I had another great solo hunt for moose in Alaska. Even though I did not take a moose, I gained a lot of experience and joy, and took many memories home. I planned to hunt the same spot as I did last year, but the morning of my fly-out, I found out that an outfitter had dropped a camp in on the lake. So, after looking over a few spots on google maps, my pilot and I found another spot for me to try. I had to transition from a wheeled plane to a super-cub on floats which gave me time to catch a few fish.
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This new spot was at lower elevation than I am used to. There were much more birch trees, which reduce visibility while glassing from my elevated look out. There was a lot of moose sign, rut pits, and broken brush from antler raking. The first morning I called in a couple bulls, but never got a look at them as the shifting wind got to them before they broke free of the alder brush. In the evening I called in another bull. He came in from a great distance and took about 45 minutes to get to me. Excitement built as his grunting was more audible and the antler raking became more defined. Eventually he approached to 45-50 yards, and started raking brush in response to my calling. His slow and cautious approach took too much time off the clock and gave the wind a chance to shift and send my scent to the bulls nose. He was gone! The next day I saw a young bull down near the lake I landed on.
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Always cool stuff :thumbsup:
I called in a medium bull, but he only had a left antler. This unit required a bull to be 50 inches wide or have 3 brow points on at least one side. Calling down into the river bottoms always seemed to work for me on previous hunt. Calling all morning - I was rewarded at noon with grunts of a bull. At 50 yards I could see he was a mature bull with four brow pts on left side and I guessed him to be 58 - 60 inches wide. At 40 yards, the bull took a wrong turn for me and put a patch of alders between us. I soft grunted in hopes of turning him, but he did not cooperate. At 30 yards he was in open brush, but vitals were still covered. I crept forward as he moved. I was trying to keep my scent out in front of him. At 25 yards, I had sun on my back and in his eyes, but still no shot. We had our stand off as he listened for the cow in heat, but yet again the no-good shifty wind interrupted our engagement. Like the others, he wasted no time in getting out of there. I at least got a good look at the beautiful bull with about 15 points per side. Thirty minutes later I called in another bull, but like the bull I saw earlier, he too had only one left antler.
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Rut Pit
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Med bull
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Smaller bull called in
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Thanks for taking us along, Mike!
Darren
A couple days later, I hunted out quite a ways from camp, but stayed low in valley crossed several hills and willow swamps before getting back into the birch. It seemed strange to hunt under a canopy of trees. I usually hunt at higher elevation, but this place had few dwarf birch, pucker brush, or blue berries. My calling was again rewarded with a grunting response from over 600 yards. It took him 30 minutes to get to me, but eventually the bull broke into the open at 70 yards. I was at the upper rim of a grassy bowl, and had good visibility. I was shocked to see yet again a bull with only a left antler. This was a legal bull as he had three brow points. He would have been fairly wide had he not broke the beam off below the burr. Not sure if just very aggressive fighting in the area, or weak pedicel base stems are the issue. I laid the bow down and filmed as he came up and circled me to 12 yards. I had all kind of shooting opportunities. But I still had 8 more hunting days, so I passed him up. Got stuck in heavy rain the rest of the day, but always seemed to smile as I thought about my good luck - bad luck
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Lots of calling. Had a bull come in and stand at my drop off spot just down from camp. But only 2 pt brows and narrow palms kept him just under 50, and saved his life. He got away before I could get camera on him.
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I saw several otters in the beaver pond.
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Saw over 5 cow moose.
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Grizzly Bear tracks
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Always searching for more adventures.
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Snow and high winds came in for a few days to sock me into camp.
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Overall I called in about 10 bulls. I feel some were the same bull multiple times, but no good luck. After 16 hunting days in the bush, I never saw another human. I left my imprint on the land along with those of moose and bear. My presence was only felt until the next rain, but the wilderness impressions will stay with me forever.
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The Alaska landscape of gold, turns to black and white as thev birch lose their luster.
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Really cool pictures. I think just being in the same area as moose would be very exciting.
Thanks for taking us along. Another good hunt.
Thanks Mike, always enjoyed! :thumbsup:
Enjoyed the recap. Thanks for sharing.
Good times for sure. Thanks for sharing.
Tim B
Good stuff, Mike. Beautiful country, and you were into them. Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I notice that you didn't use a stove in your Sawtooth Tepee. Just not cold enough, or do you not burn wood in your hunting area?
Alaska is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
I was up there in the early 80's when I was in the Marines. Always wanted to go back!!
I'm older now, and my old bones and short wind, would probly make a hunting trip tough...??
Maybe a fishing trip...?? :bigsmyl:
Great story Mike!! I figured we'd be hearing from you soon. You're the last of my friends to come in from the bush. You All had great stories. I couldn't make it this year so I'm living it through your experience. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like a great adventure!
Good story Mike, and thanks for sharing it it. As one who understands 'close but no cigar', I still value the experience of going every year whether I come home with anything tangible. The north country is so fine, and the memories are forever. Kevin
Always look forward to your hunting trips & pics. Thanks a bunch.
Very nice. Great pics
I love how well you document your adventures with great pics and narrative. A dead bull would have been icing on the cake - too bad you had to make a last-minute change in location but you made the most of it.
I love your stories and I love Alaska! Hard hunts but satisfaction regardless of outcome. Thanks for taking us along!
Orion - I don't use a stove in the saw tooth tent. It gets cold enough to freeze my boots and drinking water in the tent on some days. I stay warm in my Kifaru Slick bag zero. I have just never used a tent heater. Mike
Jeff - the outfitter took multiple bulls from the location I hunted last year. It can be hard to find and hold a good moose spot.
I look forward to your recap each year. You adapted and still were in moose. Thanks for posting.
Well done Mike. Thanks for sharing. I think you have a few more years left in you. :thumbsup:
Great Pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing.
Always appreciate your pics and stories from the Bush buddy it's a adventure regardless of a filled tag or not again thxs for sharing the pics! Looks like gods country to me :goldtooth:
Mike,
Thanks for sharing your adventure and the photographs, it is appreciated. Regardless of any critters being taken, the wilderness experience and solitude are the main reason why we do it, then keep coming back.
Without question, the area you hunted is considerably more scenic then where I hunted the last two years.
Mike,
Great photos and replay of your hunt. Thank you!
Great pics Mike. Thanks for sharing.
I always enjoy your stories and pictures. How do you get such wonderful pictures with you in them being by yourself?
Walt- Yes even when Alaska is ugly, it is beautiful. The bull you killed is also very beautiful.
frassettor- It does take time to set up a shot with myself in the frame. But I have to tell you I cheated - I use my video camera that I use to make my films. I can freeze frame and make a still photo from any frame. I'm still a hunter, and don't get a lot of footage during the heat of the battle on animals I've decided to try and take. HaHa Thanks, Mike
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Sounds like a tremendously successful hunt! Thank you for sharing the fantastic photos.
Thanks for sharing! Fly in AK moose hunt is my #1 bucket list hunt.
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Awesome hunt, Mike! As always looked forward to your pictures and story!! Are you out of the lower priced moose tags now? I remember you saying they went up, but were able to get some beforehand. Great pictures!
Varmint101- Yes they raised the price double, but allowed you to buy tags at current price before the end of the year. That was a few years ago, but I'm paying full price now. I think $800. Mike
$800 for a moose tag still isn't bad Mike! Of course it's a considerable amount for the rest, it still. Sounds like it must have been tough going in Alaska for moose this fall. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the recap and photos Mike. Odd to see so many "unicorns" and all the same side?? Good luck with those "moose sized" whitetails you guys hunt!