Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Other Big Game => Topic started by: MuleDeerCrazy on September 02, 2008, 09:04:49 PM

Title: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on September 02, 2008, 09:04:49 PM: Hypothetically - if a guy were to get lucky enough to draw a tag like that, any moose in any moose unit September 1 through December 31, where would you start? I'm thinking he should try to take one the last week of September when they're all cranked up, just before the other tag holders start hunting them Oct. 1st (though pressure's pretty low regardless).

Anybody seen any monster bulls this summer they'd like to see close up - hypothetically, of course?
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: wastickslinger on September 02, 2008, 09:07:14 PM: Man sounds like you drew it. :chuckle:
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on September 03, 2008, 09:29:07 AM: Even a blind hog gets an acorn once in a while!
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: wastickslinger on September 03, 2008, 09:45:18 AM: Luck Luck dog!!! Should kill a whopper.

I think we just got hosed on the Hunting Washington head and horn competition. You have a sweet shot at a real trophy.
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: popeshawnpaul on September 03, 2008, 09:52:36 AM: Of course hunt the early season. However, hunting real late in the season when the leaves have fallen off the trees and most other seasons are closed could be really productive as well. With that tag, I would hold out for a huge bull. You will have the opportunity if you spend enough time at it. I would not shoot a 140-150" bull early in the season... Congradulations on that tag. Crazy how many moose guys we got on here.
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: Wea300mag on September 03, 2008, 09:58:54 AM: You are the envy of everone on here. Congrats are not even enough in this situation. I like your plan of hunting hard the last week of Sept during rut before the others can hunt.
:bow: :bow: :bow:
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: Ridgerunner on September 03, 2008, 10:22:22 AM: You have TOO much luck, I don't believe this is the first statewide raffle you have won.......
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: huntnphool on September 03, 2008, 10:28:24 AM: Quote from: Ridgerunner on September 03, 2008, 10:22:22 AM
You have TOO much luck, I don't believe this is the first statewide raffle you have won.......

Congrats on the tag MDC great hunt ahead of you for sure. Have you set any goals yet?
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on September 03, 2008, 11:30:30 AM: Ridgerunner, you've been paying attention! You're correct, it's not my first, but then again I play the game pretty hard. I drew a Selkirks moose tag in '98, a Quinalt Ridge bull tag in '99, the NV PIW tag in '02, the WA deer raffle tag a few years ago and then thought my buddies were messing with me on this one.

However, as you are all aware, drawing a smokin' tag and getting a monster are two completely different things.

Spent 30 days on my moose hunt and passed up too many early on. Ended up with a little 33" bull and was happy to have him by the time it was over. Passed up a mid-40" bull the second morning and guess I got a little greedy, didn't see my next moose for 14 days!

Killed a decent Roosevelt bull a few days into that hunt, but it was tougher than one would think.

Saw some big bucks in NV, but ended up with a 160ish 4X4 the last half of the last day.

Thought I was going to eat tag soup on the WA tag and ended up killing a 190 class buck the morning of the last day.

And now I'm torn, though I don't expect any sympathy..., cause the wife has a Dayton bull tag and I was trying to put all my time into that. Now I have to revamp things cause I'd really like to get a good moose this time around!

So the plan is to moose hunt the last week of September since October is shot for her elk hunt and if things don't come together, which they seldom do, I'll be back after moose the end of November and December I guess?

I know, I know...somebody pinch me!
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: popeshawnpaul on September 03, 2008, 11:39:48 AM: I would hold out on this one. It will be different this time around because you can hunt multiple areas and at times when other hunters won't be out there. Plus, when the leaves have dropped and the snow is in, moose become pretty easy to spot over there in December. I had family at Loon Lake and went over looking for moose all the time throughout the year over there. I can't imagine you would have to eat tag soup as I think with a few days you could get a booner or 45"+ moose. I don't know if you have a few dollars stuffed in a piggy bank, but a couple of the local outfitters could help you and allow you to focus on that Dayton tag.
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: Ridgerunner on September 03, 2008, 12:24:32 PM: If I had limited time on that tag I'd wait till DEcember and break out the 4 wheeler with those snow trax, I saw a video at a convention for WAFNAWS of the governers tag and that's how they did it. I think he passed on several B&C bulls before killing his. The snow was deep and the moose were still high however. I'd definately wait, no reason to get trigger happy early on, although it would be tough to pass on a B&C bull in September.
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: PA BEN on September 03, 2008, 04:09:41 PM: "Hypothetically speaking of course". Sounds to me that you wanted us to put you on a bull under false pretences. Hypothetically speaking of course. Everyone of us has put in time and money for our hunts and most of us have a game plan by now. I for one well be more then happy to shair any and all info after my tag is filled. Untill then :dunno:
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on September 03, 2008, 05:31:19 PM: PA BEN, I didn't mean it like that.

I'd be the first guy to help someone out if I could. If you have a moose tag, what unit? I've hunted the Selkirks, Huckleberry and have a couple buddies that're familiar with 49 DN and the Mt. Spokane Unit, and I'd be happy to help any way I can. I routinely help out anybody that is doing their research and takes the time to ask.

