Selkirk Moose

[Roger]

I was lucky enough to finally draw a moose tag for the Selkirk unit after 20+ years. Any advice for locations to start the search for a decent bull. I have never been to the area but I do have the maps I need. I will not be going to hunt until the last 3 weeks of the season as will be in Wyoming for the month of October. Any help will be appreciated.

[DeKuma]

Welcome to the site Roger, and congratulations on the tag.  Wish I could help, but know nothing of the area.
If you search around and post more info about yourself, stories, pictures and the like, guys in the know may be more likely to help out.  People want to get a feel for who they are helping before volunteering info.  Just human nature.  With so many bad apples out there, we all just want to be sure we are dealing with ethical hunters.

[Gutpile]

Le Cler Creek drainage, Mill creek drainage, area all around Cee Cee ah mt. The road sign for Cee Cee Ah raod reads CCA for short. Tons of moose, some elk, bears move in and out.

Good luck.

[Roger]

Thanks for the quick replays. A little something about me DeKuma.

Yea I am a very ethical hunter. My work career of Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal here in western Wa. leads me to being a very ethical person.

I have been traveling out of state to Montana, Wyoming or Colorado for many years now. Enjoy the experiences of the other states and the amounts of game and conditions they offer. I hunt archery and modern weapons.

[Machias]

I'm not sure if it is in your area or not, you'll have to check, but one year I saw a guy harvest a HUGE bull in the Kalispell Creek drainage.  It was south of Grassy Top mtn area.  I double check and give you better directions.  We stopped and spoke with them and they sawy several nice bulls over a week in there.

[Houndhunter]

thats my dream tag for a moose, good luck

[Roger]

Machias - Yes that area is in the unit. Looks like Granite Ck. drainage is between Grass Top and Kalispell Ck. Thanks for the info.

[andrew_12gauge]

a buddy of mine had that tag last year and took a 40 inch bull the first morning near bead lake. i think the moose are just about everywhere up there but never saw a single one while elk hunting last year so who knows maybe i wasnt in the right areas

[runningboard]

my son & I were up on CCA road looking for sheds earlier this year and were on the backside of CCA peak and what's known to locals as little cca and as we were driving up in our CJ-5 my son kept leaning out & looking at scat in the road and saying "moose poop." they are all over up there, I'll keep my eyes open.

[popeshawnpaul]

If Intruder doesn't chime in shoot him a PM.  I think he got a whopper there last year.  Look through his posts and you can read up about it.  I think it was near Kalispel Creek if I remember right.

[PA BEN]

MOOSE HUNTING IN EASTERN WASHINGTON

The moose in northeast Washington are Shiras Moose (Alces alces shirasi), which is the smallest of the four subspecies of moose in North America.  Shiras Moose are named after George Shiras III, an ardent conservationist, explorer, and U.S. Congressman in the early 1900’s.  This subspecies is native to the northern Rocky Mountains and apparently migrated on its own accord into eastern Pend Oreille County, Washington in the 1950’s.  The first official state documentation of moose in Washington occurred in 1954.  In the decades since moose have dramatically increased both in numbers and distribution and are now common throughout much of northeast Washington.

Hunters should take note that while moose are fairly common, they are by nature a solitary animal, and occur only individually or in small groups scattered over wide areas.  They tend to prefer habitats based on forest successional stage and local climatic conditions.  While they can be found at any elevation in northeast Washington, they are most likely found in the 3,000 to 5,000 foot elevation band.  In the fall they seek deciduous browse, primarily willow, serviceberry, ceanothus, and other shrubs in logged over areas or burns that are approximately 15 years old or older.  Moose are particularly drawn to north slopes or east flowing drainages, which are cool and moist.  Late fall and early winter snowfall does not seem to deter moose in any way.

Moose rut in early October and some hunters have been effective with calls.  Early in the season moose are widespread and snow is usually not present for tracking.  This is a good time to learn the country and glass logged over areas.  Access is good and many hunters take moose in October.  Usually by some time in November snow is common and locating moose tracks as well as seeing these dark animals against a white background of snow becomes much easier.  Early to mid-November is a good time to plan a moose hunt.  By late November there is frequently deep enough snow to be concerned about having only limited road access into moose range.


Selkirk Mountains – GMU 113

Good areas to hunt in the western portion of the Selkirk Mountains Unit are Skookum Lakes to South Baldy along with the Harvey Creek, upper Sullivan Creek, and Slumber Creek drainages.  On the east side of the unit, the West Branch Priest River, Flat Creek, Goose Creek, Kalispell Creek, South Fork Granite Creek, Cache Creek, Willow Creek, and Gold Creek drainages can be productive.  Be aware that many roads in the northern portion of this unit are gated so vehicle access is limited. 

The Colville National Forest travel map is recommended.  Forest Service Ranger Stations located at Newport, Sullivan Lake and Priest Lake are good sources of information on moose, weather, and forest road conditions or restrictions.

[PA BEN]

Keep an eye out for Grizzles Up in that corner of the state. You should get your meat away from your gut pile ASAP.

[Roger]

PA Ben - great info, Thanks

[runningboard]

looking at this again I remembered that at the forest service station in Newport there was a log that all employees used to put sightings of not often seen wildlife such as MOOSE. they might let you look at it if asked, if they still use it. We used to keep track of where animals were sighted in that log.

[boneaddict]

CC is one of the best with Mill creek especially that time of year, the leaves have dropped and three quarters of the area is clear cut.  Your timing is fine.  Those that hunt the rut calling etc, really rely on that october hunt wwhereas most of th erest like that later october november time because of the ease of spotting them.  The rut carrys clear into mid november so the moose are really travelling at this time and much more visual.