1991 moose hunt

[onewakuwa]

Washington Moose Hunt – 1991

Back in 1991 there were about 3 tags available in the Mt. Spokane unit.  I was amazed when drawn from almost 3500 applicants.  Having bowhunted exclusively for about the past 20 years I vowed to limit myself to my bow.
I jacked my bow up to 80 lbs.
My good friend and hunting partner,Tim, agreed to go with me and we spent 4 weekends in the area attempting to locate where the moose were calling home.  The moose numbers were nothing like they are today but finally did find an area with enough sign to be there for the opening.  Tim was my caller having proved himself on a self-guided float trip for moose we took on the Colville River in Alaska’s Artic region.   
The only opportunity that first weekend was a small bull and I had committed to hold out for a minimum 36 incher.  The following weekend we did have one nice bull come to within 20 yards but was covered by the heavy brush and we lost shooting light.
The next week they shut down the unit due to fire danger and my heart sank.  Just as they were getting fired up!
Weather changed, some rain and some snow, and we were allowed back into the unit.  We spotted a shooter bull, 36 inches or so and we set up.  Tim was probably 30 yards behind me calling that lovesick cow talk and I was crouched down when he moved in.  Now for the excuses.  It was cold and I had too many clothes on and was caught crouched down, leaning forward when he stepped in front of me broadside and stopped 10 yards away.  There was nothing between me and him.  Another small bull was messing around directly behind me as I attempted to draw my bow.  I couldn’t do it.  I was so pumped I knew I could lift the front end of my explorer but couldn’t jerk that bow back.  A few more seconds and they both bolted out of there.  I was devastated.  Back at camp I turned the bow down to about 74 lbs., lost some restrictive clothes, adjusted my pins and thought I’d just blown my best opportunity.
The following weekend we arrived to find more snow and hopes were high.
We glassed a good bull on a sidehill, determined his direction of travel and set off to intercept him.  We would call then move, call then move but never could locate him.  Tim decided to head for our rig about a mile back and I was going to check out the next ridge over and then meet up with him.  As I backtracked about 50 yards here he comes.  Head down and swaying to his steady grunts he gives me a perfect 30 yard broadside shot.  He was probably coming to our calls all along and we just didn’t give him enough time before we would move.  I release the arrow and I know the shot is perfect.  As he bolts off I rush back to let Tim know what happened.  We return to where I had taken the shot, waited 30 minutes or so and moved in to check the blood trail.
We find my arrow 40 yards in and find only 10 inches of blood on it.  I couldn’t understand it.  Had I stuck bone I would have known it by the sound.  We proceeded to follow the trail spotted him several times and when I finally got into a position for a 40 yard shot I attempted to draw the bow and discovered the cable had come off the cam.  Now I knew why I got so little penetration.  My arrow probably was not fully nocked onto the string and had resulted in a kind of “dry-fire”. 
I did manage to get the cables back in place but of course he was long gone by then.  We continued to trail him but he was no longer leaving blood.  Only an occasional bead of blood rolled off into his track would separate his track from the others in the area.  He was smart.  Multiple times he would head uphill, then backtack about 75 yards and watch for us.  About the time we looked back he was off again.  As darkness came we marked the trail and headed back for the rig.  Didn’t sleep much.  Considered going into Spokane and borrowing a rifle but decided not to.  The next morning it proved to be a lot tougher to track him as there were lots more tracks to sort through.  We spotted him several more times and he finally gave me a 40 yard shot.  He had been joined by a younger bull which was probably his downfall.
The arrow took him through the lungs and he went down.  I continued pulling arrows and shooting til Tim tapped my shoulder saying “ I think
that’s enough”.  Later my taxidermist asked about all those arrow holes!
It was over.  Seventeen hours of trailing a not so mortally wounded bull and it was over.
Probably the best part was he was within a few hundred yards of a skid road we could get on.  I know at times we could have been in big trouble involving miles of packing so that road looked mighty good.
He scored 146 and change despite having his left antler split somewhat.

[Bearhunter]

Awesom story and pictures, thanks for posting.  Cant wait to chase a bowinkle around some day.  Did you have him mounted, if so lets see some pics.

[onewakuwa]

Here a pic of mount.  See the left side is split and kind of didn't allow points to develop.
hunts the score some.

[popeshawnpaul]

Great story and hunt.  Only 3 tags...  I remember those days.

Shawn

[Red Dawg]

great story, great hunt, great bull. I give you props for not giving up. congrats.

[WDFW-SUX]

That's awesome stuff great job!

[Skyvalhunter]

Great story thanks for sharing with us!!! Love the pictures. Now you have the moose bug!!!

[onewakuwa]

Interesting thing about tags.  We kept a map of the area and located all moose sighted, bull, cow, calf..
After the hunt I met with "Woody the biologist" at the regional office and left him a copy of same.  I just had the feeling they
didn't have a good handle on the numbers in the unit.  Did find 2 instances of poached remains and I firmly believe
the more hunters in an area scouting-hunting is a deterrent to those who will poach.  Well the folloiwing year they
increased the permits to 15 or so.  I'd like to think the info we gathered contributed.  As Bone says there is nothing
quite like a moose coming in to a call to get you pumped.  Everyone is welcome to apply now as I'm out of the pool forever.....

[rougheye]

Awesome bull,I hope to get to do that someday.I love the fact that you did it with your bow. I had a similar thing happen to me with my elk this year,no penetration ,my cams were out of time.  nice bull

[jackelope]

awesome bull, great write up and great pics to boot....thanks for sharing. one of these days i'll be out there hopefully with sharp sticks.

[Idabooner]

Very nice moose, and well earned to, what an adventure you had, great job for staying with him into the next day and putting him down. Thanks for posting the story and pic's.

[alecvg]

sweet pics... i hope i get a washington bull moose tag someday!!

[257 Wby Mag]

Congrats, hellava bull, and a awesome story...

[gramps]

Great story and you did the right thing by staying after this bull.  Congrats !!

[Ridgerunner]

Great bull and a great story too.  Thanks for posting it up.