Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: John Havard on October 03, 2008, 07:51:00 PM
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This year's moose hunt presented me with an interesting decision. Early in the hunt I had a chance to take a very large male wolverine. The bad news is that the only non-resident tag I had purchased was my moose tag. Having hunted every year for 30 years in Alaska and having seen only 4 wolverines (including this one) I decided to devote my moose tag to this wolverine - allowed for in Alaska DF&G regs.
That decision turned me into a snowshoe hare and grouse hunter, a packer, and a caller for the rest of the hunt. Later in the hunt my buddy and I were within 35 yards or less of three different legal bulls, one of which was a real stud. Unfortunately they just turned the wrong way and did not present my buddy with a shot at the right time. Had I still been moose hunting perhaps between the two of us we might have gotten a shot. That's the way it goes!
The decision to take the wolverine was an easy one and I'm glad I did. However, next year I'll have a less-expensive tag in my backpack along with my moose tag for the "just in case" opportunities that are impossible to predict.
(http://members.aol.com:/johnhavard1/wolverine)
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Dang, that is a nice and mean looking to :clapper: :clapper:
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A rare trophy indeed!!
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Congrats :thumbsup:
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Well-done! I know that Dave Windauer shot one, but haven't heard of anyone else doing it. Did this one react in a hot-tempered way at all?
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Nice Trophy
Did you shoot him with that ACS Recurve?
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Meaner than a grizzly with a sore tooth, you are brave to loose an arrow at a wolverine!
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Wow!! and COOL!!
Is that one of your new curve prototypes?
Mike
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Well it sure was less work than getting a moose out. :D Don't look like a lot of eating there however. :D
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Congrats John. Their fur makes an excellent string silencer too.
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Great Trophy!!!
Congrats Sir!
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They make awesome full body mounts bud...CONGRATS on a great trophy!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Ben, yes, he did react rather unhappily when the arrow hit him. I think that a wolverine comes as close as anything to being "all hair, teeth, and claws". I'd guess this one weighed 40-45#.
Joe and Mike - yep.
James, yes, the carry back to camp (about 1.3 miles) was a heck of a lot easier than if he had been a moose.
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Way to go, John. I'm sure you've killd a lot of moose, but you may never have a chance like that again in your lifetime. He'll make a great mount.
Now then, about that bow... ?
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Congrats john ! Great trophy of a lifetime. But no Moose roast??
Nice jacket by the way. What brand is it?
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Nice trophy and nice bow. I lived in Alaska for three years and all the trekkin' around in the woods I did, I never saw a one of em! I been told they were there just never knew anyone that had seen one. Can't say that anymore! :)
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John,
Any word on when the recurve will be available for purchase???
Thanks
Kevin in Michigan
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Congrats john ! Great trophy of a lifetime. But no Moose roast??
Nice jacket by the way. What brand is it?
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Way to go John!
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40-45#? I doubt it. That looks about the size of a large racoon. I'd say no more than 20#. Alot of people have a hard time judging critters weight. Everyone things a big bobcat,coon or coyote weighs 50# but it's usually not the case. I weighed a cougar that everyone thought for sure would be 175# and he was barely 100#. Nice trophy though, congrats.
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Wolverines have a bad reputation; but if you had just taken the time to pat it gently on the nose; you would have a completely different story to tell.
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Cant wait to se the mount. :clapper:
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Nice, ConGrats
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Must have been a tough decision at the time-but the mount will be worth the sacrifice and think of the savings in shipping!
Nice recurve too John-is mine still on schedule?
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Mike, the photo makes it pretty hard to tell, but he's quite a bit bigger than a large racoon. 40-45# is a pretty good guess I think. From nose to tail his pelt was just over 4' long. But he's definitely smaller and lighter than a moose!
Sergio, the wool pullover is from Gray Wolf.
The recurves are still waaay out in time. Until I can satisfy myself with their performance we'll just keep trying new things. I'd like to get their performance up to the same point as our longbows but am not there yet.
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Way to go, John! Awesome trophy and by your attitude I know you made the right decision. Moose will be there next time around. Congratulations! Please email me a pic for the PBS magazine to: [email protected]
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Congratulations John! What a fantastic trophy! Opportunities like that are rarer than hen's teeth.
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Great trophy, John.
Many congratulations !
