Contributors to this thread:
With all the moose stories popping up I figured I’d add mine to the mix… Here it goes.. I would be hunting with Scott McKenzie of Big time hunts in British Columbia..
As I’ve stated previously I recently had to switch to a release aid from a tab due to nerve damage.
Before finalizing my packing I went into the yard and took a couple of shots as far as I can in my yard…42 yards…
Then packed it all up wheels up tomorrow at 10:50… I’ll land in the Yukon at 10 pm if all goes well..
Im arriving a day and a 1/2 early to be sure all my luggage has time to catch up in case it gets lost so I don’t loose any hunting days…
It’s cheating when your moose’s vitals are on the outside……..:-)
We were supposed to fly out on the 27 th but weather kept us grounded..
Ned looking for the plane
Ned looking for the plane
The moose don’t have a chance with Ned’s Golden Horseshoe with him
The moose don’t have a chance with Ned’s Golden Horseshoe with him
We used all the free time in Whitehorse to explore the sights…
Me -Steve- Ned
Me -Steve- Ned
Showtime!!! Only one day late… We hope… but before we took off a bad storm blew in keeping us in Whitehorse 2 more days…
Can’t hide the excitement!!
I paid the pilot $300 to fly upside down
Can’t hide the excitement!!
I paid the pilot $300 to fly upside down
A view of first class from coach
A view of first class from coach
Home for the hunt…
Home for the hunt…
Just kidding….
It was an hour plus flight from Whitehorse to camp in the Cessna float plane..Ned and I flew into the same camp where the outfitter would pick him up and bring him to a different camp.
The small cabin would be my home for the next 8 or so days…
I have been waiting a long time for this one........hope that Nedly interjects some photos and text too.
A good thread :) can’t wait. Starting to look like the Bowsite around here again.
Been wondering where that horseshoe has been! Looking forward to this…
Nice Shug! Loving the kickoff! Let’s get to the blood trails:)
Been waiting for this Mark!
If I knew then what I know now I would have thrown her out of the boat.
If I knew then what I know now I would have thrown her out of the boat.
My guide was 23 year old Bobby Milligan who’s dad Bob senior has an outfitter business where he also works…
His dog Calee was a constant companion who kept her eye out for grizzly bears…for a little while anyway.
One day I’ll learn how to get pics the right way
One day I’ll learn how to get pics the right way
A couple days too soon…
Would you shoot the first day 10 yards from the cabin? I would
A couple days too soon…
Would you shoot the first day 10 yards from the cabin? I would
Camp was amazingly comfortable for a true wilderness setting… Two days before I arrived this dandy bull wandered through camp only 1/2 the distance to the target I was shooting at…
Ned , Scott McKenzie the outfitter and his son Connor returned to my camp just a day after they left. Their camp was in the mountains and the lake they flew into was starting to freeze so they needed to get out while they could.. They did call in one small bull to 20 yards.…
The following morning Bobby and I went south on one lake while Ned and Scott went north..we were all back at the cabin by 11 no one heard a peep…
We did the same in the afternoon.. Ned had the same results while Bobby and I called in a small bull that I elected to pass at 40 yards
Pat!!!!!! Why does this happen?
Edit… f ing thing worked..lol
Love/hate relationship
Love/hate relationship
The next morning again was a bust for both groups so Scott decided to bring Ned to a different camp. As they loaded up Ned asked me if I was worried about the dog messing up my hunt…
I replied she just lays there as Bobby calls so no… big mistake in hindsight.
We pulled the boat into a spot with good sign and Bobby started calling.
it wasn’t long before we could hear a bull rubbing brush and grunting.
It took 30 minutes before the bull was within shooting range but thick cover kept me from shooting. He was a great bull over 50” spread tall and wide pans..
