Author Topic: Idaho moose hunting (Read 2664 times)

Darrell Davis · « **on:** March 16, 2009, 05:19:57 PM »

Hello moose hunters,

Just picked up a new copy of the Moose, Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat regulations today, and looks like it is time to get my moose application into the pot.

I took what was then my once in a life time Idaho Bull Moose, a number of years back.

However, since that time the population has increased to the point where they have offered anterless permits for the last few years.

Hope they keep increasing and probably will if we can keep the wolf situation under control in this area.

Tried for a permit last year, and plan to give it a go again this year.

I read the questions about what rifle is needed for moose hunting and from my limited experience - just my and my wife's bulls, seems to me with good shot placement they go down pretty easy.

They don't seem to have the grip on life that an elk does and from what I have seen, just tip over with a good shot. Not a big thing.

I think that with the size of these animals, there ARE calibers well below reason as there can be one whale of a lot of bone or tissue to go through, depending on the angle of the shot.

But with the wife's bull, an equal shot on an elk would have made for a very long day and maybe a lost animal.

The Moose however, just tipped over, dead.

Before you come back with bad comments about my wife's shooting, it wasn't her fault.

We'd flipped the 4wheeler some time before and although there was no visable damage, her rifle took a hit which knocked the scope off. I should have checked the rifle and didn't, so guess the blame is mine.

Anyway, he went down easy and ate good!

Oh and buy the way, the antlers ARE larger on the wife's then on my bull, something which she IS quick to remind me of.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2010, 06:40:51 PM »

Well, the application is in for this years, Cow Moose tags.

Four tags in both of my 1st and second choice units.

Live in my second choice unit, but took my bull in the first choice unit and saw a bunch of moose there last hunting season.

Just lest then a mile from my first choice area, so no big thing eather way.

Working to get my #1s - 45/70 ready for the season, which means not only finishing a bit of stock work, but getting a good home cast bullet load ready to go

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** April 28, 2010, 02:48:34 AM »

good luck, I thought of putting in for Idaho, but doubt I do it becasue of the cost...tried here in Wy. have no points due to a permit in 06...put if for a bull this year, my girl friend wants a nice set of horns for the fireplace...may have to go some where else as my chance is low for a permit...have had several so I can't complain, if I could get her hooked on wild game, I would try for a cow, but that is not much of a chance right now...moose we have shot have mosly gone down with one shot...the last cow I shot with a 7mm Wea. took two...my first was a frontal neck shot with a serria 160 grain HPBT...knocked her flat but she got up and turned broadside...one thought the lungs dropped her on the spot...

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2010, 07:08:11 AM »

Morn'in WCHunter,

A friend who applied here in Ideeeeeeeeho for years, finaly got his permit a few years before he died. Think he was up close to twenty year of applications.

I probably only applied 3 - 4 years before I drew the bull permit.

Then my wife drew the next year.

Told the wife yesterday, that should I draw, I will get with making a small trailer. Big enough to haul the 4wheeler, and small enough to pull into the wood behind the 4wheeler.

Be'in an Ol'Coot, will need to be creative and have friends to get a cow out.

That or take in a tent and eat it where it falls.

Later,

CDOC

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2010, 04:46:01 PM »

Darrell, I suppose I have been in on the kill of seven or eight moose...there were only 2 that we had to cut up and move....one was the first one my wife killed...it ran across a small frozen beave dam and crashed...her 2 or 3 rd head of game...had she shot more...we might have tried a neck shot, but went for behind the shoulder....was more care next time...all of mine (3) we were able to drive right to them or close enough to rope them to the trailer.....good luck...

Sweetwater · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2010, 05:37:25 PM »

Good luck and wish you well!!

A few years ago I helped my buddy drag a cow moose off a hill near meadow lake, Boulder, Wyoming. There were 4 of us on the ropes - what a tug of war! He wanted it whole to show the wife and kids how big it was. I'm with the old Rancher who told the young hunter, "always shoot them right beside the truck"!

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #6 on:** April 28, 2010, 07:55:17 PM »

Lucked out on the first two!!!!!!!!!!

First one used a back hoe to load it in the back of the pickup.

If it didn't look funny, this big Ol'Bull filling up the box of the short box pickup and his head out over the tailgate.

Second, the wife's, was pulled off the hill with a 4wheeler and then a bunch of guys man handled it into the back of a pickup after I had it gutted.

There were 4 tags in that unit that year, and 3 of the 4 tags went to women.

On top of that, all three woman tagged out on the same day.

The fellow who hauled Sharon's moose to the our house was out checking out the situation as his high school age daughter was one of the three women with tags.

