Kettle range- East Okanagan bull moose!

[trophyhunt]

I guess it’s like the Selkirk, drive, drive and drive!  And wait for one to be standing there!  At least with having a bit of experience now I won’t be so discouraged when I don’t see moose around every corner.  I can’t wait to see my son in laws face and my wife’s when/if they put a big bull on the ground!

[Caseknife]

Yep, you will be doing a bunch of driving, and yes, they just show up standing next to the road.  Twenty years ago, about 10 years or so after the White Mtn fire(1988), I had a place that I could be guaranteed to see multiple moose on opening morning of deer season.  Went in there two years ago scouting for my step-son's North Half tag, couldn't see my hand in front of my face, the lodgepole regen was 30 feet tall and thick!
There has been lots of logging on each side of HWY 20 on the east side of Sherman in the last few years and has pretty good habitat, so yes, it is back to lots of driving.  You'll find a couple, hopefully not both at the same time!

[trophyhunt]

Thanks, we talked about two at the same time, that would be some work.  But maybe it's possible with the rut??  We will take two big bulls fighting in front of us!! 

[flyguide]

My teenage son and I scouted for 3 days, last weekend, I also have a tag. We put about $250 in gas through my Wrangler, ruled out a ton of country, ruled a bunch in. We saw sign pretty much every time we got out of the rig and hiked a closed road, so it seems like the moose are extremely well scattered living solo here and there. So unlike hunting elk or mule deer, where you can look at a topo map and a few sattelite images and have a grasp of the habitat. Many of the clear cuts and burns that look good on Google Earth are so grown up, or not at all what you expect. Means there is no substitute for putting in some road miles.

So after our first scout trip we found a couple spots that will be our day one hunts, a couple that will be on the radar.  That unit is really big, almost too big, wonder why wdfw doesn't cut it in half, east/west type deal.  Anyway, can't nail down what to do for our camp, didn't see a whole lot of dry camping areas and I want to be mobile so the wall tent will prob stay home this trip.  Found an RV resort that wants $550 for the month, which is cheaper than paying for 2 weeks.  It's fairly central to the areas we like but still going to put some miles on during the hunts, probably going to just put the trailer in the rv spot.  Definitely going to bring the quads, couple roads scratched up the son in laws nice truck.  Did see a cow and a bull, the bull was not a shooter, broken half antler on one side.  Tough unit to scout will so much to look at and knowing moose could be scattered at any spot, son in law saw a white wolf on sherman pass.  I was busy sitting on a log so I didn't get to see it.  Looking forward to the hunt, cooler temps and less bugs!!  The bugs were insane!!!!!!  They would chase you back in the truck, up your nose, in your eyes and ears, bug spray is a must for early scouting, or the therma cell.   C'mon October!!

[bearpaw]

So after our first scout trip we found a couple spots that will be our day one hunts, a couple that will be on the radar.  That unit is really big, almost too big, wonder why wdfw doesn't cut it in half, east/west type deal.  Anyway, can't nail down what to do for our camp, didn't see a whole lot of dry camping areas and I want to be mobile so the wall tent will prob stay home this trip.  Found an RV resort that wants $550 for the month, which is cheaper than paying for 2 weeks.  It's fairly central to the areas we like but still going to put some miles on during the hunts, probably going to just put the trailer in the rv spot.  Definitely going to bring the quads, couple roads scratched up the son in laws nice truck.  Did see a cow and a bull, the bull was not a shooter, broken half antler on one side.  Tough unit to scout will so much to look at and knowing moose could be scattered at any spot, son in law saw a white wolf on sherman pass.  I was busy sitting on a log so I didn't get to see it.  Looking forward to the hunt, cooler temps and less bugs!!  The bugs were insane!!!!!!  They would chase you back in the truck, up your nose, in your eyes and ears, bug spray is a must for early scouting, or the therma cell.   C'mon October!!

Be careful where you use the quads, the Colville National Forest is unfriendly for quads. Good Luck! 

[trophyhunt]

Thanks for the heads up, does it help if it’s street legal? I have a plate.

[bearpaw]

Thanks for the heads up, does it help if it’s street legal? I have a plate.

I don't think that makes any difference except that you can use the county roads within the forest, those are the roads your truck is fine on!

Check with the Three Rivers Ranger District in Kettle falls: (509) 738-7700

[trophyhunt]

 

[Ridgeratt]

Just read this on WCWA-NEC.

08/29/2022 10:42   COF-1826
P6 EK2S (0621)
TAYLOR RIDGE   Wildfire   48   FERRY COUNTY - BULLDOG CREEK   38N R35E Sec 14   48 47.106, -118 19.596   TIMBER/UNDERSTORY   .   .   STAFFED 9/9


Fire started 8-29 and they staffed it 2 days ago

[Falcon]

Trophy Hunt.......if you run out of diesel money and need a payday loan......I’m your huckleberry

[trophyhunt]

Just give me your credit card Bryan!!  We certainly don’t need a big fire just weeks before the season!! 

[trophyhunt]

Sounds like a few fires over there, most are still pretty small. My guide says it will be fine come Oct

[trophyhunt]

Day 1 today!  So far it seems the rut hasn’t really kicked off yet, kinda strange year, I’m hoping that is perfect for us. Bulls have been quiet during the day, we are blessed to do this morning what so many apply for!!

[HillHound]

Good luck. Can’t wait to see pics and hear the stories. I sure hope you have lots of help If you get two down at the same time. That sounds like it would be an epic problem to have to deal with

[ShaneTyTrey]

Good luck Jerry!