Pat
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That is one heck of a trophy! Lots harder to hit than a moose!!!
You have joined an elite group. Very few have killed wolverines with trad gear.
Brett
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Congrats on the fine trophy! He is going to make one beautiful mount.
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Soooo, how does wolverine taste?
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cool congrats
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I guess when Jason and I go, we'd better get a less expensive tag to acct for this kinda oppurtunity.
Are you having it mounted?
Mike
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Great!
Thanks for sharing.
Todd
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Mike, I'm having a wall-hanging rug made out of him. I can't believe how expensive rugs are these days! It has been a while since I had a bear rug made. This little booger is going to cost almost as much as my big brown bear rug cost 25 years ago!
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John,
An easy decision! Excellent. I have seen only one in about 10, 11, 12 years that I have hunted in Alaska and have only ever heard of one other being killed with trad equipment. You have joined a very elite group!
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Thank you John ! And "Ya"(this is the Canadian in me) how do hey taste?
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I think it was a great decision also.How about a little story to go with the picture? How did it come about?
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Sergio, we didn't eat any of him. I thankfully managed to dodge his musk glands while skinning him out but he smelled exactly like a brown bear in the spring - like he was fresh out of the den.
Jim, I was hunting a natural pinch point in the topography. The 400-yard-wide braided stream bed where we landed, camped, and hunted was right at tree line (about 3400 feet in this part of Alaska). I was perched up on a near-vertical bluff overlooking a trail that pinched out where the main channel of the stream cut into the mountain face (creating the vertical rock faces). Any moose migrating into the mountain valley for miles coming from the northeast would bump into this range of mountains. Any moose following that trail along the base of the mountains would have to walk about 15 feet below me at a range of 12-15 yards just before crossing the braided stream bed.
I was trying to stay as comfortable as possible while standing on my cliff perch when I heard approaching loping steps. My setup location prevented me from seeing much farther than about 20-25 yards in that direction. The thought of moose was immediately ruled out because the steps weren't heavy thuds and were too closely spaced together. My next thought was wolf. There are lots of wolves in this part of the state and non residents can take 5 without even having to have a wolf tag. Then I saw that it was a wolverine when he paused on the trail. Quick decision - is he worth my moose tag? Yes was the answer.
Remember - I was expecting a bull moose that's 7' tall at the shoulder to walk by - not a wolverine. There would only be one small window where the shot would be clear. He resumed his loping gait along the trail and I swung my recurve with him. I was fortunate to put a decent shot on him at 12 yards when he loped through the window in the brush. It was a bit too far back meaning that I didn't allow enough lead in my swing to account for his movement. But it was good enough. The heavy moose arrow buried about 6" into the rocky riverine soil and was a total pass through. The wolverine left a good blood trail. After climbing a very steep alder-covered face between two sheer rock faces he died laying on a large flat rock while watching his back trail.
Getting him down that steep hillside (pictured behind me) was a challenge in that I didn't want to fall 150 feet to the stream bed below. I field-skinned him out right there (leaving the skull and feet and tail bone) beside the stream and carried his hide back to camp. Later that day I skinned out the skull, split the lips and nose and turned the ears and removed the feet and tail bone. Thankfully we had enough salt available for the hide.
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Nice critter.Ida done the same in your position.
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Congrats John, that is a super trophy for sure. I think you made the right decision, you will probably never get the chance again. :thumbsup:
Brent
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Once in a lifetime trophy! Congrats!!
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I read an interesting article about a moose study in Alaska.
It seems the biggest most dominant bull moose often chase wolverines out of their areas.
Researchers said that: "a loping wolverine is a sure sign of a big moose in the area".
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Awesome John! You can always shoot another moose :)
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John - Great job on the little "tasmanian devil". Was wondering how the Luxury Lite cot work out for you and if 40 Mile Air again was everything you have come to expect.
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Well done, John. I certainly would have done the same thing if given the opportunity. That's why, when I hunt moose in Alaska, I always have at least two tags -- moose and caribou, even where caribou are scarce. Can never tell when a nice caribou, bear, wolf (where I hunted, they needed to be tagged)or wolverine might show up. Do you plan to bring your rug to a trad get together or two next summer? I'm sure lots of folks would like to see it, me included. :thumbsup:
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Jim, the combination of the Luxury Lite cot with my ExPed DownMat 9 on top of that resulted in absolutely the best nights' sleep I've ever had in the woods. An extra 3# for the cot (and relatively few cubic inches) is a worthwhile addition, even when weight is severely limited by small planes.