That evening, he and his daughter took the young ladies bull off the same hill where Sharon got hers that morning.

Father and daughter showed up at our house that night with the bed of the small pickup FULL of bull moose and their 4wheeler sitting on top of the moose.

Good memories!

Hope I can take a cow with the .44 Redhawk or the #1 - 45/70.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

Silvertp · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2010, 08:47:59 AM »

Got my Idaho bull last fall, it was a "stalk and 1-shot" affair. The arrow didn't put him down right away and he traveled about 150 yards...every step closer to where I could get my truck. Wife and I, with a little Idaho ingenuity were able to load and hang him whole.

Some of the best eating Ive ever socked a tooth into.

Silvertp

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #8 on:** April 29, 2010, 02:16:29 PM »

Silvertp,

What part of Ideeeeho do you call home?

Yep, really great eat'in.

However, Both our bulls needed to be cooked creatively, crock pot etc. but we really like berger and with a moose, THERE IS LOTS OF THAT! As well as most everything else.

What A BIG, LONG TALL CRITTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My bull was taken later September and he had scuff marks from one end to the other from fight'in.

Sharon's was a mid November and the bulls were all buddies again so he was all healed up.

Sharon didn't see any moose at all until the day she tagged out and there was four bulls in the bunch she took her's from and we saw a 5th bull on the 5 mile +/- drive home.

My son's father-in-law took a cow a couple +/- years before we got our bulls, and he said it was a lot more tender.

Tender or not, they are so good eat'in I'd take another moose ASAP if I can come up with another permit.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Silvertp · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2010, 08:20:57 PM »

Darrell

I hang my camo's in Salmon, along the River of No Return, but have lived and worked in many areas of the State. How about you guys...I saw you have a reference to Deary in one of your posts...is that your stomping grounds?

I butchered my moose at home (used the kitchen counter when wife was in town working). Nothing but prime cuts, but I must admit some are a tad tough. Im not complaining though, Ive still got a good set of teeth and jaws that get the job done.

The best to you on drawing another tag for the family. Its a great hunt and a great time of the year to be out in the woods.

My wife is interested in shooting a moose once we get a little closer to the bottom of the freezer. Think maybe we will opt for a cow tag next time.

Silvertp

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2010, 04:58:08 PM »

Yep, Deary. Ideeeeeeho do be home!

Lived in Troy when the Wife and I got our bulls, which is about 12 miles away until about 5 years ago when we down sized and moved a bit farther out.

Yet, sure would like to get another yummy moose while I can still handle it.

Getting so I need to load a buck one corner at a time

I still can still hunt the same areas as I traveled and hunted while in Troy, so that is my first choice for the cow tag.

Should be able to get in range with the 44 or the new to me #1s - 45/70.

If I draw, figure on getting a small trailer built. Big enough to haul the 4wheeler and small enough to pull behind it for such things as haul'in moose and elk.

If I can get close with the trailer, maybe I can wench a moose on with the 4wheeler wench.

Look'in forward to hunting with the 45/70 and my own bullets!

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Silvertp · « **Reply #11 on:** May 03, 2010, 06:48:58 AM »

Darrell

Deary is definitely some nice country, about as good as it gets. I worked in an outdoors job for about 3 years in Latah Co. and have made many a mile of tracks in that part of the world. I was in the area mid-70's when Alex's restaurant was in an old house with about 3 tables in the middle of Deary. Ahhh, the memories.

A #1 45/70 would be about perfect for Moose hunting in that area. Ive got a #1 in 45/70 and it is my go-to gun for any woods hunting. Light, easy to carry, quick to get on game and you can load it to stop anything / anywhere.

Your idea of a utility trailer for hauling a 4-wheeler and loading moose makes good sense. With enough rope, a wench, 4-wheeler and some pullies you can load a moose without breaking a sweat (provide you can drive close enough to it?

Big IF there.

Best to ya and your wife Darrell
Ken

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #12 on:** May 03, 2010, 06:59:33 AM »

Thanks Ken,

Your photograph of your critter reminds me of the image on mine hanging in the air from a back hoe.

That hoe was way up just to get the back legs to clear the ground.

Doubt there will be a back hoe if I get another, so will hope that I CAN!!!!! get the 4wheeler in close.

Have a good day!

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Dand · « **Reply #13 on:** May 06, 2010, 10:58:32 PM »

As a life long Alaskan where most moose are quartered (or eve smaller pieces) at the kill site, it mystifies me why folks in other states go to so much trouble to handle a moose or elk whole. Why? Many places in AK there is NO way a person is going to get a vehicle close to the kill site. Even when I have been able to pull my boat close to the kill site, we quarter the animal, bag it and load it in the boat. Of course we usually don't have meat processors who can handle a moose whole either. Many of us butcher in our garage, kitchen, meat shed or what have you.

