15 year quest for a Shiras Moose
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I couldn't believe the mail...it said I had finally drawn a Wyoming moose tag....fast forward several months and I am in SW Wyoming with both my boys (Scott and Joey) and long time hunting partner, Jerry. All 4 of us cruise the woods and river bottom for 4+ days locating moose and looking for a respectable bull. Early on day 5, mere minutes after bidding Scott good-bye, as he had to return to his office in Colorado....I spotted 2 cows in the willows along the Hamms Fork River and thought I spotted a moose antler further into the sea of willows. I walked down into the bottom land, unfurled my Elk Mountain slip system umbrella with the moo cow cover and walked parallel with the direction the cows had gone. As I rounded a big bush, an 8 foot bull with headgear 41" wide looked down his nose at me and the black decoy...25 yards away and he just stared....I quickly placed a 100 grain ThunderHead in the center of his chest and the fun began!! It took Joey, Jerry and I, 3 hours to find the dead bull as his wet thick hair soaked up all the external blood and we only found 5 spots in a 350 yard journey through willow thickets and he even crossed the river before I stumbled upon his inert body. He was huge.....even after removing his top-side front shoulder and the rear quarter, it was all we could do to turn him over. We worked till almost dark just to get him cut-up and bagged next to the river. Early the next morning (Sept 23)...we returned and started the difficult pack job back to the truck. It took Joey and I 6 trips to get it all there as we traversed really thick patches of willows...where in some places I actually had to crawl with a heavy load on my back....being able to stand again by myself was problematic, at best!! Exhausted, we finally got it all in the truck and quickly drove to Lyman, Wyoming and checked it all into the locker plant. Good friends and family, the amazing Moo Cow decoy, a well placed arrow, and the most exhausting day I have ever experienced in over 40 years of bowhunting all added up to me be able to complete a long time dream. I loved every minute of it and have absolutely no desire to ever do it again !! We celebrated with moose back straps and Coors Light that evening and all went to bed really early!
Joe
Awesome story I'm still waiting I now have 14 points so hopefully soon!! Nice bull!!
Aaron
Big congrats Joe.
You got it done!
Good for you. good moose & story. Forrest
Congratulations on a great Shiras! Thanks for sharing. Along with many others, I now have 14 pts.
That's awesome Joe! Congrats on a great one. How many points did you have?
Congratulations... nice looking bull!!!
SDHNTR,
He had 6 on each side and very symmetrical...no monster but I was pleased with him....Thanks,
Joe
SDHNTR,
He had 6 on each side and very symmetrical...no monster but I was pleased with him....Thanks,
Joe
Way to go! Ham's Fork is plain loaded with willows. Was this on NF or BLM, and did you go catch some trout afterwards?
A little levity....this re-enactment photo is my perception of what I looked like when I 1st spotted the big bull moose as I rounded the corner of some willow bushes......I do know that my facial expression represents what I felt at the moment..!!
Joe
Franzen,
I got him on the NF but I was barely north of the line with BLM....No, I have never caught anything in the Hamm's Fork and I have tried?? Are you telling me that there are really some trout in those beaver ponds??
Joe
Great story and great trophy. Thanks for sharing your story.
Great, I hope to have similar luck in 2 weeks. Congrats.
Congrats on a great animal.!
Congrats on a beautiful trophy after a looong wait !!
Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Hahaha, I actually meant preference points.
Congrats on a great bull!
Nate, Ohhh...I get it now...I had 14 PPs !!
Joe
Nate, Ohhh...I get it now...I had 14 PPs !!
Joe
elkmtngear's Link
Joe...I just saw this thread. Great Story!
A big congrats to you, and thanks for plugging the SLIP System ;)
I still believe that the Moo Cow is our most versatile decoy...this certainly supports that evidence!
Best of Luck, Jeff (Bowsite Sponsor)
Congrats joe!! Awesome bull
Joe, don't know how I missed this thread earlier. I'm absolutely thrilled for you! I know how deeply disappointed you were year after year waiting to draw this tag. I'm sure the long wait made it that much sweeter! Congrats again, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! Rob
Joe, great going. with friends to help, what a great experience.
Here in Colorado I walked up to within 31 yards of a 50 inch bull, with 10 pts on each side. I keep waiting for a tag after 16 years and hope some day to have the same expression you had on your face when you came upon the bull.
my best, paul
Beautiful moose Wylie. Sure sounds as if you earned every pound of 'em.
congratulations WylieCoyote, great story and great bull.
Great job, Joe! Congratulations!
Like Paul, I have to avoid them everywhere I hunt elk, and see them off the deck of the cabin almost every day. Someday maybe I'll draw a tag.....
Nice job!
Great job, Joe! Congratulations!
Like Paul, I have to avoid them everywhere I hunt elk, and see them off the deck of the cabin almost every day. Someday maybe I'll draw a tag.....
Nice job!
Sounds like a fun hunt and congrats on the trophy! What a great pile of meat to have.
Congrats and great job!
Mark
Congrats, moose are tough critters, elk go down much easier!