Well finally a cold front coming Sunday. Just in time for my moose hunt. Anyone else getting ready to give it a go?
Moose
- Thread starter Zim
- Start date
I have a unit 20 tag. I just arrived in Alpine. Given the temps I'm taking all day Sunday to orient myself with the area. Pick a place to camp, find someone with horses, sight in the rifle & also shoot my bow.
I'm not excited about weather forecast. May just blow off hunting this week and work in Jackson to save my vacation days until Thursday or Friday.
I'm not excited about weather forecast. May just blow off hunting this week and work in Jackson to save my vacation days until Thursday or Friday.
Well I'm a week into this hunt and rate it a solid D for dismal. The moose numbers in this place are terrible. I've scouted and hunted many of the canyons with the best habitat and they contain very little moose sign. Also spoken to many hunters. You are going to see the success stats from this unit take a hit the next time you see them.
Still trying my last couple researched spots but I already know there are others hunting them because I drove past for a look see.
If you are considering applying for this unit, don't even consider it unless you have horses.
Still trying my last couple researched spots but I already know there are others hunting them because I drove past for a look see.
If you are considering applying for this unit, don't even consider it unless you have horses.
birdhunter
Active Member
I have a couple buddies hunting area 20 for moose. They are seeing around 10 to 15 moose a day. Saw a big 11x10 and are working their way towards him. The moose are in there its just finding the area holding them. They are on foot as well. The snake river canyon is also a good place for a bull moose. Dont know if you are in that area or not.
birdhunter, Well that is the first positive mention from anyone on it this year. At least good to know there are some left. The snow might shake things up a bit too. Plan is to cover as much ground as I can until I see something.
I am taking a couple days off to work in Jackson, then will resume hunting Saturday. Yes the Snake River Canyon area I scouted a bit, got some info on, but there were hunters at every trailhead when I drove past last week. There is one trailhead there I intend to hunt from if I am unsuccessful at my next destination. We'll see how it goes.
Due to Columbus Day holiday plus 4 days I was able to work remotely, I got my vacation extended another week to October 16, so I have another full week to hunt.
I am taking a couple days off to work in Jackson, then will resume hunting Saturday. Yes the Snake River Canyon area I scouted a bit, got some info on, but there were hunters at every trailhead when I drove past last week. There is one trailhead there I intend to hunt from if I am unsuccessful at my next destination. We'll see how it goes.
Due to Columbus Day holiday plus 4 days I was able to work remotely, I got my vacation extended another week to October 16, so I have another full week to hunt.
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Hunt Report 10/11/11
This is officially the worst hunt of any kind I have ever been on in my life. If you have Wyoming moose points, I would strongly suggest you research the hell out of your selected unit more than typical, and scout it thoroughly more than typical, before applying.
I have worked my tail off for over a week, putting in 10-16 miles per day in mostly remote, difficult to access areas. I have spoken to many elk hunters asking if they'd seen moose. I've done everything. Yesterday I climbed to the highest peak at shooting light, where I could glass 5 miles in every direction. Saw a grand total of 2 cow moose & zero elk. I have spoken with several others with moose tags. They concur. Am aware of 3 hunters who got lucky and tagged small bulls, but for WYG&Y to claim a 100% hunter success rate in this unit is a sham.
Yesterday at dusk I heard a first in my 20 years of hunting.........wolves howling. At least 3 of them, one within ~300 yards. Just prior to that I'd head a bull moose grunting in the timber ~70 yards away. After the first wolf howl the bull completely clammed up.
Thanks god I read in the Jackson newspaper USF&W and the state came to an agreement on wolf management. Too little, too late for my hunt, but should help other sportsmen.
I have 4 days left on my hunt, but realistically give myself a slim to none chance, and slim just left town. Beware others with WY moose points.
This is officially the worst hunt of any kind I have ever been on in my life. If you have Wyoming moose points, I would strongly suggest you research the hell out of your selected unit more than typical, and scout it thoroughly more than typical, before applying.
