How about a cool story. My beautiful wife n me were out at the cabin. I enjoy being able to stay out moose hunting till it gets dark before I have to leave my ground blind. I get back to the cabin n beautiful wife has a nice hot supper ready. We eat n go upstairs to bed. Beautiful wife asks, what's that noise ? I can't hear as good n ask her what it sounds like. Goats ! No goat's out here. I opened up the door so we could hear better. The bellows of a moose
We laid in bed and listened to a pack of wolves talking a moose down. Near 100 yards from the cabin. They were still having fun the next morning. I don't have much issues with bears. And usually don't carry a gun when out on a walkabout. Unless hunting. But this pack of wolves can get me armored up. Smart cunning critters they are.
Our son flew in one evening for a 3 day hunt for the weekend. From the lake to the cabin I stopped the wheeler to do some calling. I would stop n do some moose calls Had 3 different responses in a couple mile trip. The next morning we were up early. Went to my favorite spot by the little pond out front. Did some cow in heat calls and immediately had a response. When this huge bull moose steps out of some spruce trees. 125 yards out. Bulls have to have 3 brow tines or 50" min spread. I say to son , definitely a legal bull. He had 58" of non typical antlers, one side had half the antler folded back and grew that way. But what got my eye was his sheer size. Huge. I estimate 1,400 lbs easy. He steps back into the bush after just a couple seconds. Probably didn't like exposing himself, instincts. But a couple more calls and I had him coming in.
We watched as he lumbered twards us. Making a huffing noise with each step. A warning to any other bulls in the area that he was claiming the cow. I told son that he would get cautious. And if he stopped walking to get ready because he would be getting ready to bolt. About 50 yards out he stops. Takes a second and spins to exit stage left. I tell son shoot. I follow with a back up,shot.
Bull takes off into the bush. We cross over an old grown over beaver dam and find where he was. So starts tracking while I circle around in the open. I spot him. Instructed son on how to approach a wounded moose for dispatch. I had a bull wounded stand up 2 feet in front of me before. Not cool.
It's hardly 7 in the morning on his first day and he harvested his first bull moose. And it's a beautiful sunny fall day. The smell of musty berries in the air.
We're fortunate that we have some wheelers I freighted out there. Nice to use a winch to hold up a moose while you are field processing it. We use our coleman canoe for a freight sled in the summer months. Roll pieces in the canoe and can pull up under the meat pole n winch pieces up to finish skinning and cleaning. It's dark before we have everything done. Meat cleaned n in meat bags sprayed down with citrus to repell blow flies. And a tarp over to keep dry and hold the smoke from the soot fires. Son finishes cleaning up the skull plate. I can sit back n have a cool one and be a very proud dad. If you had to describe a perfect day out hunting, this could be it.
Our pilot Dave from N2 Alaska flight services was able to get in the next day and pick up the moose n us. Couple heavy trips n the moose is in the back of the truck. And we're heading home. Get the moose hung in the garage. And son is ready for work Monday morning. What a great weekend. The next weekend the whole family and some neighbors got together and we proceeded the moose. Making sweet Italian sausages, brats. We like putting chopped up jalapeño peppers in grown meat for a little spice. Course ground for chili n such. A good time indeed.
It's great now that the kids are older. They won't let me do much processing anymore, they like doing it. And I proudly let them. I'll be around to sample the sausage patties. And sharpen knives.
It's times like this that I was driven to build this cabin. To make family memories. And for my family to be able to enjoy the outdoors experiences that I have been able to spend a lifetime doing. Teach them, building their confidence. And being able to be with our son and calling in his first bull moose. I'll never forget these memories
on the couch. We got up Easter morning and had morning coffee fresh perked on the front porch and did some target practice. Went riding on a nice sunny day in tee shirt surrounded by the AK range and Talkeetna mts. And a pretty AK chick. The rest of the story has to stay out at the cabin.
