Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: maineac on February 10, 2012, 06:46:00 PM
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Since the excitement of the fall seasons has died down, I thought I would post the story of my Maine moose hunt this past fall. I hope it helps break up the dead of winter and rekindle dreams of fall. After a twenty- year wait I was drawn for a Maine moose tag this past June. With a busy summer I was only able to get away three times to scout with my young shorthair.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/scout_2_015.JPG)
I covered a lot of miles looking for the right area in my zone. Over the years I had come to the decision to try to do a hunt from a river to get away from the roads and pressure. I settled on a section of the dead river below the Flagstaff Lake dam.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Dead_19relaxedsage.JPG)
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Dead_22.JPG)
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_scout_1_047.JPG)
So after months of anticipation and preparation it was time to head out. We packed trucks up Friday night and headed out around 6:30 Sat. morning. The party consisted of me, my Sub permittee Alvin and another friend Carl (who had agreed to run a camera and help pack out meat). We drove to Eustis and headed in on the Big Eddy Rd.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_001.JPG)
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This is looking good, thats a awsome looking shorthair
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:campfire:
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:campfire:
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:campfire: Looking forward to this!
THIS is what "hunting" is all about!
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Man this will be good!
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:campfire:
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Bring it on! :campfire:
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Waiting :campfire:
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:readit: Forum rules say you can't start an awesome story and abruptly stop...I love Maine.
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After finishing the 17 mile drive in we unloaded the boat and trucks and got to setting up camp.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_002.JPG)
After setting up the cooking fly and table we set up the tents
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_003.JPG)
Of course we had to identify the camp for anyone who might be joining us during the hunt
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_004.JPG)
After that we got to some scouting. We traveled the river looking for fresh moose sign. The foliage was at peak.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_033.JPG)
We checked lots of spots along the river. We couldn't find any fresh rubs, but we found several areas that had almost every forearm to thigh sized maple tree in a half acre area had been rubbed over the past several years
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_028.JPG)
I don't know if you can see all the rubs but at least 60% of the trees in the pictures have been rubbed. We couldn't see how they still couldn't be using the area if they had every year for the past 5 or 6 (based on ages of rubs).
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_032.JPG)
The ride back was highlighted by the full moon.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_017.JPG)
We headed back to cocktails and dinner by the fire.
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Loving this already.
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I'll add my own :campfire: while we are waiting.
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:campfire:
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:campfire:
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Very Nice!
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Great stuff, Love Maine,Please continue! :clapper: :clapper:
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Very nice! Thanks for sharing.
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That is cold...taking a break for more than an hour in the early stages of a story like this? TTT to remind you to finish what you started!
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:thumbsup:
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Cool.....love the dog sitting in the canoe, they are crazy good friends!!
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:campfire:
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Still early in Oregon, keep typing!
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:campfire: :coffee:
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Love the story and pictures so far, Mike!
Allan
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Love the story and pictures so fare, Mike!
Allan
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Awesome story and pictures!
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Great story and pics so far :thumbsup:
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:campfire: :coffee:
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:saywhat: this is promising..
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Looking good.....so far.
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Sorry I didn't finish last night. Fell asleep on the couch watching a Fred Bear video. Back to the story.
We scouted more the next day and found another area with lots of rubs bordered by a large swale area.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_014.JPG)
I found this old remnant while exploring the area.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_012.JPG)
After finishing our river scout we headed out to meet the man who agreed to rent me his camp in case rains set in. It was not far from our campsite so we drove the gate and walked to the camp. Forgot to check the map before we left so we missed our road and hiked to the trail leading to Grand Falls. It was worth the hike.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_024.JPG)
Along the way we kept our shooting skills sharp with a little stump shooting.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_021.JPG)
Let me mention here that my sub permitee is a compound shooter I have been trying to coax over to the trad world for a couple of years. This past spring I was able to broker a sale of a Shrew off a member here on TG. It was an easy sale as I guaranted to buy it off him if he did not like it, a win win in my opinion :goldtooth: . He started shooting it and I required he use it on this hunt. He practiced all summer and became good with it.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_020.JPG)
After introductions and instructions we headed back to fix dinner and take some river water baths to prepare for opening day. Did I mention it was about 85 degrees?
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Screen_shot_2012-02-10_at_6_32_48_PM.png)
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Never been Moose hunting in Maine but your river photos bring back memories of hooking up with my Grandfather and Uncle, heading out of Ashland on the Reality Rd. for week long fishing trips. Plenty of native trout and good camping in the "Big Woods".
Looking forward to more of the story...Oh and by the way...the dog in the canoe...excellent photo!
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:campfire: :clapper: Can't wait to read the rest!
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Looking forward to more! :coffee:
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Loving it. Sure does make me miss the Northeast though seeing all those lake and foliage shots.