As the bull stood 25 yards from me looking 40 yards past me where Bobby was raking brush and calling… calee decided to get up and walk towards Bobby… goodbye bull.. he turned and left. I was pretty upset to say the least
The ride back to camp was quiet not much was said during the 1/2 hr boat ride. There was a cold sting in the air on the ride back almost a refreshing cold. When we got back to the cabin and started getting things together for dinner Bobby came crashing through the front door…” there’s a bull grunting in the bay” 250 yards away..
I grab my bow and quiver and bino harness with rangefinder.
Its light enough to shoot 20 yards and not much more. Im standing in my underwear thinking of the Groucho Marx elephant joke. The bull is close enough to hear walking in the lake and grunting clearly… It’s too dark to make out details at 200 plus yards even with my binoculars…
Darkness completely envelopes us and we go inside hoping he’ll remain close enough to call in tomorrow morning…
Maybe he did but we’ll never know high winds kept us in the cabin the next 2 1/2 days a couple trees fell close to the cabin.
Whitecaps kept us off the water and wind kept calls from being heard..
Good stuff Mark. Been waiting for “the stories”…
Finally after 2 1/2 days the wind died down and we motored over to where we heard the bull returning grunts to our calls not far from camp with no luck…Bobby asked me to draw my bow and took a nice pic…
In hindsight we could have gone out but swirling winds made me think we have a good chance of being busted.. so I figured let’s wait for perfect conditions
Calee who?
Calee who?
The next morning we walked to the other lake and motored that boat 5 miles back to the general area where the dog had spooked the big bull.
It was an amazingly calm cold morning… the conditions where a call would reach out for miles…
notice… the dogs missing
We beached the boat walked 40 or so yards to a nice looking spot and started calling…
It wasn’t long before a bulls grunts floated back to us from deep in the timber.
Hell yes keep it moving!
Nice form, looks like a Mathews Legacy? Great shooting bow
ND… nope older than that… 20 year old Icon
Please don’t turn sideways
Please don’t turn sideways
We could hear the bull approaching for a long time intermittently grunting then stopping to rub brush. His progress was easy to track…I use a hip quiver and keep a waterproof bag over my feathers to keep them dry in case of moisture…. I thought it would be good to pull out a second shaft to have it easily available.
Bobby grunted.. bellowed and raked brush perfectly changing positions and splashing lake water to keep the bulls interest.
You think you’re ready for the sheer size of a bull moose when he steps out under 20 yards. Even with all visualization you’ll do while shooting.
They are big and you’ll be caught off guard …
When he stepped out at 18 yards I was already at full draw but still not sure if he was a shooter bull…
Plzz stay unturned
Plzz stay unturned
Lots of things go through your mind on high dollar hunts.
you feel you’re owed an animal but you know you’re not.. it’s hunting not unlike a deer hunt at home..only for the cost of a new vehicle for that reason I’ve learned to enjoy every aspect of the hunt..I’m gonna have fun whether successful or not.
When the bulls entire rack cleared the thick brush I knew he was a good bull.
Not a great bull the area is known for..I also knew that fickle weather could end the hunt and that this year moose hunting wasn’t that great..so in a split second I decided he was fine.
The bull stood here at the shot…a perfect lane in thick cover..
Plzz don’t turn…
I think I found the trick
Plzz don’t turn…
I think I found the trick
At 18 yards my broad head took the top of his heart off… He crashed by me at less than 10 feet and stopped at 30 yards. The brush was thick yet he stood in the perfect place at the perfect angle to accept a second arrow. It wasn’t necessary but I figured when will I get another chance to shoot a friggn moose…Bobby had his phone recording on the second shot… cool footage I’ll cherish forever… or at least till dementia kicks in…
Both arrows completely disappeared into the bull…
Grabbed frame from second shot
Plzz don’t turn
Grabbed frame from second shot
Plzz don’t turn
Super easy blood trail..
Plzz don’t turn
Super easy blood trail..
