Machias and the Mrs. 2023 Idaho Moose Hunt

[Machias]

We were super lucky and drew TWO Idaho Bull Moose permits this year.  Opening weekend, we did not go out and hunt as it was 88 degrees on Saturday and upper 70s on Sunday.  I was worried that even if everything went perfect we would risk losing meat.  Not too worried since we have the 15 Sep - 01 Dec permits.  Tuesday I get home from work and I'm in the house hanging out, waiting for the wife to get home and my pup, Reaper, starts barking.  This usually means a deer is walking through the back pasture.  I stroll over to the kitchen window and there about 40 yards from Reaper is a pretty respectable bull moose.     Go into the spare bedroom and grab the .30-06 and load three rounds.  Step out onto the utility room steps and he's nowhere to be seen.  Walk out to the fence line on the back yard and there is this bull standing about 90 yards out in a plowed field, not a stich of cover anywhere.  Standing there broadside looking at me.  Only one problem at this point.  He is standing on CdA Reservation land and this dummy had yet to purchase the tribe's hunting license.  I talked myself in and out of shooting him several times and decided it's just not worth getting my one and only moose confiscated.  The chances of that happening were/are about almost zero, but I decided it was not the right thing to do.  Standing about 30 yards from my property.     I thought, well maybe I'll cow call and he'll walk back over to my property line.  I must have said something really nasty to him, because he starts trotting, in the opposite direction!  I have permission to hunt the property next to mine and I've been getting a bunch of cow moose and this bull on my trail cameras, so I think there is a good chance me and him will meet again, hopefully when my wife is there so she can slap a tag on this fella.  Yesterday I purchased my CdA Hunting License.  I'll keep you all posted on our hunt over the next few weeks.

[Pathfinder101]

Sounds like a pretty good start.    Can't wait to see what you guys end up with.  Good luck 

[boneaddict]

Fun to get the blood flowing, but you made a good choice.   

[Gentrys]

Great decision!  Plus, you don't want it to be over yet!

[Jpmiller]

That would be pretty cool to get a porch moose lol hope he's around some more and one of you bags him. Going to need a mighty big freezer soon! Good luck!

[JakeLand]

Can’t wait to see some pics Fred !!

[Naches Sportsman]

Have a Fun season Fred! I’ll be getting after it in unit 10 at the end of next week!

[ganghis]

I think many of us have been there with an ethical dilemma like you describe, whether it's an animal we run into just outside of shooting hours or just outside of an imaginary line on the land or uncertainty about the right # of points on an antler.  It always takes more thinking than it probably should to make the right choice - good on you! 

Looking forward to tagging along on your hunt.

[HikerHunter]

Sounds like the start to a great season, good luck!

[Machias]

Have a Fun season Fred! I’ll be getting after it in unit 10 at the end of next week!

I'm excited for you!  Good luck!!

[Rob]

Tagging along!  Looking forward to the journey!

[pianoman9701]

Good luck Fred and Mrs. Fred. Fill up the freezers. 

[Wanttohuntmore]

Also tagging.   Moose hunts are fun!

[nwwanderer]

Can have a loader tractor over there in an hour or so, good luck!!!

[LDennis24]

That sounds just too easy! Good luck! Following along...