Post by: Walt Francis on September 25, 2021, 10:10:48 PM
9/11/2021: 6:00 pm, bush pilot dropped me off a lake 1 ¼ ground miles according to OnX, (¾ air miles according to the pilot) from target river. I camped that night at the drop off/pick up lake.
9/12/2021: Packed up camp and hiked to river. Explored area, found good moose trails, moose sign, and then called that evening (cow calls). Had bull come close (30-40 yards) to camp around 1-2 am that night. I didn’t want to spook him from the area, so I laid quietly for 30 minutes until he moved on.
9/13/2021: Next morning explored area while calling, found place to load and launch raft on Oxbow lake. This would reduce hiking distance from 1 ¼ miles to 7/8 of a mile. Head shot grouse at 25 steps. While in camp, a little after 1:00 pm, I called in a decent moose. Not a gagger like Monty shot a few years back, but a decent, respectable moose. I shot the moose. Spent that afternoon/evening taking photographs, skinning, deboning, and bagging the moose meat. Got one side completely deboned and bagged.
9/14/2021: Spent most of day skinning, deboning, and bagging the moose meat. Moved meat and antlers away from kill site to other side of the river. Prepared mentally for hauling everything out that evening.
9/15/2021: Packed camp then floated meat, antlers, and camp ¼ mile to portage area. Packed meat, meat, antlers, and camp ¼ mile to Oxbow lake. Moved/floated meat, antlers, and camp 3/8 mile to end of lake and made camp.
9/16/2021: Slept in. Oxbow lake was frozen, had to build fire and thaw boots in order to put them on. Started packing around noon. Packed camp and 9 of 12 bags of meat to pick up lake. This was a real bitch as the footing was typical Alaskan tundra/muskeg/hammocks. Slept at pick up lake.
9/17/2021: Packed remaining 3 bags of meat and antlers to pick up lake.
9/18/2021: Pilot arrived, flew out 8 sacks of meat to larger lake. Flew me and ½ my gear out a really large lake where we met a plane capable of transporting me and my gear most of the way to Fairbanks. First pilot flew back and got the rest of my camp, the remaining four bags of meat, picked up the first 8 bags of meat, and met us an hour out of Fairbanks.
A moose hunt is a lot of work.
On this trip I brought and used my new hunting companion Hooligan, a 58# @28 1/2” takedown selfbow, Sherwood shaft arrows, and an eclipse 145 grain broadheads.
Post by: Bisch on September 25, 2021, 10:48:27 PM
Congrats Walt!!!!!
Bisch
Post by: Terry Green on September 25, 2021, 10:59:11 PM
Post by: cacciatore on September 26, 2021, 02:42:57 AM
Post by: Homey88 on September 26, 2021, 02:50:48 AM
Post by: TIM B on September 26, 2021, 05:04:13 AM
Tim B
Post by: Alexander Traditional on September 26, 2021, 05:16:50 AM
Post by: Roy from Pa on September 26, 2021, 05:34:24 AM
Sounds like a good deal of work.
Post by: kennym on September 26, 2021, 07:45:31 AM
Post by: Kevin Dill on September 26, 2021, 07:51:13 AM
I have enormous respect for your work ethic. I also question your sanity, just as I did (and do) my own for undertaking a solo moose trip. I'm kidding of course...but you have to admit it takes a different level of commitment to plan and complete a successful solo A-Y moose hunt. You're an inspiration to many my friend.
Post by: Joeabowhunter on September 26, 2021, 08:47:13 AM
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on September 26, 2021, 09:02:18 AM
Post by: Bob Walker on September 26, 2021, 09:12:44 AM
Post by: Walt Francis on September 26, 2021, 09:26:10 AM
Well done Walt....real good! ;)
I have enormous respect for your work ethic. I also question your sanity, just as I did (and do) my own for undertaking a solo moose trip. I'm kidding of course...but you have to admit it takes a different level of commitment to plan and complete a successful solo A-Y moose hunt. You're an inspiration to many my friend.
Kevin,
Thanks, it was through yours and Bryan’s writings that I was inspired to resume my Alaskan adventures.
I heard you have an Alaskan story to share.
Post by: Pat B on September 26, 2021, 09:52:56 AM
Post by: stevem on September 26, 2021, 10:04:46 AM
Post by: woodchucker on September 26, 2021, 10:10:31 AM
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :archer: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Post by: Bruce M on September 26, 2021, 11:20:14 AM
Post by: Pine on September 26, 2021, 11:37:46 AM
Thanks for sharing
Post by: Orion on September 26, 2021, 12:17:15 PM
Post by: Tater on September 26, 2021, 12:23:44 PM
Walt,
Congratulations, thanks for sharing your story, quite an accomplishment..
Post by: wood carver 2 on September 26, 2021, 02:41:33 PM
Congratulations on a very nice bull!
Dave.
Post by: rastaman on September 26, 2021, 06:28:58 PM
Post by: MnFn on September 26, 2021, 06:50:03 PM
Thanks for sharing the story and photos.
Gary
Post by: Sarge11 on September 26, 2021, 08:52:30 PM
Post by: gregg dudley on September 26, 2021, 09:01:12 PM
Post by: GCook on September 26, 2021, 10:56:40 PM
Post by: Tom on September 27, 2021, 06:44:34 AM
Post by: fujimo on September 27, 2021, 07:19:44 AM
one question, how did you deal with the grizzly's, with the moving around of all the meat sacks etc.
thanks for the inspiration.
cheers
Post by: Jack Denbow on September 27, 2021, 08:17:31 AM
Jack
Post by: hessian on September 27, 2021, 09:37:20 AM
Post by: George Tsoukalas on September 27, 2021, 10:09:59 AM
Post by: supernaut on September 27, 2021, 11:13:38 AM
Post by: dragonheart on September 27, 2021, 12:05:18 PM
Post by: Mighty Big Country on September 27, 2021, 03:09:25 PM
Post by: wapiti792 on September 27, 2021, 03:52:16 PM
Post by: Walt Francis on September 27, 2021, 08:47:28 PM
Congratulations, Walt. Nice bull and with a selfbow no less. Well done! :thumbsup:
Thanks Pat.