Plzz don’t turn
It was less than an hour from when I took the photo from the boat showing what a beautiful day it was till the bull was standing in front of me getting shot…
We didn’t hear the bull crash but we did hear him coughing blood.
The trail was easy to follow.
We waited 45 minutes and took up the trail…50 yards from the second shot he laid dead…
Their size is amazing
Their size is amazing
Not the biggest Canada moose but a fine Pope and Young representative…
If you know me you know how banged up I am physically so while I did what I could do to help it was minimal…
Few dead animal photos…
Way to go Shug ! Great shot!
You would be hoot to hunt with, me thinks LOL
That’s awesome, Mark, congratulations…..Well done, my friend.
Excellent job, Shug! Congrats again! Couldn’t agree more. There is nothing quite like the first time seeing a big bull moose up close, or walking up on one laying on the ground!
Graphic
Graphic
I stood grizzly watch while Bobby broke the bull down and carried piece by piece to the boat less than 100 yards away .. yet not an easy 100 yards…it was amazing to see it go from this to this…
Don’t turn
Don’t turn
Meat hung and aging we made some ribs…
Awesome stuff Shug! Congrats on your BC Bull! Meat and memories.
I was confused at first by you being in the Yukon but hunting BC. Also you need to cut one more notch in that tag. Region 6.
Moose ribs....man they look good!
There are more historic parts to this story that I’ll leave for now… Thanks for following along and thanks for the kind words..
Congrats on a dandy bull Shug! Thanks for sharing! Ditto on the WOW factor of one's first "in your face" bull moose encounter. X2 t-roy, walking up on a downed bull is definitely a surreal moment. What a freaking huge animal!
Ya done good Shug!!
Congrats man,
Robb
Congratulations on your bull. Great recap!
Congrats on the fine bull. Looking forward to hearing from the others in your party.
Very very nice. Thanks for the recap. Well done!!
Thanks for sharing, I love moose hunting! Congrats
Personally I'm still really curious about the dog and how that whole thing went down. Congratulations on a fine bull...plenty of moose rack to go with all the fine meat. Whitehorse is a great town, and especially with friends along.
Congrats and thanks for posting!
Should rename this thread to PLEASE DON'T TURN. Congrats and thank you for bringing us along.
Great moose, congratulations
Way to go Shug! Great bull! Glad you finally got the picture editing to work. It is painful when trying to put pictures up on here for sure.
Been too long since I shot a moose…
Great story! Congrats on the bull.
Ya, lets hear more about the dog situation. What did you tell the guide after that?!
Congrats on the bull and the adventure. Love these hunts! Thanks for the post.
very jealous....
congrats shug!
Good stuff Mark! Thanks for posting
Nicely done. At the first pic of the dog I was thinking ohh brother. I love my dogs but I can’t stand it when people think they have to take their dog everywhere.
Thanks guys… for those curious about the dog. I told him the dog stays at camp for now on.. Turns out I was his first moose bow Hunter so the dog hadn’t had a moose very close ( my guess) If the dog had went with Bobby before the bull came in 40 or so yards behind me, it possibly could have been a completely different outcome.
I can’t say with 100% certainty I would have gotten the shot if the dog wasn’t there but for sure I didn’t get the shot because it was there. Lastly I don’t know how I would have handled it if I hadn’t killed a bull… Other than the guides tip would have been significantly less
Nice work Shug, thanks for sharing!
One of my "dream hunts", for sure!
Congrats on an outstanding moose!
Awesome pics and write ups, thanks for sharing!
Congratulations Shug! Great story and pics. Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Awesome story and pics Shug! Congratulations and thanks for the pics and write up.
Congrats again Mark, heck of a trip, write up and bull. Well done.
Congratulations Shug!!! Awesome hunt!!
>>>>-------->
Congrats Shug and thanks for sharing. I'm a dog guy for sure but don't think I'd feel any differently than you about having one tag along on a moose hunt.
