Montana Moose Tag

[rjthehunter]

Interesting thing that I have noticed on the OIL tags are that people (hunters and landowners alike) are willing to help out because of how hard of a tag it is to draw. It is not like there are going to be throngs of people overtaking the landscape

I was going to say this too. If you tell someone you have a moose tag, they're usually willing to help. Most of them know there's probably only a couple of people in the whole unit who have the tag.

It would actually be cool if GoHunt had something where hunters (past or current tag holders) could submit landowners they were able to get permission through for the next tag holders to use as a starting point. OIL tags only... Like "Big Hills Ranch (made up) was willing to let me hunt their land with my moose tag". It would be a great way for next year's tag holders to get a few starting points to gain access if it's needed.

 

[MontanaBlades]

Final day of scouting that unfortunately lead to Zero Moose, but tons of other things. Tons of wild raspberries, tons of old moose scat, and this marmot who kept told me stories. Put on 4 miles between two different hikes. Saw some beautiful country. Hopefully, the next time I post will be the epic conclusion.

 

[MontanaBlades]

Without exacerbating, there were 20 piles of poop, but not fresh. Got me excited but couldn’t find any fresh sign

 

[MontanaBlades]

I was going to say this too. If you tell someone you have a moose tag, they're usually willing to help. Most of them know there's probably only a couple of people in the whole unit who have the tag.

It would actually be cool if GoHunt had something where hunters (past or current tag holders) could submit landowners they were able to get permission through for the next tag holders to use as a starting point. OIL tags only... Like "Big Hills Ranch (made up) was willing to let me hunt their land with my moose tag". It would be a great way for next year's tag holders to get a few starting points to gain access if it's needed.

I've called a few land owners and I cannot get a return phone call. All phone calls go to voice mail. I think as soon as they hear hunter, its instant delete. With that said, I like your idea.

 

[Elkwhisper]

Well???????? We are waiting for the rest of the story??????

By the way, this tenderloing is DELISH!!!!!!

 

[Flatbrimmer]

By the way, this tenderloing is DELISH!!!!!!

Uhh huhuh, he said “Loing”

 

[txco]

I was going to say this too. If you tell someone you have a moose tag, they're usually willing to help. Most of them know there's probably only a couple of people in the whole unit who have the tag.

It would actually be cool if GoHunt had something where hunters (past or current tag holders) could submit landowners they were able to get permission through for the next tag holders to use as a starting point. OIL tags only... Like "Big Hills Ranch (made up) was willing to let me hunt their land with my moose tag". It would be a great way for next year's tag holders to get a few starting points to gain access if it's needed.

Huntin fool has a list of previous member tag holders. I used that and some have been willing to share landowner info.

 

[txco]

Good luck on the hunt!

 

[MontanaBlades]

Day 1: Thursday began with rain, fog, and low visibility. A rough way to start this once in a lifetime hunt, but yet overwhelm with excitement. I decided begin this hunt by going to place I never scouted but heard reports of a large bull in the area. With a “most wanted” picture of the bull, I headed for the high ground. The fog had been intense, along with the stinging rain, became a mental endurance exercise. After sitting in the fog and rain all morning, I needed a break and went back to camper for lunch. After drinking some hot coffee, I went searching in a different direction. After a few miles on the 4-wheeler and going around a berm, I had my first sighting of two bull moose. Albeit small bulls, they were legal and only provided me a minute or so of viewing to snap a picture before they fast disappeared. I got back on the four-wheeler to see if I could get closer and to see if the big bull was present. Unfortunately, the sun went down, soaking wet, I headed for the camper for a hot meal and wait for my hunting partner to arrive. First photo shows the dense fog lifting briefly to allow me to scan and glass the willows below before setting back down. Second photo contain the Houdinis of moose.

 

[MontanaBlades]

Day 2: Friday started where Thursday left off. With heavier rain, my hunting partner and I decided to check out the same spot where I last saw the bulls. After glassing with no luck, we traveled to the areas I had been scouting and seeing moose. After a quick 45 minute drive, we reached a forest service section that had a good bull that summered. In one of my earlier post I shared a picture of the big fella. We found multiple beds, and scat but he abandoned the area. I was relieved that I didn’t come across a gut pile in hopes I may get a shot at him. We decided to head back to camp and split up. I went back up to my glass knob while my partner found his own near the last moose sighting. No pictures were taken as Binos, spotter, and phones became to blurry to look through.