Jerry, the taxidermist guessed it would take a year to receive my rug. If it takes less time then maybe I can bring it to Compton in '09. Otherwise it might have to wait until Kalamazoo in '10.
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It would be great just to see a wolverine in the wild, let alone be able to take one. Everybody gets to see moose, but wolverines are a whole other story. Waaay Cool!
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John,
In my 35 years in AK I have only seen a half dozen wolverines. Taken two, one by trapping and one with the Kenworth.
I think you made a very good choice. Congratulations.
scotty
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Scotty,
Thanks for the kind words. Coming from you that means a lot. Obviously I feel the same way.
With each male wolverine having a huge range and with populations being so sparse by choice it's pretty uncommon to even see one - much less get one within bow range.
How in the world did you get one with your truck?
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John he said Kenworth 18 wheels how could he miss :biglaugh:
Did'nt even need the taxidermist to make a rug :D
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What a trophy! Good choice. How did it taste? :)
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John
Congrats one small caveat, you do know you could have done a wall rug yourself for about 25 bucks and it would have been done in a week or two? Great to hear you enjoyed your visit to the chugach range.
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John, wolverine are a whole lot harder to come by than moose are! :clapper: Wise choice, and well done.
Ed
TGMM Family of the Bow
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John,
Your wolverine may well be a once in a lifetime .... give it a place of honor in your trophy room!!
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I lived and hunted in AK for 7 years. I never even saw one. Great to see you harvested this rare opportunity...... AWESOME!
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John, Congratulations! Trophy of a lifetime!
I bought a wolverine tag while hunting caribou in the NWT one year just in case an opportunity presented itself. Of course I never saw one on that trip.
As close as I have been to even seeing a wolverine was on a Mt goat hunt in BC three years ago. My guide, assistant guide and I were weathered into our tents after hiking up into goat country the day before from our float plane drop off spot on a lake below. It was afternoon when the rain finally let up enough for us to leave the tents. The first one out was the assistant guide who confronted a wolverine at about forty yards that was on a course headed right for our camp. He yelled to get the guide and my attention that we were about to have company and that sent the wolverine back in the direction he had come. By the time we got out of our tent it was gone from sight.
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Very cool! Lot's of people have taken a moose, but you are sure in an elite group with a trophy like that!
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Fine job John well done......bowdoc
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Caught up to thread a bit late. Nice choice. A rare chance I'm sure. Congrats Sir.
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I know a whole lot of people who have killed moose with traditional bows. I now know of two who have killed wolverines. It's a no-brainer. In all my time on the ground up north I have seen a grand total of one. Two thumbs up. Don
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Congrad's, a rare encounter and then to take him with your bow. WOW :thumbsup:
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Exelent Quiver material there Sir!
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Congrat's John...very unique trophy!
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DAng I was just looking at your cot on line. That's pretty cool but real pricy. Is there a lower cost alternative?
I like the idea of a cot instead of the ground. I know I'm getting soft in my old age.
Mike
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Mike, I don't know of any less-expensive alternative. I wish I did. But for fly-in hunts where each pound of gear has to count this is the only light-weight cot that fits the bill as far as I know.
Like most of us, I used to be able to sleep on a bed of nails and wake up without any aches and pains. My back has become less tolerant than it used to be so the notion of getting a better night's sleep increased in my list of priorities.
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John, Wow.
I've seen only one wolverine in all my years of hunting. It was the NWT. The Dogrib Inuit guide made bigger circles around that wolverine den than he did around grizzly bears...they do not like those little devils.
The folks who ran the camp hated them as well- they did more damage to their camp over winter than bears as well, and their territory marking efforts apparently meant the structure they did it on had to be rebuilt due to the odor involved.
Glad you got one! Make a hat out of it..that would be a real conversation piece!
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Rod, here I was using your quiver the entire hunt and I managed to shoot the wolverine on the day I had that clunky/heavy home made bow quiver on my bow!
