Alaska moose 2023

[JoeE]

Figured I’d make this its own post instead of an add on to my “Moving to Alaska” thread. I went out for my 4th fly out moose hunt this year. The moose numbers in Alaska are down in most places especially in the spot in the interior I normally hunt. This year we opted to go a bit deeper and more out west. Since I’m a resident now we picked a controlled use area open for residents only. I can’t say the moose numbers were much better and holy cow was this place a pain to hunt. Waist deep swamps in each direction we had to navigate around in a pack raft. I had hip boots but would have been better off in chest waders. The only place we could find to pitch our tent that was dry was in the brush and trees and it made for difficult camping. Weather was pretty bipolar as usual for Alaska, sun, rain, wind, freezing temps. We managed to find two moose total in 12 days. A 62” and a 61” bull. Didn’t see another moose. With all those challenges I wouldn’t trade a thing I love Alaska hunting. This is my second consecutive 60+” bull I’ve taken with the trusty 30-06. I moved on from my usual moose rifle in 300 WSM and have found I like my lighter handier 06. I don’t see myself changing for awhile.

Now that we have a freezer full of moose, halibut and salmon I’m going to focus next years big game hunting on sheep.

[JoeE]

We lucked out where we killed both bulls was in a nice patch about 1 sq mile of dry tussocks. Tussocks are hell to walk in but better than wading in a swamp.

[JoeE]

Beautiful place

[emac]

Both absolutely beautiful

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[pd]

That looks like sheer h@(^ to walk through!

Congratulations.

[kellama2001]

What an incredible animal! Thank you for sharing your pictures and story, looks like it was an amazing hunt!

[Taco280AI]

Congrats and great bulls! Luckily I avoided swampy stuff for the most part this year. There any particular reason the moose numbers are down? Grizz predation? Saw too many of them.

[JoeE]

The guy I fly with is a retired biologist and he does moose surveys in the off season for fish and game. He says its two bad winters in a row have hammered the moose. It’ll rebound.

[Rainier10]

Great moose. Congrats.

[carpsniperg2]

Great stuff!!!

[lewy]

 

[bearpaw]

awesome trip 

[JakeLand]

You’re living it up !! Nice bulls . You going to take up trapping up there ?

[boneaddict]

Some back breaking success there! Well done.

[Bob33]

Wow - lots of hard work for a beautiful trophy. Congratulations.

[JoeE]

You’re living it up !! Nice bulls . You going to take up trapping up there ?

I really want to. It’s kind of intimidating because I know nothing about trapping. I’m living on the Kenai Peninsula and we have a good Lynx population around here. A guy I met through work traps lynx quite a bit and as offered to teach me how to get me started. But eventually I would like to spend my winters here trapping a lot.

[257wbymagkiller]

Joe! I lost your number man. Heck of a moose! Shoot me a msg!

[C-Money]

The antlers being packed out look huge!! Great photos! Congrats! I sure enjoy hearing about the 30-06 getting folks meat in the freezer.

[pashok23]

Congrats, very nice bull!!!

[JakeLand]

You’re living it up !! Nice bulls . You going to take up trapping up there ?

I really want to. It’s kind of intimidating because I know nothing about trapping. I’m living on the Kenai Peninsula and we have a good Lynx population around here. A guy I met through work traps lynx quite a bit and as offered to teach me how to get me started. But eventually I would like to spend my winters here trapping a lot.

heck ya you’ll be addicted

[Machias]

Holy smokes those are both amazing bulls!!  Congrats!!

P.S.  DO NOT take up trapping its waaay too addicting!!