First Morning In Moose Country

[JimB]

I drew a coveted Montana moose tag this year and though the season started September 15th,I decided not to start till the temperatures dropped some.After a very cool Summer,we have had record high temperatures this month-mid to high 80's.

I decided to start doing some reconoitering yesterday as the high was supposed to be only 70.

The morning dawned cool and clear,a crisp 40 degrees with a light breeze out of the North.

The river bottom I plan to hunt,like most in this State,is all private ranchland.Fortunately,most landowners will let you hunt moose though not much else.I was going onto a piece of property that was probably the smallest of the ones I have permission on.

I bought some hip boots to keep in the truck just in case but I really hoped I wouldn't need them.when I dropped in the river bottom,it was clear that my ankle high Danners would be fine.What they call a river in the West would be called a creek in the East and the water was way down in this one.There were actually stretches,several hundred yds long,with no water at all,just one solid gravel bar.

This is one of the best stretches of water I saw.

[JimB]

The country was a maze of willow patches and open areas that had been grazed by cattle.As I moved through this beautiful bottom land,I was constantly coming on whitetails,drifting to their bedding areas.

I thought this young buck had me pegged but he and his buddy,resumed feeding and drifted away into a dark thicket.

[JimB]

[jcar315]

    Anxious to hear this one!!!

[JimB]

I covered as much of the property as the North wind would let me and eventually it switched.I was keeping an eye on the river bottom as much as I could as that would be the best place for moose tracks to be visible.

No moose.I saw coyote tracks,tons of deer tracks,coon,fox,skunk,mink and otter.No moose.

Finally,when I got to the South property line,I found the first moose tracks.A cow and a bull had crossed a mud bar and the river,heading into property I can't hunt.It appears they left a small alfalfa field where I am hunting and entered and were spending their daytime hours in no man's land.

I will have to get to that field before daylight and see if they are in there and if so,do they pass any possible setup place before jumping the fence.It is a very iffy thing, but they could just as easily drift onto my property if they choose.Anyway,I was happy to at least get into some fresh moose sign,my first morning in very unfamiliar territory.

[ron w]

Looks good so far.

[JimB]

As it started to warm up and the wind shifted almost 180 degrees,I got a chance to cover the rest of the bottom and determine exactly where all the property line was.From the South fence,I could glass down the river and see more moose tracks but naturally,on the wrong side of the fence.

That's OK as they can be anywhere tomorrow and soon she will be done with him and he will travel up or down river,looking for another trist and that will put him on other ranches where I have secured permission.

I actually ended up walking the length of that piece of river bottom twice,trying to work out every pice of it to make sure I hadn't missed any tracks.

When I reached the South end the second time,it was starting to warm up,and satisfied I had covered it all,I broke out of the tree line and started to find the most direct path back to the truck.

I caught movement on the dry hill across the river.There stood a coyote,about a hundred yards away.I was in the open and he had to recognize what I was and that I carried something in my hand.I expected him to start barking and raising Cain,and light out of there but instead,he walked up the hill and sat down watching me.

Very uncharacteristic for a Montana coyote.These dogs get shot at frequently and they know the program.It was almost as if he understood I had a bow,not a rifle.I sat down too,and we both tried to figure the other one out.

I finally remembered the camera in my pack,broke it out and rested it across my knees and took a few pictures.He is to the upper left of the cedar bush.

[JimB]

Eventually,he just got up and walked up over the hill.I'm sure he had a long,hard night and probably a full belly and had a distant bed calling him.

Well,that's all for now.If I get any more stuff,I will put it here but my hunting time will be broken up by work and weather so it may be very sporadic.It may be a long season and I have a lot to learn about this country and how moose use it.

Today is supposed to hit low 80's again so I'm going to catch up on some work.Wednesday,we are expecting a cold snap.They are calling for snow and daytime highs in the 40's.That's Montana.I sure enjoyed the first morning in moose country.

[whitebuffalo]

   

[tarponnut]

Very cool, good luck!

[Benny Nganabbarru]

All the best, and thanks for sharing the journey thus far!

[rod251]

Great story so far!  Good luck and keep us posted.  Just 3 more days and I can go chase those LA whitetails...

[steadman]

Thanks Jim! Looking forward to the rest of it. Great pics as well!