Post by: popeshawnpaul on October 02, 2007, 12:26:23 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10250/moose_email_2.jpg)
As some of you know, I have been out elk and moose hunting for three weeks now. After arrowing a nice 3x3 Roosevelt Elk, I left for moose hunting last Saturday.
This is the moose that I got in Idaho last Friday September 28th. I hunted 6 days and this was the 2nd moose I had seen. While there were tracks found, my father and I had a tough time locating bull moose. We started out hunting after a moose that had been spotted for 3 years straight and was belived to be 55-60" wide. After 5 days of hunting him, it was evident he had moved out of the area at least temporarily. I concentrated on another area that had numerous lakes and we immediately found a concentration of moose. The night of the 27th I found two cow moose tracks and one large bull moose track moving down through the timber toward a lake. The next morning we were on the lake at daylight and I immediately saw a cow in the lake below me 75 yards. I was in full camo and she wasn't quite sure what I was. We stared each other down for 15 minutes and she finally moved on and kept feeding in the lake. As I was holding still so the cow would not run, I heard a few bull grunts 200 yards to my left in the timber above the lake. I could not locate the bull with my binoculars so my plan was to keep going down toward the lake and the cow. Given that the rut was on, I was sure he would follow the cow. As I slowly snuck toward the lake it became apparent there was two cows and a bull. I tried a few bull grunts but he would not come closer. As I neared the lake shore I saw one of the cows walk across an open marsh area at the end of the lake about 220 yards away. I figured the bull would follow and a few seconds later I saw the flash of antlers in the trees heading for the open marsh/meadow following his cow. When the bull cleared the timber, I immediately saw the long points and thought to myself oh no, a small bull. Then I saw the palms on him and realized he does have large points and respectable palms. I could see quite a bit of "garbage" coming out the front of the horns so I figured he may have a split brow palm or two. My goal from day one was to get a moose with at least a 45" spread and split brow palms. I made the decision to shoot this moose. There was only one small shooting lane and no rest, but I felt confident I could make the shot. My first shot broke the front shoulder and another shot hit him low near the 4th rib forward. He was obviously hurt and went down immediately. The gun used was a .358 Winchester with premium 225 grain xp bullets that performed great.
While approaching the moose, I noticed his cow had waited for him and was laying in the bushes 75 yards away. As I moved closer to the bull, she stood up. When I got about 30 yards from the bull moose she layed her ears back and charged. My father and I turned and ran 30 yards or so and she finally stopped about 30 yards out. I had determined that I could not outrun her so I turned to shoot her if she had continued. She turned and went over to the downed moose and realized he was not going to follow her. A few gunshots and some loud whooping and hollering and she reluctantly left the bull moose. Upon approaching the downed bull I felt a great sense of satisfaction and was excited as can be. I wasn't sure how big he was, but I didn't care. My father and I were ecstatic that we got a nice bull on a scenic lake and only a 1/4 mile from the road! We packed meat until 4:30 PM and ended the job with a well earned beer.
After reading the instructions from the Boone and Crocket website, we scored him as follow:
Palm lengths -30" & 29"
Palm Widths - 9" & 9"
outside spread - 44.5"
beam mass -7" & 7"
points - 7 & 8 pts
I gross scored him approximately 150 and net around 147 or so. He isn't the biggest moose around but he should make the 140 minimum B&C record book. I am more impressed with my bull regardless of the score because of the mass and huge "dagger" type points coming off him. Although each one only scores 1 point, I think they give him an impressive feel when up close to him. With an elk and moose in the freezer, I'm done hunting for a while. My wife Anna will be pleased that I'm back around the house to help out a little.
Post by: jackelope on October 02, 2007, 12:33:15 PM
got any more pic's like a front view of that bull?
awesome!
