DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,036
- 5,339
I was beginning to worry that I might go without moose this year. There has been a series of adventures and mis-adventures that had resulted in passing over a variety of legal bulls this year. Well, my trusty native guide redeemed himself tonight. While I was conducting a church service this morning, he was scouting for either of the young bulls he or I had seen at various times during the previous weeks. When I phoned him this afternoon, he said that the hunting area was awfully quiet. He had taken a small bull there a couple of weeks ago with his traditional bow, and then he had seen a young bull that wandered up to him to inspect that black Dodge. He frantically phoned me whilst I was supervising workers who were busy completing installation of some new kitchen cabinets. I hurried the workers out of the house and drove madly the 75 km to where he was. Of course, we saw nothing the remainder of that evening. So, for this evening's hunt, he recommended that we go to an old hunting ground that we had not visited this year.
We found evidence of some massive wolves in the area, and we saw a number of tracks for both moose and elk, but we saw no game, other than some whitetails. We drove into a remote area that normally keeps out all but the heartiest souls. Sure enough, there were no tire tracks in the snow and no evidence of anyone being in this area for some time.
As we neared the large cut blocks where we anticipated game, I was watching to my right, and fervently praying that God would direct me to an addle-brained moose. I reasoned that slightly dense moose will taste as good as brilliant moose--maybe better! Suddenly, Gil somewhat excitedly said, "There's a moose."
Being somewhat blind, and perhaps just a bit dense, I looked down the trail we were traversing and saw nothing. Then he said, "Mike, he has three brow tines. He's legal!"
At last, I casually glanced over to the left, and there he stood in the gloaming. There was about fifteen minutes of shooting light left, and the beast was about thirty yards into the trees, partially obscured by a large tree. In fact, his antlers were visible on either side of the tree as he tried to peek around the tree.
He was facing me head-on. Should he whirl and depart, it would mean that I likely wouldn't have much of a shot. The shot was close, and I had chosen to carry my 270 WSM. I was shooting a 130 grain E-Tip that produces a velocity that ichronographs at 3250 fps. I did manage to thread a shot through the brush. We didn't recover the bullet (it is still inside the carcass), but we know it penetrated the shoulder, left lung, and penetrated the peritoneum, rupturing the liver in the process.
At the shot, the moose whirl to run. A second shot through the spine anchored the bull on the spot. Then the work began. Gil was great at quartering the moose. Long story short, the 130 grain E-Tip from a 270 WSM worked just fine to bag this year's moose.
I thought I'd share some pics from the hunt this evening.
I figure this to be about a three and one-half or four year old. In any case, he is plenty big enough for me.
This is the obligatory photo of the great white hunter posed with the beast he has taken.
This is my trusty native guide, Gil. He is like a son to me, and he treats me like his father. We have developed a great friendship, of which I am the greatest beneficiary. He worked hard for my moose. One of the great benefits to me is that I don`t have to listen to his constant ribbing that I am a secret vegetarian.
Well, at least I was not skunked this year.
We found evidence of some massive wolves in the area, and we saw a number of tracks for both moose and elk, but we saw no game, other than some whitetails. We drove into a remote area that normally keeps out all but the heartiest souls. Sure enough, there were no tire tracks in the snow and no evidence of anyone being in this area for some time.
As we neared the large cut blocks where we anticipated game, I was watching to my right, and fervently praying that God would direct me to an addle-brained moose. I reasoned that slightly dense moose will taste as good as brilliant moose--maybe better! Suddenly, Gil somewhat excitedly said, "There's a moose."
Being somewhat blind, and perhaps just a bit dense, I looked down the trail we were traversing and saw nothing. Then he said, "Mike, he has three brow tines. He's legal!"
At last, I casually glanced over to the left, and there he stood in the gloaming. There was about fifteen minutes of shooting light left, and the beast was about thirty yards into the trees, partially obscured by a large tree. In fact, his antlers were visible on either side of the tree as he tried to peek around the tree.
He was facing me head-on. Should he whirl and depart, it would mean that I likely wouldn't have much of a shot. The shot was close, and I had chosen to carry my 270 WSM. I was shooting a 130 grain E-Tip that produces a velocity that ichronographs at 3250 fps. I did manage to thread a shot through the brush. We didn't recover the bullet (it is still inside the carcass), but we know it penetrated the shoulder, left lung, and penetrated the peritoneum, rupturing the liver in the process.
At the shot, the moose whirl to run. A second shot through the spine anchored the bull on the spot. Then the work began. Gil was great at quartering the moose. Long story short, the 130 grain E-Tip from a 270 WSM worked just fine to bag this year's moose.
I thought I'd share some pics from the hunt this evening.
I figure this to be about a three and one-half or four year old. In any case, he is plenty big enough for me.
This is the obligatory photo of the great white hunter posed with the beast he has taken.
This is my trusty native guide, Gil. He is like a son to me, and he treats me like his father. We have developed a great friendship, of which I am the greatest beneficiary. He worked hard for my moose. One of the great benefits to me is that I don`t have to listen to his constant ribbing that I am a secret vegetarian.
Well, at least I was not skunked this year.
Nice Moose
