Nevertoomanyguns
New member
Well had a bull permit for Zone 3 October season. Went up there with the impression that there were moose everywhere and that we would be able to be picky on which one we shot. That wasn't the case, seems like I'm eight or more years behind the good ole days! lol. First day of the hunt we passed on this bull with a cow thinking that we would be able to find/call out a nicer bull.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/100_1605_zpsf07f41c1.jpg
We only saw one more moose the first day, a cow that I happened to call out.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/100_1608_zps5ce9a94b.jpg
The second day I called out a bull just before last light, he came into within 30 yards of us. He presented a nice shot but rack was smaller than the first one, however his body was about the same size. We ended up passing on him.
On the third day I called out another bull within a few minutes of first light, however this guy was just a baby under 500 pounds so we passed on him. We did not see another moose all day. We were told that Zone 3 was a trophy zone and that we would have our pick, however; when we got there after we had already passed on three bulls we were told that Zone 3 was awesome about 8 years ago and that it has been hunted hard since then... and it is not the same! They gave us funny looks like we were foolish to pass on the other bulls. Our hearts sunk and we started to wonder if we made a fatal error?
The fourth day of the hunt didn't make us feel any better when we didn't make one moose sighting for the whole day! We hunted from first light to last light everyday with a lot of road running and calling at prime spots. We ran into other hunters that said that they still haven't seen a moose!!! Oh boy have we messed up??
So that night with only two days of hunting left we decided that we would shoot the very next legal bull that we saw, unless it was an absolute baby. Well Friday morning 20 minutes after legal first light this bull stepped out, and I took the shot. He wasn't the rack we were looking for but getting real close to crunch time and sightings dropping I would rather have some nice moose meat in the freezer rather than an unused tag stuck to the wall. He was three year old weighing in a little over 700 pounds.
On the way to the butcher we crossed over into Zone five and of course we saw a Monster Bull standing right next to the road,, just exactly the size we were dreaming of . I just hope Zone five doesn't get hunted out by the time I get my tag!! Cause that’s where I want to go..LOL By the way I was the alternate. My aunt gave me the go ahead to shoot because she was having gun troubles, feel kind of bad taking her moose, because she has been putting in for 30 years with no avail until this season and her health isn't the best so who knows if she will see another hunt? She gave me a big hug and reassured me that it was fine with her, as far as I am concerned it is her bull, she gets the antlers, and we made a good team!! Hopefully a bigger one next time if there is a next time?
There are still a few big ones left in Zone 3. At the tagging station we were told that the heaviest one weighed in so far was 1267 pounds,... state record is 1300 pounds.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/IMAG0102_zps23a749e3.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/100_1611_zps7923520d.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/100_1614_zpsd92ed855.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/100_1603_zps24b4dc3f.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/100_1605_zpsf07f41c1.jpg
We only saw one more moose the first day, a cow that I happened to call out.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/100_1608_zps5ce9a94b.jpg
The second day I called out a bull just before last light, he came into within 30 yards of us. He presented a nice shot but rack was smaller than the first one, however his body was about the same size. We ended up passing on him.
On the third day I called out another bull within a few minutes of first light, however this guy was just a baby under 500 pounds so we passed on him. We did not see another moose all day. We were told that Zone 3 was a trophy zone and that we would have our pick, however; when we got there after we had already passed on three bulls we were told that Zone 3 was awesome about 8 years ago and that it has been hunted hard since then... and it is not the same! They gave us funny looks like we were foolish to pass on the other bulls. Our hearts sunk and we started to wonder if we made a fatal error?
The fourth day of the hunt didn't make us feel any better when we didn't make one moose sighting for the whole day! We hunted from first light to last light everyday with a lot of road running and calling at prime spots. We ran into other hunters that said that they still haven't seen a moose!!! Oh boy have we messed up??
So that night with only two days of hunting left we decided that we would shoot the very next legal bull that we saw, unless it was an absolute baby. Well Friday morning 20 minutes after legal first light this bull stepped out, and I took the shot. He wasn't the rack we were looking for but getting real close to crunch time and sightings dropping I would rather have some nice moose meat in the freezer rather than an unused tag stuck to the wall. He was three year old weighing in a little over 700 pounds.
On the way to the butcher we crossed over into Zone five and of course we saw a Monster Bull standing right next to the road,, just exactly the size we were dreaming of . I just hope Zone five doesn't get hunted out by the time I get my tag!! Cause that’s where I want to go..LOL By the way I was the alternate. My aunt gave me the go ahead to shoot because she was having gun troubles, feel kind of bad taking her moose, because she has been putting in for 30 years with no avail until this season and her health isn't the best so who knows if she will see another hunt? She gave me a big hug and reassured me that it was fine with her, as far as I am concerned it is her bull, she gets the antlers, and we made a good team!! Hopefully a bigger one next time if there is a next time?
There are still a few big ones left in Zone 3. At the tagging station we were told that the heaviest one weighed in so far was 1267 pounds,... state record is 1300 pounds.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/IMAG0102_zps23a749e3.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/100_1611_zps7923520d.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/100_1614_zpsd92ed855.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj542/********30/100_1603_zps24b4dc3f.jpg
Last edited:
