It started out as a solo attempt to get a moose with my wheelgun (45 Colt SBH Bisley Hunter). My buddy had been in the area a week before and seen a griz, last fall as well. Probably the one that got on my bait station this spring also. So, I decided I'd bring along the 325wsm "just in case" I saw the griz out at rifle range. Griz eat lots of moose. The griz population has exploded around here so Fish and Game did a way with having to buy a griz tag and a guy can shoot one per year as opposed to one every 3 or 4 years like some areas of the state. So, this hunt was also a "mission" of sorts, to hopefully get a griz out of our moose hunting area.

Well, I got back to my spot on my 4 wheeler where I was going to pitch my tent for 5 days and bingo…. I look down across my little saddle and there's mr (or mrs) griz moving away down the valley at about 500yds. I probably shagged him out of there motoring in. He took a turn and looked like maybe he was going to cross into an area I could perhaps get a crack at him so I grabbed the rifle and headed down my side of the ridge a ways. No dice, he disappeared in the brush. Okay, Mr Griz is in the house! Well, from that point forward I kept my rifle in hand in case I saw him again out past handgun range. Now enters the conundrum, I really want to call in a mature bull and get a crack at him with my wheelgun but, what if I see a little guy at rifle range and I've got the rifle in hand? I've always been a meat hunter in the sense that I will shoot the first legal one of whatever it is I'm hunting. I figure if the Lord provides opportunity and I pass it up it's not too good of an idea. I decided that if opportunity presented itself I'd stick to my ways…. fill the freezer. I did some calling, lots of glassing, saw 3 lone cows and a cow and calf. No sign of a mature bull. One night at just before dark I saw a forked/2-3 horn at 265yds, had him in the crosshairs of the 325 but did not want to lung shoot him or wound him and have to track him in the dark, in the brush, perhaps over the steep side, etc. Oh, and Mr Griz is around somewhere as well. Besides, maybe I could still get a crack at one with wheelgun. Next morning I saw a cow and cow/calf. That afternoon after awaking from my nap I was watching a cow and calf across my saddle and heating up some dinner. All of the sudden there's a little forky, moving on out at about 150yds through the old burnt black spruce. No time to stalk closer, he's on the move headed to the thick valley. Time to fill the freezer, besides, I can drive the quad right to him!

I guess I'm not quite a handgun hunter yet. After all, I did take the rifle in the field with me. I guess the wheelgun bull will have to wait another year. Looking forward to attempt black bear in the spring.

Here's my little meat bull. Nice size for one guy to handle, one 50 year old guy that is

I put the knife to him at 6:30. Had him bagged and loaded by 10:30 and took my time. My other solo bull was bigger and definitely harder to handle. Took me a little longer. Check him out, I call him a double spike, isn't he cute! Whoohoo, tasty moose for the winter! The freezer was pretty bare.





Bagged and loaded up!

Congrats. I didn't get to use my handgun on the buck I got this year either, but I still have my bear tag as well. Have fun and good luck.

Congratulations! You did well!

Congrats Snyd!
I was looking for him down here but never ran into him.
I hadn't had much opportunity to play with my SRH 480 this summer so I packed my guide Gun for moose. Still have a brownie tag to try & fill so I'm going to pack the SRH for that. Maybe try predator calls... We'll see.

Glad you filled the freezer!

Great work Snyd. I envy you the moose hunting, but that's one good thing about whitetails back East....plenty of them and we get 6 tags and can buy more if we want to. My county is all doe all the time also, so I don't have to worry much about meat. My biggest trouble is finding a county that will let me shoot the revolver! Luckily my biggest farm access is also in a handgun county.

Excuse my ignorance but do you just quarter him out in the field? You said 4 hrs which is just a long time if all your are doing is field dressing.

This was a small moose therefore only weighed about 1000lbs. Yup, skin quarter in the field. Actually, skin half, remove quarters backstraps neck meat, roll him over, do the same then remove all rib meat and flanks. Last step is to gut the bull, get the tenderloins, liver heart. It's not like gutting a dear and dragging him out of the woods. Actually, 4hrs alone is pretty good.

The old saying "The work begins when the critter hits the ground" really rings true in moose hunting!

4 hours alone is real good!

good job snyd. great moose.moose meat for winter yum.

Ok...1K lbs....hope you had a good meal and plenty of water. Seems like a lot of work. Didnt realize it was that big.

Congratulation on bull!! That is a LOT better than going home empty handed...

Alaska/Yukon moose are MUCH larger than their southern cousins with comperable head gear.
While living in Montana I killed a bull that was in the mid 40" range & body wise he was probably comporable to Snyds bull.

Congrats. How many pounds of meat do you think you harvested with that bull? You can get 40-50 pds. of meat out of a average sized deer around here. I can't imagine how much you could get out of one of those big boys.

Congradulations Snyd. That will make many a good meal this comming year. He will rest nicely next to the potatoes and gravy.

What exactly is your trailer? It looks like a Rubbermaid Stock Tank with a trailer frame under it.

tradrick- I didn't weigh the meat. I'd guess 350lb +-?? One year my buddie and I got one that was probably 1500++lbs on the hoof. 69 1/4 inch rack. Absolutley a massive animal. Really big bodied. We got 600lbs of boned out meat off that rascal and we lost some shoulder and neck meat.

Bob R- Ya, it's a 100gal rubbermaid stock tank bolted to a frame made from 2 inch square tubing. Here it is with a little bigger bull (40 incher) stuffed in it I got a few years ago. My buddy made one last year with 2 axles and a 150 gal tank.



Here a pic with the 69 inch rack on one of them. Man I sure would like to call one of these big rascals in to handgun range one day.

Anytime you get an animal it is good-Congrats.
Love your trailer too.

Very cool setup you've got there, Snyd!

Nice job!I get the eat it part,had moose once and loved it.Can't find them here,hahaha.I had the same problem or delima with the long gun.If I had it it was to easy to go to it,because they aalways seemed out of range.So I just started leaving it home more and more.Before you know it there you'll be,you,your handgun,and the great Alaskan outdoors.

350lbs of meat is insane!!! Probably going to need more than one deep freezer. Gratz again.

Congrats on the moose!

That's a neat idea for a trailer. When I was in high school a friend and his dad went to Canada each year and hunted moose. I always waited for thier return and ask when supper was!!?? Moose is very good eats!!!

So I've heard. Unfortunately haven't had the opportunity to hunt moose or eat it -- yet!

It is great, I have had it but never killed one.
I like meat hunters, they are like me. I tried boiling antlers for days and still could not eat them and the meat from those big critters is about the same!

Awesome!! Neat tricks!! I am going to have to remember that one when I get back to Texas...

Duane

Congrats on your kill. Like Ernie said a successful hunt is just that. Theres always next year. Love the trailer. For almost all big game 35% of live weight is what you can expect in meat. Next year I will start putting in for a moose tag in maine and colorado. Don't know how long it will take to draw a tag, but I plan on taking it with the BFR 45-70.Dream big!!!

Looks like you had a very successful hunt, congratulations

Snyd: Great job, good hunt! Esp. for doing it alone. Love the
home-engineered/home-built trailers.

Having done a few dozen elk by myself... Yes! Four hours on a big moose like that is REAL GOOD; trust me.

Snyd, with your good attitude, which is usually the better part of any challenge, I would say the handgun hunter part is well on its way; just keep on!

Snyd,
Congrats on the solo hunt. I envy those who live in and get to hunt Alaska. At least until winter.
The handgun kill will happen.
The trailer is awesome