Fun with Moose (pic heavy)

Cal · #1 10-18-2009, 01:32 AM

Here are some pictures from a hunt we got back from about a week ago. We canoed about 250 kms of very remote river (for Alberta). From the couple of people I found that had run the section I knew there were supposed to be some pretty serious rapids allong the way. Rather than properly scout rapids I often run them standing up so I can see the rocks and chutes better. The down side is that if we hit somthing I will probably gofor a swim, I also tend to get some minor verbal abuse from my bowman.

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Since the water was very low this year we some of this...
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But when the weather is like this you sure dont want to get a bootfull.
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Allong the way we found some great campsites
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And enjoyed some great scenery
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Cal · #2 10-18-2009, 01:43 AM

... saw some neat critters

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And dodged lots of these
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We celebrated my 28th birthday with some of the worst pancakes I've ever had and black coffee
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Tundra Monkey · #3 10-18-2009, 01:46 AM

Thanx for posting Cal....looks like fun in a pretty prestine place!!

The clam shot is pretty

tm

Cal · #4 10-18-2009, 02:01 AM

5 days into our 10 day trip we bumped into this guy. Since my partner against my will had again brough a hard case (takes up way to much space in a canoe) to keep his $400 savage safe while my gun which is worth 3x as much takes one for the team in a soft shell

His rifle was safe and secure locked up in that hard case and under four bungee cords while I quickly deplyed my own and shot myself a belated birthday presant

He only went about 4 yards but as usual it was in the wrong direction.

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Heres the money shot, too bad we didnt notice that big glob of bloody moose slobber in the foreground but whatever

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And heres my new canoe loaded up with around 1000 lbs of moose and gear. Please take note of that stupid hardcase taking up nearly as much room as a pack and rendering that cheap savage useless! I cant say enough about the canoe though, its advertized payload is 1200 lbs which I had though was probably an exageration. After having loaded it pretty darn close to its max I can tell you they are not stretching the truth. The leg room got a bit cramped though. If I did not do so much solo padling an 18 footer would be a better choice.

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We did a marathon paddle into one heck of a wind and some torential rain on the last day, trying to make it to the Noralta Camp in time for supper. We did such a good job that we actualy showed up a couple hours early and ended up driving to the next town before celebrating by wolfing down obscene amounts of roast beef at a buffet.

Cal · #5 10-18-2009, 02:39 AM

Awww rats! Here are the campsite and the scenery pictures.

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Tundra Monkey · #6 10-18-2009, 02:52 AM

Fooled me...thought you were done!!

With any luck you can convince him to bring his hardcase againg next year

Thanx again.....looked like ya had a great time,

tm

Donny Bear · #7 10-18-2009, 05:25 AM

Excellent! Looks like a great adventure to have taken nice pictues and sure appreciate your sharing them.

Andythehillbilly · #8 10-18-2009, 05:47 AM

Looks like an awesome trip, nice pics and thanks for sharing!

Rocks · #9 10-18-2009, 08:05 AM

Nice pictures and story, congrats on the moose!

catnthehat · #10 10-18-2009, 08:42 AM

Great pics!
Danged moose ALWAYS go the wrong way if there is water or a bog!

That river looks familiar for some reason...
Cat

gramps73 · #11 10-18-2009, 09:09 AM

great pictures. ome question how did you get the moose 2 guys and equipment in the canoe?

#12 10-18-2009, 09:14 AM

Great adventure. I'm gonna guess the Athabasca river? Too bad that big arse gun case doesn't float though.

BigRackLover · #13 10-18-2009, 09:37 AM

Nice picture story ... very nice and congratulations! Nice bull for sure.

