Post by: brianmtsinc on June 18, 2015, 12:18:25 AM
My hunting partner BrianB put in for this tag a few years back and with only 2 points he drew it! It was an awesome hunt with memories we still talk about to this day. We learned a lot - including how difficult this area can be to hunt/access, as well as how hard cleaning and packing a moose is!! :yike:
Now time to really dial in my bow, start getting in shape, and look in to access issues. Hopefully we can enter the same way we did back in 2008 (?) ... not an easy hill to climb every day, but unless things have changed a lot, there were a lot of moose in the area.
I also need to figure out the best time to hunt this unit. I have from Oct 1 - Nov 30.
Any thoughts on dates or access is greatly appreciated!!!!!
Brian C.
Post by: huntnnw on June 18, 2015, 12:46:08 AM
Post by: coachcw on June 18, 2015, 06:33:56 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on June 18, 2015, 06:55:00 AM
PM me if you want info..I know the area well Im up there almost every week.:yeah: shane wont steer you wrong!
Post by: Falcon on June 18, 2015, 09:30:25 AM
CONGRATS :tup:
Post by: brianmtsinc on June 18, 2015, 06:43:30 PM
I can't wait for this one! I love archery elk hunting in the rut more than anything, but after my past experience with moose, and waiting 18 years - I am jacked for this!!! :IBCOOL:
PM's a bit later. Now it's time to hit the treadmill and do a bit of shooting! :archery_smiley:
Post by: trophyhunt on June 18, 2015, 06:47:30 PM
Post by: brianmtsinc on June 19, 2015, 03:56:05 PM
Lot's going on this year cuz, I hope I can be part of your hunt. Maybe a weekend warrior for me, congrats!
I hope you can make it!! :tup: Those things are big and it seems Mr B. will follow you anywhere :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: trophyhunt on June 19, 2015, 05:07:33 PM
its my good looks and charm!Lot's going on this year cuz, I hope I can be part of your hunt. Maybe a weekend warrior for me, congrats!
I hope you can make it!! :tup: Those things are big and it seems Mr B. will follow you anywhere :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: splitshot on June 25, 2015, 05:17:13 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on June 25, 2015, 05:20:29 PM
there is a new gate keeper. dont know if that will change things. a friend drew a bull tag for that area and we will be checking it out. mike wThere is no gate keeper on Starr road just a locked gate.
There is a gate attendant on the road in Idaho where you can access but they just check iep passes. Access will be the same as recent years.
Post by: huntnnw on June 28, 2015, 09:12:45 PM
Post by: 724wd on June 28, 2015, 10:41:39 PM
Post by: huntnnw on June 28, 2015, 11:02:51 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on June 29, 2015, 12:44:46 PM
Well according to what you read at the gate on star you would interpret as you dont, because it says no where you need one. This is the same sign that has been there for at least 5 years. Problem is where you park to head up is private till about 1 mi up then you hit IEP. The road also goes to other private landowners and FAA, so technically to park and walk up the main road you dont need a IEP pass. When you hit some of the IEP spur roads there is still yellow signs up saying entry by permit only.:yeah: i am thinking to access and hunt on iep lands you still need the permit. They cant enforce that on other property they dont own tho. Its a pretty minor cost at $40 anyways.
Post by: nwwanderer on June 29, 2015, 04:27:39 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on June 29, 2015, 05:06:12 PM
Post by: brianmtsinc on June 30, 2015, 07:26:46 AM
Thanks!
Brian C.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on June 30, 2015, 08:22:46 AM
I would love to hear some more about access from the west, directly or DNR land, OR any info about local land owners if anyone cares to share :}belmont road.
Thanks!
Brian C.
Post by: quadrafire on June 30, 2015, 08:34:37 AM
You been down there lately Chris? They logged the hell out of the area around the gate to the first split.I would love to hear some more about access from the west, directly or DNR land, OR any info about local land owners if anyone cares to share :}belmont road.
Thanks!
Brian C.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on June 30, 2015, 08:37:22 AM
Post by: Dhoey07 on June 30, 2015, 08:39:53 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on June 30, 2015, 09:03:36 AM
A lot of that logging is on private land :twocents:Private is only 1/4 mile past the gate. One confusing thing is a big road was added that ys off to the left of the public access. Dont take this as it only leads to other private. Stay right (straight) and its a short walk to the public land. A gps with onxmaps will help a ton.
Post by: Dhoey07 on June 30, 2015, 09:44:48 AM
Post by: huntnnw on June 30, 2015, 10:45:59 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on October 18, 2015, 08:46:50 PM
Post by: brianb231 on October 18, 2015, 09:06:19 PM
Any info on this plan would be helpful.
Thanks
Brianb
Post by: huntnnw on October 19, 2015, 09:36:51 PM
Post by: deerhuntr4885 on October 19, 2015, 09:37:20 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on October 22, 2015, 03:45:22 PM
Post by: brianb231 on October 25, 2015, 10:53:56 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on October 25, 2015, 11:32:36 AM
Post by: brianb231 on October 25, 2015, 12:38:06 PM
Post by: brianmtsinc on November 12, 2015, 06:26:01 PM
Any last words of advice??
