Hi everyone.

Rick and I went moose hunting on Thanksgiving weekend. Left on Friday morning, 1 hour out of Whitehorse we see some Elk, they are a protected herd as they were implanted a few years ago.


Then drove north to Dawson City and 3 hours into the bush to set up our 1st camp. Got a couple of grouse on the way in but were too late for any serious moose hunting. Set up camp and had supper then to bed. Clear and cold over night slept okay but my nose sure got cold, about -7C. Up before daybreak and took the quad for a run and look for moose. Parked and walked for about an hour and didn't see anything, back to camp for breakfast. Still looking to get farther back into the bush so drove around and got lost, found some miner (gold) and got directions. Drove another 3 hours to get WAY back to a nice camp on a creek for our 2nd camp.

We are about 200 km from pavement and at least 100 km from any other living sole. No hunters, no miners, nobody (do they know something I don't). I start to get a little worried. We are a long way back if something serious goes wrong. We take the quad for an evening hunt 10km down the road and see nothing. Back to camp for supper and bed. I don't sleep well worrying to much about worse case scenarios. Another cool night, more cold noses, about -6C. Up early before light for breakfast and take the quad down the trail again for about 30km. Absolutely fabulous moose habitat, but NO moose. Don't get it nobody around no hunters perfect habitat but no moose, go figure. Have lunch at the end of trail and back to camp and still no moose. We decided we are to far back and pack up camp and head out before any snow hits. We are camped at the base of a real steep hill with several switchback that if it snows a foot I will have to leave my truck and all the gear here for the winter, and drive the quad to get out. Not a good option. To keep the weight down on the truck for the steep hill Rick drives the quad out and I follow in the truck. He is one happy camper, he drove the quad 80 km by himself. I had to slow him down a couple of times but he did real well by himself.


We stop about 1km from our 1st night camp in a better spot and set up our 3rd camp, (getting good at this camp set up thing). Out for our evening hunt at 5 pm and don't see anything till we are almost back in camp. We are on the road above camp about 200 feet looking down in the valley bottom and see a bull moose with a cow. He is about 500 yards away and beyond him about 800 yards is our camp. To far to go after this late in the day. We do some calling and he keeps looking at us but that is all. Back to camp at dark for supper and bed. Did a bunch of calling from camp just to keep the bull interested. Hope he doesn't come INTO camp looking for us.

Not as cold overnight with a couple of light rain showers, warm noses. Up just before daybreak quietly, no breakfast just head out on the quad up onto the road overlooking the valley bottom. The moose is still there hasn't move more that 50 yards from where we saw him the night before. Wind is from the south and it looks like some sort of very old cut line or something coming in from the north to access where the moose is. We circle around and find the old cutline and follow it for about 2km before parking the quad. Got a little closer that I thought as we had only walked about 150 yards and Rick spots the cow moose and the bull is only about 50 yards farther. The bull is on the other side of the meadow about 25 yards deep in willow bushes 4 feet high. No shot. We call and call and call..... nothing all he does is look at us but he is interested. I figure he is about 45 inch spread with nice big paddles. This goes on for about 90 minutes and he finally decides to check us out. He starts over but is staying on the edge of the willows and gives me a few chances but I won't take a moving shot. He just keeps coming, in and out of the willows, then gets behind a little ridge (which we are standing on) and comes within 50 yards. Rick stands up to get a better look and I whisper for him to get down. All I can see now is the tips of his antlers in the willows behind the corner of the ridge, 50 yards away. He won't come any closer so I stand up and work a little closer ready for a quick shot and he is NO WHERE to be seen. BUSTED. He must have heard me whisper and slipped away in to the spruce trees 150 yards away. We see him a couple more times but mostly just the antler paddles and I am not willing to take a head shot. What a HUNT...... this is what it is all about. Spot and stalk, make a mistake and you loose. But a great 1st moose hunt for Rick with his ol' man. We head back to camp and have breakfast and pack up to head home.

Everything is loaded by 1pm and we head out. We only go 30 minutes down the road and there is a bull moose standing in the willows about 90 yards off the road. Hit the breaks grab the rifle, figure he is about 35 inch spread, (just the right size for us to handle) and 1st shot (.375 H&H for those who care) into the neck as he was facing us, turns sideways and I put one just behind the front shoulder and he takes 3 steps and drops, (or so we figure). We run in to find him and discover the willows are about 3-4 feet tall hard to see anything and he isn't lying where I figured he should be. Make a couple of small circles still nothing, tell Rick we have to make bigger circles and he finds it on the next pass. I walk up to it from behind and almost faint. The rear end on this thing is bigger than my quad, This is NOT a 35-inch moose. Man is this thing ever BIG, they sure do grow them big in the Yukon. What have I got myself into? This is the biggest moose I have ever shot or even assisted with. Not what I had planned when I went out with my son. Rick is just tickled with excitement but has no idea how much work there is now. Okay first things first, we have to set up camp 1st then come back to the moose. Time to set up camp for the 4th time. Find a spot 1/4-mile down the road and set up camp in record time. Don't want to have to do this all dirty and tired after dealing with the moose. Back to the moose and start to work and find the 1st disaster. I never checked my knives before leaving home and they are all dull with no sharpening tools here. Just made a tough job tougher. Long story short we have it all done 4 legs, 2 rib cages 2 spine pieces into camp on the 1/2 hour before dark. Two tired men ready for supper and bed.

Up before daybreak light frost overnight, perfect for cooling the meat. Load everything back up for the last time and hit the road for home. Get home just in time for quick supper and Rick has his baby-sitting course to attend this evening. I put my feet up on the couch and rested.

A great hunt and learned a few things as I always do. Check your knive before you shoot anything.

This moose measured out to 54 inches wide. Now if this one was 54 that I first thought was 35 how big was the one I thought was 45 inches? Will have to go back next year and find out.





I was comparing body size with antler size, but using central BC moose size, as that is all I have had to compare with. These animals are considerably bigger and will have to adjust my calculations. I now figure that the 1st bull must have been well over 60 inches his palms were at least 10 inches taller, he MIGHT go over 70 inches but I believe that is just wishful thinking (maybe not).

Lot of fun (and work) and am real glad I was able to share it with my 13-year-old son.


Here is the rifle and bullet info




Smokey

great story and photos, can you believe that if you were in BC that would moose would be illegal
I saw some nice bulls this fall around that size and couldn't shoot them. With 2 points on the brow palm (takes 3 on the brow or 10 total for those who don't know) it's difficult ,to say the least, to try and count 10 total especially when the C.O.'s are very sticky on the 1" long rule

Excellent report and congrats on a nice hunt.

Congrats on a great do it yourself hunt! Nice bull.

WTG, Smokey! Sounds like a heck of a lotta fun, and a great memory for you and your boy...not to mention a freezer full of the good stuff.

That subdivision looks familiar....you probably don't live far from my Bro'.

Cheers,
Chris

Congratulations on your Bull
Regards
dan

Well done! They sure are big, eh?
I couldn't imagine that their head is about as long as my arm. Just incredible.

Frans

Thanks for sharing. Liked the photos alot. If ever you go again...would appreciate more pics. Thanks again.

Very good report !!
Thanks
L

isn't the Yukon beautiful.I remember spending the month of August their in 1989.