Moose Success - Idaho 2007

[popeshawnpaul]

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.

[jackelope]

great bull and great story...congrats huge!!
got any more pic's like a front view of that bull?
awesome!

[Ray]

Fantastic story and great looking photo (photo of the month material). Glad to hear that big cow left you alone finally  

 

[T-ROY]

great story and well done.

[boneaddict]

CONGRATS POPE!!!   I'm glad you guys had a great adventure together.

[Wea300mag]

Excellent story/bull, do you have any more pics?

[arrowflinger]

Great story and Job...............Nice looking bull, also.

[boneaddict]

I'd love to see a head on shot.

[popeshawnpaul]

I put another one on there that shows him from the front.  Thanks for all your input.  More important than measurements or score is that I had a great time and took an animal with my dad that we have both always wanted to hunt.  We were having a great time after we got him.  I'll never forget it.

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.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Congrats on the Moose and thanks for posting the story.

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.

[boneaddict]

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.

[boneaddict]

and.....Yep, that is what it is all about, not the score.

[popeshawnpaul]

Yeah, it wasn't recent but it was a large lump and it was hard when I felt it.  And no...I did not cut it open.  Yuk.  Must be common with these guys given the fact that some of you have had similar bumps on your moose.  Thanks all.

[Michelle_Nelson]

  Yuk?

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. 

[280ackley]

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.