This September my friend Joe from North Dakota returned to Dillingham for a moose hunt. In 2006 Joe was here for the first time and this happened.

We hunted near the Nuyakuk River in Unit 17B and taled to this bull for three days before he decided to bring antlers to a gunfight.

This year Joe and I rented a zodiac and flew with Bay Air of Dillingham up to 3rd lake, DBA Lake Beverley and had a sceduled hunt of September 8th thru the 15th. I have always prefered to hunt as late as possible in the season to minimize bug issues and hopefully call a big bull out like we did in '06.

The flight in was of course un eventful but pleasant. Tom Schlagel, owner of Bay Air is friendly, funny and very proficient.


Upon our arrival camp was set and fire wood cut. Camp gear was a little heavy this year with 500#'s of boat, 500#'s of people and bird dog, chainsaw, 6 man tent, coolers, and the rest.

The next morning in the first hour of our first day of hunting Joe and I saw and took this bull.


He was feeding in a cove on the lake and after watching him feed for an hour he started to move directly away from us. As the bull was already about 200 yards away I decided to shoot and the 300g TSX from my .375 H&H dumped him in place. It would have been great for Joe to shoot but we figgered this bull didn't meet the 50" or better requirement so I pulled the trigger. Our plan all along was to shoot the first legal for me bull I saw so we'd have moose steaks and then trophy hunt for Joe.

A couple of days later we saw this bear along the lake shore and spent about 45 minutes getting up on him and making a single shot again. He's certainly not a big'un and after sizing him up a little I was inclined to pass but Joe really wanted the rug so again I pulled the trigger and down in place he went. I haven't actually had the bear sealed by the fish and game yet but when I do I'll post skull measurements. I'm guessing the hide will square 8' or less.


In between the moose waterlogging and the bear hunting Joe did some fishing and had the hardest time with the catch and release.

The logic of "Why keep them now when they'll never keep from spoiling?" fell on almost deaf ears. We did eat a couple Dolly Varden but as the cooler was packed with fresh halibut, salmon and moose I didn't feel the appetite for Dolly's.

Unfortunately that first morning bull moose was the last moose of any flavor we saw. We hunted hard and did some, (I thought,) good calling in some obviously very moosy habitat but could never get a response. The weather was very warm and wet and the bug were giamongous, so truth be told, by the 14th we'd had our fill and quit two days early.

We returned to Dillingham processed meat for a couple days and Joe hopped a flight back to ND. No doubt this won't be the last time Joe hunts here so hopefully next time he'll be able to tag a good bull.

My dog Babe thinks she is special since she got to swim in Golden Horn Arm of Lake Beverley. The rasberry she gives shows her distain for those having not experienced it yet.

Nothing wrong with your moose or the bear.

Joe's moose is a Monster, very nice looking horns.

You fellas did great IMHO.

PS, I have spent a few days in Dillingham, two different times.

Had a good time, but I prefer Nome, more and better Bars, plus more and Prettier Natives....

I've lived here for 11 years and haven't been out to dinner or a bar in about two years. It just isn't worth it. We do have a new sandwich shop now that is quite good by anybody's standards. I had roast beef the other day and the horseradish was eye watering!

That bull from '06 was great fun. The downside of the hunt was being on a small pond for a week, so other than call moose there wasn't a lot to do. The upside was that we talked to him for three days before he came out of the brush and when he did he was really worked up and ready for a fight! We were hoping to run into a bear on that trip also and I thought our proximity to the Nuyakuk River would have made that a sure bet. Wrong again! We never saw a bear of any kind. I'd guess now that we were just far enough off the river to miss the bears eating, burping, farting, and sleeping on salmon on the gravel bars of the river.

Scott, perhaps you can get Joe to move here. It's warmer than North Dakota. Lou

Scott, while I enjoyed Dillingham, I REALLY had a good time In Nome.

My Guide had lived there for some time and was well liked by the Innuits [Eskimos for you lower 48ers],he introduced me to them, and they accepted me and "adopted" me as one of their own.

They took great care of me, and I had a great time where ever I went. They were all most friendly.

PS, I liked Seal meat, I wish I could have tried some whale.

what a trophies! congratulations for your great hunt

Great hunt and photos guys!