Is it just tradition down there to haul out animals whole? I would flat refuse to drag a moose whole just to show the family - guarantee that will lower the quality of the meat. Get that heavy hot hide off quick to start the cooling and lighten the load a lot.

And we do our very best to avoid a rutted moose - gag. Most seasons are set to end just before the rut gets going.

Anyway just a few comments. Yep they can tip over pretty easy. I'm sure a few here get shot with 223s each year, know of a kid using a 22-250 but all that is poor ethics in my book. Heck poachers use 22 LR. A 6.5 x 55 or bigger just seems best to me. Lots of folks in my area like the 30-06 and the 338 win mag is popular - when the brown bear shows up.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2010, 06:37:00 AM »

Well Dand,

Didn't plan to have my Ideeeeeeeho moose loaded into the back of my pickup with a back hoe, but it worked out that way so am not complaining.

Frankly, I am to the point in life where I load a nice buck onto the 4wheeler a corner at a time and long gone are my days of pack'in out a critter on my back.

I would greatly love to have a moose hunt "up North" but the guide would be the one to do the heavy work with littled help from yours truely.

If I am so lucky as to draw a cow tag this year it will be an effort to get it taken care of, never was a Superman, and age has a way of making a bad situation worse.

As per cooling the critter out, you do have a very valid point and I can only image how long it would take a big NorthCountry bull to cool out in the shoulder hump area. Bad enough with our "little" bulls, not even considering the addition of a possible 500lb live wt.

Where I hunt, there is zero chance of using a boat, many areas are gated off to car/truck travel, my back packing days are long gone, I don't have or really like horses, and the 4wheeler IS my method of transport for even a deer sized critter.

As per meat quality, the moose seems to me, to be about as good as it gets, taste wise. Even the bull taken DURING the rut, mid - late Sept. Both our early bull and the mid November version were chewy. Tasty, but chewy!

PLEASE Enjoy your State! The closest I ever expect to get is my 44 Redhawk taking a Brown Bear hunt with a friend about 3 years back.

Keep em Coming!

CDOC

Dand · « **Reply #15 on:** May 08, 2010, 11:14:00 AM »

Yeah I'm certainly not knocking the use of a backhoe. My highschool buddy shot his first moose on a logging road near Haines. The logging co. was a friend of the family so his got hauled home in the bucket of a huge loader.

But for those of us using 4 wheelers etc. we still gut skin quarter at the kill site. Bag the meat and haul home. When using snowmobiles some folks may haul home big chunks on a sled.

I hunt close to the river so I won't have to carry it far. I'm no superman either. The last 3 moose I've dealt with were all within 35 yards of water. We just don't hike back far as footing can be so terrible it might be near impossible to get the meat out.

Not all our moose are the monsters you see in the videos. The last 3 we got were all pretty small as moose go.

A few years ago my buddy insisted I pass up a good sized bull about a half mile from the river. Light was falling fast. We had hiked thru some really nasty log piles to get a look at this guy and he was in a very thick spruce grove. NOt the place I'd want to skin out a moose in the middle of the night in serious brown bear country. Of course we found a beautiful trail out of the area after he spooked. Still I only half regret passing on that guy. We hunt the same general area that 2 guys got jumped by a brown bear about 3 years ago - they managed to kill the bear with a 44 mag but it was very scary as he knocked them both down.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #16 on:** May 08, 2010, 12:17:15 PM »

Good and interesting tales Dand.

Sounds to me like a good bit of wisdom has, at least at times, been with you.

There have been times I thought of how nice it would be to take an Alaskan float or river hunt.

To bad, but that is as far as it got. Alaska for me, as mostly a non-traveler, has alway been a far off place I'll never expect to see.

Kind of like hunting a Kudu.

Goat and sheep have, to me, just never seemed worth the effort, but Moose, that is a different story.

I am waiting until I find out if I'm drawn for the cow moose, and if so, will move ahead with construction of a small 4wheeler trailer. Big enough to haul the bike and small enough to tow into the hills behind the 4wheeler.

If I get the permit, and if - lots of "ifs" - I am able to get close enough to get it loaded, I would likely just head home on the 4wheeler then get a ride back for the pickup.

Cross country, I am 30 - 45min from home by 4wheeler.

Getting close enough to load a critter on a trailer is very likely.

Was out hunting turkeys behind the house, 2 - 3 days ago and came into a group of 5 - 6 ELK.

Time before that, I was thinking I saw some leftover Elk rut sign, so won't say a bunch about this, as this might be a good place to break in my #1 - 45/70 come Fall.

Have a bunch of load testing/development to do between now and then, plus a soon to arrive bullet mold to use, as my goal is to use the 45/70 with home cast bullets to take a few critters.

Enjoy the North country for me!

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Dand · « **Reply #17 on:** May 08, 2010, 10:05:20 PM »

Sounds like you live in better hunting country than me - turkies, elk, moose, and I assume deer. Pretty nice to be able to drive 30 min on a 4 wheeler and be hunting. A few folks here hunt our 20 miles of road for moose but not me - too many other shooters and cars. I take a 40 mile boat ride across the bay and up the river. Then hunt a 15 -20 mile stretch of river. No luck for me since 2005. I don't really hunt bears - nasty stinking things. But in 2008 after seeing 8 different brown bears in 10 days of hunting I started feeling like it would be my patriotic duty to reduce the numbers. Only saw one in season after I got a tag - which is fine with me - my adrenaline glands were getting worn out. Tho last year one did stalk my buddy when he tried calling moose. It approached to 30 yds and hard to convince that bear there wasn't a moose for dinner - shooting in the air didn't help but yelling did. That rascal then came out next to my boat with me 400 yards away. Bear season was 3 days away yet. He finally ran off in a good direction and I beat feet to the boat with 300 win mag at port arms. I was glad he didn't run down the beach towards me as I didn't have any place to go. He was pretty upset, slobbering and popping his jaws.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #18 on:** May 09, 2010, 12:13:26 PM »

Dand,

Speaking of a upset bear, slobbering, popping jaws etc. Two couple from this area went Brown Bear hunting about 3 years ago. The guy hunted in one couple, while that lady hunted in the other.

The lady and her husband have run a guiding outfit in this general area for years, so Arla wanted a very nice, good looking and large bear for a display in their lodge.

Of course, Lennie also wanted a nice bear, which should go without saying.

Well, Lennie got a really nice looking bear, great hide - long and full - but a bit on the small side.

Arla on the other had got a very big, ugly, UGLY Ol'boar which didn't give them a lot of choice.

Arla, Andre and their guide spotted something in the water, so they landed the small boat on the island and when the "something," a bear, hit land he was one mad critter, with all the jaw popping, slapping the water etc. etc. and heading for the three people at a run.

Arla and the guide emptied their two rifles, Arla's .338 and the guides .375, into the bear and were wanting more ammo when the bear up and expired from a lead overload.

I have seen the mounted critter and he is one big and mean look'in critter.

Some of the teeth are bad, and showed infection so he was probably in pain and was ready, willing and wanting to fight, anything.

Yep, we have deer here. Some pockets of mulies, but mostly Whitetails.

I have filled my "extra" - anterless - deer tag within 10 minutes or so walk from the house the last two years, while the last two bucks have been out a little bit farther.

Would like to make a replay this year, using the 45/70 with cast bullets.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #19 on:** May 27, 2010, 04:43:32 PM »

Darrell, is the moose draw over in Idaho???Ours is no luck on moose, sheep or goat here...didn't really expect it...no points for moose...maybe next year..I tried for a bull this year...in my girl friend would consider moose meat, I would go for another cow...they are great...have all my sheep points now I think so that is looking better....

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #20 on:** May 27, 2010, 05:40:09 PM »

Even'in Hunter,

Was tyhin'in bout yo0u earlier today.

No, sad to say, no cow moose permit as yet. I looked on the fish and game site and unless I entered something wrong, should be getting a refund check before long.

Haven't shot the #1 for a bit, the forend ebony came out look'in great, and am waiting for the new LBT mold.

Hope it comes soon!!!!!!!

Did find a can of 3031, so will use that and 4198 as part of the testing as soon as I get some of the new boolits cast.

Have some test loads and a bit heavier banger loads done up. so need to go out for a session.

Anything fun go'in on in your direction?

later, CDOC

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2010, 01:45:55 AM »

Darrell, today is my first day back in Wy. after a trip visiting and turkey hunting...it was enjoyable, but glad to be here at home...this morn. I plan a tour west for coyotes hunting fawn antelope...then maybe some target shooting..I want to try my Marlin 45-70 at some longer ranges and just double check the sights...I will use Horn. 350's for hunting as it now looks...never got into casting...had all the stuff one time, but never made that move...looks like fun. but can't keep my ammo loaded as it is and have all the componets to do it...as I have gotten older, and have more calibers, it takes longer to get around to each and do a bit of shooting...so nothing gets the majority of use like the old days of youth.....still, my .22-250 Improved and .25-06 get most days afield of any, iwth my target .300 next I would say..have you done much pistol shooting...that is something I need to jump on soon..