Moose Hunting?...or..defending my 3D target's honor?

BearCrkBandit · September 03, 2013, 11:32:00 PM

After taking a nice bull last September before even making it to my hunting camp, I have been really looking forward to actually hunting and doing some prime rut calling this year. Thing's didn't end up working out that way. Yesterday, my wife and I were at a small afternoon Labor Day BBQ at my dad's place. We have a small 3D range we've accumulated and set up in the woods behind his house, including an elk target (minus the antlers). A young bull moose had been hanging around the house (pre-season), and my dad had noticed the elk being knocked over a couple times. Well, as I was eating a burger, someone said, "there's a moose in the yard." by the time they said it was a bull, I had seen the antlers, and was headed to the garage. I hadn't brought my bow, so I strung up the Bear's Paw recurve i'd bought for my dad, grabbed a couple of arrows, and headed out the door. As I zig-zagged my way towards the moose, grunting at him, he wasn't spooking, and I noticed he was rubbing necks pretty hard with that elk target. I got to about 20 yards and he hackled up and came towards me, acting like he was fixing to run me off, I backed off a bit, then making sure not to make eye contact, inched my way closer. When I finally got a broadside shot at 10 yards, I put an arrow all the way through him on the back edge of the shoulders. It would be a stretch to call this hunting, but I had to laugh at how that bull sure wasn't going to leave his discolored foam cow. I've been through enough dry seasons to know that a moose in the freezer is worth 2 in the woods, so I wasn't about to pass up a freebie, and the best eating size moose there is. I didn't get do much "moose hunting" at all this year, but I guess that just means i'll be doing the calling for my wife and dad at the end of the month!

pdk25 · September 03, 2013, 11:37:00 PM

Way to adapt to the situation, lol. Great job, and that is alot of meat for the freezer. I hope that your dad gets some of the meat since you used his bow.

BuckeyeGuy · September 03, 2013, 11:37:00 PM

Now that is truly amazing! Good shooting and timing was everything that day!

BWD · September 03, 2013, 11:41:00 PM

Well about all I can say is, you don't look a gift moose in the mouth.

old_goat2 · September 03, 2013, 11:42:00 PM

I'd be happier than a camel on Wednesday to get that moose!

damascusdave · September 03, 2013, 11:47:00 PM

We often see the pictures of those wide racked Alaska bulls and I have wondered if anyone in Alaska ever shoots an eater size bull...now I know you do...and that Alaskan eater looks to be about the same size as a trophy size Canadian moose...great story...thanks for sharing...and from the looks of that bow I would say your dad is a lucky guy...send the story to Neil...just the kind of story he would love to post on his website I bet

DDave

BearCrkBandit · September 03, 2013, 11:49:00 PM

thanks guys! yeah, I've killed a couple big bulls, but those bulls are my favorite, best eating, and not as much of a chore to horse around...yeah dave, I gave him a call this morning, he got a kick out of that haha!

dhermon85 · September 03, 2013, 11:52:00 PM

Very cool. Wish I could have some luck like that! Nice job.

Thumper Dunker · September 03, 2013, 11:53:00 PM

That's too cool. Way to go.

pdk25 · September 04, 2013, 12:08:00 AM

Way to adapt to the situation, lol. Great job, and that is alot of meat for the freezer. I hope that your dad gets some of the meat since you used his bow.

MO Bow · September 04, 2013, 12:18:00 AM

DDave,

That's because there's a 50" restriction on bulls in some places in AK. Depending on where you live in those places, you can ignore the 50" rule if it has 3 or 4 brow tines.

Either way, that's a lot of meat!

twitchstick · September 04, 2013, 12:41:00 AM

Way to go!

bowhuntingrn · September 04, 2013, 01:17:00 AM

That's very cool. Now you can enjoy that time guiding and calling with your family without worrying about when it's your turn. You put your wife or dad on a big 'ol bull and I just about guarantee you'll be as excited as they are.

Plumber · September 04, 2013, 03:38:00 AM

the best thing is, its not too far to pack out.

John146 · September 04, 2013, 11:34:00 AM

Caughtandhobble · September 04, 2013, 11:45:00 AM

Way to go those elk targets are expensive... That is most likely the easiest packing and processing job you'll ever have, being that close to all of the tools needed. Great shot by the way!!!

shirikahn · September 04, 2013, 11:50:00 AM

Great story and awesome job...man I miss Alaska.

September 04, 2013, 11:53:00 AM

Now I don't feel so bad about that fat rabbit I fed and shot out of my garden. I wish I could live where I could shoot a moose in my back yard.

gringol · September 04, 2013, 11:54:00 AM

Cool. Maybe I should do more bbq'ing on hunts this year...

achigan · September 04, 2013, 11:57:00 AM

Way cool. The peoples that were here(there) before us would never pass up quarry, lest they disrespect the spirit of the hunt that provided for them.