Also…getting into and out of Canada was relatively easy as long as you followed protocols. Testing before entry and going to the arrive Canada website and answering questions… then testing before returning…
Just don’t swear or do anything else you hear about on CNN…
I thought the rainbow painted crosswalks in Whitehorse were just a fluke till I saw all the guys with man buns walking around.. Trudeau has infiltrated the Yukon
Ned had to talk me off the ledge after reading this sign in the doctors office…
WAY TO GO SHUG!!!!! Heck of a hunt! Thanks for the great story too!!! Nothing better than sinking an arrow into one of those beasts!
BOWSITE is the #1 place of anywhere on this earth to read great hunting recaps. Stories are free and provided by users. Proper photo tools would make a huge improvement. I know I have cut down on photo usage myself because of the pain they are. A small appeal to Pat/Charlie/whoever is listening.
Congrats Shug!! Thanks for sharing with us. Best part of Bowsite no doubt.
Great story, and very nice bull, thanks for sharing!
LOL. Shug that was funny. Congrats on a successful moose hunt
Great write up Shug. Congratulations!
CONGRATULATIONS... thanks for taking us along.
Excellent job, Mark! That sign might be the best part of the thread..
:-)
Nice recap! Congrats again, buddy!
“Excellent job, Mark! That sign might be the best part of the thread..” I wanted to write F you ya bunch of homos in sharpie on the bottom
^^^^ Hahaha! In Canada all government and corporations have gone full on "pro-homo"
There is not enough money for senior's care, but you can get government grants to paint rainbow murals on your building.
Congrats Mark! Sounded like quite the adventure!
Are you trying to make a fkn jerk outta me?!? ….lol
FYI I had no idea how you photo shopped my head onto that guy
Congrats! I know steve got a nice bow bull as well
Congratulations! I love the pic with you laying on the bull. It must be tremendous to see one that close up. Can't believe a guide would take a dog on a hunt, glad it all worked out.
BWAHAAA, : ""I wanted to write F you ya bunch of homos in sharpie on the bottom""
Great write up.
Very nice my friend, that was a good hunt for sure! What I would have given to be a fly on the wall when you talked about the dog that eve, I am sure it was entertaining, as everything around you is always a hoot. Congrats Mark!
Thanks again guys… And ty my step son… but the only thing I did differently that night was I didn’t let the dog sleep with me…
Funny story at one call set up I sat on the ground and the dog came and curled up in my lap.
I asked Bobby if she does that with everyone… he said no and it’s pissing him off…lol
TXCO- yes Steve did as well so all three bow hunters connected…
To be honest before we flew out we were a little worried. We ran into a fella in the hotel that hunted with BC backcountry and beyond Dustin Roe I believe his name is. 8 hunters killed one moose he said so I think we were very fortunate… Wonderful hardworking outfit Scott has.
Great looking bull! Thanks for sharing.
Hell ya. That was great. Congratulations and thanks for sharing
Hell ya. That was great. Congratulations and thanks for sharing
Great story my friend! Very happy for you!
Always high entertainment value with you. I can see the look on your face when you told the kid.. "the effin dog stays in the cabin"
What a wonderful hunt and story. Nicely done. You did good. my best, Paul
Geezus....Bowsite needs a lot more of this! Dang, Mark, had me laffin' several times. Thanks for the great recap and pics! Congrats again!
Great recap congrats on a nice bull!
Mark did you guys actually get to partake in any food at the Klondike Rib and Salmon? Best eatery in Whitehorse!
We did not Tom… All the friggn places had odd hours
Cool story. And congratulations on the moose.
Did you happen to do an amazing mount on this moose, Shug?……We’re in dire need of some pics of one on here, right about now!
Bowman.. do you always put adds in your posts? Thanks guys… Sorry Troy just a European
Never mind pat it’s been removed..
Good stuff Shug! Really enjoyed it.
Heard about the Klondike Rib and hoping to partake on the end of my trip.
