Icefishnh

Hey guys, just got back yesterday from moose hunting. I shot one monday night about 1/4mile from the road, but we were near a skidder trail. My father was sleeping in the truck while I decided I'm gunna go hunting. I went across the clearcut and up the hill. I almost decided to go back to the truck because I wasnt seeing any tracks but i pushed on a little more and then started seeing lots of tracks, fresh too. So I went another 150yards up and I sat down. I let out a few cow calls and waited a few seconds then took a stick and started beating the ground, leaves and bushes with it for about 15-20seconds then put it down and waited.

After 20minutes, I decided to go up to the top where I thought I heard something walking. I took about 10 steps and I look left to a little skidder trail and there she was about 130 yards out!

I put the crosshairs right behind her shoulder and BANG! In my scope I see her shudder but she doesnt move! So I chamber another and BANG! I think right as I shot, she turned because when we skinned in, we found a shot in the hind quarters but it didnt hit the guts. So she was going right away from me and I shot 2 more times.

I went back down and got my dad and a few more shells for my 30/06. We went to where she was standing and no blood or hair. So we got about 10feet away from eachother and started looking when my dad jumped her. "Is that her?" he asks. "Yep!" I shoot then dad shoots then I shoot again and she disappears in thick crap. So I go to see and she is still standing!! I put the crosshairs on the back of her neck and shot. She rears up on her hind legs and falls over.

She fell 1ft away from a blow down and we couldnt budge her monday night even with a 2 ton come along because the nylon rope we used was streching.

Tuesday morning, my uncle Tom drops me off at the moose and not even a minute after he leaves, I look up a little road and 150yards away, is a nice bull. Stalked my way up to 100yards to him and he walked off. My dad went to LL Cote's to get chain, a come along and a saw. We got her out of the mud hole and cut her in half.

It took about 3 hours to get her out totally between getting her out, and cutting down trees and freeing her when she would catch branches or her nose would dig in. We checked her in and Fish and Game was too damn lazy to weigh it by saying "We dont wiegh moose in pieces." 2 pieces, I dont see the big deal??

But it was estimated to be 650-700lbs. Then brought it to my dad's cousin in VT who is a meat cutter by trade and we cut it up. Took about 10hours for the whole thing. Pics will be in next post

-Dave

Icefishnh

Here are some pics.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/Icefishnh/PICT0105.jpg
My truck fully loaded going up Friday afternoon

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/Icefishnh/PICT0106.jpg
Just a cool picture I liked

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/Icefishnh/PICT0108.jpg
The moose. At the bottom of the picture, you can see the blow down she died by.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/Icefishnh/PICT0113.jpg
The moose in the back of my truck

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/Icefishnh/PICT0115.jpg
Denny the meat cutter working on skinng/cutting the top half of the moose while Steve in the orange hat looks on.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/Icefishnh/PICT0116.jpg
Meat cutting party going left is Steve, Uncle Tom, My Dad, Denny and the empty cutting board is for me.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/Icefishnh/PICT0117.jpg
Denny working on the bottom half

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/Icefishnh/PICT0118.jpg
Finished product after about 10hours of cutting.

-Dave

lethalconnection

Nice cow and good story to follow it up. Im sure youll be feeding on her for a while by the looks of your freezer.

mybigredford

didnt you let the moose hang for a while before cutting it up?

Icefishnh

MBRF, we couldnt let it hang for too long because we had to be home by thursday night so we had to get it done as soon as possible.

-Dave

James B

I like to leave them hang overnight but have had no ploblems doing it right away when need be.

mybigredford

hmmm, interesting, i dont cut up my own meat but when i take the animal in, the cutters hang it for at least a week.

skeeter 7MM

I too have had to debone in the field for various reasons and it has never caused a problem. Ideal situationwould be tolet it hang for 24 hours before cutting and wrapping to allow lactic acid to turn back into sugar. I cut all my own as well as several others a year and have found no benefit to let wild game age beyond 24 hours.

huntquest

congrats on your success!