I have worked my tail off for over a week, putting in 10-16 miles per day in mostly remote, difficult to access areas. I have spoken to many elk hunters asking if they'd seen moose. I've done everything. Yesterday I climbed to the highest peak at shooting light, where I could glass 5 miles in every direction. Saw a grand total of 2 cow moose & zero elk. I have spoken with several others with moose tags. They concur. Am aware of 3 hunters who got lucky and tagged small bulls, but for WYG&Y to claim a 100% hunter success rate in this unit is a sham.
Yesterday at dusk I heard a first in my 20 years of hunting.........wolves howling. At least 3 of them, one within ~300 yards. Just prior to that I'd head a bull moose grunting in the timber ~70 yards away. After the first wolf howl the bull completely clammed up.
Thanks god I read in the Jackson newspaper USF&W and the state came to an agreement on wolf management. Too little, too late for my hunt, but should help other sportsmen.
I have 4 days left on my hunt, but realistically give myself a slim to none chance, and slim just left town. Beware others with WY moose points.
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Elkoholic307
Banned
The unit was a mid-tier rated unit, and has produced in the past. The next tier up would have been to wait for unit 1. At 2 points down, it would have been 5-10 years to cycle through those ahead of me. I'd have been 60 years old by then. The only thing that would have sped up the wait was the wolf management, but how long for that to impact? Many years.
I got many good reviews of this unit leading up to my choice. However, I think I just picked the year it was teetering on disaster and it tipped over in 2011. Just my thought.
I got many good reviews of this unit leading up to my choice. However, I think I just picked the year it was teetering on disaster and it tipped over in 2011. Just my thought.
I may not be able to tell you where to use your points, but I can certainly tell you where NOT to use them. That would be unit 20. Of course you should not just go by my word, but I've spoken with other tag holders here and they all agree.
Well at least I got something. Dropped this dink Tuesday evening and am ecstatic. There are so few moose in this unit I felt bad shooting one. They need all the help they can get. I've only seen 2 bull moose in 10 days and they were both this size. No regrets. Headed home this weekend.
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
I keep a running Word document on units all over the west. I have your notes in there. I appreciate the heads up as I have looked at that unit in the past.
sjsmallfield
Veteran member
birdhunter
Active Member
Congratulations!! Thats not a bad bull. Unless you hunt around the bighorns now days, the wolves have decimated the moose population. In an area with wolves, its getting rare to see a great bull being taken. Be proud of it. Its looking up om terms of wolf hunting here in Wyoming and hopefully by next year we can hunt them. Nice bull, hope you had a somewhat pleasant trip.
Elkoholic307
Banned
Took him with my Remington .300 mag. Dang those things make big holes! Used to bowhunting. I stayed with my moose, field dressing him until 1 AM. Nice cold 25 degree night and no flies. Butcher at Jackson Hole Processing even complimented me on the excellent condition of the meat. Eager to pull out Sunday morning, go pick up my elk in Loveland, and head home.
If you enjoy listening to wolves howl all night, climbing 2 hours in the dark to glass 5 miles and see nothing, talking to elk hunters who saw one shooter bull moose a mile away in a week of hunting, and having between a 2% and snowball chance in hell of taking a shooter bull...........this is the unit for you. Seriously, they need to get some wolf management in unit 20 and shut down all moose hunting before they're extirpated.
I am still very satisfied I put maximum effort into this hunt and am very thankful for my bull.
Only two weeks til prime Illinois deer rut. Got to rest up for that next.
If you enjoy listening to wolves howl all night, climbing 2 hours in the dark to glass 5 miles and see nothing, talking to elk hunters who saw one shooter bull moose a mile away in a week of hunting, and having between a 2% and snowball chance in hell of taking a shooter bull...........this is the unit for you. Seriously, they need to get some wolf management in unit 20 and shut down all moose hunting before they're extirpated.
I am still very satisfied I put maximum effort into this hunt and am very thankful for my bull.
Only two weeks til prime Illinois deer rut. Got to rest up for that next.
Joe Hulburt
Active Member
Really thankful I didn't start buying preference points in Wyoming....
But heck at least you get to eat a moose Zim! Some of us may never get the chance.
But heck at least you get to eat a moose Zim! Some of us may never get the chance.