So earlier this year, I asked a friend where he would apply in N. Alberta for a moose with my priority. He gave me his advice and I drew the tag! Headed out to meet him the night before opener. Known the guy for awhile, didn't know he lives in the bush with no running water and an outhouse. Rugged
Next morning we wake up, pack the last of the camping stuff and head to the active cutblock he had shot a couple whitetails on and seen some decent moose around. Glassed the 2 cuts and no moose. 10 mins to shooting light.
We go for a hike along the ridge to a large set of old cut blocks. 20 mins in my buddy (Nate) says "moose!....I think its a bull....." I couldn't see it due to a birch in the way. I moved over and there was definitely a moose in some scrub willows head down browsing. Couldn't see a rack....then he looked at me.
"Bull, man, definitely a bull." I had told Nate that all I needed was the legal 3" and I was putting meat on the ground. This bull had a lot of bonus, but was at the bottom of the block and a half mile away.
We started moving down the very steep ridge toward the bull, but he was moving toward some thick, muskegy bush very quickly. This cut block wasn't helping us either as the slope was sheep hunting steep and covered in deadwood that was hard to move around. I stopped on a small bench I knew I could shoot from and had a clear lane. Leica said it was 420yds. Done deal. Accept I couldn't feel any wind and knew there was wind coming in on the drive. I had no real elements to judge wind off of between me and the moose. Crap.
I looked at the moose and the terrain between. All deadfall, scrub willow and tall grass. Noisy stuff.
I said to Nate lets head at him, he won't be able to see us with the two rises. We started moving as fast as we could, which was slow, and due to the lack of moisture, very noisy.
After we made it to the base of the second rise, Nate held back as the willows and deadfall where getting thicker. I hadn't seen the moose in at least 5 mins and given the minimal distance he had to cover to the rough stuff, and the noise we had to make to try and beat him, I started praying hard that this moose was stone deaf, and he had found some vanilla flavoured willows. I went through the willows staying in a small trench to keep out of sight. I could see my marker tree and I knew if I could get to the base of it would be a clear view to the bull. As I was moving up out of the willows I was about 10 yards from the tree. I could see the moose facing me at about 125 yards, and fully alert that I was there.
I had 6ft scrub willows between me and the moose. Thank God, I am 6'4"
I leaned uphill and on my tip toes with the new Vortex Viper HS on 5x. The bull turned his neck to bolt the last 20 yards to the mess of 'skeg and black timber and I hammered him in the neck as he did. He hit the dirt hard, but I didn't like where the cross hair was when he turned. I racked another round and ran out of the willows to where I was clear, as a neck shot will stun, and to celebrate felt a little early. The bull gathered himself and stood running broadside ready to hit the bush, and I punched another round through the shoulder just right, and he stumbled but kept moving forward headed for the bush. I did not want him in there! I shot him in the neck twice more while he was on the move, once bewteen the trachea and spine and above the spine as he sunk to the earth, 15 yds short of his destination. The bull was giving his last kicks as I was moving toward him, trying to find my ammo pouch on my belt. I had forgotten it.
I yelled back at Nate "THE BULL IS DOWN, BUT GET UP HERE, I FORGOT MY AMMO!"
Nate met me at the bull, which was fully expired. He said "Man you scared me! I heard the first shot and thought 'yah he got him'. I heard the second shot and thought 'just finishing him' then I heard the last two that quick and thought 'oh no, the bull is making it to the bush!'. Dang, that's a big bull!"
Some high fives and pictures insued, I thanked the Good Lord for deafening and sweetening, and I looked for my bullet placement. The first and second shots would have killed him fine and obviously did.
840am with a bull on the ground opening day. Not a better feeling. We field dressed the bull, skinned him, and cut him in half. Rolled the quad a couple times getting the boy out of that rough spot. But he was worth it.
The bull tapes 47" wide, and is quite heavy, with descent palms. Looking at his scars and teeth, I would estimate a 4 1/2 year old.
