Got my Colorado Moose!

Titan_Bow

WKR
Joined
Dec 10, 2015
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1,152
Location
Colorado
I drew a cow tag this year in a unit that I've spent a lot of time hunting other things (and always saw moose in there). I had to work the first 4 days of the season, so I was a little bummed about that. I got up to my unit on the afternoon of the 4th day, and the first area I went into looked good, but as I was working through a marshy bottom, I look up on a hillside and notice guys in hunter orange watching the same area I am walking through. Feeling a bit dejected about that, I backed out. As I was making my way back to my truck, I noticed another guy in hunter orange parked near my truck and glassing the same area... At this point I am feeling like this is an OTC rifle hunt LOL. I stopped and talked to the guy near my truck, turns out this is his 2nd moose tag, and he had taken a really nice bull 12 years ago in this same bottom.
I spent the next day checking several other areas, and didnt see much other than a couple of fresh carcasses from other successful hunts.
I went back to the back of the same bottom I was in the first day. Coming in from a trail that was a bout a mile and half hike in. First morning at this new spot and I spotted a moose. From 500-600 yards away, it definitely looked like a cow! I took off after her and made my way down to a good spot for a shot. I popped out of the willows at 200 yards or so, and the moose is there in front of me. As I pull up my binos for a better look, I notice very small forked antlers.. Not a cow, but a year and half old little bull. It was cool to watch him feed until he finally made it back into cover.
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That evening I set up to glass in a similar spot, and saw the same little bull again, but no other moose. The next morning, I hiked back into the same bottom just before sunrise. As the sun rose that morning, it was a beautiful sunrise.
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As daylight broke, I started seeing moose. First, the young bull from the day before. Then a 2 year old bull popped out. Then, further down the valley, a pretty big bull walked out of the bottom and worked up the side of a hill. A second bull came out and followed that big bull.
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4 bulls in this basin, I felt like it was just a matter of time before a cow popped up. I watched the big bull for a while through the binos, and noticed he was fixated on a clump of timber. He bird dogged around, and threw his head back smelling the air. I marked the clump of timber on OnX, pulled back and took off to loop around and come down on that spot. It took 30-45 minutes, and a lot of navigating really bad deadfall. As I dropped down to the spot, I actually spooked the big bull a bit. He didnt totally blow out, but he knew I was there and not sure what I was. I snuck down a little further, and BAM, the cow is standing there broadside, 140 yards away, totally keyed in on the bull!
I got my rifle up and on the shooting sticks, took a deep breath and centered the crosshairs. BOOM. Through the scope, I saw her instantly hunch up. She took a couple of steps forward as I racked a second round into the chamber. She took one more step and fell over. Walking up to her was an amazing feeling. Such giant animals!
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CMF

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Joined
May 8, 2019
Messages
896
Location
Mississippi
Awesome!
I look forward to being in the draw next year even though I probably have better odds at the Powerball...
 

AKDoc

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Joined
May 16, 2015
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Location
Alaska
Congratulations, sir! Thank you for sharing your hunt with excellent pic's!

You'll have some great eating...moose meat is outstanding!
 

NRA4LIFE

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Joined
Nov 20, 2016
Messages
1,675
Location
washington
That is great! I had the same opportunity here in WA in 2016. I had never seen one up close and yes, they are HUGE. Do you have any age on her at all? She looks pretty good.
 

Shortschaf

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Jul 29, 2020
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711
Nice hunt! Thank you for the pictures and the story. Sounds like it was lots of fun
 
OP
Titan_Bow

Titan_Bow

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Joined
Dec 10, 2015
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1,152
Location
Colorado
That is great! I had the same opportunity here in WA in 2016. I had never seen one up close and yes, they are HUGE. Do you have any age on her at all? She looks pretty good.

CPW takes a tooth and they will let me know precise age from the biologist in a few weeks. She was definitely a big mature cow


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Titan_Bow

Titan_Bow

WKR
Joined
Dec 10, 2015
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1,152
Location
Colorado
Awesome!! Congrats on a freezer full of meat. What rifle (caliber and bullet) were you shooting?

Thanks, it was 6.5CM and 143 ELDX. I know that’s on the low end of the spectrum of “moose cartridges” but it performed great. She took 3 steps and fell dead. I’ve taken 2 elk with the same rifle, both of them dropped immediately as well.


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Titan_Bow

Titan_Bow

WKR
Joined
Dec 10, 2015
Messages
1,152
Location
Colorado
Your hands look way too clean:LOL:

Congrats on the moose and nice job on the pleasantly brief story and pics.

LOL, yeah, that pic was day 2 of the pack out! I was able to get back and get cleaned up a little
 
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