Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Other Big Game => Topic started by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 09:28:17 AM

Title: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 09:28:17 AM: I'd like to share some of my latest adventure.
I went to BC Canada on a moose, caribou, wolf hunt a couple weeks ago. I was hunting with Collingwood Bros. I flew in to Smithers with a friend and then took a float plane to Collingwood's Laslui lodge. What a amazing place. Hot showers in every cabin, flush toilet, wonderful meals, and huge bull trout right off the dock.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: quadrafire on October 20, 2014, 09:30:40 AM: Beautiful country, Gonna tag along for the trip :tup:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: Netminder01 on October 20, 2014, 09:44:24 AM: tag
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: elkoholic1 on October 20, 2014, 09:47:55 AM: :camp:

waiting for updates!!
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 09:49:13 AM: So the first night I boated to the end of the lake for a short moose hunt. We hiked about 3 miles down the river setting up and calling along the way. We weren't able to get anything to come in but we did spot 4 moose with 3 being bulls. 2 little guys and an average bull with a cow. Nothing I wanted to consider this early in the hunt.
The next morning we packed up on horses for a 4 hour ride to moose camp. It was a great ride through beautiful moose country. I have to say I wasn't the happiest about going after caribou this early in the hunt as I wanted to focus on moose but since the weather was nice and the moose rut was slow I went along with it.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 10:05:30 AM: So the first evening in bou country we road out and glassed to see where the different groups were located for the mornings hunt. We seen around 100 bou in groups of 3 to 30. There were a few bulls spotted that needed closer looks the next day. Toward evening we road back in the direction on camp to end the evening glassing some timbered river bottoms below camp for moose. We had been sitting glassing for about 20 minutes when I looked to my right to see a grizz stepping out of a timber patch 200 yards away! My buddy Matt had a bear tag and there he was! I was like, "Holy SH-T. Right there. Matt get your gun!" A short stalk, an eye to eye stare down at 50 yards, 3 shots from Matt's 338 win and a B&C bear was on the ground. I just couldn't believe it. I sure didn't think that kill bottle was going to be opened this quick but who was I to argue with the hunting gods.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: Practical Approach on October 20, 2014, 10:12:29 AM: tag
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: LittleJohn on October 20, 2014, 10:28:18 AM: Right on :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 10:29:22 AM: So the next morning we road out looking for caribou with 2 pack horses in tow. The weather had turned to crap during the night with strong winds blowing snow sideways but it worked in our favor as most of the bou had tried to find shelter from the wind. After riding and glassing about 3 hours we finally found them tucked in a draw out of the wind. After glassing through the bulls I said I'd be happy with one wide bull that was on the far side of the group. The wind was blowing the spotting scope so much that I couldn't get a real good look at all his points but I liked the "wide" aspect of his rack. I really wanted to get back to moose hunting. Plus, I had killed a good Mtn bou years before on a hunt but never mounted it. So I thought I always could take this bulls cape and mount my other bou. We moved down wind and made our way around to get within 100 yards of the caribou. We had 8-10 bulls within the 100 yards so Matt and Clark (guide) went to picking through them so we could double up. Five loooong minutes later they gave me the go ahead to shoot. At the shot the other bulls just looked around. Matt was soon picking his out and with a couple more shots had his caribou also.
I was a little surprised just how good my bull was when I walked up. He was way wide with nice top points, good bez, good shovel and even a single spike for a double shovel. Not that that mattered.Matt had also taken a mature double shoveled bull.
After pictures Clark and the wrangler went to work on my bull and Matt and I on his. We were ready to load Matts when they came over with the pack horses finished with mine. The ride to bou camp was a cold but happy 3 hours.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: Carl on October 20, 2014, 10:40:02 AM: Tagging.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 11:04:22 AM: Next morning we mounted up and hit the trail back to the Laslui lodge. The ride took a little longer as we would go off trail to call and scout for moose. We did end up seeing one cow but no bulls were spotted on the way.
Next morning Matt and his guide were flown to a different lake to hunt moose. I was hanging out waiting for the plane and my guide to return when I spotted a bull up high on a hill 3 miles away. I knew this was the bull I came to kill. He had 4 cows and kept having to run a smaller bull away. This bull had it all, lots of points with good fronts and lots of width.
The bull was in a difficult spot. He was hanging in a small opening and the cows were above and below. When Ray (guide) and I went after him I knew it was going to be a slim chance of success. The wind kept changing directions and it was so noisy getting through the brush and trees. When we finally made the opening there was only one cow left on the far side. We watched her turn and disappear. We tried calling without any luck so we went over and picked up their tracks. 2 1/2 hours later we had to leave them as it was getting dark.
Next morning we went back in to find him but it had snowed during the night and we only picked up one cow track in 4 hours of looking.
Time to punt.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 11:10:12 AM: That evening we went back down to the end of the lake and hunted the river again. We again set up and called several times and had one small bull come in. It was cool seeing him come from a mile all the way to 35 yards.
We needed a new game plan for the last 3 days I had left.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: Gringo31 on October 20, 2014, 11:41:37 AM: tag!

