Handgunhunt

2019 Maine Moose

Posted By: KRal

2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 5:11 PM

Earlier this year, a fellow handgunner (gasixgunner) and I were able to acquire cow moose tags for the last season in Maine. To say we were happy would be and understatement (especially since we would be able to ride together making the 1400+ mile drive much better). The east coast fall colors were in awesome vibrant colors and made for a beautiful trip.

We met in north GA on the 24th of October and started our journey to Caribou, ME. We arrived at Back Woods Guide Service on the evening of the 26th, got our gear unpacked, and got to bed in preparations of an early morning scouting session the next morning. Sunday morning found us up at 2:00am preparing for our two hour drive to our Zone 1 hunting area. That morning welcomed us with cold temps and the moose were up and moving. Within the first hour of daylight, we had seen 15 moose: 10 cows; and 5 bulls - one bull being a stud! At this point, our confidence levels were above average! We couldn't wait till opening morning and was planning to be in our areas well before daylight to "claim our spot". The area we had tags for is a 4 million acre zone privately owned by a timber company and 125 permits were issued for this area.

2:00am Monday came early, but was not an issue with the anticipation of what was to come. The weather had change with warmer temperatures and snowfall! Hopefully it wouldn't impact Moose movement.

gasixgunner and I were both "planning" to take our cow's with revolvers - he had his FA83 41 mag and I had my SRH 480. I had been practicing almost every day for the month leading up to the hunt. I had a load of 390gr cast hollow-point over 14.5grs of HS6 that was shooting great and all my practicing had been from field shooting positions - mainly standing with shooting sticks and standing free hand.



Although my confidence level was great with my chosen iron, our guide (Jesse Cote) suggested bringing a backup gun capable of longer ranges. He said he'd do his best to make an iron sight revolver shot possible, but wanted us to know that realistically, it probably wouldn't happen. This is due to the rut being over, area we were hunting, method we would be hunting and last of the season pressured moose. I've always heard, "Don't guide the guide", so I packed my 270 encore and gasixgunner packed his 284 XP 100. Sunday afternoon we did our scope checks and for reasons I didn't have time to rectify, my encore was shooting all over the place at 250 yards! Knowing I couldn't hunt with it, gasixgunner was kind enough to let me us his XP 100 for backup, if needed.

Well, the warmer temperatures and snow had the moose locked down! By lunch time, we'd only seen 4 moose and they had some other place to be and was not interested in a ride in the back of our truck. After lunch, we decided to split up in two different vehicles and see if we could make something happen. Not long after departure, gasixgunner spotted a cow about 1000 yards away in a clear-cut and was able to put a stalk on her. At 389 yards out, he placed a 160gr Accubond through the heart of a 598 lb (field dressed) cow. She went about 30 yards and down. One down and one to go.



Meanwhile, we weren't having much luck. We seen three different cows, but couldn't make it happen with an iron sighted revolver - either too far or too thick. But, now that gasixgunner has tagged out, I'd be able to bring along his XP 100 for longer shots.

Tuesday morning brought more warm weather along with misting rain - the rest of the week wasn't any better with over two inches of rain forecasted. Tuesday had to be my day and the pressure was on. We we're back in our area better than an hour before daylight. As legal shooting time approached, we headed to an area were several moose was spotted on Sunday morning. It didn't take long and we spotted a cow. At 168 yards, I didn't hesitate grabbing the 284 Win XP 100 and the BogPod PSR. At first glance, the cow appeared to be bedded down and wasn't showing to be spooked. So, I got my video camera out and was setting it up when the cow took a step - she wasn't bedded! I put the camera in the control of the guide and got prepared to the shot... "Are you on her?......Yes......"Are you sure?...Yes...I settled the crosshairs just below center of the shoulder, focused on the crosshairs and started squeezing... BOOM!!! and the cow disappeared. I looked at Jesse and he said, She dropped like lead!"




The 160gr Accubond struck just where I hoped it would - high shoulder/top of the lungs so no tracking needed....7:09am on the second day and "tagged out"!

Well, my cameraman wasn't much of a cameraman and the hunt is on video, but it's not on video
If that makes since. So another words, the video will not be published.
I told Jesse that I was glad he was a better guide than he was a cameraman...
\:D


The next two hours was the retrieval process...