Post by: Ray on October 02, 2007, 12:33:30 PM
:tup:
Post by: T-ROY on October 02, 2007, 12:39:47 PM
Post by: boneaddict on October 02, 2007, 12:45:10 PM
Post by: Wea300mag on October 02, 2007, 12:47:03 PM
Post by: arrowflinger on October 02, 2007, 12:50:39 PM
Post by: boneaddict on October 02, 2007, 12:57:22 PM
Post by: popeshawnpaul on October 02, 2007, 01:31:59 PM
By the way, notice from the 2nd photo that he had a large bump or cyst on his belly. I'm not sure if this was from fighting in previous years or what but it was interesting. It was a large 50 cent piece size bump that was hairless. If anyone has any ideas, let me know.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 02, 2007, 06:09:16 PM
As for the cyst. Are you talking about the bald spot I see on its side? Thats the only thing I can see. Did you cut the cyst open? Did it have the green crap in it? Or was it just like a piece of gristle or a lump of flesh. May just be a growth, scar, or a recent injury trying to heal.
Post by: boneaddict on October 02, 2007, 06:17:11 PM
Post by: boneaddict on October 02, 2007, 06:23:10 PM
Post by: popeshawnpaul on October 03, 2007, 08:01:08 AM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 03, 2007, 05:13:59 PM
You'd be supprised at some of the weird stuff I've seen skinning and gutting deer for a Processor for 3 years and doing Taxidermy for the last 4 years. ;)
Post by: 280ackley on October 03, 2007, 06:40:10 PM
It was probably where he got hooked by another bull. I think everyone of my moose has had something similiar. It was always like a big hunk of grisled tumor or something.
My brothers moose had something similar also.
Post by: robb92 on October 03, 2007, 07:07:57 PM
Post by: Idabooner on October 04, 2007, 07:58:32 PM
Post by: popeshawnpaul on January 18, 2008, 02:18:44 PM
If you look at his left antler and see his brow, do you think that is a single brow with a drop tine or a split brow? Or can it be both? What would it be for scoring purposes? The rules I have read on the various sites are silent on the issue leading me to believe it's a split brow but one of the tines happens to go down. I see nothing requiring the tine to go up...
Shawn
P.S. - I'm having Ric S. out of Tieton do the mount for me but I'm having withdrawls from not seeing him for so long...
Post by: popeshawnpaul on November 01, 2008, 05:27:49 PM
He was not easy to get through the door and I had to take the doors off to get him through. He's a little big for the room and my wife is telling me we need a bigger house for our moose... :o My 3 year old daughter named him Lulu. I hope the name doesn't stick... This was one of the best experiences of my life and one that I will never forget. Getting to go hunting with Huntnphool on his moose hunt has brought back all the memories from my hunt.
Post by: Wea300mag on November 01, 2008, 05:30:52 PM
Post by: blessed on November 01, 2008, 06:03:09 PM
Post by: Antlershed on November 01, 2008, 06:10:06 PM
Post by: cohoho on November 01, 2008, 06:46:49 PM
Post by: rougheye on November 01, 2008, 06:52:45 PM
Post by: bowsandhose on November 01, 2008, 07:12:41 PM
Post by: Slider on November 01, 2008, 07:35:41 PM
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 01, 2008, 09:01:36 PM
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 01, 2008, 09:02:57 PM
Post by: popeshawnpaul on November 01, 2008, 09:06:19 PM
Ridge...get ready for some serious withdrawls. I actually forgot what mine looked like and had to look at the picture every few months. It's like having a supermodel girlfriend that lives 3000 miles away...
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 01, 2008, 09:15:24 PM
Post by: huntnphool on November 02, 2008, 12:19:44 AM
Post by: PA BEN on November 02, 2008, 08:11:58 AM
Post by: Alpinegus on November 02, 2008, 08:53:45 AM
Post by: popeshawnpaul on November 02, 2008, 09:11:42 AM
Post by: M_ray on November 02, 2008, 09:38:02 AM
Post by: Falcon on November 02, 2008, 09:47:37 PM
He looks great on the wall, and the memories will last forever !
Post by: bucklucky on November 03, 2008, 08:08:36 AM