I think this was the most physically demanding and rewarding hunt I’ve ever done. I knew it was going to be harder than any African safari I’ve done. Even harder than the safari in Tanzania in 2001, when I broke my leg the first day; and even harder than slogging through sawgrass and papyrus swamps of the Zambezi River in Mozambique last year. But, it could really be because my earlier hunts in Alaska were well over ten years ago and I’ve since joined the ranks of Medicare!

I rationalized to my husband (now legally blind), that if we didn’t get my moose and/or grizzly now, neither of us would ever be in better physical shape. I also promised that this would be the last really hard hunt I would surprise him with. So, this was his 43 wedding anniversary gift from me (maybe really to me).

We flew from Burbank’s Bob Hope International Airport via Alaskan Airlines to Anchorage. We had no problems with guns or ammo. This was so much easier than flying out of LAX. After a rendezvous and dinner with AR’s Frostbit and Mrs. to borrow their exterior frame back packs, our outfitter picked us up at our hotel in Anchorage and we drove to his place in Talkeetna.

I'm not sure which unit we hunted in (for sure it was a 40 minute super cub flight from Talkeetna). Our outfitter was Jacques Adventure Company, whom we had hunted with in 1993 for caribou in the Illiamna area, and again in 2000, but unsuccessfully, for moose and grizzly. So this was our third hunt in Alaska and my second attempt for moose/grizzly.

1993 Illiamna Caribou Hunt




2000 Unsuccessful moose griz hunt




Both my husband and I carried .375’s. Mine is my favorite Robar built rifle I call Thelma, a Win. Pre-64 H&H Model 70. My husband’s is a .375 Dakota action. We both used .300 gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw. From our outfitter’s suggestion we wore Simm’s G3 wader pants and their Headwater boots, LJ’s, water repellent warm coats, and trapper style hats. Our gear was really comfortable and the best part about the pants was that we could sit down anywhere and not get wet. Crossing creeks was no problem either. This was in comparison to hip boots which we had used in the past.

As is the norm, we flew into our base camp in Jerry’s super cub. But we were very much surprised that this camp had one 10x10 main tent with two cots and a kerosene heater. This was our tent and the main eating area. The guide and two optimistic moose meat packers had the usual little 2-man dome tents. We had real food the first night. Wow, I had never expected that.




The next morning we packed off to spike camp. The guide led, I followed then the tight threesome of the packers and my husband followed. This was a hard day’s hike for both my husband and me. My husband used an alder walking stick and held onto the strap from one packer in front of him and was guided by the other packer directly behind him who whispered warnings about obstacles. As those who have hunted Alaska know, there are no easy paths. Although we had no snow, each step through the alders, willows, blueberry patches, marshes,lichen and tundra required a high step to avoid the tangled under brush. It’s like being on a “stair stepper” all day. It was hard for me and I couldn’t imagine how my husband was doing it, being virtually blind folded, and never complaining. The guys were amazingly encouraging. They whispered funny comments along the way. At times I had to muffle my desire to giggle at our odd trekking troop. And, I could really understand where the term hunting “party” came from.




We had departed base camp at 7:00 AM, crossed the fast flowing Skidana Creek and side hilled two miles down the valley. We reached the spot we would use for our spike camp at 7:30 PM. We did stop to rest and glass along the way. But it took all day to go the two miles. Now, we set up the type of camp I had expected, two-man dome tents with Mountain Home meals. Our cups contained coffee first, then oatmeal in the morning. That first night my legs felt like noodles and I just wanted to get my waders off and get into my sleeping bag. I wasn’t sure how I was going to deal with the real part of the hunt in the morning. It rained that night.

By our 6:30 AM wake up call, I was fully recharged. Jerry and I set out toward a spruce forest. At 9:30 AM Jerry spotted a huge moose back in the direction of our camp but well beyond it. He estimated him to be a 65 incher. We decided to try to go after it. We hiked back to camp, grabbed a bite to eat and set out with one of the moose packers. We crossed the creek again (which was fast flowing with a slippery boulder bottom…thanks to my waders I stayed dry). At 7:30 PM we stopped on a small ridge to glass. I was totally exhausted. We didn’t see anything. Jerry volunteered to go to the next and last ridge that we believed the bull could be below. He said he would wave to me to come if he saw anything. I was ready for the two hour trek back to camp and couldn’t believe the moose would be nearby. As soon as Jerry reached the ridge (about 150 yds. away) he motioned for me to come. I was hoping he hadn’t spotted the bull three miles away. But when I finally caught up, Jerry whispered that the bull was 300 yards out. He said he wasn’t positive that it was the same bull we had spotted this morning. I told him I’d go for it. We slipped into cover to gain a shooting vantage point and from a kneeling position I used Jerry’s backpack as a rifle rest. My shot was good but the beast continued to slowly saunter on. I emptied my magazine (3 more rounds) and topped off and shot another round before our packer, who was behind us and a little higher said he was down. The bull was at the edge of alder thickets, so Jerry approached from one side and I approached from the other. Of course, Jerry got to the bull long before I did and signaled he was done. We had departed camp at 8:00 AM, spotted him at 9:30 AM, and I fired my first shot at 8:30 PM. I finally had my moose.




With a lot of work ahead of us and a two hour trek in the dark back to camp, we made quick work of photos and removing a shoulder and hind quarter, which we left on site. My moose tag was too small to fit around any portion of antler, so we taped it there until his eye socket could be fully caped out the next day. Jerry opened the body cavity and placed a stick between the ribs to aid in the cooling process. He and the packers would return in the morning to begin the butchering process. As we hiked out in the darkness, Jerry instructed the packer to periodically mark our trail with bright orange survey tape. He had also already instructed the packer that stayed in camp to climb a tree after dark and flash his flash light at thirty minute intervals. It was reassuring when we caught the first glimpse of the blinking light.

