Post by: NOCK NOCK on September 23, 2014, 09:24:42 PM
Thought I would start a thread about my hunt for Cleo.
Cleo you ask... Well we name all of our mounts, there's "Bert" the 7 point Elk, "Mr. Kitty" the cougar, "Lucky" the Muley who the wife got with shot #13, "Piknik" the bear, and my favorite, "Happy" the Whitey, whom I let the air out of 10 seconds after he had his way with a lovely young doe :chuckle:, so Cleo sounds like a fitting name for a critter with a big schnoze.
Anyhoo, throughout the summer we made several trips to my moose area(Kettle Range) learning the land and roads, setting & checking trail cams, picking huckleberries, laughing at the cattle wearing bells, and even squeezed in a wine tasting at China Bend Winery to keep the wife happy (the owners names were "Victory" & "Liberty". :chuckle:...not kidding)
We managed to see a couple moose in those hot days, and got some more on the cams. ( it's been over a month since the last check) so I am itchin to see whats on them.
My only issue left now is...Archery or Rifle :dunno: I Really want to use my bow, but it's been years since I have shot an animal with a rifle and I miss that. I am going to try and get it done with the bow, but have the rifle handy just in case.
To make the wait even harder, We were driving thru Navarre Coulee(by Chelan, WA) on Sunday and saw a cow moose. She was trotting away so I tried out my mouth bull grunt, she stopped instantly and stared at us for several minutes so I'm guessing my practice calling sounds somewhat like a bull :chuckle:
Heading up that way this coming weekend to set up camp and scout a few more days. Taking the first 2 weeks to hunt the rut and then we will see if I need more time. Hoping my next post on here will have a lot of bone in it :archery_smiley: :hunter: :cue:
PS: A huge Thank you to all who have offered help and advice, some great people on here. :hello:
Post by: NOCK NOCK on September 23, 2014, 09:27:38 PM
Post by: GUscottie on September 23, 2014, 09:37:26 PM
Post by: Payne on September 23, 2014, 09:53:40 PM
Post by: MLBowhunting on September 23, 2014, 09:55:08 PM
Post by: huntnnw on September 23, 2014, 10:08:49 PM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on September 29, 2014, 03:39:12 PM
Post by: MLBowhunting on September 29, 2014, 04:05:43 PM
Post by: Buckmark on September 29, 2014, 04:10:04 PM
A bear story to come?? :dunno:
Post by: CAMPMEAT on September 29, 2014, 04:23:46 PM
Where are you going to be camping at ? Also, Tim's Tire Pro's owner, Tim, said you can get water for your trailer at his place, for another 10 lbs of steak for me....... :chuckle:
Post by: Buckblaster on September 29, 2014, 04:52:47 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on September 29, 2014, 05:01:14 PM
Chris, it was good to meet you and your wife. You've got my number, give me a call if you need me to bring my quad. Good luck!
I think he's going to ignore us now........... :tup:
Post by: Killmore on October 01, 2014, 08:33:35 AM
Post by: elkoholic1 on October 01, 2014, 10:34:51 AM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 01, 2014, 01:41:41 PM
Post by: jrebel on October 01, 2014, 01:59:34 PM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 02, 2014, 02:42:08 PM
Post by: Buckmark on October 02, 2014, 02:51:00 PM
Cleo has been very elusive. Have only seen a small bull so far........Great....now about the Bear???? :dunno:
Post by: Buckblaster on October 02, 2014, 04:42:43 PM
Post by: blindluck on October 02, 2014, 06:42:38 PM
Post by: hirshey on October 04, 2014, 01:27:28 AM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 04, 2014, 12:02:07 PM
Best of luck!!
Back at ya ;). Are you finding time to get up here yet?
Called in a dinker this morning, pretty slow besides that
Post by: PA BEN on October 10, 2014, 05:13:47 AM
Post by: blindluck on October 10, 2014, 12:59:29 PM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 10, 2014, 02:09:42 PM
Trying to keep my chin up and not become too dejected is hard to do when I've only seen 1 small dinker bull and have only had 1 response to a variety of calls and set ups in all this time.
I sure hope it gets better in November like some people say :dunno:
Post by: CAMPMEAT on October 10, 2014, 02:15:14 PM
Day 13 up here...Have yet to see anything even close to a shooter.
Trying to keep my chin up and not become too dejected is hard to do when I've only seen 1 small dinker bull and have only had 1 response to a variety of calls and set ups in all this time.
I sure hope it gets better in November like some people say :dunno:
Get ahold of me..
