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Author Topic: No Moose On The REX Trail  (Read 1361 times)

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Offline Sourdough

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No Moose On The REX Trail
« on: September 18, 2005, 07:21:27 AM »
After last years fiasco of taking 601 cow Moose off the corridor of the REX trail, this year there is vertially no Moose on the trail.  I went out the 31st of August and saw no Moose on the 32 mile trip out.  I then stayed at the cabin at the crossing of the Rex trail and Tatlinka creek, (commonly known as the second river by locals).  The first week, three antlerless moose were taken.  I did not see the first cow, but the second one was last years calf, and the third one was this years calf.  The second week, one spike, one forked horn, and a 36 incher with three brow tines were taken.  On the 16th the day I came out, I saw a 43 inch bull taken out, it had five brow tines.  
 
    I usually have my Moose the first day, and a few times it has taken till the second or third day, never longer.  Only seven Moose in 16 days, from the highest density herd and best producing area in the state.
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Offline summitx

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No Moose On The REX Trail
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2005, 07:20:04 AM »
Sourdough
 I plan on heading up that way for the Oct 5th opening on the Rex, do you get that far on atv's also any advise. Thanks
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Offline Moose-Hunter

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No Moose On The REX Trail
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2005, 08:04:24 AM »
I was going to hit the Rex trail on the Oct. 5th opening as well, but I broke my leg about a week ago. :(  Good luck to those who do go hunt that area.
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Offline Sourdough

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No Moose On The REX Trail
« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2005, 03:54:03 PM »
Hope you like lots of mud.  Big swamp buggies have been going in all the way to the Wood River and have tore the trail up bad.  I drove a N-60 Nodwell, and things got real harry a few times.  But I made it through OK, at least I did not get stuck.  Went back in Tuesday and stayed till Friday, saw two more Bulls come out.  Cows are scarce on the trail, all the folks from Anchorage and Palmer were saying they would not be back.  I stayed at the second river, it took me six hours to get to the highway.  The guys in the big Nodwells took 9 hours, they had to be more cautious with the mud.
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Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline Moose-Hunter

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No Moose On The REX Trail
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2005, 03:40:01 PM »
I love muddy trails. One of the main reasons why I put 27" Outlaw tires on my 650 Arctic Cat.
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Offline 379 Peterbilt

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No Moose On The REX Trail
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2005, 05:22:15 AM »
Sourdough

I was in that area last week. The locals made it sound quite bleak, just as you desribed.

I went into the Clear sky tavern for some evening "refreshments" and got to talking with one of the local fellas. He said he has hunted back in there for the last 20 years. Back then it was the best hunting in the state, in his words. Back then they used some kind of "buggy" thing with tank treads ( I cant remember the name of it ). Then, he went on to say, that word got out about how good of hunting it was and soon everyone started hunting it.

I did see a trail leading off the highway. It was about 1/4 mile south of the turnout/parking area, on the east side of the road. Looked rather busy too, as there were a few trucks w/atv trailers parked in there.

Everyone comming out had plenty of mud, and no critters.
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Offline Sourdough

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No Moose On The REX Trail
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2005, 08:50:19 PM »
I"ve hunted that area since 1972.  I've used Weasels (old military tracked vehicles), Bombadiears (canadian track rigs), Homebuilt half tracks, Swamp buggies, Nodwells, Susvees, Rollagons, and 4 wheelers.  I will no longer take a 4-wheeler into that area, if I have an alternative, till after freez-up.  Once the pot-holes freeze over, and the mud gets stiff, it's nice riding.  
  From Clear Sky lodge, go North about 300 yards from their parking lot.  Cross the road, and take the dirt road.  Then take the first left, about 200 yards.  Thats the beginning of the trail.  You will be going North, for about two miles.  Then the trail will turn right (east), and you are on your way.  Seven miles in, you will come to seven mile lake (Rex Lake), it is kind of tough getting around the south end of the lake, especially if it has been raining.  Then it is about ten more miles to the first river (Totatlanikia).  If you arent fed up with fighting mud, and can get across the river, there is a big meadow about two miles east of the river.  When you get to the meadow, there is a small pond on the southeast end of the meadow, where I have often found Moose.  
  If the river is up, you can usually find a shallow area upstream, where you can cross.  The trail after the meadow is a lot worse than anything you will have encountered so far.  Unless it freezes, I would not recommend going any farther.  
  I should be going back in around the 3rd of 4th.  Dependant on wheather it freezes or not.  I have a Game Board Advisory Commitee meeting the 12th of October in Fairbanks, and will have to come out before that.  I will be staying in the old log cabin at the second river.
  I am not going to do any Moose hunting till November.  I got drawn for the Muzzleloader hunt.  I'll be in there watching over gut piles.
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Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline 379 Peterbilt

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No Moose On The REX Trail
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2005, 04:13:51 AM »
Good luck Sourdough. Btw, I took your advise and stayed at Pikes landing on my last day in Fairbanks. Very nice place, no doubt. Thanks for the tip
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Offline summitx

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No Moose On The REX Trail
« Reply #8 on: October 02, 2005, 04:23:24 AM »
Sourdough
 Plan to be in the area around the 4th be on the look out for a blue chevy, hope the moose show up
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