This why I hunt with Traditional bow it is truly all about the experience. It not hard to see why we have so many hero's like Paul, Bart and Mike and all the ones that came before them.

MIKE  

After your moose meat arrives and before  you barbecue the ribs           would you take a picture of the entry hole in the ribs.
You mentioned you would access the damage, if there is any thing a picture would show I would appreciate .

I was curious if you remembered what the heart looked like when you were field dressing it.  Did it have a" L" cut in it or was it all mush.  

Thanks

Thats awesome, congrats Mike!!!!!

Awesome animal and a great tribute Mike!  Thanks for sharing this hunt with us!

Thanks for sharing your hunt with us, Mike, and a huge congratulations on taking a fine bull solo!  What an excellent way to remember a friend.

Thanks guys. I picked up my meat and antlers today. I got all the meat in the freezer, but left one side rib out because it didn't fit. I didn't really notice which side it was, but plan to thaw it and look for damages. Things i didn't have time to do during the darkness of skinning.

If you find yourself in Alaska with moose or caribou meat, I recomend Alaskan Express to have it frozen shipped back tothe states. Meat, hide, bone, and antlers.

Mike,
Some folks have a saying and I'm sure you heard this a time or two when they say "You are the Man" and I would say "No but I know the Man" and point to heaven..
I know without a shadow of doubt that you give thanks to our Creator and you Know that same Man and he shines His light on those who know Him...Now you know why I say God Bless you Mike you are a Hero to my girls and what you have done behind the scenes means much to me and my wife...
Mike Mitten is more then "One with the Wilderness" He's a "Brother" that cares about others and he doesn't boast about it..

              May He continue to Bless you Mike and be beside you and be your guide!
                              Keefers <")))><

Keefer- your words have touched me deeply.

QuoteOriginally posted by Keefer:
Mike,
Some folks have a saying and I'm sure you heard this a time or two when they say "You are the Man" and I would say "No but I know the Man" and point to heaven..
I know without a shadow of doubt that you give thanks to our Creator and you Know that same Man and he shines His light on those who know Him...Now you know why I say God Bless you Mike you are a Hero to my girls and what you have done behind the scenes means much to me and my wife...
Mike Mitten is more then "One with the Wilderness" He's a "Brother" that cares about others and he doesn't boast about it..

              May He continue to Bless you Mike and be beside you and be your guide!
                              Keefers <")))><

Joe- I'm not big on showing the anatomy of the kill, but I will in this case as I too have learned.

After removing shoulder blade and surrounding muscle at night with flashlight, I struck my finger in wound channel and felt the sharp edge of the ribs.The shape is more triangular than I would have expected. But again the shaft went pretty deep and then got pulled out and broke causing additional tissue separation. At first, I thought it was cut in coss-section, but now I see there was an angle to the cut. Ribs are much wider than most people think, over 2 inches wide.  The bone cut and split longitudinally.

   

From outside and inside view of ribs after cleaning a bit.

The heart was carefully removed, but arrow was pulled back a bit to avoid getting cut while "gutting" and bagging meat. Gives you an idea of shot placement...ie  LUCK.

Moose -  It's what's for dinner!

Oh man. Ribs..... What does moose taste like?
Please don't say chicken...
  :D

Those look delicious.  Its a nice reward to get some of the calories back that you spent on the packing.

MIKE   i am sure thoughts of  Bart entered you mind while preparing the ribs and eating. Those cooked ribs look fantastic        

Thanks for posting the pictures of the ribs cage showing the entry and exit hole . If conditions permit and timing is ok an autopsy can be a good learning experience.  i was looking for the tell tale "L" or " s "  
cut  which we see at the inside of the rib cage. This is pretty typical damage of  most single bevel broadheads

Your shot was impressive right into the heart! While it is not visible that cut also may show the L/S do to rotation of the broadhead or scramble it into mush.

I am sure all this was not on your mind when field dressing trying to beat the clock to darkness and  getting back to camp.  

This was the youngest moose I have shot, but they were all good. The meat has larger muscle bundles than deer and tends to be a little more moist. This meat has no distinctive smell as he was taken early in season. I like it better than a rutting elk. Ha! So far I have only eaten back-straps and the rib sample.

Thanks Joe. It was a sweet flying arrow. Mike

Man those ribs look lip smacking good Mike and cooking over coals instead of gas adds even more flavor I think...Man if I was your next door neighbor and smelled your grill fire up I think I would have to sneak over and see what's under the lid of the grill when you go inside your house unless you are one them fellas who don't put his guard down and sit by the fire the entire time..
 Then again with a heart shot like you put on the Moose I better stay in my yard and hope you throw a few scraps over the fence or out the back door      

Mike,
It's been just about 24 hours since I last posted and just curious "You still eating on them ribs ain't ya"?