:tup: :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: whacker1 on October 20, 2014, 12:26:56 PM: tag
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: elkoholic1 on October 20, 2014, 01:01:02 PM: great write up cant wait to read the rest !!!

TIC TOC! :chuckle:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 01:08:53 PM: So the next morning (only 3 hunt days left) Ray and I loaded up in his float plane and hopped over to another smaller lake. They have a small cabin and boat on this lake, like they do on most every lake in their guide area, so we took the boat to the end and started hiking. We hiked for a few hours to an area overlooking a pass between this and another valley. We stayed up there glassing till late afternoon seeing nothing but a cow with twin calves. I figured we were going to stay here at this lake but all of a sudden Ray was up and moving back to the boat. Back to the plane, loaded up and took off.
We went around the end of the mtn range and into another long narrow lake. Into another boat and started up lake glassing as we went. This time we saw 16 goats, a sow grizzly with a cub and one bull moose. The bull was way up above tree line on the move. He didnt look like anything special so we just watched him disappear over the top.
He wanted to wait until later to glass the willow flats at the head of the lake. They had killed several good bulls there in the past and didnt want to be into the area before moose were up and feeding. We hiked to a spot overlooking the flats and set up to wait while glassing. An hour later and no moose.
We had a long ride back to the plane so we climbed in and started back. Half way back, Ray pointed up into a slide and there stood a cow. We shut off the motor and soon glassed up another cow. With two cows there I new it was just a matter of time before a bull showed. We beached an got my spotting scope out as there was a "shine" in the brush to the right of the cows. Through the scope we verified it was in deed a bull.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: Whitpirate on October 20, 2014, 01:09:11 PM: Really enjoy these posts Brian. Looking forward to the rest!
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: combs338 on October 20, 2014, 01:13:49 PM: Awesome country, I hunted across the Stikine from Collingwoods a few years ago. Cant wait to go back some day.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: Natures Way on October 20, 2014, 01:30:36 PM: looks like a great hunt!congrats
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 01:34:07 PM: We couldn't get a good look with the bull being bedded deep in the brush but I could see 4 good front points on his right antler with several others on the pan. I told Ray this and he confirmed after looking through the scope he was a mature bull with a front like that. He said he should be in the 48-52 range as thats average for mature bulls in their area. With 3 days left and bull sightings being slim that was all I needed to hear.
We grabbed our packs and started sneaking up on the moose. We stayed mostly in the trees as we didn't want to have the cows spot us. We made it to the edge of the opening and I ranged a tree right by where the bull should be at 220 yards. I grabbed a rest on an old root wad and gave Ray the go ahead. He cow called 3 times before the bull even stood up. I still didn't have a shot because of the tall brush so Ray continued to call. The bull moved to the edge of the bench he was on giving me a quartering to shot. I heard the thump of bullet hitting hard and the bull spun around standing directly behind a tree. I moved trying to find a lane to get another bullet into him but a south end shot was all offered so I went back to the root wad figuring he'd go back the direction he came from. It seemed like I was waiting for ever but in reality it was maybe 10 seconds when two steps brought him clear of the tree where another shot put him down for good.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: JODakota on October 20, 2014, 01:58:17 PM: Tag
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 02:05:43 PM: Now when that bull got up and looked down at us I knew he wasn't going to be 50" wide. Matter of fact, I was thinking if he was 45 wide I'd be lucky. What I did see had me committed to killing him and I was not disappointed at all when I walked up on him. He was what Ray refered to as a basket racked bull. He said this was only the third one he had been in on in the 37 years of guiding in the Spatsizi and actually apologized for missing the spread by so much. No matter, I was happy and knew exactly what he was before I pulling the trigger. I love the fronts of my bull. The other moose I have killed don't have much up front so I was hopping for a bull like him.
We took pics and some video and got to work taking care of him as it was getting dark quick. We had him caped and gutted with fronts and one hind quarter off before we headed back to the lake. I figured we were going to stay the night in the wall tent set up down the lake but Ray said it would be no problem flying back to the main lodge. So by the light of the moon we took off for the short flight back to the Laslui lodge.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt
Post by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 02:29:21 PM: The next morning after a great breakfast we loaded back up in the plane and flew back to my moose. Once back at the kill I strapped a quarter on the pack frame and started to make the 1/2 mile trip to the lake. Ray started back working finishing up quartering and caping. Ray kept telling me he'd be done soon every time I returned for another quarter but I didn't care. I think it's a great thing to be able to help pack your outfitter whenever and however you can. After my 6th trip all that was left was the antlers, cape and our day packs. Ray loaded the cape and I took the antlers for the last trip down.
We then loaded the plane with what we could and Ray took off for the first of three loads of moose. I took what was left in the boat and headed down to the tent camp to make a fire to warm up.
The plane trips seemed to take no timeat all and befor I knew it I was back in my cabin with a warm fire going with a glass of Patron in celebration.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: starbailey on October 20, 2014, 02:45:58 PM: So the next morning (last hunt day) Ray flies out to see how Matt has been ding with his own moose hunt and an hour later he shows back up with Matt. It seems he too had seen a great bull but rushed a forced shot at him through a fogged up scope only to miss. They seen the bull one other time but wind was bad and some cows with the bull spooked taking him along with. He ended up killing a younger bull they had been seeing the last 3 days. His guide figured it to be a three year old bull that would be great eating. Sorry no pics of his bull.
One other hunter in camp killed a caribou but didnt find the bull he wanted to take home.
What a great overall hunt. We all had a great time with Collingwood Bros. They have a great hunting area with great equipment. They are able to get to where you need to be so you can have a successful hunt. I would not hesitate to go back with them at all.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: elkoholic1 on October 20, 2014, 05:24:30 PM: what a great write up and beautiful pics of the scenery and animals congrats on the animals and thanks for sharing!!! :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: RB on October 20, 2014, 05:36:17 PM: Wow trip of a lifetime there congrats! :tup:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: actionshooter on October 20, 2014, 05:50:37 PM: Congrats! Looked like a great time.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 20, 2014, 05:54:38 PM: Quote from: elkoholic1 on October 20, 2014, 05:24:30 PM
what a great write up and beautiful pics of the scenery and animals congrats on the animals and thanks for sharing!!! :tup: :tup:

:yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: Magnum_Willys on October 20, 2014, 06:26:08 PM: Great palms on that great bull. Nice challenging hunt. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: _TONY_ on October 20, 2014, 06:34:23 PM: Awesome hunt and animals!

Miss that country....
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: Wea300mag on October 20, 2014, 06:37:05 PM: WOW!!! Very nice, love all the pics :tup:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: quadrafire on October 20, 2014, 06:38:35 PM: If that's a basket rack..... I want one :tup:
Thanks for the ride along. Awesome writeup and pics!!!
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: dewandgin on October 20, 2014, 08:49:27 PM: Great write up and awesome pics.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: Bob33 on October 20, 2014, 09:00:50 PM: Great story and photos. Thank you!
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: shanevg on October 20, 2014, 09:21:56 PM: That right there is a dream hunt! I can't wait to do a hunt like that. (Maybe throw goat in too for good measure.) congrats on some beautiful animals and thanks for sharing the pictures with us!
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 21, 2014, 01:16:06 AM: Quote from: RB on October 20, 2014, 05:36:17 PM
Wow trip of a lifetime there congrats! :tup:
:yeah:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: starbailey on October 21, 2014, 07:25:55 AM: Thanks all. It was a great time.
Shanevg, you can trade out the moose or caribou for a goat, or just add one for a trophy fee. It would be a very doable hunt as we glassed goats both days from the lake where I killed my moose.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: gunnarnewt on October 21, 2014, 08:48:53 AM: Congrats! That's definitely on my bucket list! :tup:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: lhrbull on October 21, 2014, 06:45:06 PM: Star you have had one great year hunting and some very great trophies I'm sure you will have some great memories that will last forever. Does this get you the trifecta of the moose world.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: starbailey on October 23, 2014, 09:04:55 AM: This does give me the 3 common moose Ihrbull. There are several other varieties out there in the World that will probably have to stay on the list. I'm more interested in getting back to the sheep and goats at this point in my hunting carrier.
Here is a pic of my Alaska/Yukon moose from the Yukon in 2008 And a pic of my Shiris bull from WA in 2013. I'll put another pic of the Canadian bull also.
I think its about time to build a trophy room! All I have to do is convince the wife.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: quadrafire on October 23, 2014, 10:08:17 AM: Cool, thanks for showing all three. Quite a color difference in the coats
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: starbailey on October 23, 2014, 10:25:09 AM: It should be a cool display once I have all 3 mounted and on the wall. :chuckle:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: Elkpiss on October 23, 2014, 11:47:19 AM: Thats awesome man... dream hunt for sure... :tup:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: elkoholic1 on October 23, 2014, 12:33:53 PM: :tup: :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: hirshey on October 30, 2014, 08:11:03 PM: What BEAUTIFUL animals! Congrats! Certainly enjoyed the photos and story...
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: saylean on October 30, 2014, 08:31:38 PM: What a great trip. Very nice pics. Looks Like wonderful country out there. Thanks for taking the time to post the story. Congrats!
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: PA BEN on October 31, 2014, 06:40:03 AM: Wow, great write up and what a fun hunt. :tup: If you don't mind me asking what kind of coin does a hunt like that run.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: BIGMIKE on October 31, 2014, 08:00:13 AM: Awesome, awesome, awesome...Thats was a great hunt.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: cedarriver on October 31, 2014, 08:41:50 AM: Dang kind of late to the party! Great story, pics and hunt. Congrats, and thanks for sharing your hunt!
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: jackelope on October 31, 2014, 09:25:03 AM: Good stuff, Brian. Thanks a lot for sharing. Enjoyed it for sure.
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: HUNTaHOLIC5 on October 31, 2014, 05:05:49 PM: Great story and awesome pics!! :tup:
Title: Re: BC moose/caribou hunt (lots of pics)
Post by: dewandgin on November 08, 2014, 09:10:32 PM: Congrats again. Hang all three on a wall... it better be a big wall :chuckle: