My son shot this moose less than 30 minutes into the first day. One perfect double lung shot with his sako 3006. 180 grain Federal Fusions.
The zone he was drawn for has a lot of farmland. In fact it is where my in-laws live and we lived there for 7 years as well. I know the area quite well. Unfortunately, the state has increased the moose hunting in the farm areas to the point that seems to be more of an eradication program.
We got up there Saturday and scouted in the PM and on Sunday, resulting in only one moose sighting. It was also really warm which keeps them more active at night and they stay in the woods during the day. We decided to drive as many of the potato roads as possible at dawn, then I would take him into the thickets during the day and hunt them like deer.
That first morning we watched a field for a short time where some had been seen crossing right at dawn. Nothing there.. so we started driving and checking fields. When we got to the second farm, they were harvesting, we took a trail very few people use to get away from them. Through a big Pine grove, when we hit the other side, this cow was standing on the edge of the next pine grove, about two steps from disappearing for the day.
My son jumped out, stayed behind the truck while he jammed a couple bullets in his sako, eased around the front of the truck, took a knee and made the shot. About 65yds, she disappeared quick into the pines. He and I snuck into the pines, looking for sign, no blood just fresh tracks in the needles. we stayed on a straight line until we lost her tracks, circled around and found her tracks again. Real easy to follow at this point, big scuff marks in the pine needles. About a hundred yards and there she was piled up.
It took about 2 hours to get her out of there, but we weren't in any hurry either. It was relatively easy in those pines, I was able to get the ATV right to her drag her to the truck, up on a small trailer, and off to the tagging station. She was only a year and a half old, but was already 520lbs, dressed.
We got it home, the next day and had a moose cutting party. Put it up on a friends car lift, took about 6 hrs with a bunch of friends and a few cold beverages. In the freezer, and now we are getting ready to do it again with my 13 year old in 2 weeks.
