Moose hunt trip: Florida to Manning, AB

[Blockcaver]

Be prepared for possible hot weather too. I arrowed a moose the last week of Sept, 2022...same dates you are going. Daytime highs were in the high 70's F. Luckily I brought a chest freezer, Honda EU1000i generator, vacuum sealer, cutting boards, electric knife sharpener with me. Camp only had one freezer with limited space. I cut and vacuum sealed the entire moose (with excellent assistance from the outfitter's mom) the day after killing it and froze it up for the 18 hour trip back to BC. We were in northern Alberta.

Without the generator and freezer I likely would have lost meat. The totally de-boned and packaged red meat, plus dog scraps off the 40" bull totalled up to 460# on my bathroom scale.

Good luck to you!

[Lunkerhunter]

I would guess 200 is extremely long but may depend if you are shooting across meadows or swamps and calling them out. I hunt one wmu over from there and shots and opportunities have been 20-40 yards usually. It can be thick! Smart to bring both once you figure out how you be calling and sequencing and setting up.


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[Lunkerhunter]

Forgot to mention: I’ve loved reading this thread. Ice fishing is winding down up here and this has me dreaming of the beautiful fall ahead.

What an incredible trip you are making across the continent. You won’t be disappointed you’ve lined up an amazing location and hunt.

Where about in Florida are you located?

I visited near Port Charlotte on the gulf coast in December and was loving the salt water pier fishing. Saw a shark get caught, manatees swimming under my jig and I loved the weird looking small fish I was catching but I’m sure locals would regard them as junk non game species (lizard fish, mangrove snapper, angel fish)


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[A207X2]

Originally Posted by Lunkerhunter

Forgot to mention: I’ve loved reading this thread. Ice fishing is winding down up here and this has me dreaming of the beautiful fall ahead.

What an incredible trip you are making across the continent. You won’t be disappointed you’ve lined up an amazing location and hunt.

Where about in Florida are you located?

I visited near Port Charlotte on the gulf coast in December and was loving the salt water pier fishing. Saw a shark get caught, manatees swimming under my jig and I loved the weird looking small fish I was catching but I’m sure locals would regard them as junk non game species (lizard fish, mangrove snapper, angel fish)


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We're in Fort Myers, about 40 miles south of Port Charlotte. We spend our summers up in N. Georgia up in the Appalachian Mountains (gets us out of the hurricane season).

[Lunkerhunter]

Nice! Well as others have said keep us updated on your adventures this upcoming fall! Enjoy the salt life until then!


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[Drewski Canuck]

As for shot distance, I have called in a handful to 30 yards and less.

You will never understand how these things can go through alder and willow like a ghost and not make a sound. Then you turn around and they are staring right at you!

It is very unnerving looking at the nose at 9 X and you are trying to turn the scope down enough to see the chest.

Drewski

[Twisted Canuck]

That's why you always keep it dialed right down. If you have to dial up for a longer shot, no problem. Dialing down will get you busted.

I've also had moose show up 5 yards behind me, calling over a meadow, and suddenly there he is behind me, came through the thick willows and never heard a thing. And also didn't get him

[Big Grey Wolf]

Twisted 'Coming up behind you' you may have been very fortunate nothing more serious or painful may have happened.

[Twisted Canuck]

That is also true.

[Moo Snukkle]

All this hunting talk and no horn porn? Sorry A20, but I’ll get the ball rolling

Sorry, can only load singles
These are Northern Ab specimens


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[Moo Snukkle]

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[Moo Snukkle]

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[Moo Snukkle]

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[A207X2]

Great photos. Setting the bar for me, eh?

[Moo Snukkle]

My advice is to make memories. Going home empty handed should not deminish your experience of being in the remote wilderness. Bagging an animal is only about 1/5 of the experience.
But I do wish you good luck!

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by Blockcaver

Be prepared for possible hot weather too.

Definitely this. The past few years that time of year was dry and warm/hot - could easily be t-shirt weather. It should definitely be a consideration for meat handling and the trip back.

200 meters seems like quite a long shot for the area, but your outfitter/guide should probably know better.

While there are also things to see east/south, I’d pick west for the way to get here and come back the other way (the Dakotas, etc).

[Ruger71]

Love hunting in this area - arrived in Alberta in 2016 and did the usual trying to find remote areas for the adventure of getting away - and landed in the Chin. It's been a great place - met some great folks hunting up there. We weren't drawn last year...so really looking forward to it. Never have run into truck/access issues - quads - a little different....it's not an adventure until you have to winch....

This string makes me really look forward to the trip this year (later than OP - we're heading in last week of Sept through to mid-October).

Our shots haven't had to go past 200m....we've had moose, mulie, and WT pulled out of there. Love setting up the wall tent on the bank of the Chinchaga...beautiful spot.

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by fishnguy

Definitely this. The past few years that time of year was dry and warm/hot - could easily be t-shirt weather. It should definitely be a consideration for meat handling and the trip back.

200 meters seems like quite a long shot for the area, but your outfitter/guide should probably know better.

While there are also things to see east/south, I’d pick west for the way to get here and come back the other way (the Dakotas, etc).

Originally Posted by Ruger71

Love hunting in this area - arrived in Alberta in 2016 and did the usual trying to find remote areas for the adventure of getting away - and landed in the Chin. It's been a great place - met some great folks hunting up there. We weren't drawn last year...so really looking forward to it. Never have run into truck/access issues - quads - a little different....it's not an adventure until you have to winch....