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 12, 2014, 10:58:29 AM
I talked with 3 other tag holders who were having the same luck as I.... hot weather, only seeing cows, and zero response to calls. After day 6, I would have been happy to even see a bull.
Congrats to hirshey on a beautiful bull :tup:
We did have a very fun trip though, getting to experience some new things. Our 1st night there we headed out to check all the trail cams. After retrieving the last one we headed for camp eager to see what we captured on film when a pretty brown phase bear caught my attention as he crossed the road and stopped on the top bank to check us out. I have taken a few bears in my time and have told myself not to shoot anymore unless it was a blonde one. Well I just couldn't resist a nice brown color sooo.... click-boom-dead bear on the ground, and then I thought "I am here for 14 days to moose hunt, why did I do that" :chuckle:.... A few quick photos, then back to camp to skin, debone, and get on ice.
The other highlight of our trip was to hear wolves howl in the wild for our first time ever. I am not a fan of wolves, but it was pretty cool to listen to them howl/bark/fight (Video with sound is posted in wolf topic)
From here on out I will be heading back up there on most weekends I hope, and for 1 more full week. I sure hope moose hunting goes better later in the season.
Some pics from the trip....
Sparing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbZKz0CZF1c#)
Post by: jrebel on October 12, 2014, 11:06:31 AM
Post by: hirshey on October 12, 2014, 11:09:08 AM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 12, 2014, 11:49:30 AM
I also got to meet several other HW members, great people :tup: :tup: One meeting was a classic, while at the trailer septic dump on my way home a truck pulls up and the guy says " hey are you NOCK NOCK from HW" It was awesome meeting you Campmeat, funny it was at the poop dump :chuckle: :chuckle:, Don't know if I've ever talked to anyone for over an hour at a location like that!!
Also a huge shout out to goldminer & Buckblaster, THANK YOU for all of the help and advise.
I will definitely stay in touch with you all. Even though I did not get a moose on this trip, I made some new friends :)
Post by: hirshey on October 12, 2014, 12:59:07 PM
Did you watch my YouTube link from the guy from Ontario? I bellowed, mimicking his calls for hours just replaying that silly Essential, Must-Know Moose Calls. :)
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 12, 2014, 02:38:01 PM
I just think a person needs to be in the right spot at the right time...and in close proximity to a bull.
We saw several cows that had other moose with them we didn't get a view of because of thick terrain. they seemed to be following or somewhat with the cows and would not respond to grunts or estrus moans. could have been calfs but they tended to stay really close to momma. :dunno: Some cattle herders saw 2 huge bulls right where we concentrated...I WILL GET ONE :tup:
Post by: CAMPMEAT on October 12, 2014, 02:47:57 PM
Thanks Hirshey, bummed right now, but I'll get one. Was just hoping my wife could be a part of it. It was nice talking to you.
I also got to meet several other HW members, great people :tup: :tup: One meeting was a classic, while at the trailer septic dump on my way home a truck pulls up and the guy says " hey are you NOCK NOCK from HW" It was awesome meeting you Campmeat, funny it was at the poop dump :chuckle: :chuckle:, Don't know if I've ever talked to anyone for over an hour at a location like that!!
Also a huge shout out to goldminer & Buckblaster, THANK YOU for all of the help and advise.
I will definitely stay in touch with you all. Even though I did not get a moose on this trip, I made some new friends :)
Thanks Chris. Now you know my sh1t doesn't stink....... :tup:
Post by: huntnnw on October 12, 2014, 10:58:57 PM
Have you tried the far northeast corner of your unit??
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 20, 2014, 08:16:15 PM
I will hit it every weekend and a full week in mid-November...eventually I HAVE to see one that's a shooter( Im not too picky)
So next year when you look at the days per kill for the Kettle tag, think of me, just trying to run up the count. :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
PS: huntnnw I have not hunted up there yet, wanting to try it and the Mt Hull area though, Thank you for the help.
Post by: ph-10 bow on October 20, 2014, 08:29:34 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on October 20, 2014, 08:42:07 PM
My Border Patrol buddy saw a 50 incher on Boulder Pass 3 days ago................. :'(
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 20, 2014, 08:48:30 PM
Post by: brewzer13 on October 20, 2014, 08:49:18 PM
Post by: actionshooter on October 20, 2014, 08:50:17 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on October 20, 2014, 08:54:40 PM
Yeah I think the weather is my worst enemy. Sat was rainy & foggy...saw 3 moose. Sunday was bluebird and saw nothing. 45 degrees was the lowest temp I encountered. Come on cold!!!!
