For the first time in my 18 years of hunting I got drawn for moose in the zone by my house. Me and my father went out this past sunday as I had the day off work. We drove over to the first spot walked over the hill and sat by a bale. I started to do some cow calls.
After a few minuites we heard branches crashing in the trees below us around the slough. We called on and off for another 30 mins, occasionally hearing more crashing. Nothing ever came out so curiosity got the best of me and I decided to walk down the far edge and come back through the tree line. I wasn't sure what was going to come out but I just wanted to know what was in there making the noise.
I started to walk and about half way I started to hear SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH, I ducked out of the trees and ran up the hill side to see a big cow standing broadside to my father at 150 yards. Then he lowered his rifle
Mom was back on the fenceline watching and she started yelling "he's down he's still down". Now Iam really confused as no gun shot was ever fired?
Dad started to walk down to the end of the trees and I made my way to him. Right at the end of the tree's is a fence line (one of those four strand tight as he** fences) When I came around the corner I seen what he was walking towards. A calf moose didn't try to jump the fence and flipped over the top wrapping his legs up in twisted barbwire. Now thanks to this fence being brand new and tight the wire had no play at all and he was going nowhere. All four hooves were trapped and the four wires looked like one thick one they were twisted so bad.
We set the rifles down and started prying the staples out with our knives to loosen the wires and get some play. We finally got enough out that he was able to pull his hooves out stood up and ran back into the trees. Mom seen him leave the other side of the bush without a limp or hobble so I have a feeling he will be just fine.
Disclaimer: Everytime I heard a story of someone helping an animal, I always thought "how stupid are they, it could kill them" but when it happens you don't even think about that you just start thinking how can I help this guy.
The part I found the weirdest was everything I knew and have seen first hand about a cow moose with a calf is we should have been in for a fight to get anywhere near this calf? Before we even started to free him she was already two fields away. I found this very odd.
So far we have have had shooting opprotunities at a 2nd year bull, 3 cows, and 5 calves. Decided not to pull the trigger yet as its too warm to deal with the meat in our shop so we would have to pay a butcher a small fortune to hang it and most won't unless you get them to cut and wrap it too. We both have a week off in Nov to hunt again, The meat hunter in me just hopes I don't regret not pulling the trigger by then.
After a few minuites we heard branches crashing in the trees below us around the slough. We called on and off for another 30 mins, occasionally hearing more crashing. Nothing ever came out so curiosity got the best of me and I decided to walk down the far edge and come back through the tree line. I wasn't sure what was going to come out but I just wanted to know what was in there making the noise.
I started to walk and about half way I started to hear SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH, I ducked out of the trees and ran up the hill side to see a big cow standing broadside to my father at 150 yards. Then he lowered his rifle
Mom was back on the fenceline watching and she started yelling "he's down he's still down". Now Iam really confused as no gun shot was ever fired?Dad started to walk down to the end of the trees and I made my way to him. Right at the end of the tree's is a fence line (one of those four strand tight as he** fences) When I came around the corner I seen what he was walking towards. A calf moose didn't try to jump the fence and flipped over the top wrapping his legs up in twisted barbwire. Now thanks to this fence being brand new and tight the wire had no play at all and he was going nowhere. All four hooves were trapped and the four wires looked like one thick one they were twisted so bad.
We set the rifles down and started prying the staples out with our knives to loosen the wires and get some play. We finally got enough out that he was able to pull his hooves out stood up and ran back into the trees. Mom seen him leave the other side of the bush without a limp or hobble so I have a feeling he will be just fine.
Disclaimer: Everytime I heard a story of someone helping an animal, I always thought "how stupid are they, it could kill them" but when it happens you don't even think about that you just start thinking how can I help this guy.
The part I found the weirdest was everything I knew and have seen first hand about a cow moose with a calf is we should have been in for a fight to get anywhere near this calf? Before we even started to free him she was already two fields away. I found this very odd.
So far we have have had shooting opprotunities at a 2nd year bull, 3 cows, and 5 calves. Decided not to pull the trigger yet as its too warm to deal with the meat in our shop so we would have to pay a butcher a small fortune to hang it and most won't unless you get them to cut and wrap it too. We both have a week off in Nov to hunt again, The meat hunter in me just hopes I don't regret not pulling the trigger by then.
