Sorry, but I just finished wrapping the last of the approximately 600 lbs of meat (don't ask about shipping costs) that we brought back. I will try to keep this short, but it will be hard. We had an amazing trip. We left King Salmon, Alaska by float plane two days before the season. We landed on a small lake, and then had to haul our gear and raft about 500 yards to water big enough to float down to our river that we would hunt on. Without having too much time, due to needing to set up camp down river, we caught approximately 35-40 fish on the creek leading to our river. Rainbows, char, grayling and silvers. We passed a lot of good fishing too. We set up camp, and then moved downriver about 1-1 1/2 miles the next day to be ready to hunt the area we wanted on opening day. We had seen a bull way up in the hills, and a cow on an island (we saw a bull on this island on the flight in) and wanted to check these two areas out for the opener. Opening morning we were able to call the bull on the island out to within about 350-400 yards but it only had 2 brow tines (minimum 3 required, or 50" minimum) and we thought he might be close to 50", but we let him go. That afternoon, we headed up on the hillsides (too far away from the river) to the area we had seen the bull the day before. Amazing views of some beautiful country. As evening approached, we saw one cow wake up and leave it's thick bedding area and head up over the top of one hill about 3/4 of a mile away. We looked hard, but saw no bull with it. We started heading back down the hill toward camp, and my cousin spotted a bull bedded on the hillside about 1/2 mile away. We were pretty sure on size, and on brow tines, but not positive. We were able to work our way below him to within about 300 yards. I gave a cow call to get him out of his bed (my cousin spotted him, he would get first shot), He stood up, with his brow tines right behind some brush. After about 5 minutes of calling, and the bull standing behind brush and then thrashing some trees with his antlers, we finally got a clear view of him. I said "He's got three brow tines" and my cousin started shooting. After three shots, you could tell he was hit hard, he laid down in the brush and all we could see were his antlers. We made our way up, and behind him. At about ten yards, he stood up and looked like he wanted to come after us, bet he just didn't have anything left in him. To see an animal of that size, that close square off with you is a very amazing, intimidating experience, to say the least. One more shot would end it. Now, it's 8 PM (dark by 9-9:30) and we are about 2 miles from camp. I didn't want to hunt moose that far from the river, but I also did not want to come all this way and not get at least one moose. By 11 PM we had the moose cut up, and the meat and antlers moved away from the carcass. By 12:15 AM we finally made it back to camp. The next day, we did not get up very early, but did make it up the mountain to bone out meat, and make two packs each. One more day of packing. The next day we had just started to head up the hill when right behind camp, I noticed something coming down the hill to our right. I put my scope on it, and immediately see it is a big bull moose. He is about 1/2 mile away, coming straight for us. We are able to get out of sight, and move in behind a brush patch, and wait. Even though he was just walking, we covered that distance in no time. Without him even knowing we were there, I was able to drop him with one shot at about 10 yards, broadside. Our plans for the day just changed. Luckily, we were only about 500 yards from camp. We were able to have him boned and packed in about 6 hrs and then headed up the hill for one more pack on the first bull. The next day, we finished packing the first bull, and packed up the raft to head down river. We would need to get about half way down river (about 30 miles) for our transported to be able to pick up the meat in his jet sled. Wolves got into the first bull a little, and we would have loved to spend a couple day trying to get a few of them, but we figured we better get this meat our, and not risk losing any of it to spoilage. My cousins bull has three brow tines and is about 62". Mine has four brow tines and is bout 65 inches. I don't know where I will put these antlers when they arrive (they are still in transit) but I will never forget this trip. We got To see and walk in some country that few people get to. We shot our moose too soon (if that is possible). I wish we could have spent more time up there. It was a trip of a lifetime, that I hope I can do again someday. Here are a few pictures. I hope you enjoy.
