HUCKLEBERRY MOOSE

[billythekidrock]

I talked to him also. He was not too much help for me either but apparently he is understaffed and overworked. Still we are paying his salary through our hunting fees are we not. I think we should have access to him for help on these special tags. It is a bit frustrating and disappointing. Rufous.

I have found this to be the case with most of our bios and gammies. I hate it when I read "check with your local blah blah as they are willing to help" in magazines. I understand that some states (and people) are different, but I haven't had that kind of luck yet.

[bobcat]

I actually had good luck both times I have contacted biologists by phone. The first was in '04 for my Entiat permit and the second was in '06 for my dad's Hangman moose permit. Both times they were very friendly and willing to share information. It all depends on who you get on the phone, and probably if they're having a good day or a bad day.

Just today I emailed a biologist regarding my Grayback deer permit. Hopefully this time will be just as good an experience as the last two.

[PA BEN]

Talked to the Bio out of Colville today, nice guy but not much help. He basically read what I got off the web site word for word! He said he hoped we were taking 3 weeks off so we could make sure and get one!!!!!
I doesn't take a genious to look at the harvest reports and see that it has taken just a few days on average to kill a bull for the past 5 years! He also said that it would be crowded with 8 tags in those areas! Has he ever hunted modern firearm in WA What would he call that! Sardines in a can with no room for oil!
I won't be calling him back!
The only good piece of advice he gave me was to fly the the unit prior to opening day and mark moose on my GPS.

Looks like I need to rely on the PROFESSIONALS here on HUNT-WA

Not to rain on your parade, but to say or imply moose are everywhere in HUCKLEBERRY is going to get you very frustrated. The Bio. has a job to do and answer all the calls from us moose hunters too. Picture this, you've been out in the field all day and come back to your office with 80 messages on your phone from us moose hunters, you spend 5 min.s with each hunter you get 12 hunters an hr, and of course we all feel the same, we need more time on the phone. I've hunted a lot of areas from advice from someone who knows where to find them by pointing on a map and saying, you'll find Elk here, it's still up to me to use my topo map. It's the same with moose, if the man said, we see moose here and moose have been harvested here. That's where you need to look, get your topo and look for north slop drainage's with water, moose are thick skinned and like it cool. Don't put all your eggs in one basket, be prepared to move around from place to place.

[finnman]

No parade to rain on here BEN! I am the guy all my hunting buddies rely on for maps and research for almost all our hunts in state and out! My nickname is map boy, if that tells you anything! I have talked with many Bios over the years, many helpful, some not so much, again this guy was nice, and he is a hunter, but when he tells me that he has a bunch of calls to make from moose hunters and he can't get to them, then in a hurried fashion reads basic info that everyone has, for a ONCE IN A LIFETIME TAG, you think he could be a bit more helpful, after talking to him for five minutes I mention that we saw a bull near Ninemile creek, he asks if I know where to go to get a WHITETAIL DOE!!!! I say yea doesn't everyone! He proceeds to tell me how busy he is and gives me a phone number to a guy that drew a doe tag for the Sherman unit and wants ME to call him back, I was mildly irritated but for the sake of the hunter I am going to do it! I always wanted to be a BIO, I might even say I am! And if he has a bad experience on his hunt to complain to Olympia about the Colville office being to busy to help guys out!
Last year was the first year since 1991 I did not get an animal, I don't rely on word of mouth, or tales from the archery or rifle shop! This guy was just a waste of time, I plan on doing my homework like usual, if I have a bad hunt I can always blame it on myself, no one else

[PA BEN]

Glad to here you're up on your home work. I'm from Chewelah, went to school there and my Dad's farm is in the Huckleberry unit. Shot my first deer in Huckleberry. Left 31/2 yrs ago for work. 10 years of applying and I drew 49. The moose are on rise in the Huckleberry unit even had some behind my house. I do know that the info the game dept. provided on areas to hunt came from moose count flyovers and moose sittings. I know of moose area's in that unit that they did not metion. You might call Clarks Allsports in Colville, and talk to Tim. There prity good about info on where to hunt. Good luck on your wifes hunt, I'm going to start putting my wife in for the moose draw.

[finnman]

Thanks for the heads up Ben! I hope you have a great time on the hunt, and also get a trophy!
If I have any questions do you mind if I shoot you a PM?

Jason

[finnman]

The guy that bought my Muzzleloader, hunted the Huckleberry for deer last year and said he saw more moose than deer!
Heres a pic he got of one!
Finnman

[rackattack]

Nice!!!!   I'm so jealous.

[yelp]

Finnman...got your message...will call you next week for sure...those pcitures are typical of that area I was telling you about.  I was trying to remember a time I didn't see one in that area and I can't.  Call you soon.

Yelp

[boneaddict]

More bears than deer too.

[Ridgerunner]

Is he  shooter?  Hard to tell from that angle but looks a little small to me, I'd pass and wait on a bigger one.

[finnman]

Are reading my mind Ridgerunner?
I did love the length of his beard! He would make a good mount.

[280ackley]

Nice pic.  You and your wife will have a great time.

[TeacherMan]

spent all day there, lots of sign, no actual moose, two bears. We where on Stangar Mt., then down the backside to Addy Cidona Rd. I didn't relieze but from Waitts lake to the lookout they are logging in several spots and lots of traffic. The backside was where we saw all the sign.

[finnman]

Thanks for the report Teacher!
Any thing on the bears you saw!