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Man, i could actually hit that stump :readit:
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That is a beautiful area. I hunted bear in that area nearly forty years ago. I can't wait to see how this story plays out.
Jack
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:thumbsup: Waiting for the next issue!!!
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More please
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Used to deer hunt Rangeley plantation. The moose were so thick in there you would see several every day out deer hunting and TRY not to hit them at night. I'm like you, put in for 25 years but no tag. I have monsterous sheds I've found.
I hear the whole area is flat as a pancake now from clearcutting so I figure my turn at a tag will come up now that my sweet spot is gone.
I envy you, I always wanted to hunt moose there, the Maine woods are a spiritual place.
Really looking forward to this post!!!
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"State of Maine I love ya, ain't no state above ya..."
The ONLY Maine state song for some of us.
Awesome story so far!
Joshua
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Keep it coming!
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More please
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For opening morning we headed down river to an area that had two areas of great sign across from each other. We got there about half an hour early, anchored the boat and sipped coffee while we waited for sunrise. The wind was reasonable for either side, but better for the west side. Once we could see color we headed in as quiet as possible and set up in a group of big old maple over looking an area of old rubs and wet areas.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_037.JPG)
My sub permittee Alvin set up and waiting.
I made a set of cow calls, waited five minutes and did another set. As soon as I finished the second set we hear two grunts. They were behind us on the other side of the river. We repositioned and called again. Suddenly I noticed a big black object in the trees on the other side. He stood for a minute or two looking in our direction.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_047.JPG)
The moose's view across the river. We were about 50 yards back in the woods
He turned and headed further to our left. I heard him rake a tree, and then a loud splash. I was sure he was swimming over. No moose showed up so we carefully moved to the river. He had crossed a stream on the other side and was nowhere in sight. We waited a bit more and paddled the boat across the river and set up to call again. No response. We waited about an hour calling every so often, but no return visit.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_046.JPG)
We hit a couple of more spots on the river, with no responses. We returned to camp and headed out in the truck to look for some upland areas. We took Alvin's truck up an old two track that was quite a challenge.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_040.JPG)
We found a great area with tons of fresh tracks and some fresh thrashings on some small brush. We set up and called that evening but nothing. That is what the next four days turned into. River in the morning, scout and call during the day and set up in a promising place we found during the day for the last hour and call.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_043.JPG)
We walked, called and scouted for miles. Traveled the roads looking for sign and moose in different cuts. We never had problems finding tracks, but actual moose were tough to find. Normally by this time in October the leaves are all off this far North, and temps are below freezing at night and maybe 40's or 50's during the day. Not so this trip. You can see from the picts that the foliage is at peak. Even in te old clear cuts there was a lot of foliage.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Moose_hunt_050.JPG)
Carl in one of the cuts. He is standing where the one other bull we saw was standing. It was Friday and rains had arrived Thursday. We focused more on moving around the roads checking new areas since the river had not been productive. How my buddy Alvin spotted him as we drove by I still don't know. He grabbed me and shook my shoulder saying "moose, moose!!" I couldn't see him until he gave specific bush and landmarks to lead my eyes to where he was. All I could see was the top of his palms. He turned and moved off up and further into the old cut. We gave him time and moved to get the wind right. We set up and called, but no response.
That was the last moose we saw. It was great hunt! I regret not having a freezer full of meat, but I set out to have a real hunt, and not a drive by shooting. The hunt was everything I dreamed of for four months, minus the dead moose. My camp partners were fantastic companions who were willing to put in the time and effort to make this a special hunt. I put together a film piece, so if you have 12 or so minutes to waste check out the sights and sounds of the campsite and some of the set ups. Thanks for reading.
My hunt video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLLiOk9AnnA&feature=g-upl&context=G2b767c4AUAAAAAAAAAA)
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Cool stuff, thanks for sharing it!
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Great story!
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Cool adventure, Mike!
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Wish I was with ya!
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very nice thanks.
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Great post. One of the hunts in my bucketlist.
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Thank you for Sharing. Looks like a great Time!
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Great story! What an awsome hunt to be able to go on.
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Thanks for sharing. Looks like a great hunt.
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Great hunt story and video! Thanks. :thumbsup:
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Much thanks for the exciting story & pix. You have great knack for it.
Moose are huge! Never shot one yet but had 2 wallhangers within 15 yards in Colorado once. No tag.
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Great Video loved the look of the fall colors.
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Good stuff looks like you had fun man.
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I really enjoyed your story. Thanks!
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Thank you. That was great.sometimes I really miss good ole' New England. (nut) :thumbsup:
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Thanks for taking us on your moose hunt. Photos were great!
Moose hunting is on my wish-list!
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Mike-great job on the pics/story telling! It looks like nice country where you hunt. The video was good too! Thanks for taking us along!
Kenny :bigsmyl: