49 degrees north moose tag burning a hole in my pocket

[Blsum]

Good evening everyone. Sorry if this gets a little long but I know everyone wants to hear about oil hunts.

 I was fortunate enough to draw a moose tag with my hunting partner Dirtymike. We have been hunting together for the better part of 15 years now and have been putting in for oil tags as well as quality tags as a group for 13 years. Even though they say the odds are less if you put in as a group. I knew we had basically won the lottery when that day came in June.  We immediately started our research. Reaching out, to this forum and friends we knew who had drawn the tag before, for any info we could get. Needless to say we got a lot. Thank you to everyone who helped us in our research and scouting.

We made a plan to head overy in mid July to learn the area we would soon be hunting. Knowing that we probably wouldn't see anything, our only expectations were to learn the roads and see what we were getting into. So when we rounded that corner and saw a big bull running down the road in full velvet. We were pretty suprised and amazed. The rest of the trip was a great time hanging with the boys (Dirtymike and Hilltophustler).

Our original plan to make another trip over in august didn't quite work out as planned. Mike ended up making a trip over with his son and from the sounds of it they had a great time and Mike was able to find a cow for his son to check out.

I decided to make a solo trip over in early september. I wanted to get some trail cameras set up in some of the areas we had scouted in july and I wanted to check out some new country we hadn't covered yet. Again I wasn't expecting to see any animals but was again blessed with another nice bull. This time I was able to watch him for a while. I will attach some of the screen shots from the video. But the screen shots don't do him justice. And I'm not sure how to post the video. Sorry.

The next thing I know we are on the final count down to depature. The weather forecast didn't look so good. There was 6-12 inches of snow forecast for 3000ft. The problem with that is the areas we scouted the most were from about 4000ft and up. The trail camera I set were at 5200 ft.

Our plan was to head over the saturday before the opener to scout and possibly fill some muzzy deer tags. Mike and 2 crew (hilltop hustler and soady) were able to leave as planned. My dad and I would make it over sunday afternoon. From our texts saturday evening I was able to find out there was way more snow then we thought there would be. Sounds like mike and the boys had one hell of a saturday night. But I will let him tell his side of the story.

Monday morning comes and we are off to scout. Since we cant get up very high we scout what we can. Dad spotted a calf moose on the edge of a cut. His first moose sighting here in washington. Dad and I also find an area of reprod that has some huge tracks in the snow from the day before. So we decide we would come back the next morning to call.

 While in the area we come around the corner to see a huge black bear just walking down the road towards us. He turns and a few quick bounds and he was gone. That was a first for me.  I've never seen a bear while driving. Only when I've been on foot. Dad was also pretty amazed at the amount of turkeys we saw.

So later that night at camp a plan is formed and early the next morning we head to our scouted locations. Dad and I sneak in to our calling location and are ready to go at first light. It's 28 degrees and frosty. The suns coming up and here we go. I start my very first calling sequence for moose. I cow called and I swore I heard something immediately. I thought I was hearing things so I didn't say anything. I let out a few more cow calls over the next few mins but didn't hear anything. I started a couple of bull grunts and I heard it again but a little louder now. I tell dad but he doesn't hear it. More grunts from me and he's coming. Now dad can hear him as he's grunting and smashing his way in. I can tell he's coming in hot. I can also tell he's gonna try to circle us and I knew I had to move because of how thick it was. We circle around about 50 yards and I can see him standing there. I throw up my binos and I see the smallest bull I have ever seen. Dad wants me to shoot but I can't do it. Not a bull this small on the first day. At first light. He may have been 24" wide with 3 points on each side, no palms and small single fronts.  We watch him for a while as he stands there giving us the stink eye.  I give him another grunt and he decided we were not what he was expecting and turned and left.

Later that day we were checking out some new country and ended up seeing a sow with 2 cubs. That's 4 bears now. But the day ended with out any other sightings.

The next few days were pretty slow. We did a lot of calling. A lot of waiting and listening. A lot of hiking and a lot of driving and all we found were a bunch of tracks and a few grouse. A lone cow and one last bear that we decided was to small to try to pull out of the hole he was in.

And just like that it was over. I was out of vacation and we had to head home. I had only seen that one bull on opening morning. We were never able to get up to the areas I wanted to hunt. Mike was finally able to hike into where my cameras were on the last night I was there. One camera only had a bear while the other one had bears, a cougar, some bobcats, a wolf, and a big bull in the snow from the night before season opened.

I knew that mike was planning on staying through the next week but I just couldn't take that much time off and had to leave.

I knew mike was gonna hunt hard while he was there and he did. Clearing roads to get to areas. Hiking in knee deep snow to find my cameras. And then to try and hunt it after knowing what was on camera. 

Finally wednesday morning I got the text. "BIG BULL DOWN". I was so happy for mike and couldn't wait to get the pictures. Wishing I was there to help hold a leg or help skin the cape. Anything but being stuck at work. 

Finally some pictures started rolling in, and that made it worse. I knew I had to do anything to get back over there and fill my tag. I arranged to be off the 21-23 and will be heading over after work on 18th. This will be my last chance at getting back over this season. If this trip doesn't pan out it looks like I might have to eat an oil tag.

If any of you deer hunters are hunting in the unit this next week can keep an eye out for me I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to pm me if you want. I do have some areas that I'm planning on hunting but I'm always open to intel. I'm not looking for a monster bull. Just a respectable bull.

[Blsum]

  Not sure why half the pictures are upside down. Don't strain your neck. 