After the recovery, we headed to the weigh station and check station. She field dressed at 578 lbs. It's always a great feeling to be tagged out and stress free...



Once butchered, she yielded 448 lbs of boneless meat for the freezer. And some fantastic meat it is!!!! I grilled some tenderloin last night and it's comparable to prime beef steak; some of the best venison available....definitely not what I was expecting.

One more of my bucket-list hunts checked off! Now for a BULL!


Posted By: Franchise

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 5:25 PM

CONGRATULATIONS Kim
Posted By: jamesfromjersey

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 6:07 PM

Way to go Kim.... You got that big son of a gun....

PS-you put that bullet right where it belonged....
\:\)
Posted By: sixshot

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 6:42 PM

Great job on a dream hunt Kim, getting a moose in Maine is a hunt of a life time, rifle or handgun, congratulations. Whose knife did you use for gutting, skinning??

Dick
Posted By: KRal

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 6:58 PM

 Originally Posted By: sixshot
Great job on a dream hunt Kim, getting a moose in Maine is a hunt of a life time, rifle or handgun, congratulations. Whose knife did you use for gutting, skinning??

Dick


Dick, I?m almost ashamed to say
. Although Jesse owns two Ralston Knives, he did not have them with him. And...although I build Ralston knives, I haven?t had the opportunity to build myself one. That being said, I had a razor sharp custom on my side (made by David Winston) that I gladly handed it over to Jesse to use. 😎
Posted By: Russell

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 8:24 PM

Congratulations! Well done!
Posted By: Randy M

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 8:42 PM

Awesome, Kim! Holy smokes those are big critters. Congrats on two fine animals and TONS of delicious protein. All with handguns too. Pretty much hunting nirvana right there!
Posted By: Brenden

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 8:53 PM

Congratulations! That's great that you all were able to make it happen.
Posted By: popo

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 9:09 PM

Good writeup and congratulations. Plenty of good eating.
Posted By: cmnash

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 10:16 PM

Maine moose is a bucket list hunt indeed! CONGRATULATIONS!

I am happy for you guys, and happy to hear that your moose is such good table fare, seeing as you have so much.
Posted By: Mark Hampton

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 10:57 PM

That's a freezer-filler for sure. Congrats to you both.
Posted By: wheelguns

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 11:11 PM

Congratulations Kim, sounds like a great hunt and the moose were abundant.
Posted By: KRal

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/04/2019 11:27 PM

 Originally Posted By: cmnash
Maine moose is a bucket list hunt indeed! CONGRATULATIONS!

I am happy for you guys, and happy to hear that your moose is such good table fare, seeing as you have so much.


When my wife walked over and looked in the freezer, she said: ?Well I hope it?s good?.
Posted By: reflex264

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 12:22 AM

Huge congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted By: Pa. Mike

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 12:52 AM

Congratulations on a nice trophy and an excellent write-up of the trip!
Posted By: 45MAN

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 1:36 AM

WOW THOSE THINGS ARE HUGE! GOOD STORY, GOOD HUNT.
Posted By: Zee

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 2:04 AM

Dude, that gal is huge!

Pretty cool hunt. Well done.
Posted By: KRal

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 2:12 AM

 Originally Posted By: Zee
Dude, that gal is huge!

Pretty cool hunt. Well done.


If you think those two were big, you should have seen the one a 13 year old girl killed the day after mine. It field dressed at 732 lbs!....yes a cow!
Posted By: Okie Hunter

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 2:40 AM

Congrats to you both.
Posted By: junebug

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 3:27 AM

Well done guys. Lots of good eating for you both.
Posted By: Ernie

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 3:37 AM

They are soooo big!
Congrats!
Posted By: jamesfromjersey

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 5:57 AM

I`ve always heard that Shiras and Maine moose were about the same but if that`s the typical weight on a Maine female I think they may have them beat....
\:o
Posted By: KRal

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 2:03 PM

I actually seen some that were bigger than the one I shot, I just wasn?t able to get a shot at them. I thought the one I got was kind of unique in the coloration; the light colored face and light colors through out the coat was pretty - if you can call a moose pretty 😜. Out of all the sighting, this is the only one seen with that coloration, all the rest were the common dark brown color.
Posted By: Whitworth

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 3:06 PM

Great job, Kim! That moose will provide some good eating!
Posted By: KRal

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 4:01 PM

 Originally Posted By: Whitworth
Great job, Kim! That moose will provide some good eating!