 

[MontanaBlades]

Day 3: Saturday had a welcomed weather report of rain in the morning and clearing out by the afternoon. I have given up on the spot where the large bull should have been. I didn’t find any fresh signs and decided my time would be better spent else where. My hunting partner suggested we cross the creek to his glassing knob as we could see for miles in either direction. The first few pictures are of us enduring the rain. Not seeing anything….no moose, no deer, no bear, this area was not for us. The afternoon will be spent scouring old areas that had tons of signs of moose, complete with photos from the trail cams. A second 45 minute trip and a 2-mile hike, we reached the areas I wanted to hunt. Multiple poop piles, tracks, and even a bone, had my hopes high that we would run into something. After we got back to pickup, feeling exhausted, and satisfying the quenching thirst of a cold beer. We decided to eat at a local brewery before heading back.

 

[MontanaBlades]

Day 4: Sunday. Final day, and where in the heck do we start? I felt discouraged that it simply wouldn’t happen. I got the pot brewing coffee, frenchy (fellow hunt talker) awakens and says: it’s a bad day to be moose! That attitude lifted the spirits. I ate a good luck banana, I informed Frenchy we have one spot left to check. This spot had plenty of moose evidence but no actual sighting. With 4-wheelers loaded. A third 45-minute trip back to my stopping grounds. A 4-wheeler ride through the trees provided some much need excitement. The excitement I had being on the four-wheeler, feeling the cold air, showing Frenchy all my scouting spots was difficult to contain. I was having so much fun and laughing as we took on some new trails. We even found a grouse to take aim at. We wouldn’t be going back empty handed, at least not today. We reached my destination to dismount the 4-wheelers and go up. My onX map showed my previous tracks. I told Frenchy we are going up where I came out at and head north. South had a ton of old evidence but nothing fresh. We reached an elevation where moose like to hang out at (so I have been told), surrounded by birch and aspen trees. After walking a few more yards, a strong odor got our attention. I wasn’t sure if it was a bear or not, but it stunk. We reached the top end of the birch patch and began going through some evergreens. We quickly noticed about 12 rubs from what had to be a good size moose. The fear that it was bear quickly evaporated to excitement that we are near a moose. After taking a few more steps, Frenchy leans down to pick up something. He examines it, then chucked at me. I thought that was rude of him, but I noticed it was a piece of fat. My feelings reverted back to bear being present and we are near a kill sight. It turns out that other hunters beat us as there was a quartered up moose. Nothing left but the hide, back bone, and tons of maggots. We decided to take pictures of the sawed off limbs to play a practical joke on our buddies.

 

[MontanaBlades]

Day 4: Sunday. Final day, and where in the heck do we start? I felt discouraged that it simply wouldn’t happen. I got the pot brewing coffee, frenchy (fellow hunt talker) awakens and says: it’s a bad day to be moose! That attitude lifted the spirits. I ate a good luck banana, I informed Frenchy we have one spot left to check. This spot had plenty of moose evidence but no actual sighting. With 4-wheelers loaded. A third 45-minute trip back to my stopping grounds. A 4-wheeler ride through the trees provided some much need excitement. The excitement I had being on the four-wheeler, feeling the cold air, showing Frenchy all my scouting spots was difficult to contain. I was having so much fun and laughing as we took on some new trails. We even found a grouse to take aim at. We wouldn’t be going back empty handed, at least not today. We reached my destination to dismount the 4-wheelers and go up. My onX map showed my previous tracks. I told Frenchy we are going up where I came out at and head north. South had a ton of old evidence but nothing fresh. We reached an elevation where moose like to hang out at (so I have been told), surrounded by birch and aspen trees. After walking a few more yards, a strong odor got our attention. I wasn’t sure if it was a bear or not, but it stunk. We reached the top end of the birch patch and began going through some evergreens. We quickly noticed about 12 rubs from what had to be a good size moose. The fear that it was bear quickly evaporated to excitement that we are near a moose. After taking a few more steps, Frenchy leans down to pick up something. He examines it, then chucked at me. I thought that was rude of him, but I noticed it was a piece of fat. My feelings reverted back to bear being present and we are near a kill sight. It turns out that other hunters beat us as there was a quartered up moose. Nothing left but the hide, back bone, and tons of maggots. We decided to take pictures of the sawed off limbs to play a practical joke on our buddies.

