westbranch
Well-known member
Moose tag arrived in the mail yesterday, so figured I better start a thread. This was my 4th year as a resident applying for moose tags, so got a bit lucky with the draw odds at <10% for this hunt. Kinda glad I did not draw the Nov hunt I put in for last year that generally has much higher draw odds, this should be a higher quality hunt. My neighbor two houses down has hunted the area for years, and has applied for moose tags most years. So I was going to feel a little bad telling him I had the tag, but it turns out he drew the Oct season tag for the same unit! He is older and will be sticking to an area with a lot more roads/atv trails. I hear there are good moose in that area but it also will probably get the most pressure from other tag holders. So need to explore more of the unit.
Tag is for 9/15-12/1 season, so going to focus on hunting the rut. The neighbor built me a coffee can moose call since he was making one for himself. The last few years hunting in a different part of the panhandle we have seen and heard quite a few moose during late Sept. So hopefully the calling gives some options for bulls.
It is a 2 hour drive from the front door to get to the edge of the hunting unit, but up to 2.5-4 hrs to get to areas I want to check out for hunting. Fortunately, schedule looks good for getting out to explore and I want to put up some trail cameras as well. So I'll make some updates this summer as I am out and about. I did get out and poke around the woods a bit last weekend.
The elusive mountain whitetail in the center of the pic, antlers in velvet with some solid bases. There was a second one I assume was a buck as well. After hiking through this spot, I doubt these deer get much pressure. Steep and thick like most of the area.
This forest road is open to all vehicles, did not look like it gets much use. Old elk camp at end of road was clean, no garbage and some trees down that did not appear to be fresh so I wonder if anyone even drove down it in 2020. Bumped into a small group of cow elk just before I got to this road.
Competition from the big bad woof:
Off-trail on the way back down, dropped 1k ft in about 1/3 of a mile. Saw some elk wintering sign on the steep slope of the ridge.
View of one of the more roaded parts of the unit. Going to be rough pulling a moose out of this country even with the roads.
Tag is for 9/15-12/1 season, so going to focus on hunting the rut. The neighbor built me a coffee can moose call since he was making one for himself. The last few years hunting in a different part of the panhandle we have seen and heard quite a few moose during late Sept. So hopefully the calling gives some options for bulls.
It is a 2 hour drive from the front door to get to the edge of the hunting unit, but up to 2.5-4 hrs to get to areas I want to check out for hunting. Fortunately, schedule looks good for getting out to explore and I want to put up some trail cameras as well. So I'll make some updates this summer as I am out and about. I did get out and poke around the woods a bit last weekend.
The elusive mountain whitetail in the center of the pic, antlers in velvet with some solid bases. There was a second one I assume was a buck as well. After hiking through this spot, I doubt these deer get much pressure. Steep and thick like most of the area.
This forest road is open to all vehicles, did not look like it gets much use. Old elk camp at end of road was clean, no garbage and some trees down that did not appear to be fresh so I wonder if anyone even drove down it in 2020. Bumped into a small group of cow elk just before I got to this road.
Competition from the big bad woof:
Off-trail on the way back down, dropped 1k ft in about 1/3 of a mile. Saw some elk wintering sign on the steep slope of the ridge.
View of one of the more roaded parts of the unit. Going to be rough pulling a moose out of this country even with the roads.
It took me 12 or 13 years and my dad over 20.
it’s ok he’s only 18 he can wait 20 years to draw like his dad did builds character ha ha. Good luck on tag. Pm unit if you want too I might have some good intel depending where you’re at
