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My 2011 moose hunt; bow moose
Topic Started: Jan 18 2012, 09:43 PM (1,276 Views)
Adventure
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Hi guys, My name is Dave but I go by Adventure in other hunting websites. I never knew about this site until I was asked by one of the members if I could tell my 2011 moose story on here.

Here's my story. Hope you enjoy.

As does every spring, my hunting buddies and I started the usual barrage of e-mails back and forth in anticipation of the upcoming moose hunt. After some negotiations, I was able to persuade them into putting in for a bull tag in the archery season. After the usual summer planning and last week scramble, three of us left with a bull tag and high hopes of calling one in within bow range.
We made good time on the trip up to our destination and arrived 21 hours later, north west of Thunder Bay. We unloaded the truck and loaded up the four wheeler and began to haul everything in to an area we were going to set up camp just off from the lake. We were done by Friday night and prepared for the morning.

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We took 2 canoes and paddled the 3 km's to the end of the lake scouting along the way for sign. I went alone and at the very end of the lake I found a grassy marsh. After a scout around on a point, I found what I was looking for, a bull scrape.

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I surveyed the area and picked my tree I began cutting branches and shooting lanes, planning on the placement of the decoy my little boys had helped me make in our basement at nights.

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We met back up out on the main lake a few hours later and paddled back to camp and talked things over. I made my call from camo duck tape and a birch tree we cut for firewood. I headed back there that night. Saturday and Sunday went without incident. Calling before light and a last call at dark on the way out. Nothing to be seen or heard. Monday was to be different.
I got to the stand as usual just before dark and began my calling. I repeated this 3 more times over the next hour, then I heard it to my right. A tree was being thrashed. At first I had to ask myself this was real. I used my call and thrashed back. This was enough to rile him up, big time. He started smashing and trashing the place just out of sight. My heart pounded and breathing deepened. No doubt, this was the real thing.
I forced myself to focus and drew back a practice aim to check clearance to the limbs and to set myself ready for a shot anticipating where he would come out. I let back down and waited. He stopped his thrashing and started down the side of the marsh towards me grunting on his way.
His rack came into view first. At first all I could see was the one palm through the branches. As he slowly made his way closer and slowly came into view, I could see grass hanging from his rack and the one side still had velvet on the tip. He was in a stiff legged gait, grunting and swaying his head side to side as he came up to me. With every grunt, his beard would ripple from his neck down to the tip.
Ever he came closer, he stepped into my shooting lane broadside at 12 yards and stopped. I drew back. His front leg was back and covering his chest where I wanted to place the arrow. I held and waited for him to swing his leg forward. The moment he did, I released It went straight, well as an arrow, and buried up to the fletch. He turned and bolted across the small creek. When he got to the other side, I let out a big grunt. As soon as I did, he stopped, turned back towards me, then fell to the ground. It was over in seconds.
I held tight to the branches as a wave of adrenalin went through me and stood there in shock. I waited a few minutes staring at him for any sign of movement. After seeing none, I climbed down and went over. He never flinched and I gratefully accepted such a trophy.

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The work began and we quartered him up and took him out by canoe back to the trail leading up to camp. If ever there was a more classic picture of three old time friends with a moose in their canoes. We loaded the four wheeler down at the lake and took him up to camp.

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I think there might have been a toast or two that night. As the weather was hot (22 degrees) we decided to drive him to Thunder Bay to Bay Quality Meats on 282 Bay St, Thunder Bay. They cut him up and froze him for pick-up on Friday.
We used the rest of the week to do some fishing, shoot a few grouse and bask in the sun. We did a little bear baiting, but never got one to come in. Friday we packed things up, drove back down to the butcher, threw the meat in coolers with dry ice from Praxair and away we went.
I took the rack to Caroline Gray to get a european mount done. His rack measured just over 63" over the tips and he weighed 607 pounds of hanging meat.

I used a PSE compound with G5 Striker 125 gr. braoadheads on 2413 aluminum shafts.
We're already planning next year's hunt...
Simply an amazing adventure.
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Posted Image Archer Ontario
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Archer Ontario, Kingston Ont

Awsome great story awesome moose
congrats :yikes:
SHOOT STRAIT OR SHOOT ALOT "SMACKDOWN"
www.ontariotrophybucks.ca
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Posted Image callaway dan
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nice buck,congrats
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Renegade
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Atikokan, Ontario
Wow, That is awesome. Welcome to OTB. :howdy: Great story and pictures and fantastic moose. Congratulations. That is real fine trophy. :cheers:
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Posted Image Darton
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My buddy shot a 60 inch moose in south porcupine many years ago and the rack on it was monsterous. Congratulations on a beautiful bull, he is absolutly massive. Good shooting . :cheers: :cheers:
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Posted Image greybeard
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wow, thats a beauty moose and great pics. welcome to the site and thanks for the pics and story. there is nothing like taking a bull moose at close range with archery gear. congrats !!!! also, fine job taking care of the moose meat in hot weather. well done !!!
GOOD HUNT'N,
greybeard


