Got back from an extended holiday, as I went guiding as usual, then the wife and I went and spent some $$$ at Cabelas. Then we had to stop and buy a dishwasher as ours crapped out while I was away. All in all it was a great time to get away. I was not planning on guiding this year, but all the clients were repeat and I thought why not, all are good guys to hunt with.
The guiding was the toughest I have experienced. Very little movement and the moose were not very receptive to calling. The two guys I had had been up with me back in 06 and 07 and both had shot their moose on the first day, so maybe deja-vu???
The first night out, I set up at a spot and call for 30 min, nothing, so move onto the next spot and as we get to it, Larry (the client) says he saw something move right behind us. I look and look and finally spot an eyeball and paddle sticking out from the regen, about 50 yards away. I called a couple times and he dissapeared. Next time he pocked half his head out, I got Larry to set up. I thought he was going to shoot him in the head and was about to say don't shoot, when the moose disappeared again. I called a few more times and out he walked. This is the result of a 180 gr Hornady from a 300 SAUM and the moose meeting.
Great little meat bull and one happy hunter. Larry has hunted a total of two hours with me and has two moose to his credit. He joked that his moose were very expensive if paying by the hour
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The next two days were very dry and warm, in both the weather and moose. On the 4th day we woke up to -6 and a heavy frost. Off we went to a little spot that has been good to me in the past. After setting up and letting off a couple of love sick cow calls, we sat for 15 min and heard nothing. Then after another set of calls we heard a grunt coming from directly in front of the truck, which was parked on the road, with Larry sleeping in it. Off we go to try to intercept the bull before he scares Larry (he is 69 yo). When we get there, the bull is quite and we cannot find him. Larry is surprised to see us and is half awake, asking what is going on. After a brief talk, I take Blair down the road a bit to see if the bull is trying to circle us. I let out one call and instantly get a responce from a very hot bull as we can hear him crashing through the brush on his way up towards us. He walks out on a lower road and continues to grunt and walk. Then the wind shifts and the bull stoped dead, then turns to run. I grunt really loud and he stops. Off goes Blairs gun and bull just stands there, second shot and still no reaction. I grunt again and look at him through my bino's. Thats when we see steam coming out of his ribs, like vents. He takes a couple steps and falls over.
Here is the results of a 300 win short mag, 180 gr Failsafes and a moose. The failsafes suck in my opinion. Yes they did work, but they "penciled" right through and left min damage. Entrance and exit holes were not much difference, and the lungs were holes, but very little shock damage was done. Maybe that is why they discontinued them. This is a pretty neat bull as he has a third spike growing off his left main beam. Pretty unique!!!
He is a set of sheds that were picked up a couple of years ago. They were found close to where the first bull came from. I believe that a bow hunting client that I was guiding missed this bull at 40 yards with his recurve. Not bad for a canadian moose eh.....
A few picts of the area
Cheers
SS