Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Out Of State Hunting => Topic started by: JoeE on September 26, 2023, 04:12:53 PM

Title: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: JoeE on September 26, 2023, 04:12:53 PM: Figured I’d make this its own post instead of an add on to my “Moving to Alaska” thread. I went out for my 4th fly out moose hunt this year. The moose numbers in Alaska are down in most places especially in the spot in the interior I normally hunt. This year we opted to go a bit deeper and more out west. Since I’m a resident now we picked a controlled use area open for residents only. I can’t say the moose numbers were much better and holy cow was this place a pain to hunt. Waist deep swamps in each direction we had to navigate around in a pack raft. I had hip boots but would have been better off in chest waders. The only place we could find to pitch our tent that was dry was in the brush and trees and it made for difficult camping. Weather was pretty bipolar as usual for Alaska, sun, rain, wind, freezing temps. We managed to find two moose total in 12 days. A 62” and a 61” bull. Didn’t see another moose. With all those challenges I wouldn’t trade a thing I love Alaska hunting. This is my second consecutive 60+” bull I’ve taken with the trusty 30-06. I moved on from my usual moose rifle in 300 WSM and have found I like my lighter handier 06. I don’t see myself changing for awhile.

Now that we have a freezer full of moose, halibut and salmon I’m going to focus next years big game hunting on sheep.
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: JoeE on September 26, 2023, 04:15:19 PM: We lucked out where we killed both bulls was in a nice patch about 1 sq mile of dry tussocks. Tussocks are hell to walk in but better than wading in a swamp.
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: JoeE on September 26, 2023, 04:19:16 PM: Beautiful place
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: emac on September 26, 2023, 04:50:27 PM: Both absolutely beautiful

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: pd on September 26, 2023, 04:53:25 PM: That looks like sheer h@(^ to walk through!

Congratulations.
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: kellama2001 on September 26, 2023, 04:57:32 PM: What an incredible animal! Thank you for sharing your pictures and story, looks like it was an amazing hunt!
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: Taco280AI on September 26, 2023, 05:02:34 PM: Congrats and great bulls! Luckily I avoided swampy stuff for the most part this year. There any particular reason the moose numbers are down? Grizz predation? Saw too many of them.
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: JoeE on September 26, 2023, 08:58:45 PM: The guy I fly with is a retired biologist and he does moose surveys in the off season for fish and game. He says its two bad winters in a row have hammered the moose. It’ll rebound.
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: Rainier10 on September 26, 2023, 09:07:41 PM: Great moose. Congrats.
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 26, 2023, 09:36:24 PM: Great stuff!!!
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: lewy on September 26, 2023, 09:47:08 PM: :tup:
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: bearpaw on September 26, 2023, 09:55:10 PM: awesome trip :tup:
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: JakeLand on September 27, 2023, 04:49:18 AM: You’re living it up !! Nice bulls . You going to take up trapping up there ?
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: boneaddict on September 27, 2023, 05:13:22 AM: Some back breaking success there! Well done.
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: Bob33 on September 27, 2023, 06:37:06 AM: Wow - lots of hard work for a beautiful trophy. Congratulations.
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: JoeE on September 27, 2023, 08:43:54 AM: Quote from: JakeLand on September 27, 2023, 04:49:18 AM
You’re living it up !! Nice bulls . You going to take up trapping up there ?

I really want to. It’s kind of intimidating because I know nothing about trapping. I’m living on the Kenai Peninsula and we have a good Lynx population around here. A guy I met through work traps lynx quite a bit and as offered to teach me how to get me started. But eventually I would like to spend my winters here trapping a lot.
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: 257wbymagkiller on September 27, 2023, 09:04:20 AM: Joe! I lost your number man. Heck of a moose! Shoot me a msg!
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: C-Money on September 27, 2023, 09:41:12 AM: The antlers being packed out look huge!! Great photos! Congrats! I sure enjoy hearing about the 30-06 getting folks meat in the freezer.
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: pashok23 on September 27, 2023, 09:44:50 AM: Congrats, very nice bull!!!
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: JakeLand on September 27, 2023, 09:55:19 AM: Quote from: JoeE on September 27, 2023, 08:43:54 AM
Quote from: JakeLand on September 27, 2023, 04:49:18 AM
You’re living it up !! Nice bulls . You going to take up trapping up there ?

I really want to. It’s kind of intimidating because I know nothing about trapping. I’m living on the Kenai Peninsula and we have a good Lynx population around here. A guy I met through work traps lynx quite a bit and as offered to teach me how to get me started. But eventually I would like to spend my winters here trapping a lot.
heck ya you’ll be addicted
Title: Re: Alaska moose 2023
Post by: Machias on September 27, 2023, 02:52:12 PM: Holy smokes those are both amazing bulls!! Congrats!!

P.S. DO NOT take up trapping its waaay too addicting!! :)