I have to say that your new Arrowmaster quiver is just the ticket for use with a backpack and for bushwhacking. The arrows ride quietly and securely and yet are easy to get out of the quiver. I like the way it clips securely to the belt of my backpack while going cross country. Congratulations on a fine quiver. I just wish I had had it with me when this photo was taken!
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Congrats on a rare and unique harvest John.You look like your getting younger.Must be that fresh,clean Alaskan air.I gotta get up thier someday.
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John. yer gonna make me blush!
As to the K-Wolverine...Dropped off a long hill southbound from Deadhorse and just North of the Yukon. Was pulling an empty tanker. Started the rollout near the bottom when the wolvering burst out of the black spruce and onto the Dalton. He headed south down the center. Not much I could do. Any attemtp to brake would have sent the tanker into the ditch.
Are they fierce? That darn thing actually TURNED and LEPT into the front bumper.
Are they tough? All I know is that every tire on the ditch side rolled over him. There were very few broken bones and only two small punctures in the hide where the ribs punched through.
Once I got the rig stopped and backed up I still made a big circle around and gave a hesitant toe kick before strapping him down to the drom deck of the tractor.
Are they stinky? Could smell him in the shop for weeks afterwards and the wife made me skin him outside...the NERVE of that gal!
Trapped one other in the Wrangles back in the Seventies...skinned him in the cabin. Durn near had to sleep outside. Wife learned quick ;*)
Sooo...Hat? Quiver? Rug? Harder decision on what to do with hide than weather to use moose tag on him I bet!!!
Bask in the warmth of a shot well taken.
Scotty
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Congrates John,! You made the right decision IMHO. I saw a wolverine this season too. Actully saw him twice. But no shot opportunity as I was answering the call and he was by the deck of my cabin. Did you flyout with 40 Mile again?? An did you getin to a bunch of grouse??
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Hey Scotty, I'd say you did the right thing to let the Kenworth win instead of the wolverine! That's a pretty long downhill run to the Yukon. Were you already past Pump 5?
This one didn't smell BAD like musk - he only smelled like a spring-time brown bear. Thankfully I managed to skin around the musk gland (the deadly one) alongside the bunghole and also missed the two alongside his jowls, so all in all he didn't stink much at all. I contemplated having a hat made out of him but since I already have a fine sealskin and sea otter trapper hat I decided on a rug.
John, yes we flew out with 40 Mile Air again this year. We heard a few ruffed grouse drumming but surprisingly did not see a single one! Given as much bushwhacking as we did and as many miles as we put on the old dogs I would have expected to get a few shots at them. I was really disappointed by our lack of grouse opportunities because of how delicious they are.
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John, That is too bad about the grouse as they are fun to hunt. I had them all around me and yes I had them for dinner after a wine marinade with a bit of salt & pepper. But friends of mine here said that they were scarce where they were. Saw bunches of them today along the road where the snow has pushed them during my road trip to Delta & back.
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Was southbound and dropping off Mackey hill, between Finger Mtn and the Yukon.
Rug is a great choice. Doing the same with mine. Oughta look good hanging in the sleeper ;*) You can make a hat out of any ol' critter and not worry about it blowing off while in the boat!
John/AK...got the drool glands working overtime now. The grouse seem to be spotty here also. Perhaps it is because the rabbit (and predator) populations are on the upswing. Managed to take a few while woodcutting. Wife don't mind em in the house either 8*)
My best,
Scotty
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Congrats John!! I was 25 yards from a wolverine on one of my solo trips to Alaska. I did not know the rules at the time, so even though I had a moose and a caribou tag in my pocket I still chose to film the wolverine. I wish I would have known. But for me, filming and shoot are still part of my hunts... so in my mind I came home with a wolverine. Ha! So happy for you, Mike
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rarer than a moose and dandy specimen--'grats to you
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That is so GREAT!! Do you have any more photos that you could share. The whole world of archery is jealous. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
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John "BAD ASS" Havard is all I can say!! Great trophy, moose are a dime a dozen when compared to that trophy!! Congrats! Shawn
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MAn what a cool animal to take with your Bow! Sure is going to make a beautiful mount!
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Congratulations John! Beautiful animal!
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AWESOME!!!
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The most excited our hunting party got the entire trip to Alaska was when we spotted a wolverine close to camp one morning.
That's a very nice trophy!
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I heard that if you tickle a wolverine's belly he makes a purring-like noise.