 

[MontanaBlades]

I felt we should head back to the 4-wheelers, as I only heard of one bull on this hill side and here he rests. Frenchy was not convinced and lead me through 75 yards or so through the woods. I angled off towards a downward slope while he maintained the high ground. A slow first couple of steps, frenchy alerted me that he is staring at a cow moose. I scurried up and saw the cow and quickly noticed her calf. Alas, we see moose. The cow was standing her ground and kept close attention as we quietly chatted and took some snap shots. We decided to go up and around her to continue onward. Frenchy stayed closed to her and soon noticed a third moose. frenchy could only see the back half of this moose and not the front due to a tree blocking the view. However, this moose did provide one key feature that the cow didn’t have. After being summoned, frenchy signaled bull with his hands. I unslung my Sig Sauer cross, and came to the same conclusion. We had already discussed that any legal bull moose, no matter the size, I would take it. I’m not going to eat this tag. The bull took a few more steps and revealed his horns! He’s legal. I lined up my rifle and at 50 yards, I pulled the trigger. The sound of the rifle spooked the cow/calf and the my soon vacated the area. The bull, clearly had a fatal wound, took a few more steps and laid down. I moved around a tree to get a better view. While I was taking three or four steps around a tree, the bull started to standup. A decision was made to put another round in him, and even with this second round, he stood upbut stood up. Incredible. He stumbled 3 or 4 steps and went down for good! I gave Frenchy a fist bump and thanked him for finding my moose. We waited 10 minutes before confirming that I filled my moose tag!

 

[BAKPAKR]

Congrats on the bull!

 

[MontanaBlades]

I felt we should head back to the 4-wheelers, as I only heard of one bull on this hill side and here he rests. Frenchy was not convinced and lead me through 75 yards or so through the woods. I angled off towards a downward slope while he maintained the high ground. A slow first couple of steps, frenchy alerted me that he is staring at a cow moose. I scurried up and saw the cow and quickly noticed her calf. Alas, we see moose. The cow was standing her ground and kept close attention as we quietly chatted and took some snap shots. We decided to go up and around her to continue onward. Frenchy stayed closed to her and soon noticed a third moose. frenchy could only see the back half of this moose and not the front due to a tree blocking the view. However, this moose did provide one key feature that the cow didn’t have. After being summoned, frenchy signaled bull with his hands. I unslung my Sig Sauer cross, and came to the same conclusion. We had already discussed that any legal bull moose, no matter the size, I would take it. I’m not going to eat this tag. The bull took a few more steps and revealed his horns! He’s legal. I lined up my rifle and at 50 yards, I pulled the trigger. The sound of the rifle spooked the cow/calf and the my soon vacated the area. The bull, clearly had a fatal wound, took a few more steps and laid down. I moved around a tree to get a better view. While I was taking three or four steps around a tree, the bull started to standup. A decision was made to put another round in him, and even with this second round, he stood upbut stood up. Incredible. He stumbled 3 or 4 steps and went down for good! I gave Frenchy a fist bump and thanked him for finding my moose. We waited 10 minutes before confirming that I filled my moose tag!

Frenchy and I headed for cell phone coverage to get help. Our friends answered the call. Fellow hunt talker “ElkWhisper” said I’ll be there in 1.5 hours. Another friend said he was leaving Helena would be with us as fast as he could. With our friends in motion, we replenished our coffee and headed back up the hill. We got back to the moose and to start skinning and packing out the hind quarters. Frenchy was to find the ball joints and extract the back straps. Photos: frenchy working on quartering and me loaded up walking back down to the four wheelers

 

[MontanaBlades]

Frenchy and I headed for cell phone coverage to get help. Our friends answered the call. Fellow hunt talker “ElkWhisper” said I’ll be there in 1.5 hours. Another friend said he was leaving Helena would be with us as fast as he could. With our friends in motion, we replenished our coffee and headed back up the hill. We got back to the moose and to start skinning and packing out the hind quarters. Frenchy was to find the ball joints and extract the back straps. Photos: frenchy working on quartering and me loaded up walking back down to the four wheelers

ElkWhisper made record time. He provided much need nourishment and celebratory beers. He also brought knives and a very much need cordless saw! Photos frenchy and ElkWhisper working allowing me to enjoy the moment.

 

[MontanaBlades]

ElkWhisper made record time. He provided much need nourishment and celebratory beers. He also brought knives and a very much need cordless saw! Photos frenchy and ElkWhisper working allowing me to enjoy the moment.

The journey is complete. Frenchy and ElkWhisper are some best friends a guy could ask for. I’m lucky enough to call them pals. Photo Credit: ElkWhisper. Badass photographer

 

[BAKPAKR]

The journey is complete. Frenchy and ElkWhisper are some best friends a guy could ask for. I’m lucky enough to call them pals. Photo Credit: ElkWhisper. Badass photographer

That is a pretty cool photo!

What cartridge/bullet did you use?

 

[huntandfly]

Thanks for the write up, and congratulations! What a great memory to share with friends