..............forgot. It was 38 at my house this morning.
Post by: Buckblaster on October 21, 2014, 12:43:45 PM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 21, 2014, 07:43:44 PM
Post by: elkoholic1 on October 22, 2014, 08:37:17 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on October 22, 2014, 08:45:38 AM
Post by: CementFinisher on October 22, 2014, 08:49:50 AM
Post by: GurrCentral on October 22, 2014, 10:11:01 PM
Snow, leaves on the ground, and rutty bulls - it will be a whole 'nother hunt!
:yeah: Hang in there and keep hunting hard! Good things will come!!
Post by: Bango skank on October 22, 2014, 10:55:51 PM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 29, 2014, 12:46:54 PM
Post by: 92xj on October 29, 2014, 12:50:34 PM
Post by: Buckmark on October 29, 2014, 01:06:50 PM
Post by: elkoholic1 on October 29, 2014, 01:12:15 PM
Post by: jrebel on October 29, 2014, 01:47:41 PM
Post by: runamuk on October 29, 2014, 02:04:55 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on October 29, 2014, 02:06:26 PM
Post by: C-Money on October 29, 2014, 02:32:52 PM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 29, 2014, 03:03:20 PM
I was not going to be too picky, just wanted an average looking moose for a shoulder mount. (Cant see doing that with this one, so European it is, and a full hide tan)
Saturday morning was the start of my 18th day looking for the seemingly invisible Sherman bulls.(had only seen a couple dinks, and only one response to calling)
The plan was to head into an area that I had been seeing a lot of sign in (and a rancher had seen several decent bulls here while looking for his cattle.)
As we approached a small clearcut I was telling my buddy "this is where the rancher has seen several bulls", when 2 moose appeared trotting towards the heavy timber. I quickly threw up my rifle for a better look, but could only see the bulls right side. With only a second to decide, a million things were running through my mind;...average size, but bigger than any I have seen....it's close to a road/easy pack out....good buddy to enjoy the experience with....I can get a bigger one....$$$$ spent on fuel going back and forth to hunt....etc.....
I have always been more of a meat hunter than a trophy guy, so I made an impulse decision to take him, hoping his left side was comparable. As he entered the timber I took the shot, double lunging him. He only made it a few more steps and piled up.
As you can see in the pics, his left side has some serious issues :( Not at all what I was hoping for. He had broken off somewhere along the way and then re-grew very funky. It has some great character, but not what I wanted to notch an OIL tag on.
With that being said, It is what it is, I GOT A MOOSE :IBCOOL: and I am still happy with this bull. The entire hunt, although tough, was still a great experience filled with many good memories that I will cherish forever.
Guess I gotta start buying raffle tickets now ;)
Post by: C-Money on October 29, 2014, 03:10:44 PM
Post by: Killmore on October 29, 2014, 07:23:17 PM
Post by: GurrCentral on October 29, 2014, 07:56:58 PM
Post by: huntnnw on October 29, 2014, 09:52:13 PM
Post by: Buckblaster on October 30, 2014, 06:59:30 AM
Post by: quadrafire on October 30, 2014, 08:09:45 AM
Post by: Payne on October 30, 2014, 09:10:05 AM
Post by: starbailey on October 30, 2014, 09:11:23 AM
Post by: BullMagnet76 on October 30, 2014, 09:39:16 AM
Post by: elkoholic1 on October 30, 2014, 09:45:24 AM
Post by: Biggerhammer on October 30, 2014, 05:20:44 PM
Post by: hirshey on October 30, 2014, 06:23:04 PM
Congrats sir! What a long, hard-fought adventure! Welcome to the club! I couldn't be happier for you.
Post by: CAMPMEAT on October 30, 2014, 07:07:10 PM
Post by: Killmore on October 30, 2014, 07:14:40 PM
:IBCOOL:
Congrats sir! What a long, hard-fought adventure! Welcome to the club! I couldn't be happier for you.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 30, 2014, 07:23:11 PM
I'm really happy for you Chris. You didn't give up and got a moose. Good job............
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Post by: dewandgin on October 30, 2014, 09:37:34 PM
Post by: mountainman on October 30, 2014, 10:37:51 PM
Post by: PA BEN on October 31, 2014, 06:06:58 AM
Post by: Birdboy on November 09, 2014, 07:46:17 PM
Post by: Buckblaster on December 06, 2014, 08:18:24 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 06, 2014, 08:35:18 AM
Post by: nwwanderer on December 14, 2014, 01:42:37 PM