It took the packers four days to get all the meat back to base camp. Jerry had already flown my husband and I back to Talkeetna for a shower and pizza and ferried in the meat, cape and antlers before we headed out to his Fog Lake cabin still in search of a grizzly. Jerry measured the moose with a 66 inch spread 5x4 brow tines and estimated he was 8-9 years old. A magnificent moose for sure.




The second portion of our hunt was via Jerry’s Cessna 185 float plane. We landed on Cash Lake where Jerry’s long gone grandfather had built a cabin. It was a tiny well kept haven in the middle of no where and very well stocked. This was another comfort I hadn’t expected. Jerry used a canoe to paddle across the lake to a small row boat he had stashed near a landing strip he had built. But by using the float plane we could ferry right up to the cabin rather than trek a half mile from his hard landing strip. Plus he could get both my husband and I into the area in one trip.

Cash Lake



That evening we spotted a black bear feeding on a ridge directly across the lake. And, the next morning we spotted a cow moose and a caribou in almost the same area. So that was our target area for the day. Unfortunately, though we spent the entire day hiking and scouting the area, we didn’t see anything else in the area.

The next morning we decided to head back to Talkeetna. We loaded up the float plane and were all on board, but the battery wouldn’t start. The prop had last been serviced by a mechanic in Idaho and was left in a position by which the engine could not be hand cranked. After trying several different solutions, we used the satellite phone I had rented from AR’s BigBear to call Jerry’s neighbor. By that evening we had been delivered a new battery, a generator and another satellite phone. It was now late enough that we decided to spend another night and depart in the morning. No further delays.

We spent another day in Talkeetna with a breakfast at the Roadhouse Restaurant and a dinner at the Latitude 62 Restaurant. Then Jerry delivered us, my meat, cape and antlers back to Anchorage. That night we had dinner at the Paris Club, reportedly the best steak in Anchorage. I had seafood.

Our last night in Anchorage, Jim and Joyce (AR’s Frostbit and Mrs.) joined us for dinner at our hotel and AR’s Brett Adam Barringer caught up with us after dinner for fine spirits. So we shared my celebration and Alaskan hunting stories before we headed home. It was a perfect hunt, even without the griz.



Mr. & Mrs. Frostbit

Darin,

Great report and that is one awesome moose! Congrats!

Thanks! That's one for the finest hunting reports I've read in a long time and an excellent adventure. Congratulations on a great hunt and well earned moose.
Bob

Nice report and excellent trophy - Congrats!

Very well done, Darin.

Thanks for sharing.

Outstanding. Congratulations!
Thanks for sharing and the pictures

O

Nice report and pics ! Thanks for sharing!

Klaus

Fantstic bull, Darin!! You finally got your big bull moose. Congrats to you.


Looks like that phone paid off in a big way! Thanks for getting it to me before I leave.

Fantastic! Congratulations on that moose......and I love hearing when forum members get together to share experiences......a most excellent adventure all around.

Darin,

That is a great bull and you worked for it. Had a blast getting together at dinner and later for drinks with Brett.

Cheers
Jim

Congratulations again on your fabulous bull! It likewise was a pressure to meet the two of you!

Brett

quote:

Originally posted by Brett Adam Barringer:
Congratulations again on your fabulous bull! It likewise was a pressure to meet the two of you!

Brett

You did look nervous.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Brett Adam Barringer:
Congratulations again on your fabulous bull! It likewise was a pressure to meet the two of you!

Brett

You did look nervous.

Jim;

I thought with all that single malt Brett was drinking, there wasn't any pressure at all!

Thanks all for the kind words!!! My moose meat is supposed to arrive tomorrow!!!

Best regards, D. Nelson

Reports like this, with pics, keep me coming back to the Alaska forum. Fantastic report and VERY nice moose.

Alan

Are you sure you were hunting in 13E? That unit requires a special permit for NR's... and I Didn't notice you, or your husband's name on the list.

Hello Ivan;

I'm not sure exactly where I was, but I thought that is where the outfitter told me. I could be wrong. He is in Cold Bay at the moment, so I won't be able to confirm until he returns.

Best regards, D. Nelson

Congratulations to both you and your husband! Not only on a fine moose for you but for the adventure and hardships you and your husband endured! You are both very dedicated and deserve much success!

I doubt your outfitter would lead you down that path, but the way the outfitting industry is running up here I wouldn't be surprised either.

I sincerly hope that its just a mix up, I'd hate to see you guys get in trouble.

Way to go Darin! I am afraid I will have to leave the moose hunting to you since my blood is too thin from living in Houston to deal with the cold. I admire your husband's perseverence too. It is hard enough walking through the bush with your sight, much less to have your sight impaired.

Congrats on a fine moose.

Your husband is a heck of a man!!
I have walked on the tundra, it is not easy with two good eyes.

SWAMBO,

Big congrats! You guys are an inspiration.

Mark

Darin,

Great hunt report! I'm glad you guys had a great time, Alaska is a special place for sure.

Great Caribou from your previous trips by the way!

Greg

Thanks all for the supportive comments. Alaska is truly a beautiful and "special" place, not for the faint of heart...the last frontier for sure!!!!

Best regards, D. Nelson

Darin,
Congratulations to you and your husband. You guys certainly don't sit around talking about it.
Great report and thank you for sharing with us.