Machias and the Mrs. 2023 Idaho Moose Hunt

[Cylvertip]

Very Nice!  I am betting one fills the freezer, can't imagine 2.  Would be a good problem to have.

[Machias]

Right on! Congratulations! Man he is almost black too isn't he! Did you save the hide at all? I'm just thinking that one could be tanned and look great! You know, for around $1000...

I did not, I did the gutless method and cut the hide into 4 sections.

[Machias]

So a little bit about the hunt now that I have recovered a little bit.  Really kicked my tail getting him out last night.  So I have a tag that runs from 15 Sep to 1 Dec.  Some might wonder why I would take such a young bull.  First off I'm so happy with the harvest.  But if you guys knew how bad both of my knees are and how so out of shape I am, it's a miracle I even got this bull.  So any bull, young or old in the right location was getting harvested.  I have three different bulls on camera and several cows.  I was going to go out and scout out a new spot for the wife and I to hunt from on Sunday.  I got to a big meadow, turned off the ATV and sat for a while just listening.  20 minutes before this on the way to this spot, I saw a really nice bear.  Stopped and called for a while, but could not entice him in.  After about 30 minutes I was about to move on and decided to cow call.  5 minutes after I called I heard a grunt.  He came out about 75 yards and stood quartering away.  Legal bull in a good spot.  Boom, let the .30-06 loose.  He staggered, then down he went.  I chambered another round, he got back up.  I nearly made a HUGE mistake.  He staggered, went down, got back up.  I should have hit him again, but was sure he was done.  Problem was he staggered over to the edge of a really steep hill.  But by that point I could not get a shot off.  I thought I was going to be screwed.  But he dropped 3 feet from the edge.  I walked over and found him lying there.  Watched him for a full 2 minutes and no breathing, nothing.  Touched his eye with the rifle barrel and he blinked and twitched his ears.  Holy....Took a step back and shot him one more time in the neck.  Took my wife and I about 3.5 hours to get him quartered and back to the house.  So sore this morning, man they are a HUGE animal, even the young ones.  Hope to get one more with the wife.

[Machias]

couple of bulls on camera, about a mile from the house.

[Machias]

couple more photos.

[teanawayslayer]

So a little bit about the hunt now that I have recovered a little bit.  Really kicked my tail getting him out last night.  So I have a tag that runs from 15 Sep to 1 Dec.  Some might wonder why I would take such a young bull.  First off I'm so happy with the harvest.  But if you guys knew how bad both of my knees are and how so out of shape I am, it's a miracle I even got this bull.  So any bull, young or old in the right location was getting harvested.  I have three different bulls on camera and several cows.  I was going to go out and scout out a new spot for the wife and I to hunt from on Sunday.  I got to a big meadow, turned off the ATV and sat for a while just listening.  20 minutes before this on the way to this spot, I saw a really nice bear.  Stopped and called for a while, but could not entice him in.  After about 30 minutes I was about to move on and decided to cow call.  5 minutes after I called I heard a grunt.  He came out about 75 yards and stood quartering away.  Legal bull in a good spot.  Boom, let the .30-06 loose.  He staggered, then down he went.  I chambered another round, he got back up.  I nearly made a HUGE mistake.  He staggered, went down, got back up.  I should he hit him again, but was sure he was done.  Problem was he staggered over to the edge of a really steep hill.  But by that point I could not get a shot off.  I thought I was going to be screwed.  But he dropped 3 feet from the edge.  I walked over and found him lying there.  Watched him for a full 2 minutes and no breathing, nothing.  Touched his eye with the rifle barrel and he blinked and twitched his ears.  Holy....Took a step back and shot him one more time in the neck.  Took my wife and I about 3.5 hours to get him quartered and back to the house.  So sore this morning, man they are a HUGE animal, even the young ones.  Hope to get one more with the wife.

congrats! The young ones eat way better anyways. A buddy shot one that was 4 years old and the meat was tender good eating. His dad shot one a year later that was 8. It was like chewing on a piece of leather.

[Duckslayer89]

Congrats, nice work man!

[opdinkslayer]

Congrats on the tags & a freezer full of the most delicious meat on the planet!

[Rob]

Well done!  Congrats!

[Dan-o]

Awesome!
Super happy for you. 
I hope you have a stock of ibuprofen.

[wadu1]

Awesome!
Super happy for you. 
I hope you have a stock of ibuprofen.

I've heard that beaver castoreum for pain relief works well! Fred may have some around. 

[HillHound]

Awesome! Congrats. Definitely the favorite meat in our household. You’re not kidding about using the gutless method either. You don’t really have any other choice If you don’t have a come along or a crew of guys there’s no rolling that moose over to get the guts out of it and you don’t have a choice but to take the hide off piece by piece. Looking back at my 2018 49° north moose I would’ve loved to save that hide but being by myself and short on time even with several block and tackles there was no saving the hide just had to worry about getting it processed quick enough to preserve the meat. I cannot imagine having two moose in one year. So awesome.  You will not have to worry about meat for a few years. Looking forward to see what the Mrs. gets. Keep that rifle handy and Maybe she can get that yard bull if he comes back through.

[Gentrys]

Congrats!

[10Key]

Love it, what a blessing to get 2 tags! Good luck chasing down #2.

[JakeLand]

Right on buddy ! That’s some good eats right there!! And that is was a beautiful hide !