Weird hunt started with struggling to make zero while scouting (Saturday/Sunday), some light snow, driving wind and then all silent. Heavy moisture during late summer and early fall forced me to revamp slightly on where I wanted to embark on the hunt opening day (monday). Monday morning found me on a lakeshore hoping to envoke or spot moose. After the first cow call I got a response from a bull a ways off, then as luck would have it the wind kicked up. It was so bad a young 2 year old bull snuck right in on me while directing my calls to the area where I received the response. I managed to stop the young bull just inside the willows but decided to pass for a couple of reasons. I decided due to wind a early bite and hope the wind might die down would be the best option. As i made my way back to the quad I spotted a cow/calf pair angle into a pine blow down. I decided that a bite was now out of the question and returned to my call point. I watched the cow/calf pair feed along the lakeshore for close to 2 hours, while legal I was hopeful this cow might bring a bull to the area. That evening the wind finally slowed and I was able to call but never got a response. Tuesday wrong wind so we worked tandem and my partner took a nice 2 year old bull that was curiously checking out the calling I was doing. Dealing with a downed moose and wrong wind made me opt for a early easy night. Wedsnday morning same thing wrong wind, but at 10:00 it switched to a favorable direction my partner and I were back to the lake I had received a call from opening day. At 1:00 I started calling both cow and bull which turned out to be a bit of mistake as a smaller bull came out but quickly vanished into the thick pines. At 2:30 a cow/calf pair showed up feeding in a small bay, they were shortly joined by a decent bull 40+", failed attempts to lure the bull from this cow and I decided to try a stalk. Being wind in my favour and time I figured it may be possible. I stalked to well within range but as usual one never see's the willows that may impeded a bullets path until in the thick of them, while I could have shot the cow the bull was nicely tucked behind willows on the lake edge just tending to this cow. I decided to try and challenge this bull, in hopes of being in his space would bring him to a shotable location...but of course I needed to move slightly to increase these odds. I got in position and just settled when the cow spotted me and busted...the bull likewise. Another foiled attempt to fill my tag, I tried calling but never heard anything but the crashing of animals on the move. Dejected I headed back to the call point, it was now 5:30pm when I returned. With the wind still blowing and my partner saying could you hear me calling(which I did not), I figured it maybe just a good idea to sit and watch being only 90 mins or so of legal. No sooner had those thoughts escaped me did the wind turn off like a light switch. Ok lets give her a go, first cow call session a response from the opposite side of the lake and another cow call again response he was closing on us. He's coming I said to my pard we might still get a crack, no sooner did I mouth the words and he appeared across the lake. Kept on him with the cow calls, he was committed, galloping, grunting and stopping every 50 or so yards to try to pinpoint the lady in heat. As he got within range I cow called lower into the ground and he finally rounded the willows it put him approx 100 yards I figured good enough for the 7 rem mag and directed one short call towards the lake which turned him perfectly and I sent a bullet into his lungs. He lunged, spun and my partner gave him another call plus I gave him one more Accubond in the heart as headed towards the thick willows on the lakes edge which put him in a quick nose dive and he was down for good. While the second shot was not required and I knew he was hit true I didn't want to deal with a chainsaw if he got to high in the brush/blow downs. Not the biggest bull but heading to this area which was the last zone we picked on our draw apps we were not expecting much in horn size or any moose for that matter. Any moose is good moose we have a winter to enjoy the experience's and eats. Watching and hearing this bull come around the lake. I still see him puffed out, snot rolling and eagerly looking for the hot cow...another awesome hunting memory/experience.
Sorry to blow on but I love hearing stories, so though I'd share.
