Washington Cow Moose Hunt 2011 (HUNT) Idaho Bull Moose Hunt

[HUNT]

So I pop the SD card into my camera.  The first few pictures are beef cattle.  Then a cow moose picture not 5 hours from when my 2 youngest boys and I put the camera up.  There were a total of seven different bulls on the camera over the last 3 weeks.  Plus tons of pictures of cow moose - so I knew then that the bulls wouldnt be going to far.  Beau, Jake and I put the trail cam back up on the tree, then heard some twigs snapping up in the timber above the meadow.  We moved over to the other side of the marsh behind a fallen log that would work as a blind.  If was about an hour and a half before dark so I thought we should just sit here til dark and see what happens.  We could hear twigs popping now and then up in the timber but nothing stepped out where we could see.  I was just sure something would step out of the timber after seeing all those pics on the trail cam.     

[HUNT]

We sat there until it got too dark to shoot, then snuck out and headed back to camp.  I knew where we would be come daylight tomorrow morning. 

Up at 4:45 am and headed out to the honey hole.  I didnt want to use a headlamp walking in as I knew the moose could be in the marsh at any time of  day from the times on my trail cam pics.  Walking through the marsh when its pitch black out was an adventure.  Slipped and fell into a deep spot up to my knees on the way in, but found my way into the makeshift blind without spooking anything.  We sit there in the blind til about 7:30 without seeing anything.  Then all of a sudden I could hear a freight train come running in behind us and stop about 60 yards away through the open timber.  I could tell it was a bull right away because he started scraping the ground at his rut pit.  I moved to get a look at him and I could see antler tips through the brush he was behind.  Then we saw him squat down and piss in his rut pit and then he lay down in it.  Then he got back up and started thrashing brush with his right antler.  Damn it - it's the one horn bull from the trail cam.  I moved closer to get a better look and see if there were any other moose with him.  He was alone - so I backed into the blind.  That was pretty cool I thought to myself. 

[HUNT]

About then a cow moose walks down next to the one horned bull.  And they both walk up into the timber a ways.  We could hear the cow up there moaning on the hillside.  Now we could hear some more commotion, but couldnt see them so I got up and tried to move in closer to get a better look at what was going on.  A minute later I see the one horned bull come back and head up the opposite hillside all by himself.  Hmmm - I wonder where that cow went.  I couldnt believe that he was leaving her.  About 10 minutes went by with everything quiet so I went back to the blind not wanting to blow them out of the area.  I knew it was only a matter of time before they would show back up.  As soon as I get back to the blind - I look up and the cow has me pegged at about 75 yards.  We were in a staredown for 15 minutes before she lost interest and moved on.  So I sit back down and not a minute later I see a bull standing in the same spot.  I throw up my binocs to get a look at him.  Standing there is the split brow bull from my trail camera.  I grab my rifle knowing that he was the biggest bull I saw on the camera and had decided that he was a shooter.  By the time I got my rifle up - he had stepped back into the brush.  I got up and tried to move closer to where he was and I saw the cow move through another small shooting lane about 150 yards away.  I move up another 15 yards and wait for the bull to follow her through the opening and then I would take him.  I waited and waited and waited until I thought "where did he go?  He should have been through here by now."    Just then he walked right through the shooting lane without giving me a good shot and headed into the thicker timber.  I told Jake - "I don't know what to do.  Should we push em a little or just wait to see what happens, maybe they will be back.  They weren't skittish and I dont think the bull had a clue we were there."  I could feel the opportunity slipping away.   

[HUNT]

I told Jake - grab the video camera and lets slip up through the timber after him and see what he does.  After about 50-60 yards I come upon the rut pit.  I can hear him grunt up the hill.  So I grunt back at him.  We keep moving up slowly through the timber looking for any movement.  He grunts again and I answer him with two quick grunts.  Ohhhh, Ohhh.  He grunts right back.  I move about another 50 yards closer to him and can hear him keep grunting but not answering him.  After about a minute all heck breaks loose.  He comes tearing down the hill on a run with he his head swaying bath and forth.  I throw up the scope and make sure its the right bull.  I see the opening he is headed for and adjust my position for a shot.  He stops right behind a 20 ft douglas fir looking down the hill for me.  He isnt more than 20-25 yards away.  My heart is beating through my chest that this point.  Jake is a little ways behind me and moves around a tree to get a better video shot.  The bull must have heard Jake move because all of a sudden he whirls 180 degrees. 

[BLUEBULLS]

alright, my hearts starting to pound too...

[HUNT]

As the bulls whirls I take two steps up the hill looking for a shot when he turns right towards me and stops about 10-20 yards away (Not sure how close - I need to watch the video again)  I pick out a small opening in the brush and put the crosshairs on his shoulder as he is quartering to me.  I squeezed off a shot and he bolts up the hill.  Two more shots as he is running through the timber and he drops.  Wow - did that happen fast. 

Faster than my story did...   


 

[jackelope]

I think I feel a banning coming on.......

 

[jackelope]

Actually you should skip the pic posting and go directly to posting the video.
 

[CoryTDF]

Need pictures!!!!! I cant watch video at work.

[jackelope]

I don't think I see any pics of a split browtine bull in the trail cam pics.
 

[HUNT]

My 2011 Idaho Once in a Lifetime DIY Shiras bull moose.  52 1/2" wide.  9 points on his right, 8 points on his left.

[CoryTDF]

  So COOL!!!! Great job man!

[Ranger91298]

Congrats on a stud of a Moose!!!

[HUNT]

My humble moose camp.... 

[mulehunter]

   Finally pay off.

Mulehunter.