Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
#76121
10/19/2010 3:01 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 310
Snyd
OP
enthusiast
|
OP
enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 310 |
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!
Last edited by Snyd; 10/19/2010 3:08 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Snyd]
#76124
10/19/2010 3:08 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 150
BIGSTEVE83
member
|
member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 150 |
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.
I got just what those zombie's need right here!
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: BIGSTEVE83]
#76126
10/19/2010 3:39 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836 |
Congratulations! You did well!
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: BIGSTEVE83]
#76128
10/19/2010 4:40 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,399
Vance in AK.
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,399 |
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!
Vance in AK.
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Vance in AK.]
#76136
10/19/2010 6:28 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 679
guitarpicva
addict
|
addict
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 679 |
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.
guitarpicva |||||| [o] VA AC4IY ...How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; ... 1 Kings 18
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: guitarpicva]
#76139
10/19/2010 6:45 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 31
myv6mustang
newbie
|
newbie
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 31 |
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.
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: myv6mustang]
#76143
10/19/2010 7:54 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 310
Snyd
OP
enthusiast
|
OP
enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 310 |
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.
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Snyd]
#76145
10/19/2010 8:31 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,399
Vance in AK.
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,399 |
The old saying "The work begins when the critter hits the ground" really rings true in moose hunting!
Vance in AK.
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Vance in AK.]
#76146
10/19/2010 8:33 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 427
Recoil
addict
|
addict
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 427 |
4 hours alone is real good!
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Recoil]
#76151
10/19/2010 10:16 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 998
dc74
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 998 |
good job snyd. great moose.moose meat for winter yum.
shoot it if its still coming shot it again!!!
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: dc74]
#76154
10/19/2010 10:30 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 31
myv6mustang
newbie
|
newbie
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 31 |
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.
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: myv6mustang]
#76156
10/19/2010 10:38 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,331
TCTex.
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,331 |
Congratulation on bull!! That is a LOT better than going home empty handed...
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb Benjamin Franklin
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: myv6mustang]
#76159
10/19/2010 11:15 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,399
Vance in AK.
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,399 |
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. 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.
Vance in AK.
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Vance in AK.]
#76160
10/19/2010 11:22 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 75
tradrick
journeyman
|
journeyman
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 75 |
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.
Shoot Straight Shoot Safe Shoot Often
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: tradrick]
#76162
10/19/2010 11:35 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,155
Bob Roach
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,155 |
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.
See You At The Range
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Snyd]
#76184
10/20/2010 6:30 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 310
Snyd
OP
enthusiast
|
OP
enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 310 |
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.
Last edited by Snyd; 10/20/2010 6:34 AM.
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Snyd]
#76186
10/20/2010 10:45 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512
Ernie
Distinguished Master
|
Distinguished Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512 |
Anytime you get an animal it is good-Congrats. Love your trailer too.
Ernie the Un-Tactical
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Snyd]
#76187
10/20/2010 11:22 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836 |
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. Very cool setup you've got there, Snyd!
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Whitworth]
#76200
10/20/2010 2:21 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,757
cottonstalk
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,757 |
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.
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence,try orderin' someone else's dog around" unknown cowboy
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: cottonstalk]
#76208
10/20/2010 3:29 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 31
myv6mustang
newbie
|
newbie
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 31 |
350lbs of meat is insane!!! Probably going to need more than one deep freezer. Gratz again.
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: myv6mustang]
#76210
10/20/2010 3:36 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,704
Tigger
Distinguished Expert
|
Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,704 |
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!!!
NRA Life Member
** NEVER! Moon a Werewolf!!**
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Tigger]
#76211
10/20/2010 3:45 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836 |
Moose is very good eats!!! So I've heard. Unfortunately haven't had the opportunity to hunt moose or eat it -- yet!
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Whitworth]
#76239
10/20/2010 11:51 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 694
430man
addict
|
addict
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 694 |
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!
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: 430man]
#76246
10/21/2010 12:23 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,331
TCTex.
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,331 |
Awesome!! Neat tricks!! I am going to have to remember that one when I get back to Texas...
Duane
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb Benjamin Franklin
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: TCTex.]
#76257
10/21/2010 4:05 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,276
cfish2
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,276 |
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!!!
Life Member NAHC HHI Member #7149 NRA Member
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Snyd]
#76390
10/23/2010 2:52 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,097
jwp475
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,097 |
Looks like you had a very successful hunt, congratulations
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: jwp475]
#76391
10/23/2010 4:01 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
Distinguished Expert
|
Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155 |
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!
|
|
|
Re: Not quite a handgunner yet I guess...
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#76396
10/23/2010 12:48 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 542
Rick
addict
|
addict
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 542 |
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
|
|
|
|
0 registered members (),
39
guests, and 3
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|