Thought Experiment

Trubkir17

Trubkir17

Hammer Time Executive member
Here is the situation I found myself in last Sunday. I was successfully drawn for a bull moose tag in a certain zone here in Alberta. The zone is archery only until November 1. I can use a rifle after Nov 1 until Nov 30. I also have an OTC elk tag that is usable pretty much province wide. Elk are also open where I am drawn for the moose tag and in that area I can harvest any elk I want. Elk are closed for me in that area on Nov 1.
Shortly after leaving my truck on Sunday morning I hear an elk bugle. I start moving towards that sound. I find where the elk are at and start to try and formulate a plan to get in on them. While I am looking around with my binoculars for a way to sneak in on these elk I find 2 bull moose. One of the bulls is a what I call a "magazine bull" and the other moose is still pretty decent.
My decision was to go for the moose. The way the wind was I was in an ideal spot and stalk scenario.
I was unable to complete my stalk succesfully. The moose, unknown to me at that time, were in close proximity to the edge of the elk herd I originally spotted. The elk got my wind and loudly left the area which sent the moose away too.
I will always wonder if I could have got an elk if I had stayed fixated on them.

I don't know if the correct decision was to stay on the elk or to go after the moose. I am open to thoughts.
 
Here are my thoughts Trubkir17!
Whether you were Right or Wrong, doesn't matter! You are hunting elk and moose at the same time...something I have never even dreamed of doing.
I'm pretty sure I would have done the same thing you did, if the tags were in my pocket. I would have probably also celebrated the "almost" stalk on a "magazine bull" and left it at that. You can always second guess, but it really doesn't change the outcome.
Keep after it and you will find success. If not you will at least have a great adventure...one 99% of us will never experience.
👊
 
You're making me miss Alberta hunting. I guess things have changed a bit since I lived there. I think my last big hunting trip was in 95 and you just bought moose tags over the counter as well as elk, black bear and bighorn. All four had overlapping seasons. I don't remember what the moose and elk tags were but the most expensive was bighorn at $50.

I'm also pretty sure I would have done exactly what you did.

Regards
 
Mountainman said:
You're making me miss Alberta hunting. I guess things have changed a bit since I lived there. I think my last big hunting trip was in 95 and you just bought moose tags over the counter as well as elk, black bear and bighorn. All four had overlapping seasons. I don't remember what the moose and elk tags were but the most expensive was bighorn at $50.

I'm also pretty sure I would have done exactly what you did.

Regards
Click to expand...
Moose are on a draw basis everywhere in the province except remote northern zones. Sheep tags are all a draw now as well. Probably need at least a decade of "Priority" to have a shot. Blackbear tags are still OTC but you only get one now, in 1995 you got two. You can purchase a supplemental Blackbear tag if you want two, In the year 2000, I heard a rumour that elk tags were going to be all draw as well, but the animals are too prolific, and it would have been a disaster. I don't always agree with how our province runs the conservation, but I think there are more moose now. I mean there are many sightings and calls of nuisance moose in the city of Edmonton every year.
 
Trubkir17 said:
Speaking of nuisance moose in Edmonton, it seems that about 200yds from my house a cow moose chased a guy walking his dog out of the pond area park. I would have loved to see the look on the guys face when he looked up from his phone. :D
Click to expand...
So any bulls chasing you lately?
Love to hear an update.
 
Update here. Bow season ended and I had a couple more close encounters with a fairly decent bull but I didn't have enough skill and luck to put an arrow in him.
November rolled in and I started chasing with my rifle. Long story short I connected up with my bull. Since it wasn't an archery kill I will post the full story in a more appropriate forum. Here is a picture for proof. He measured 37" at the widest point. Not a giant but I feel good about him.20231110_095930.jpg
 
Trubkir17 said:
Update here. Bow season ended and I had a couple more close encounters with a fairly decent bull but I didn't have enough skill and luck to put an arrow in him.
November rolled in and I started chasing with my rifle. Long story short I connected up with my bull. Since it wasn't an archery kill I will post the full story in a more appropriate forum. Here is a picture for proof. He measured 37" at the widest point. Not a giant but I feel good about him.View attachment 3935
Click to expand...
Congrats.

Think this is the first pic of a moose I’ve seen where I thought the animal looked small.

Not bagging on your success. Just making an observation about the photo.
 
Trubkir17 said:
@MeatBuck I know I thought that too after I took the photo. I am just not a particularly good photographer, and I got some kind of perspective that made him look smaller. Let me tell you it was a job to get him processed and back home solo.
Click to expand...
I've only killed one moose and I had a buddy with me. Breaking it down and hauling it out with the two of us took most of 2 days.
Moose, (regardless of that picture) are huge animals. Kudos to you Trubkir17 for getting it done solo...in the hoarfrost!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top