I used a Remington 700 ADL in .270 WCF for those that care with 130gr Federal Fusion ammo. It did a great job.
Next morning we wake up, pack the last of the camping stuff and head to the active cutblock he had shot a couple whitetails on and seen some decent moose around. Glassed the 2 cuts and no moose. 10 mins to shooting light.
We go for a hike along the ridge to a large set of old cut blocks. 20 mins in my buddy (Nate) says "moose!....I think its a bull....." I couldn't see it due to a birch in the way. I moved over and there was definitely a moose in some scrub willows head down browsing. Couldn't see a rack....then he looked at me.
"Bull, man, definitely a bull." I had told Nate that all I needed was the legal 3" and I was putting meat on the ground. This bull had a lot of bonus, but was at the bottom of the block and a half mile away.
We started moving down the very steep ridge toward the bull, but he was moving toward some thick, muskegy bush very quickly. This cut block wasn't helping us either as the slope was sheep hunting steep and covered in deadwood that was hard to move around. I stopped on a small bench I knew I could shoot from and had a clear lane. Leica said it was 420yds. Done deal. Accept I couldn't feel any wind and knew there was wind coming in on the drive. I had no real elements to judge wind off of between me and the moose. Crap.
I looked at the moose and the terrain between. All deadfall, scrub willow and tall grass. Noisy stuff.
I said to Nate lets head at him, he won't be able to see us with the two rises. We started moving as fast as we could, which was slow, and due to the lack of moisture, very noisy.
After we made it to the base of the second rise, Nate held back as the willows and deadfall where getting thicker. I hadn't seen the moose in at least 5 mins and given the minimal distance he had to cover to the rough stuff, and the noise we had to make to try and beat him, I started praying hard that this moose was stone deaf, and he had found some vanilla flavoured willows. I went through the willows staying in a small trench to keep out of sight. I could see my marker tree and I knew if I could get to the base of it would be a clear view to the bull. As I was moving up out of the willows I was about 10 yards from the tree. I could see the moose facing me at about 125 yards, and fully alert that I was there.
I had 6ft scrub willows between me and the moose. Thank God, I am 6'4"
I leaned uphill and on my tip toes with the new Vortex Viper HS on 5x. The bull turned his neck to bolt the last 20 yards to the mess of 'skeg and black timber and I hammered him in the neck as he did. He hit the dirt hard, but I didn't like where the cross hair was when he turned. I racked another round and ran out of the willows to where I was clear, as a neck shot will stun, and to celebrate felt a little early. The bull gathered himself and stood running broadside ready to hit the bush, and I punched another round through the shoulder just right, and he stumbled but kept moving forward headed for the bush. I did not want him in there! I shot him in the neck twice more while he was on the move, once bewteen the trachea and spine and above the spine as he sunk to the earth, 15 yds short of his destination. The bull was giving his last kicks as I was moving toward him, trying to find my ammo pouch on my belt. I had forgotten it.
I yelled back at Nate "THE BULL IS DOWN, BUT GET UP HERE, I FORGOT MY AMMO!"
Nate met me at the bull, which was fully expired. He said "Man you scared me! I heard the first shot and thought 'yah he got him'. I heard the second shot and thought 'just finishing him' then I heard the last two that quick and thought 'oh no, the bull is making it to the bush!'. Dang, that's a big bull!"
Some high fives and pictures insued, I thanked the Good Lord for deafening and sweetening, and I looked for my bullet placement. The first and second shots would have killed him fine and obviously did.
840am with a bull on the ground opening day. Not a better feeling. We field dressed the bull, skinned him, and cut him in half. Rolled the quad a couple times getting the boy out of that rough spot. But he was worth it.
The bull tapes 47" wide, and is quite heavy, with descent palms. Looking at his scars and teeth, I would estimate a 4 1/2 year old.
I used a Remington 700 ADL in .270 WCF for those that care with 130gr Federal Fusion ammo. It did a great job.
