49' Moose Tag

[Hyde]

Here's my advice (in no certain order):

Take a bottle of vinegar and a container of black pepper along.  Sprinkle the vinegar all over the moose when you begin gutting, and then occasionally as you go.  Rub a little on your arms, hat, etc.  Sprinkle the black pepper all around as well.  The bees (all types) will completely leave you alone.   I killed my moose on an 80 degree day, the woods was alive with bees by 8am.  He dropped a very short distance from a basketball sized hornet nest.  The bees were swarming all over the gutpile and the river of blood that poured out, but they left me and the moose alone. 

Take friends.  Lots of friends.  When you walk up on the downed moose, you'll understand why everyone (who has been there) will tell you that.  There will be some ITG's who will boast about hiking in 10 miles with only a snickers bar in their pack, and how they can pack a moose to the truck in a few hours.  The packing is hard work, but the bigger issue is getting the meat to the cooler before it spoils.  If you can get the quarters bagged and hung in the shade, tha tmay buy you some time, but that in itself could be an issue if you kill the moose in the middle of a huge clear cut.  Take friends.  Lots of friends!

Get into shape.  Really good shape.  Start now!  If you do, you'll be glad you did when it's "go time".  If you don't... well...

Take lots of pics, and savor the moments.  The time between now and opening day is as much a part of the experience as actually hunting.  And regardless of if you kill your moose on the first, or last day, it will be over way too soon! 

Good luck to all moose hunters this season! 

[buckhorn2]

Will get some black pepper and vinegar thanks for the advise Hyde the yellow jackets just would;nt leave us alone so sure will give this a try. thanks

[PAW66]

Hyde, thanks for the advice.  Vinegar and black pepper just went on the shopping list.

[rbarchi]

WE'LL SEE YOU THERE ! My brother in law and I have been applying for moose/sheep/goat since 1987.... We FINALLY got the 49 degree north unit... I still cannot believe we got tags!. Will check this thread out, and appreciate the advice as well!

[threedwizard]

Congratulations on your moose draw! You'll have an experience you'll never forget. All the advice here has been great. I've been lucky enough to take a few bull moose and a few cows over the past 25+ years. To score a B&C/P&Y moose your best measurements are palms. Your look for long and wide, and need to really have a 40-45" wide rack with split brow tines. Without split tines, it's VERY hard to book. As for dealing with the animal, it's like a horse down. My last bull was close to 600 lbs of bone-less meat. It was an all day task for 3 guys. Here's a picture of my Okanagan bull moose from 2009.

[ShaneTyTrey]

Congratulations on your moose draw! You'll have an experience you'll never forget. All the advice here has been great. I've been lucky enough to take a few bull moose and a few cows over the past 25+ years. To score a B&C/P&Y moose your best measurements are palms. Your look for long and wide, and need to really have a 40-45" wide rack with split brow tines. Without split tines, it's VERY hard to book. As for dealing with the animal, it's like a horse down. My last bull was close to 600 lbs of bone-less meat. It was an all day task for 3 guys. Here's a picture of my Okanagan bull moose from 2009.

That is a beauty, what were the measurements and what did it score?

[JoeE]

Nice looking bull threedwizard!!

[billythekidrock]

Will get some black pepper and vinegar thanks for the advise Hyde the yellow jackets just would;nt leave us alone so sure will give this a try. thanks

We've been using Liquid Game Bag on elk and bear for years. Works like a charm at keeping flies and bees at bay.
http://www.liquidgamebag.com/index.htm

[rbarchi]

Threedwizard, Wow. that is one beautiful beast.... and betting tasty too! Never had moose, but hear it is the best. What firearm is that? A Browning stalker?  I have the option to use anything.  Bow, flintlock smoothbore, TC rifled bored muzzleloader, modern... I'll probably take all, but am not too proud to pull out the 7mag and get it done, especially with an OIL tag. Hell, may be an excuse to get that 300 win mag I have been eying  .  I  commend Dr.Death for both starting this thread, and having a bold plan to get a monster with a bow. Good luck in dealing out the death Doctor.

[benhuntin]

49 is a great area and you will be in moose.  wait for a big one.  you only get one in your life make it count

[BOWHUNTER45]

Congratulations on your moose draw! You'll have an experience you'll never forget. All the advice here has been great. I've been lucky enough to take a few bull moose and a few cows over the past 25+ years. To score a B&C/P&Y moose your best measurements are palms. Your look for long and wide, and need to really have a 40-45" wide rack with split brow tines. Without split tines, it's VERY hard to book. As for dealing with the animal, it's like a horse down. My last bull was close to 600 lbs of bone-less meat. It was an all day task for 3 guys. Here's a picture of my Okanagan bull moose from 2009.

Damn ...thats a fine bull right their now ..... congrats !!!

[Dr. Death]

WOW!  Awesome bull What did he score?

BTKR, thanks for the info on the liquid game bag, I'll check it out for sure..

[threedwizard]

Thanks guys, the funny thing was that was the only bull that would come to our calling, and he brought a girlfriend with him. We spotted some little spikers, but that was the first mature bull. My gun is a Sako AV in .340 Weatherby. That bull grossed 164 6/8 B&C, he also has a 9" drop tine of the left palm. He's 51 1/2" wide and his palms are 34" long and 10 1/2" wide. To both you bull hunters, remember any bull moose taken is a trophy, regardless of size. Don't pass up a nice wall bull looking for something that may not be up there. Good luck to both of you!

[rbarchi]

Right on! Will take that advice. I have limited wall space, so freezer takes precedence. But since it is OIL, I will be spending about 2-3 weeks on this hunt.  If a big boy comes the first day ,its down. If not, I have a some time to get it done right. Anyway, I am hoping to get some info on the area so I can focus on that during the scout trips. It is a BIG area to check out every nook and cranny.

[Dr. Death]

Well, I finally finished my PT for my shoulder last night, woo-hoo! Got the clean bill of health from them, bow is now at 70 and I shot 100+ arrows through it last night and a few this morning prior to coming to work and all is good. 30 minutes of crossfit daily, stairs at lunch with 40# pack ( I also wear it to and from work when walking in). 2.5-3 mile jog each night or hike with 50 lb pack. Things are coming together and I feel great. Cant freakin wait for Oct 1st!