You ain?t kidding! Moose is very tasty!
Posted By: 500WE

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/05/2019 11:45 PM

GREAT looking Moose coloration! Congratulations to both you and Robert!
Posted By: BRASF0311

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/06/2019 1:14 AM

Looks like a great moose hunt Kim, congratulations.
Posted By: PsTaN

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/06/2019 1:25 AM

Very happy for you ... Grats!!
Posted By: racksmasher1

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/06/2019 11:58 AM

Awesome job guys!
Posted By: Vance in AK.

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/06/2019 9:29 PM

Congrats Kim! A full freezer is a great thing!
Posted By: Randominator

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/07/2019 3:41 PM

Congratulations Kim! That looked like it was an awesome hunt!
Posted By: rougerocco

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/07/2019 10:35 PM

Congratulations! Definitely a bucket list hunt!
Is it hard to get a tag in Maine for a cow?
Posted By: KRal

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/08/2019 12:19 AM

 Originally Posted By: rougerocco
Congratulations! Definitely a bucket list hunt!
Is it hard to get a tag in Maine for a cow?


Depends if your trying to get drawn or decide to buy a tag. I?ve been putting in for draw since 2012 and have not been drawn. This year I bought a tag that was for sell.
Posted By: bluecow

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/10/2019 12:50 PM

 Originally Posted By: KRal
 Originally Posted By: sixshot
Great job on a dream hunt Kim, getting a moose in Maine is a hunt of a life time, rifle or handgun, congratulations. Whose knife did you use for gutting, skinning??

Dick


Dick, I?m almost ashamed to say
. Although Jesse owns two Ralston Knives, he did not have them with him. And...although I build Ralston knives, I haven?t had the opportunity to build myself one. That being said, I had a razor sharp custom on my side (made by David Winston) that I gladly handed it over to Jesse to use. 😎
And the cobblers children go bare foot. Congratulations! glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself here in vacation land.
Posted By: bluecow

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/10/2019 1:07 PM

rougerocco Maine reinstated the moose hunt in 1979. my father and I put in every year and we didn't get one till 1999, though i know of a few people that got drawn 3 and 4 times in that time frame. It's luck of the draw no big deal. Thank you Lord for allowing dad to go moose hunting before he died even though it liked to kill all of us. I think now you get points for putting in and not getting drawn, not sure as one moose hunt was enough for me. The next moose i get is going to be by accident with a truck and I'm going to sit down and eat em in place, retrieval my foot.
Posted By: ruger4570

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/11/2019 12:56 PM

Awesome job. That is a lot of meat.
Posted By: RH Custom Guns

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/14/2019 3:43 PM

Yes! That's awesome!
Posted By: MaineDude

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 11/26/2019 12:24 AM

Congrats!! Hope you enjoyed your stay here. I was an alternate this year for my father we ended up with 611# dressed cow. They do get bigger a few years ago my best friend and I shot a cow that dressed out at 855# My son shot a 54" bull that dressed at 995# I shot one last season that was 48" and dressed 800#. The biggest one that I saw weighed here this year was I think 1150 to 1200# dressed can't remember exactly and the rack was 60"s. We are also the home of 200+ pound dressed Whitetails the biggest two that my group shot dressed out at 260#s and the Other at 259#s we also have 226#,235# 201# and 213# dressed bucks. All those bucks were shot by myself my best friend and my father.
Posted By: BBwheelgunner

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 12/09/2019 1:46 PM

Very cool KRAL,

Congratulations! I hope you get to go on your bull moose hunt someday too.

Until then, enjoy what must be excellent table fare!
Posted By: RBO21

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 12/10/2019 5:27 PM

Well done! Congrats.
Posted By: jcp161

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 12/12/2019 1:09 PM

Congratulations!!
Posted By: KRal

Re: 2019 Maine Moose - 12/12/2019 2:56 PM

Thanks, everyone! It was a very memorable hunt and I?ve got plenty delicious venison to last a while - Some?s going on the grill tonight!
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