Shablabar
New member
Hi all,
So I'm a new hunter and will be heading out this fall for the first time (other than pass shooting snow geese here and there in the spring, but I don't count that!).
My plan was to put in for elk, muleys, and moose in order to move up into the priority pool for the next few years, while getting some time on the ground this fall with an OTC whitetail tag.
Well… lady luck had other plans for me! I hit both my Moose and Elk tags for this fall. My first thought was "woo-hoo!", and my second thought, shortly thereafter, was "oh crap, how am I gonna pull this off?"
In terms of gear, etc., I think I'm pretty ready to go. I do a lot of hiking and backcountry camping so overnights and treks through the bush are nothing new to me, and my kit is pretty dialled in, except I will be picking up a backpack that can handle heavier loads than the ultralight backpacking type I currently have. I also run and work out and fitness-wise I don't have too many concerns.
My biggest problem is, I don't know how to find and shoot a moose (or an elk for that matter, but I'll put those in the other board)! I think you'll agree that's a pretty important thing to know how to do
I've been hitting the topographic maps and scouting with boot leather since I was notified of my successful draw, as well as reading everything I can find and watching every youtube video even remotely related to the subject.
Based on my reading here is my tentative plan:
1. Head out as often as I can in the lead up to the season to scout out trails and likely spots that I have identified on the map.
2. Make note of spots where sign can be found, paying particular attention to browse and transitional areas by lakes and streams, where cows in particular can be found (so I am told) in the rut (my tag is either-sex and is for Oct 1-15, with a "second chance" season from November 1-15).
3. Head up a few days before the season starts to get some last minute scouting done and pinpoint where I want to be on the opener.
4. Set up by a high-likelihood spot, previously identified, and call for bulls, staying in one spot for a day or two before crossing it off and moving on to the next spot. Maybe mix in a bit of still hunting in the dawn/dusk hours?
Here is some pertinent information:
1. The area is heavily forested and nasty with a capital "N". The boreal forest in this region is thick and the understory is nightmarish, so any real walking will probably need to be confined to trails. In the area by my wife's family's cabin (where I will be staying), there are lots of ATV trails crisscrossing to isolated lakes and rivers, which I plan on using to get from spot to spot.
2. I don't have a quad or anything like that so Mr Moose, should he be so kind as to present a shot opportunity that I can land, will need to be taken out with man-power. My brother-in-law and father have foolishly volunteered to assist with this task. Because of the thickness of the bush here, I am probably going to have to pass on any shot that is more than 100m or so from the trial.
3. Because of the relatively flat terrain and thick timber, spot-and-stalk is pretty much off the table. I have a pair of 8x42 diamondbacks which I plan to use from where I am set up to glass up and down the trails, or just into the bush, or maybe across and around lakes and streams.
I know you fine folks have a lot of accumulated wisdom so any helpful tips you can offer me will be hugely appreciated. What are your thoughts? Truth be told I am a bit intimidated by the task ahead!
So I'm a new hunter and will be heading out this fall for the first time (other than pass shooting snow geese here and there in the spring, but I don't count that!).
My plan was to put in for elk, muleys, and moose in order to move up into the priority pool for the next few years, while getting some time on the ground this fall with an OTC whitetail tag.
Well… lady luck had other plans for me! I hit both my Moose and Elk tags for this fall. My first thought was "woo-hoo!", and my second thought, shortly thereafter, was "oh crap, how am I gonna pull this off?"
In terms of gear, etc., I think I'm pretty ready to go. I do a lot of hiking and backcountry camping so overnights and treks through the bush are nothing new to me, and my kit is pretty dialled in, except I will be picking up a backpack that can handle heavier loads than the ultralight backpacking type I currently have. I also run and work out and fitness-wise I don't have too many concerns.
My biggest problem is, I don't know how to find and shoot a moose (or an elk for that matter, but I'll put those in the other board)! I think you'll agree that's a pretty important thing to know how to do
I've been hitting the topographic maps and scouting with boot leather since I was notified of my successful draw, as well as reading everything I can find and watching every youtube video even remotely related to the subject.
Based on my reading here is my tentative plan:
1. Head out as often as I can in the lead up to the season to scout out trails and likely spots that I have identified on the map.
2. Make note of spots where sign can be found, paying particular attention to browse and transitional areas by lakes and streams, where cows in particular can be found (so I am told) in the rut (my tag is either-sex and is for Oct 1-15, with a "second chance" season from November 1-15).
3. Head up a few days before the season starts to get some last minute scouting done and pinpoint where I want to be on the opener.
4. Set up by a high-likelihood spot, previously identified, and call for bulls, staying in one spot for a day or two before crossing it off and moving on to the next spot. Maybe mix in a bit of still hunting in the dawn/dusk hours?
Here is some pertinent information:
1. The area is heavily forested and nasty with a capital "N". The boreal forest in this region is thick and the understory is nightmarish, so any real walking will probably need to be confined to trails. In the area by my wife's family's cabin (where I will be staying), there are lots of ATV trails crisscrossing to isolated lakes and rivers, which I plan on using to get from spot to spot.
2. I don't have a quad or anything like that so Mr Moose, should he be so kind as to present a shot opportunity that I can land, will need to be taken out with man-power. My brother-in-law and father have foolishly volunteered to assist with this task. Because of the thickness of the bush here, I am probably going to have to pass on any shot that is more than 100m or so from the trial.
3. Because of the relatively flat terrain and thick timber, spot-and-stalk is pretty much off the table. I have a pair of 8x42 diamondbacks which I plan to use from where I am set up to glass up and down the trails, or just into the bush, or maybe across and around lakes and streams.
I know you fine folks have a lot of accumulated wisdom so any helpful tips you can offer me will be hugely appreciated. What are your thoughts? Truth be told I am a bit intimidated by the task ahead!