That's a big gun case.

whitetail Junkie · #14 10-18-2009, 09:38 AM

Wow thats quite the hunting adventure,thats old school hunting right there.alot of guys would'nt have the balls to hunt the way you did.I tip my hat to you.However I did have a laugh because your hunting trip reminded me of the movie deliverece

.Hope you didnt run into to many alberta hillbillys!!!!

mikelewis · #15 10-18-2009, 09:47 AM

Great story and hunt... My friends and I have talked about a hunt like that for a couple of years now. Thank-you for sharing yours.. Congrats on the Big old Moose. I bet you, it was a battle getting him dressed out in that water. Take care Mike P.S Impressed by that Canoe as well !!!!!!!!

Walleyes · #16 10-18-2009, 10:21 AM

Looks like quite the adventure you guys went on. That is really nice to see in Alberta and you guys deserve the fine animal you got. Well done for both of you.

Thx a lot for the fine story and great pictures..

Jamie · #17 10-18-2009, 10:56 AM

Very cool adventure!!!!!

As for the $$$$ Shot.
It will take you 2 minutes on Photo editior to fix.

We took a gory pic of my cousins first wt. His mom wanted to frame it and give it to him for Xmass. By the time I got done with it. It was clean.
You can just blur that little part with the same colors of the water.

Congrats.

Jamie

Alberta Bigbore · #18 10-18-2009, 11:03 AM

really enjoyed this post. congrats on a great hunt

WkndWarrior · #19 10-18-2009, 11:49 AM

Awsome story and pics. Not many guys at 28 years old would ever think of spending their birthday in a canoe moose hunting. Good on ya!!

Cal · #20 10-18-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gramps73

great pictures. ome question how did you get the moose 2 guys and equipment in the canoe?

The first step to getting a moose into a canoe is packing light, pack like you would if you were backpacking and then add bit more gear but not too much. Once you shoot your moose you can ditch your food if you have to. You lay the quarters in the bottom of the canoe like a puzzle but make sure you stagger the quarters (one hind quarter forward of the thwart left side, one behind and on the right side with the front quartes vice-versa) if you want your canoe float properly trimmed and with minimal listing. Then you put your gear on top of the moose. This keeps your moose cool and your center of gravity low as well as keeping your gear relatively clean.

Dressing and quartering was not actualy that bad, as we progressed we could drag it a little bit shallower after each step untill we had it up on the bar to get the backstraps, tenderloins, and antlers off. Hunting moose from a canoe is the only way to go, lots of work but it is entirely worth the solitude that comes with hunting places motorized vehicals cant go.

Thanks Jamie, maby I can also blur out my half undone fly in the first picrue too

slopeshunter · #21 10-18-2009, 01:09 PM

Great adventure Cal! Thanks for sharing.

TreeGuy · #22 10-18-2009, 02:34 PM

Congrats and happy belated b-day! What a trip. Very, very cool, Cal. Thanks so much for sharing your adventure with us......sortta. Now I have another thing on my 'must-do' list!

Tree

altaberg · #23 10-18-2009, 02:46 PM

thank you Cal,

good story, good pictures.

Frans and I used a canoe for hunting this year too. I have a stoyr of my rifle case too.

Tuc · #24 10-18-2009, 03:43 PM

Congrats on a great hunt!

thumper · #25 10-18-2009, 05:17 PM

A 'classic' Alberta hunt. Thanks for the great pictures & story!

Skinnydipper · #26 10-18-2009, 06:14 PM

If you shoot two moose......does the second occupant then have to walk?

Tuc · #27 10-18-2009, 07:02 PM

Cal, looks like you guys had a great trip. Nice pics too!
I'm going to do me a river hunt one of these years.
All the best!

eric2381 · #28 10-18-2009, 08:15 PM

That looks great Cal. Congrats on the moose. Try to keep your fly up next time though....

SugarCreek · #29 10-18-2009, 08:49 PM

Congrats on a great moose. Fantastic photos.......thanks for posting.......Marco

Cal · #30 10-18-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinnydipper

If you shoot two moose......does the second occupant then have to walk?

Shooting two moose is not an option, even deer are off limits untill the last day if we have not got a moose but that hasnt happened yet. We only take one tag, and the other guy gets a partner licence to keep everything legal. One moose between two guys is plenty.