Post by: Walt Francis on September 27, 2021, 08:52:49 PM
You're a tough cookie Walt. Thanks for sharing. A job well done. Congrats. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Jerry,
My wife thinks I’m just not smart enough to not do these hunts……my knees say she may be right…..But I’ll keep doing it until I am no longer able to.
Post by: Walt Francis on September 27, 2021, 08:53:55 PM
Thanks for the compliments, they are appreciated.
Post by: Walt Francis on September 27, 2021, 09:00:47 PM
Walt, congratulations my friend! I'll save you seat at the Saturday night meal at the PBS Banquet again to get all the details.
Mark,
I look forward to sharing a table with you. Might need two seats though as my wife says she is going to PBS to keep from committing to too many hunts. :biglaugh:
Post by: ron w on September 27, 2021, 09:33:39 PM
Post by: Danny Rowan on September 27, 2021, 10:35:50 PM
Post by: Hud on September 28, 2021, 01:36:42 AM
Post by: Jeff D. Holchin on September 30, 2021, 11:22:39 AM
Post by: elkken on September 30, 2021, 01:12:01 PM
Post by: Gun on October 03, 2021, 03:16:48 PM
Post by: Walt Francis on October 03, 2021, 08:27:33 PM
Very impressive Walt, mighty fine moose and what a pile of meat :scared:
Ya, a lot of meat:
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
This is the new 23 cf freezer, there is anotherAnother 80#’s in my other freezer.
Post by: Terry Green on October 03, 2021, 08:40:46 PM
Post by: Walt Francis on October 03, 2021, 08:44:42 PM
Post by: Terry Green on October 03, 2021, 08:53:00 PM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on October 03, 2021, 09:09:06 PM
Can't think of anybody I'd rather go on a solo moose hunt with. :wavey:
Post by: Walt Francis on October 03, 2021, 09:50:37 PM
Thanks!
Haven’t seen you around lately, hope you are doing good.
Post by: cacciatore on October 04, 2021, 02:29:01 AM
Post by: MCNSC on October 04, 2021, 11:13:53 AM
Post by: BRONZ on October 06, 2021, 10:41:24 PM
Post by: Iowabowhunter on October 10, 2021, 10:54:47 PM
Pigger going to be making another trip up north sometime?
Post by: Walt Francis on October 11, 2021, 01:00:22 AM
Felix,
I hope you have an enjoyable and successful hunting season.
Jacob,
Hope you and Carly are doing well.
Pigger was retired after last season.
The new bow I built and used for this hunt is Hooligan, named after my two redbone hounds Addie & Molly (I think you have met both of them). Quite often the hounds find a way to get into tough predicaments, which are usually just as tough on me. My wife always refers to them as “The Hooligans” for their ability to seek out and find trouble. After the new bow killed the moose, I figured she had gotten me into a predicament equal to anything Addie & Molly have gotten me into. Standing on the gravel bar where the moose died, looking at it, itemizing the steps needed to butcher and then pack it to the pickup lake, I named her Hooligan.
Post by: Bamboozle on October 11, 2021, 08:43:14 AM
Post by: Jeff D. Holchin on October 11, 2021, 09:13:39 AM
Post by: Iowabowhunter on October 11, 2021, 10:19:29 AM
Thanks for the complements, they are appreciated.
Felix,
I hope you have an enjoyable and successful hunting season.
Jacob,
Hope you and Carly are doing well.
Pigger was retired after last season.
The new bow I built and used for this hunt is Hooligan, named after my two redbone hounds Addie & Molly (I think you have met both of them). Quite often the hounds find a way to get into tough predicaments, which are usually just as tough on me. My wife always refers to them as “The Hooligans” for their ability to seek out and find trouble. After the new bow killed the moose, I figured she had gotten me into a predicament equal to anything Addie & Molly have gotten me into. Standing on the gravel bar where the moose died, looking at it, itemizing the steps needed to butcher and then pack it to the pickup lake, I named her Hooligan.
We sure are, I was just up in Twin Bridges this weekend for my buddies wedding-sure do miss Montana however Bozeman is just outrageous with their home prices. We are considering Wyoming or Alaska when Carli is done with nursing school next year!
Yes I was able to meet the pups, hopefully they are doing well!
Post by: Brokearcher on October 11, 2021, 04:23:01 PM
Post by: rastaman on February 02, 2023, 10:27:02 AM
Post by: Terry Green on February 02, 2023, 10:44:39 AM
Post by: Elkchaser on February 02, 2023, 12:16:10 PM
Post by: 5deer on February 02, 2023, 04:33:10 PM
Post by: MnFn on February 03, 2023, 07:40:40 AM
Gary
Post by: RIVERWOLF on February 03, 2023, 08:04:23 AM
It's nice to visit this website for the basics we have all discussed on every aspect of shooting and equipment....Lots of fine conversation , thought, learning to be had ....but at the end of the day , it's Hunting stories like this that be what many of us enjoy the most .
Though I haven't completed the "dream" of a solo Alaska Mooz or bou hunt yet....I can tell by your story ,in many ways we are cut of the same cloth;)
I honestly believe all of us are , just many have surppressed it ....thus it lays withered...unnourished.
................................Stories/adventure like this stir what needs attention .....
Thank you for taking us along my friend....... Congratulations on an Exceptional animal and Hunt !
...... :clapper: :clapper: :campfire: