Hooligan & I Made it North

[Walt Francis]

The short Version, condensed from my journal:

9/11/2021: 6:00 pm, bush pilot dropped me off a lake 1 ¼ ground miles according to OnX, (¾ air miles according to the pilot) from target river.  I camped that night at the drop off/pick up lake.

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9/12/2021: Packed up camp and hiked to river.  Explored area, found good moose trails, moose sign, and then called that evening (cow calls).  Had bull come close (30-40 yards) to camp around 1-2 am that night.  I didn't want to spook him from the area, so I laid quietly for 30 minutes until he moved on.

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9/13/2021: Next morning explored area while calling, found place to load and launch raft on Oxbow lake.  This would reduce hiking distance from 1 ¼ miles to 7/8 of a mile.  Head shot grouse at 25 steps.  While in camp, a little after 1:00 pm, I called in a decent moose.  Not a gagger like Monty shot a few years back, but a decent, respectable moose.  I shot the moose.  Spent that afternoon/evening taking photographs, skinning, deboning, and bagging the moose meat.  Got one side completely deboned and bagged. 

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9/14/2021: Spent most of day skinning, deboning, and bagging the moose meat.  Moved meat and antlers away from kill site to other side of the river. Prepared mentally for hauling everything out that evening.

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9/15/2021: Packed camp then floated meat, antlers, and camp ¼ mile to portage area.  Packed meat, meat, antlers, and camp ¼ mile to Oxbow lake.  Moved/floated meat, antlers, and camp 3/8 mile to end of lake and made camp.

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9/16/2021: Slept in.  Oxbow lake was frozen, had to build fire and thaw boots in order to put them on.  Started packing around noon.  Packed camp and 9 of 12 bags of meat to pick up lake.  This was a real bitch as the footing was typical Alaskan tundra/muskeg/hammocks.  Slept at pick up lake.

9/17/2021: Packed remaining 3 bags of meat and antlers to pick up lake.

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9/18/2021: Pilot arrived, flew out 8 sacks of meat to larger lake.  Flew me and ½ my gear out a really large lake where we met a plane capable of transporting me and my gear most of the way to Fairbanks.  First pilot flew back and got the rest of my camp, the remaining four bags of meat, picked up the first 8 bags of meat, and met us an hour out of Fairbanks.


A moose hunt is a lot of work. 




On this trip I brought and used my new hunting companion Hooligan, a 58# @28 1/2" takedown selfbow, Sherwood shaft arrows, and an eclipse 145 grain broadheads.

[Bisch]

That is so freaking cool! I doubt it will ever happen, but I'd love to kill a moose some day!!!   

Congrats Walt!!!!!

Bisch

[Terry Green]

WOW!  Congrats Walt!!!!

[cacciatore]

Congratulations for your hunt and the long butchering work and haul

[Homey88]

Way to go!

[TIM B]

A dream for sure.  Thank you for sharing this story and congratulations on a beautiful moose and many fine meals!!
Tim B

[Alexander Traditional]

That looks like a heck of a lot of fun! Way to get it done!

[Roy from Pa]

Congratulations Walt on a nice bull.
Sounds like a good deal of work.

[kennym]

Excellent Walt!! 

[Kevin Dill]

Well done Walt....real good! 

I have enormous respect for your work ethic. I also question your sanity, just as I did (and do) my own for undertaking a solo moose trip. I'm kidding of course...but you have to admit it takes a different level of commitment to plan and complete a successful solo A-Y moose hunt. You're an inspiration to many my friend.

[Joeabowhunter]

   What an adventure, congratulations! 

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Congratulations Walt. Sounds like you had an incredible adventure.  Thank you for sharing it with us.

[Bob Walker]

Congratulations Walt! What an adventure! Well Done My Friend!

[Walt Francis]

Well done Walt....real good! 

I have enormous respect for your work ethic. I also question your sanity, just as I did (and do) my own for undertaking a solo moose trip. I'm kidding of course...but you have to admit it takes a different level of commitment to plan and complete a successful solo A-Y moose hunt. You're an inspiration to many my friend.

Kevin,

Thanks, it was through yours and Bryan's writings that I was inspired to resume my Alaskan adventures.

I heard you have an Alaskan story to share.

[Pat B]

Congratulations, Walt. Nice bull and with a selfbow no less. Well done!   

[stevem]

What a great adventure.  Thanks for sharing.

[woodchucker]

CONGRATULATIONS Walt!!!!! Well done, Brother!!!

[Bruce M]

Very cool. A heck of a lot of work for sure but looks to be well worth it, congrats on getting it done.

[Pine]

 
Thanks for sharing

[Orion]

You're a tough cookie Walt.  Thanks for sharing.  A job well done.  Congrats.