Thanks in advance!
Brian
Post by: bobcat on November 12, 2015, 06:28:25 PM
Don't try to pack out too much meat at once. You could hurt your back.
Good luck!
Post by: Bob33 on November 12, 2015, 06:45:15 PM
Post by: brianmtsinc on November 12, 2015, 07:13:56 PM
Post by: Falcon on November 12, 2015, 08:28:21 PM
Best of luck on your hunt. I know you hunt hard and will get it done.
Have a great time. Look forward to the story and pics. :tup:
Post by: brianmtsinc on November 14, 2015, 06:22:32 PM
Day one in the books. 12 miles hiked, feet throbbing , saw 1 bull , no cows.... Time for a whiskey :tup:
Post by: lokidog on November 14, 2015, 08:11:57 PM
Post by: Falcon on November 14, 2015, 10:29:43 PM
Thanks Brian!
Day one in the books. 12 miles hiked, feet throbbing , saw 1 bull , no cows.... Time for a whiskey :tup:
That's some serious boot leather. If the bull was good send him up North for me to shoot, and I'll round up all the cows I have seen and send em South😜 Keep at it and stay safe👊💥👊
Post by: splitshot on November 15, 2015, 11:03:43 AM
Post by: brianmtsinc on November 16, 2015, 08:17:31 PM
Mike, I sent you a pm. Thanks!!!
We have seen 4 moose now. 1 bull and three cows. We saw two cows at 1,000+ yards, hiked about 3,000 to get close and could never find them :bash: ... Cut 1 set of fresh tracks in the snow today, but was so crunchy we couldn't sneak up on a marching band.
I think we are well over 30+ miles in 2.5 days and are as beat up as I remember from hunting.... We basically just have tomorrow left so we will leave it all on the field tomorrow and see what happens :tup:
Thanks for all of the advice and insight guys! Much appreciated :tup:
If anyone has a deer tag available- we saw an AWESOME whitetail! Beautiful , wide and tall 5 pt👍. Lots of scrapes and rubs so I think I know where he lives :tup:
Post by: Falcon on November 16, 2015, 08:23:48 PM
Just messing with ya. I have passed on 5 smaller Bulls. Going back for the big guy😁
Keep humping hard😁 Give it all ya got and cap off on a cow tomorrow👊💥👊
Post by: brianmtsinc on November 25, 2015, 09:41:46 AM
5 years ago, my hunting partner BrianB drew this tag and we saw moose everywhere. It was a blast and in the end he took a HUGE cow. I couldn't wait to get my chance and this year I finally did. :IBCOOL: I had high hopes of spending at least a week or two enjoying this hunt, with a goal of using my bow. But life happened and threw me an awesome business opportunity that I simply could not turn down, so early archery season was missed completely and my moose hunt was cut to 4 days. Knowing that time was such an issue, I decided that I would take a rifle and get out there and fill this tag.
Unfortunately, in 4 very difficult days of hunting, pushing well over 30 miles and blisters on blisters, we only saw 4 moose. Nothing like our last trip up Mica Peak 5 years ago. Our final day started with us on TOP of Mica Peak at day break. Fresh snow from overnight, rain and sleet falling, and winds blowing in the 30 mph range. We had to question ourselves if this was wise, or if we should simply turn around and head back to camp (safety). But the excitement and anticpation drew us into the dark timer where we had hopped to find them holding up in the storm. We put in over 8 miles, saw several deer, but never even cut a moose track. :bash: :bash: As the day wore on, and the winds increased, we realized we needed to get out of the woods before a tree feel on us! :yike: :bdid: This was the night of the big wind storm in Spokane that caused so much damage. Imagine what the winds were like on Mica Peak! :yike:
I want to say a HUGE thank you to my hunting partner, Brianb321, as he not only stepped up and handled a lot of the planning in my absence, he walked every painful step of this hunt by my side. I couldn't ask for a better hunting partner or friend. Thank you! Also, big thanks to Huntnnw and Tbar! I really appreciate the pm's!
We had a great time, and I know are both proud of the effort we put in. I don't think either of us could have pushed another mile on this trip, and there is solace in knowing that we left it all out there. Many memories made, lessons learned, and I left that "hill" a bit humbled.
Thanks again for all of the help and kind words! Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and happy hunting this late season! :tup:
Brian C.
Post by: trophyhunt on November 25, 2015, 10:03:44 AM
Post by: skeeter 20i on November 25, 2015, 11:30:34 AM
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 25, 2015, 12:00:34 PM
Post by: Falcon on November 25, 2015, 02:13:02 PM
Good job on hunting hard until the end. All the best in the future :tup:
Post by: Shawn D on November 25, 2015, 04:22:37 PM