I always knew there'd come a year when I'd have a dead moose in the water, in the dark. This was the year. I should mention that it wasn't in the water (nor was it dark) when I shot it, but it was rather close on both counts.
To be honest, dealing with the moose in the water wasn't so bad. We dragged and rolled it until it was in about a foot, then I did it as I usually do (gutless method). In that depth, the top side was always out of the water. Next time, though, I might be tempted to gut it in deeper water, set the guts off in the current, and then not deal with them at all.
It ended up being about as big/old a moose as I'm happy to shoot (52" with a funky droptine, ~4.5 years old).
For this hunt, I went with a 16' inflatable raft with a rowing frame, rather than my usual canoe(s). It was just two of us, and while I've put a moose in one canoe before, I won't do it again. The raft was an excellent platform, though - lots of space, relatively nimble, and required very little effort to travel in. I regret, this trip, not bringing my fly rod - with one person on the oars, the other could easily stand up on the cooler in the bow and sling streamers. The only downside was portaging (which, because of a logjam across the river, was required, post-moose). Deflated and rolled up, the raft's about the size and weight of a full oil drum. Not a party for two people.
Dropping this moose on the second evening of the hunt, we camped with him for two nights. The first was uneventful. The second, however, was not - we spent the whole night yelling, building fires and firing off rounds to fend of wolves (as well as a bull behind camp, smashing willows and grunting, that only came closer and became more aggressive as we hollered at him). In retrospect, it was kind of amazing - at 4am, though, it was kind of lousy.
That is amazing. At least the meat got cool fast. How was quartering it in water?
ReplyDeleteClassic Northrup hydro-cooling technique.
ReplyDeleteShow me the wolves.
Fuck yeah that is by far the best way to do it- If only you had gut shot it then it would already be gutted too. I see you are still learning.
ReplyDeleteI always knew there'd come a year when I'd have a dead moose in the water, in the dark. This was the year. I should mention that it wasn't in the water (nor was it dark) when I shot it, but it was rather close on both counts.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, dealing with the moose in the water wasn't so bad. We dragged and rolled it until it was in about a foot, then I did it as I usually do (gutless method). In that depth, the top side was always out of the water. Next time, though, I might be tempted to gut it in deeper water, set the guts off in the current, and then not deal with them at all.
It ended up being about as big/old a moose as I'm happy to shoot (52" with a funky droptine, ~4.5 years old).
For this hunt, I went with a 16' inflatable raft with a rowing frame, rather than my usual canoe(s). It was just two of us, and while I've put a moose in one canoe before, I won't do it again. The raft was an excellent platform, though - lots of space, relatively nimble, and required very little effort to travel in. I regret, this trip, not bringing my fly rod - with one person on the oars, the other could easily stand up on the cooler in the bow and sling streamers. The only downside was portaging (which, because of a logjam across the river, was required, post-moose). Deflated and rolled up, the raft's about the size and weight of a full oil drum. Not a party for two people.
Dropping this moose on the second evening of the hunt, we camped with him for two nights. The first was uneventful. The second, however, was not - we spent the whole night yelling, building fires and firing off rounds to fend of wolves (as well as a bull behind camp, smashing willows and grunting, that only came closer and became more aggressive as we hollered at him). In retrospect, it was kind of amazing - at 4am, though, it was kind of lousy.