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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Herdbull on October 27, 2023, 12:50:52 PM
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I once again have been greatly blessed to hunt alone in Alaska for the mighty moose. It seems I have not been able to close the deal and come home with meat over the last few years. But none-the-less, I have returned with a better understanding of these huge beasts and enjoy the thrill of their close proximity. I used a bush pilot to drop me off on a remote lake. I didn't find much fresh moose sign in the immediate area, and there were only a few areas that I could use to get elevated. With low moose density and lack of long-range visibility, I decided to focus on extensive calling with cow-in-heat calls and moose grunts.
I would venture out from camp as far as 2.5 miles in search of moose. This might be too far out for a successful pack out alone, but I often use what I call as the "Pied Piper Technique." By that I mean, I use my mournful or frantic cow calls to spark a distant bull fallow me back toward camp. Hopefully the late evening or early morning the following day will provide me a bull in rut craze that will respond aggressively to my calling. This method worked well over the 18-day hunt. I ended up calling in 11 bulls. Four of which were legal, having at least four brow points on one side or greater than 50-inch antler spread. I did not take a bull due mainly to shifting winds, but some of the non-legal bulls came up to as close as 15 yards. The thrill of these encounters can't be overstated. I also called in two grizzly bears that came in to investigate my moose calling. Their close presence was very un-nerving but ended well. One bear recognized me as human at 25 yards, and the second one stopped his approach after I saw him at 80 yards and stopped my calling. The usual almost daily rain was well tolerated but dampens blood trailing and thus slows my hunt. This hunt was very rewarding, and I hope the following images will attest to that. Mike
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Grizzly hair
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Grizzly that stopped his stalk after I quit calling. A young bear maybe 3 years old.
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A mature that caught my scent and retreated.
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Awesome pictures as usual Mike! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Beautiful country, pics, and appreciation for creation, reverence for our Creator coming through… Solitude :campfire:
Well done and Thank you Mike
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Great trip and great pictures!
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Always one of my favorite stories every year, success is in the adventure and not necessarily in the harvest. The vastness of Alaska cannot be overstated, beautiful place. Thanks for sharing Mike :thumbsup: :archer2:
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Good hunt. Thanks for taking us along. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Mike, your stories have inspired me for years. Beautiful pictures. I hope that I have the opportunity to have this experience someday! Thank you for sharing.
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Fantastic pictures Mike; Stay safe my friend.
Shick
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Great photos. I am sure you had a wonderful time, and maybe next time, you will catch up to old Bullwinkle. I have been to Alaska a couple of times but not to hunt. It sure is beautiful, isn't it?
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Great pics and story. I could almost feel the bear! Super that you can do this, thanks for bringing us along.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
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You are the herd bull...............
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It is super exciting to hear a bull grunt in response to my calling. It's not until I get a good look to determine if it's of legal size. My heart pounding as the bull approaches. Then once I determine size, will I try to film the bull. So many of the bulls come in and go away without my filming. During this entire trip I did not see a single cow moose. There was vast moose habitat with few bottle necks or pinch points for which to target.
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Amazing adventures that most of us will only dream of. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, Mike. Always enjoy your stories and pictures.
Murray
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Great pictures! That is definitely a bucket list thing most of us dream of, you sir make it actually happen!
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Amazing pictures and hunt!
Thank you so much for sharing with us!
:campfire:
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Gorgeous pictures and interesting story as always, Mike. Love how you take us along with you. :thumbsup:
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A lot of days look like this.
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Not too fresh of sign. But I take what I can get and hope my calling works.
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Dwarf birch turning. The source of much of the "fall color"
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Those pine trees could be along the Appalachian trail in VA!!! Hiked allot of days where it wasn't raining, but plenty of dripping from the trees. Gotta love the scenery.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
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Incredible. What an adventure it must be. And, wonderful photo's as well.