Tomorrow, Yesterday, Why fret about them if today be sweet !!!
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Posted Image Terrym
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Bradford Ont

Great story and a FABULOUS moose ! :allright:
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Happiness is a warm gutpile
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Engine10
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Very nice bull!
Lots of character
Thanks for sharing your story
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whitetailweasel
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Great story,great hunt and a smoken bull CONGRATS,hope we can get him measured for the ONT, record book. Dennis
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Posted Image MJewell
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Central Ontario

Welcome to the OTB, Great first post and awesome moose and story.

Matt
When the peep is brown; Let the string sing!!!
Hoyt Rampage XT 28" 55lbs, Hoyt CRX32 Blackout 27.5" @ 55lbs
Darkhorse Staff Shooter www.darkhorsearchery.ca
ECO3/LOG6 Staff Shooter
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Posted Image sheephunter
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Nicely written, well organized and great photos. Well done, congratulations on an exceptional bull moose and welcome to the forum. Great first post. Thanks for taking the time to share. We are all envious of your beautiful bull and the job taken care of like seasoned pros.
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Posted Image Tikkaman1
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Beauty moose!! Thanks for sharing.
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Posted Image baydog
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Congrats, that's a beauty and a great story!
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Posted Image Bocephus_86
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notwor What a way to start on OTB! :howdy: Thank you for sharing your story and photos! And congrats on such a great bull with your bow :cheers:
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Posted Image StandNapper
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Wow. notwor Welcome to the forum. That is a great story and I love the pics to go with it. Congratulations on your success. I actually had goosebumps while I was reading. :cheers:
2010 Hoyt Alphaburner
Vixen Excalibur Crossbow
50. cal Traditions XLT Blackpowder
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Posted Image LoneWolf
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Rebel Soul


Great bull.

Congratulations!
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crisop
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Almost know it all
awesome moose and way to go
winter time with snow and ice means ICE FISHING
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Posted Image corman30


I like the pic of the moose on the atv...makes it look like a tonka toy..lol. never tire of reading about moose hunts, congrats
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Adventure
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Thanks everyone, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Great site you guys have here. I look forward to reading all your stories as well.
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Posted Image skull
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Congrats nice one :allright: :cheers:
https://sites.google.com/view/north-river-outfitters/home
You're not paying for a stay at the Hilton, you're paying to participate in nature. Anything can happen.
I work part time so I can hunt full time
YOU'LL NEVER SHOOT THE BIG ONE IF YOU SHOOT THE SMALL ONE FIRST
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Posted Image forkhorn


Huge Bull :cheers: Congrats to a great story!
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Posted Image Trophy Taker
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Awsome story, thanks for sharing.
www.trophytakerfishing.com
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Posted Image sureshot
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Great story and awsome Bull!
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Posted Image Chris Kittleson
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Awesome Bull! Congrats!
Bowhunter4ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Host/producer
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Posted Image 270 WBY
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Nice looking bull
great story
good ole Thunder Bay district eh?
Produces some great looking animals!! :cheers:
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Posted Image BigUgly
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Wow, nice one.

Take a kid hunting...you'll need someone to drag it when you get older! They are our future.
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Adventure
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Just to finish up the story, I got the call my moose rack was done and picked it up tonight. Now to figure out where to put it. I just can't understand why my wife put up such a fuss about hanging it above the bed...


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Posted Image 270 WBY
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what an incredible animal....
a sight like no other when a bull moose just materializes out of the black timber
Majestic, regal......ahhhhhh getting the chills already and we still have another 7 months to go!!!!

I love moose hunting and everything that goes with it


congratulations once again

:cheers:
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Renegade
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Atikokan, Ontario
Wow, that is a wicked looking Euro! Almost missed this update. That will look great anywhere in the house....and what is the matter with above the bed anyway? Women. :crazy:
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Posted Image bigr
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Absolutely outstanding !
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Posted Image swampdogger
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Gotta love it. Never mind , she is right, you don't want it above the bed. I would put it on the wall at the end of the bed, that way, you will be dreaming every night about it after falling asleep looking at it. Awesome. :cheers:
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Posted Image swampdogger
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Wow, congrat's, i see you had the rack done by Caroline, she did a buck for me 3 yrs. ago , nice work. :cheers:
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