[TooTallMike]

This may or may not be of any use to you but from the 18-20th I'll be near Davenport hunting and if I strike out I'd totally be willing to swing by up there and help out in any way I can. Just got off active duty and could use a new adventure 👍

[Blsum]

My brother and I are planning on heading out friday afternoon. Does anyone have any current reports on road conditions? Snow levels? Bull sightings? Should we concentrate on calling in areas or should we skip the calling and just spot and stalk? Drive roads until we find one? Open to suggestions here. Thanks.

Right now we are planning on setting up camp at bingville and hunting in that general area.

[sjhgraysage]

As of right now snow level is way up. May not be any at all at 5000 ft.
We are expecting wet snow in the spokane area higher elevations Saturday maybe, and it's probably going to be wet.

[nwwanderer]

Wind and rain, near freezing, be careful out there

[boneaddict]

Calling is very much a viable option still.   The moose rut doesnt wane like many of the other ruts.   There is far less a peak compared to the other ungulates.    Moose in general are scattered over long distances....all of them arent bred to have calves all in one week so to speak.  In fact when I find a hot cow in November, Ive had as many as a 10 bulls after her attention.   That is an amazing encounter to be part of.  I've seen it a couple times.

[jmscon]

Good luck and be safe out there!

[runningboard]

was on Cal Peak monday, snow was about 3"-5" near the top, went to 49 the road that is 1/2 way to the top that cuts across the slpoes had barely any snow on it, enough to see tracks. Saw one set of moose tracks on cal peak but never saw the animal. good luck & check back if you can, I'll keep my eyes out

[Blsum]

Thanks everyone. Getting the last few things packed so we can head out as early as possible. I've been keeping my eye on the forecast and it might turn into another mess but we will see. Hopefully we are able to find something. Planning on hunting as hard as possible. I will keep everyone informed as much as possible.

[TheStovePipeKid]

Good luck out there. Keep your socks dry. And for the love of the internet post some pictures when you get back first thing.

[Blsum]

 Well we are headed east. Looks like we will be getting into camp after midnight. Pictures and updates to come. Again thanks to everyone who has helped along this journey.

[blindluck]

Good luck, I love how these moose hunts become everyone’s journey following along.

[bowhunterforever]

Good luck

[Birdguy]

Good luck, be safe and fill this thread with amazing pics!!

[Blsum]

Quick update before i loose service. No love today. Only saw one doe. Cut one set of fresh tracks in the snow this afternoon but they were really small so we decided not to follow them into the thick nasty. Going to look in a different area tomorrow.

[kellama2001]

PM sent

[Blsum]

Well we got it done this morning. Not a huge bull but I'm more then happy with him. 37.5 wide 9x11. We were trying to get to an area to hike into but the road was just to sloppy so we decided to head to a different area. On our way out I spotted him across this draw 66 yards away. He just stood there staring at us. I saw that he had 3 on his left front and that's all I really cared about. So I set the bipod up on my muzzleloader and sat down. He was in some really thick stuff and I didn't have a clear shot at his vitals. So when he turned his head I had the front sight right on his neck just behind his head. I touched the old smoke pole off and he was dead right there.  Lucky for us he was 15 yards above a road so we winched him down to the road and started getting to work. It was nice being able to load quarters right into the truck.

[92xj]

Congrats!

[3boys]

Good job!

[bowhunterforever]

Nice work Congrats

[BullMagnet76]

Great Job, Congrats!!

[HillHound]

Awesome. Congratulations

[Sr15]

Congratulations!  Looks like it was wet up there today. I'm already not sleeping waiting for the 1st of November when my tag starts

[bobcat]

Great job! That's way better than tag soup.

[Scheindogg]

 

I think I heard your shot(s) this morning I was (unsuccessfully) hunting for deer in that GMU

[Blsum]

Congratulations!  Looks like it was wet up there today. I'm already not sleeping waiting for the 1st of November when my tag starts

pm sent

[Blsum]

I think I heard your shot(s) this morning I was (unsuccessfully) hunting for deer in that GMU

One shot with my muzzy. We were above power lake. If you were close to that area you may have heard the shot. About 820 this morning.

[Mfowl]

Congrats! Thats awesome!

[kellama2001]

Great looking bull! Congratulations   

[Bowhunter3]

Nice work

[Birdguy]

Right on! Above the road is the best place to load a moose from! Good work!

[TheStovePipeKid]

Great job. Let us know how it tastes

[X-Force]

Congrats

[Hilltophustler]

Way to stick with it ben. Proud of you. Dandy bull for sure

[Whitpirate]

Great work.  Triple front, and a downhill drag to truck... doesn't get much better than that.

[Machias]

Wohooo, I was rooting for you!  Congrats!!

[sjhgraysage]

Congrats!! 

[Blsum]

I know its a long shot but you never know. On our way back to camp the morning I shot my bull we stopped and talked with a local hunter. We showed him and his daughter my bull and he informed us he had trail camera pictures of him. I gave the hunter my number as he said he would send pictures that he had on his home computer. Of course since I was was still coming down off the adrenaline I wasn't quite thinking and forgot to get his name and number. If anyone thinks that they might have trail camera pictures of my bull will you please post them. If you were the hunter we stopped and talked with you can text me them to me.

[Sutherland]

  great hunt, nice moose congrats.

[huntsonofgun]

Congratulations! That's a great bull!

[Blsum]

Congratulations! That's a great bull!

Thanks man. Had a great time on that hunt. Can't wait to get him back from Joel @blackrivertaxidermy. Must have gotten lucky as well since he is nice and tender. Every cut I've had has been amazingly good. My girlfriend doesn't normally like wild game but she loves the moose steaks I've been cooking. In fact we just had some backstraps tonight.