I have lots of ideas, maybe too many, but I don't know it all, nor do I claim to, and am always open to other ideas or suggestions. A lot of you guys are much more familiar with moose over there than I am and I respect your input and opinions.

Anyways, I wasn't trying to come across like a deceptive, free-loader.

Sorry.
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: PA BEN on September 03, 2008, 06:08:02 PM: Apology excepted.
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: boneaddict on September 03, 2008, 06:20:13 PM: You didn't listen to me on my deer advice what would make me think you'd listen to me on my moose advice. :)
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on September 03, 2008, 06:35:23 PM: Bone - man you guys are a tough crowd?

As a matter of fact, I have your e-mail printed off in my file and do respect your opinion. What I'd like to do and what I get time to do are two different things, but I am trying to line up a mule deer hunt for my daughter (just hasn't worked out to go to the Methow yet, that's all).

Did I say something that made you think I didn't listen to you? I thought I replied with a thanks for the input and response?

Can't tell if you guys are messing with me or actually think I'm a dork!?
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: DeKuma on September 03, 2008, 06:39:03 PM: That is half the battle with theses guys on here. Think we are all just a bunch of :sas: s
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: boneaddict on September 03, 2008, 06:41:09 PM: No, I was just flippin ya *censored*. Anyone that draws that many moose tags in washington deserves just a little *censored* in their lifetime. You just wasted so much time trying to find a buck in the Entiat, I thought I'd rub it in a little. :)
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on September 03, 2008, 07:02:19 PM: Yeah, I reckon I have it coming! My buddies won't quit rubbing my belly for good luck, eventhough I keep telling them that's starting to weird my wife out!

As for all the time I spent in the Entiat, most people don't understand all the stress that comes with one of those tags. It's a fine line between having a fun enjoyable hunt and stressing out over the fact you can't seem to find a monster, which everybody expects with a tag like that.

You can't kill a big one if you can't find a big one? I'd rather be lucky than good. All I can do is put in the time, do my best and hope for a little luck!

And I hope everybody else has a good year as well!!!
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: popeshawnpaul on September 03, 2008, 07:10:02 PM: I personally am just jealous.

I think people sensed your reluctance to share you won the raffle. That made me wonder as well. That being said, the guys are just givinig you crap for winning such a good tag. We'll help in any way possible.
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: wrangler on September 03, 2008, 07:54:09 PM: dude you must have some seriously good karma... i can't even win 2 bucks on a friggin scratch ticket let alone draw any kind of trophy big game tag. 9 years overall and not one tag in 3 states. sigh... i bet shanewa could hook up with your pick of about 9078954 record book moose! he's got 60 inchers tied up to every tree! oh wait, he... well ya know.. :chuckle:
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: nwhunter on September 03, 2008, 09:51:36 PM: Wow MDC you are one lucky dude! As far as throwing him a bone on this hunt I can pitch in for Sam and say he has been more than happy to give me very good info on a couple of hunts I have been in on and we have only talked on the phone. He went as far as meet my brother , a total stranger , and drive him around the toutle for part of a day to help him out and he ended up getting a nice bull because of it. Good guys that help others out deserve a little help too. Sorry I don't have anything to help you with but someone will pitch in I'm sure. nwhunter
Title: Re: WA Raffle Moose Tag?
Post by: PA BEN on September 04, 2008, 05:55:34 AM: It's not a matter of helping or not helping. I've helped a few here, but there's no way I'm going to cut my own throat and and give up my research and have someone hunting the moose of a life time that I would love to harvest.
MuleDeerCrazy QUOTE
I'd be the first guy to help someone out if I could. If you have a moose tag, what unit? I've hunted the Selkirks, Huckleberry and have a couple buddies that're familiar with 49 DN and the Mt. Spokane Unit, and I'd be happy to help any way I can. I routinely help out anybody that is doing their research and takes the time to ask.

I have lots of ideas, maybe too many, but I don't know it all, nor do I claim to, and am always open to other ideas or suggestions. A lot of you guys are much more familiar with moose over there than I am and I respect your input and opinions.
Now don't take offence to this next statement, I call-em like I see em. But for one who is so knowledgeable on MOOSE and have all these buddies who know of MOOSE. How come we haven't had any input to all the MOOSE threads up until your tag? :dunno:
I've been hunting for 34 years and I'm from Chewelah, and I've helped a lot of new hunters and not so new hunters. I'm very careful who I give my long time hunting info too. I have helped people out and said keep this to your self, and the next thing I know they have 4 of there buddy's hunting there and the next year those 4 buddy's have 4 or 5 of there buddy's hunting there and my happy little hunting grounds are very crowded. So you can see why I question. I do know that most people without MOOSE tags are very helpful, and I'm one of them. I for one am very thankful for the help I've gotten. But I do notest that those of us with tags aren't posting the spots where we plan on hunting. Any hunter should understand this. Untill you have been burned you might not understand. I'll get off my soap box now