2 for 2. Idaho Shiras hunt

280Ackley · 2025-01-09T20:31:08-0700

During the spring of 24’ my youngest son and best friend both ended up drawing their once in a lifetime Idaho moose tag. It was a unit I know very well as we have already tagged 2 moose out of it in the last 10 years.

The plan was to scout through the summer and spend two weeks hunting during the rut. As life goes we only were able to scout one day and only saw elk. My boss was gracious enough to allow me to take the planned two weeks off even though I was only 20 days into the new job. We headed out the day before the opener to set up camp and get ready for the big day.

We awake before daylight to head out to a predetermined glassing area. My buddy had come down with a serious stomach bug and told me he was unfortunately staying in camp. My so G and I load up and head out. Within the first 30 minutes two bulls were spotted! One being a border line shooter and the other a 2 year old.

We glassed for another 2 hours without seeing anymore moose. G decided he wanted to go after the moose pictured above. We made quick run back to camp to check on my buddy. He was feeling better and decided to join us! As we were headed down to the moose’s location I wanted to stop and check the back side of the ridge G and I glassed most of the morning. We parked the truck and I bring my binoculars up but can’t see anything due to the sun being directly in my eyes. I start saying they I can’t see and let’s keep going when my buddy R says the magic words “Big bull”!!

We repositioned to a better place to glass and it is indeed a big shooter bull. We glass where he is and try to come up with a plan to stalk in closer as he was bedded 604 yards away. R is a lifetime archery hunter and wanted to use his bow if at all possible. Due to the bulls location and the wind I recommend using a rifle. After setting up the spotting scope and finding a great shooting platform R agreed. We had a quick discussion on if we should run to camp and get the 338 Norma or use the 6ARC. I recommend using the 6ARC and R said he trusted my advice!

R got in position behind the gun and got comfortable and I made the adjustments to the scope. G and I watched through binos and told him to send it when ready. The first shot was true and we heard a confirming solid whack. The bull stood after the shot with his head down obviously not feeling well. I told R it was a solid hit but to send another. R sent another and it looked high. I told him to keep shooting until he is down. R ended up putting 4 into the chest cavity behind the shoulder and one into an antler tine in about 90 seconds before he was down!!

280Ackley · 2025-01-09T20:31:18-0700

We drive up the road to get a better route to the bull. When we get down there it is hugs and celebration for all!! We get lots of pictures and start breaking the bull down.

We decided to hang the meat in a group of trees and scout a better route for the 1/2 mile hike up hill to the truck. Once back up at the truck we decided to hunt the rest of the day and pack meet the next day.

No more moose were seen that day. The next morning we started out glassing the same area R got his. We see the same bull as the first morning with two cows again. We decided to leave him be and check out a few other spots in the unit we hadn’t been to yet. We see some great areas and lots of sign but no more moose.

We ended up finding a good route for packing meat out and had the whole bull out in two trips. It only took 40 minutes to each trip and was as good as could be expected when packing moose quarters!!

280Ackley · 2025-01-09T20:31:28-0700

We start off day 3 glassing again seeing 1 new bull and the same bull from the first 2 mornings!!! He was in a nasty hole but G decided the morning of day 4 we would be down there at daylight to go after him. With a solid plan for the next day and R having to head to town to pick up his son that afternoon, G and headed out to a check place I’d seen moose in the past.

We make it a mile down the road and see lots of tracks in the road. We park the pickup and walk down the road about 150 yards. We sit there for a few minutes and I let out a cow call. 10 seconds later we hear what I only can describe as a loud breath exhaling. G asks me what it was and I shrug not knowing. We wait and I do another cow call getting the same answer back. G asks if it is a moose and I tell him I am not sure. I answered back immediately this time with a more whining sounding call and this time we get a definite bull grunt back at us!!

I send G back to the pickup to get the rifle and it’s game on. I call back and fourth with the bull for about 5 minutes when he gets hung up in a creek drainage just below us. Without thinking I reach over and start ripping leaves off a bush behind us. That’s all it took and he starts raking a bush. We can see the bushes moving but still have not seen him yet. The bull ends up heading away from us following a game trail along the creek. I decided to move around the corner to get a better position.

Not 30 seconds after we repositioned he comes up out of the brush facing us 43 yards away. I instantly tell G he’s a shooter and he responds “I know”!! He’s looking at us but not scared. I tell G to aim right at center of his chest. The rifle fires and the bull face plants into the dirt!!! We walk up there to confirm that he’s down for good. He try’s to stand covering 5 yards before falling again. One 108 Eld-m in the neck and he is down for good!! G and I hug and celebrate his great bull moose.

I decided then to drive back to camp for help from my dad and hopefully R. I ended up catching him before he left and we are all able to celebrate with G and help with breaking him down.