2010 Three Forks Moose Hunt - Official Page (Moose Eyes)

[Rob]

Shawn has requested I stop grabbing him.  I guess it made him feel uncomfortable...

I'd love to come along, but I am headed out to look for bear this weekend.

[bearpaw]

Hope your dad is doing well, how is your scouting going?

[NWBREW]

Threeforks moose.......just a small one.

[Pathfinder101]

That's cool.  I had a staredown with one the exact same size in the Three Forks unit during the late buck season back in 2004.  We both came around the corner on a skid trail at the same time, about 50 yards apart.  He was looking at me like: "No, YOU get off MY road".  I was having too much fun looking at him through my scope and fantasizing that I had a tag.  After about 5 minutes I think he got tired of me whispering "bang" at him, and he turned around and trotted back the way he had come.
I thought I had seen something really cool until I told my buddy Brian, and he took me to see the 50+ incher that lived up there.  Three Forks has been my #1 choice in the draws since then.  

[Moose Eyes]

Hope your dad is doing well, how is your scouting going?

Heading over Friday morning, Dale!

[Moose Eyes]

Shawn has requested I stop grabbing him.  I guess it made him feel uncomfortable...

I'd love to come along, but I am headed out to look for bear this weekend.

Yeah, he mentioned that.

You could always look for bear in 108/111.

[bearpaw]

Hope your dad is doing well, how is your scouting going?

Heading over Friday morning, Dale!

You should try to stop by and say HI!

[Moose Eyes]

Hope your dad is doing well, how is your scouting going?

Heading over Friday morning, Dale!

You should try to stop by and say HI!

Will do, Dale.  I figured you would be in Idaho by now.

[triplenickel 555]

I have really enjoyed reading about past years' OIL hunts on this board.  As luck has it, I was drawn for an "any moose" tag in the Three Forks unit this year!  In keeping with the great tradition of sharing all aspects of the hunt with folks here, I will be sharing my activities on this page.  Guys like huntnphool and Shane(WA) set the bar pretty high in years past so please lower your expectations with my page  .

After finding out through the backdoor Friday I had tentatively drawn a moose tag, I was pulling out my hair all weekend until Monday morning to see if it would become official.  Thankfully the rumors of a redraw were just that . . . rumors, and I was able to exhale yesterday morning!  I still can't believe it!

Once it became official I immediately contacted the WDFW Spokane Region and informed them of my good fortune and asked for contact info for their biologist and any other folks who might have some useful information.  Within an hour or two I was sent an overview of the Three Forks moose hunt with some general location information.  I was also given some names and numbers to contact. 

I then made a trip to Wholesale sports and purchased the GMU 108/111 map made by LC Sportsmaps.  So I guess I have officially started scouting, even though it has been limited to "paper" scouting.

I have also had some early conversations with individuals on this board (who shall remain nameless, unless they choose to reveal themselves).  To those who have contacted me, I really appreciate your help!

I am in the process of trying to determine when I can make the 7 hour drive east for several scouting trips.  I have hunted turkeys in the Colville area but usually south of town, not north where the moose unit is.

That's all I have for now.  Take care.

Ron

[triplenickel 555]

i have hunted that gmu alot in the past lots of good bulls in a area called harrier creek  on the west side of Aladdin road just north of meadow creek  but as far as that goes lot of bulls anywhere in that unit

[Moose Eyes]

I am overdue for a scouting report from last weekend so here it is.  Sorry, this report is lacking pictures.

I had a lot to get done before heading east last Friday morning.  When I got to my buddies place and began helping load his gear into the truck I noticed his hunting boots and realized I had left mine at home.    So I had to run back to the house and grab mine and off we went, about 40 minutes or so later than I had hoped. 

I had made an appointment to meet with the WDFW biologists in Colville and managed to get there on time even with the delay.  My objective for the weekend was to cover a lot of ground in search of decent habitat and sign, and to get more familiar with the Three Forks road network.  We were not able to cover much area Friday evening so we got up early Saturday and headed for some promising areas to scout.  The bios told us to focus on old clearcuts and burns in certain areas of primarily GMU 111.  We did see a fair amount of sign but no moose the first day.  It was a little frustrating because most of the area we scouted was really too overgrown to see much. 

We found a little better habitat the second day.  Again lots of sign, but no moose throughout the day.  Then at the end of the day just before dark I saw my first Washington moose!  From a half mile through my binos I could tell it was a smallish bull.  I knew it was near another road so I headed over that way to try to get a closer look.  I walked in a bit where I thought I saw the moose and made a couple of calls and out stepped a cow.  She looked at me and made a pretty nasty sound that really caught me off guard.  She sounded like she was really telling me off.  She moved away and out came the bull.  He had single brow tines and looked to be in the low to mid 30" range.  Definitely a shooter . . . on the afternoon of November 30th!   I took a few pictures but it was too great a distance and too dark for the photo op.  We hopped in the rig and headed for "home".  We didn't make it a half mile and we saw another moose ahead of us on the side of the road.  In my headlights I could tell it was a bigger bull than the first one but I never got a front view so I don't know what type off head gear he was carrying.

We covered a few more areas Monday morning before beginning the long drive back home and again saw sign but no more moose. 

So after a weekend of scouting I feel a little better about hunting season.  I don't plan to hunt until November so I know those brushy areas will be a little more open then.  I found several good areas with moose sign so I feel good about the trip.  Sorry I couldn't deliver on the pictures.  I will try to do a better job in November.   

[phishisgroovin]

Ron didnt go home empty handed either on this scouting mission.
he made the FIRST kill with my Rough Rider since i couldnt hit the side of a barn until i saw where it was hitting on an empty pop case.

Awsome time learining a new area for sure and i too hope to go back there soon and hunt the area up there.

Ron even found moose tracks in the friggin store! 

[saylean]

Those moose tracks or the ones you find in the woods...either way, good eatin...

Good luck!

[NWBREW]

Moose eyes,  There is a big burn about three or four years old up the black canyon road.

[TheHunt]

It is getting close to the time...  Document your hunt well.