Author Topic: My Montana Moose Hunt (Read 7756 times)

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **on:** October 17, 2018, 11:25:18 AM »

So after 15 years of applying I finally drew my Montana moose tag. Area 326. Problem was I also drew a limited mule deer tag which took 15 years to draw! So my scouting for moose was limited to Google earth and phone calls to ranchers and people who have hunted there. September 15th was the opener and September 14th was the first time I got to the area to look around. Elk hunters everywhere!! I checked a bunch of the spots that looked good on Google earth. Nothing too exciting. Then I got tired of driving and took the dogs for a run down a closed road and to do some stump shooting. Not 5 minutes into my hike one of the dogs was 200 yards up the hill barking like crazy. I hiked up there and was able to call her off with the e collar from what I guessed was a deer or something? They never just bark without there being game. We continued down the road for a hour and I headed back to the truck, heeling my dogs so they wouldn't chase anything. As I rounded the corner near where my pup was barking I saw what she had saw a hour earlier. A great big bull moose just standing in a clear cut!! I probably would have had a heart attack if I had seen her baying that bull just 12 hours before the opener!! Time to get some work done... to be continued

Duker · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2018, 11:54:41 AM »

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2018, 02:10:30 PM »

The next morning, opening day, a friend and I were back in the area where that bull had been. We spent a couple hours calling there and did not have any responses or even really find any moose sign. We drove down the road a few miles scouting. As we rounded a corner we saw about 5 trucks and a half dozen guys in blaze orange. I said someone whacked a moose! Sure enough they were dragging a bull up to the road. A rifle hunter had just shot him. As we got to bsing with everyone there we learned that all 4 tag holders for this area were there! 500 square miles of country and every guy with a moose tag at the same spot at the same time!

durp · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2018, 02:24:18 PM »

sounds about right!...

Cyclic-Rivers · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2018, 02:26:52 PM »

Interesting thus far...

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2018, 02:33:37 PM »

After we left the road block we had only gone a half mile when I spotted a moose down in a creek. It turned out to be two bulls lounging in some willows. I threw my ultimate predator moose decoy on my bow and headed down. My buddy stayed up on the road and called. I wasn't too excited to shoot a moose this way just kind of wanted to see if they were rutting at all. I got to within about 40 yards before they walked off a bit. I backed out and let them be. I almost went back to get the other guys so they could fill their tags and I could hunt the whole unit alone. This was my last encounter of the weekend. The next Friday I would be coming down for two solid weeks. Hoping the moose would start rutting.

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2018, 04:20:06 PM »

Friday the 21st came and I drove down to set up moose camp with three out of state buddies and my wife. The day was spent putting up two wall tents, cutting wood, cooking food, and enjoying the day with good friends. We were able to slip away for the last 1 1/2 hours for a quick hunt. On the way we spotted a bull and cow in the exact same spot I saw the 2 bulls the week before. And this was definitely a different bull.

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2018, 04:21:57 PM »

We went to another spot and called until dark. With no luck I made the decision to slip into the area with the bulls at first light and try to sound like a lovesick cow...

wingnut · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2018, 04:48:45 PM »

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, never drive by game to go find game. I've done that so many times elk hunting and have kicked myself every time.

Mike

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #9 on:** October 17, 2018, 06:48:32 PM »

Yes I learn the hard way Wingnut!

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2018, 06:58:20 PM »

So the next morning we were up early and headed to moose central. The moose were hanging within 20o yards of the road so I coasted in and waited ten minutes in the shutoff truck before getting out. Me and my wife headed down in. I would be cow calling and my buddy had a moose scapula and would stay 4o yards back from me scraping on willows. As we headed down in to look for a spot we heard a cow moaning up near where we saw the cow and bull the day before. We found a perfect little meadow about 50 yards long and 20 yards across. I went to the side closest to the cow we heard and my buddy stayed farther away. It was only my second set of calls when I heard a bull grunting and brush breaking. The cover outside the meadow was very tall willows making it hard to see approaching animals. Finally I caught a glimpse of a nice bull about 30 yards out. He was kind if circling to my side of the meadow. I anxiously waited but he skirted the end of it 25 yards from me and I never had a clear shot. He circled behind us and before I could make a counter move he winded us and crashed off. As he was running away I grunted a couple times and have a cow call. That's when I heard the 2nd bull approaching, grunting every step....

Trenton G. · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2018, 07:17:37 PM »

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2018, 10:19:49 PM »

It appeared the second bull was following in the footsteps of the first. I quickly repositioned about ten yards closer to the small opening I saw the first bull in. Soon bull number two walked into my shooting lane at 15 yards. I grunted to him to stop him. I instantly recognized him as the bull from the night before. I started to draw and he did stop. But, he turned his rack towards me to a willow. This effectively blocked his vitals with his antlers. My wife was filming over my shoulder with my Garmin Virb. After a few seconds the bull straightened out and prepared to continue on his way. In a second I finished my draw and sent the arrow on the way. The lumenoc gave me some indication of the shot but the willows made it hard to be sure. Upon the hit the bull bucked and crashed away. We could hear him running through the brush and then across a creek. Once again I called to try and slow him. After a few minutes we walked up to the impact sight and found half the arrow. After that we headed back to camp to have breakfast and give him some time as I was unsure.

Joeabowhunter · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2018, 10:23:16 PM »

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #14 on:** October 17, 2018, 10:25:09 PM »

We went back and had some bacon and eggs, coffee with Bailey's, and some amazing 7 layer cookies. We figured we better stock up as it could be a long day! Before we left I left a note for one of the guys who was off scouting a different drainage for me.

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #15 on:** October 17, 2018, 10:57:19 PM »

We headed down and began looking. As we are allowed to track with dogs here I didn't miss a chance to take my dog for a little work. Blood was hard to find but it didn't take the dog ten minutes to lead me to my prize.

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #16 on:** October 17, 2018, 10:58:28 PM »

Nice to have a crew ready to work!

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #17 on:** October 17, 2018, 11:02:27 PM »

We took a few picks and went to butchering. I went my buddy to go scout a spot to cross the creek and while he was gone I got out the two beers I hid in his pack!

Trenton G. · « **Reply #18 on:** October 17, 2018, 11:02:44 PM »

Congrats! That's awesome!

TURKEYFOOTGIRL · « **Reply #19 on:** October 17, 2018, 11:09:24 PM »

The excitement wasn't quite over. On the drive back to camp we had a tree fall onto the road! I saw it coming and slammed on the brakes. The truck came to a spot just as the tree crashed. The branches were all the way to the windshield.


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Author Topic: My Montana Moose Hunt (Read 7756 times)

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