hunter]

moose