This string makes me really look forward to the trip this year (later than OP - we're heading in last week of Sept through to mid-October).

Our shots haven't had to go past 200m....we've had moose, mulie, and WT pulled out of there. Love setting up the wall tent on the bank of the Chinchaga...beautiful spot.

Great info. How bad are the flies/mosquitos/bugs?

[Big Grey Wolf]

Normal fall bugs are gone/frozen by end of September, now we are having very warm days into October so may be the odd tough mosquito.

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by Blockcaver

Be prepared for possible hot weather too. I arrowed a moose the last week of Sept, 2022...same dates you are going. Daytime highs were in the high 70's F. Luckily I brought a chest freezer, Honda EU1000i generator, vacuum sealer, cutting boards, electric knife sharpener with me. Camp only had one freezer with limited space. I cut and vacuum sealed the entire moose (with excellent assistance from the outfitter's mom) the day after killing it and froze it up for the 18 hour trip back to BC. We were in northern Alberta.

Without the generator and freezer I likely would have lost meat. The totally de-boned and packaged red meat, plus dog scraps off the 40" bull totalled up to 460# on my bathroom scale.

Good luck to you!

So let me ask you: How big of a chest freezer should I bring, based on 460 lbs of meat? If need be, I could buy a used, scratch 'n dent that I could throw on the trailer along with a generator. Would that be 15 cubic feet?

[huntinstuff]

Originally Posted by A207X2

So let me ask you: How big of a chest freezer should I bring, based on 460 lbs of meat? If need be, I could buy a used, scratch 'n dent that I could throw on the trailer along with a generator. Would that be 15 cubic feet?

That should do it.

[urban rednek]

Originally Posted by fatboyz

When you cross the border tell them that Ithaca is for bird hunting. (Upland, grouse) not for self defence. My hunter from South Carolina drove up to hunt moose with us this fall and they wouldn’t let him bring his 30-30 for self defence stating you don’t need a firearm to defend yourself. He drove into a small town in North Dakota and left it with a store owner and picked it up on his way home.

I'll add a few comments for things that would not be obvious to someone from out of province. Well, the first 3 anyways.

1. Get/make a magazine plug for the Ithaca. Alberta game bird hunting law limits a shotgun to 3 rounds total. 2 in the mag, 1 in the chamber. If you are checked by an officer that knows this, they will question a shotgun that can hold 8 for hunting birds. Take the plug out and load it with your favourite medicine when you get to your location.

2. Alberta law prohibits having a loaded firearm in, or on a motorized vehicle. Do not transport loaded, do not let a loaded firearm touch the vehicle. Not even leaning against a tire or laying it on the tailgate or the hood. You can have the detachable mag for the BAR loaded; just make sure it's not in the firearm.

3. This one is really nit-picky, but it's a PITA if they choose to apply it to you. In Alberta, aftermarket lights that are mounted above the level of the headlights need to be covered when on the highway. Put lightbar covers on when travelling on the highways to save a potential headache.
I know locals that received a ticket and then were forced to disconnect their lightbar because they didn't have a way to cover it.

4. In certain situations, steering chains on a 2WD can be more of a hindrance than a help.

Enjoy the trip and have a great hunt.

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by fatboyz

When you cross the border tell them that Ithaca is for bird hunting. (Upland, grouse) not for self defence. My hunter from South Carolina drove up to hunt moose with us this fall and they wouldn’t let him bring his 30-30 for self defence stating you don’t need a firearm to defend yourself. He drove into a small town in North Dakota and left it with a store owner and picked it up on his way home.

Wow! I totally missed this one! THANK YOU!

Originally Posted by urban rednek

I'll add a few comments for things that would not be obvious to someone from out of province. Well, the first 3 anyways.

1. Get/make a magazine plug for the Ithaca. Alberta game bird hunting law limits a shotgun to 3 rounds total. 2 in the mag, 1 in the chamber. If you are checked by an officer that knows this, they will question a shotgun that can hold 8 for hunting birds. Take the plug out and load it with your favourite medicine when you get to your location.

Great idea!

3. This one is really nit-picky, but it's a PITA if they choose to apply it to you. In Alberta, aftermarket lights that are mounted above the level of the headlights need to be covered when on the highway. Put lightbar covers on when travelling on the highways to save a potential headache.
I know locals that received a ticket and then were forced to disconnect their lightbar because they didn't have a way to cover it.

I'll get one to cover the light bar. The fog lights are below the headlights.

4. In certain situations, steering chains on a 2WD can be more of a hindrance than a help.

I'll throw a set in the toolbox just in case, but thank you for all that information.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

Normal fall bugs are gone/frozen by end of September, now we are having very warm days into October so may be the odd tough mosquito.

Better bring a bug mask just in case.

[fishnguy]

I don’t think bugs would be an issue. The ones that could be, I have never seen out that way (but I do not spend nearly enough time out there as I do here, a couple hours south).

[Albertacoyotecaller]

I would travel through the US as much as you can to save on travel costs. I don’t think you will have much issue with your truck on the Chinchauga to km 100 hill in 2 wheel drive. From km 100 onwards, could potentially be the issue but your outfitter should be right there to help you. I work/hunt down the Chin road quite often and live in Peace River. If you need help, contact me on here.

Have a good hunt.

[Blockcaver]

Originally Posted by A207X2

So let me ask you: How big of a chest freezer should I bring, based on 460 lbs of meat? If need be, I could buy a used, scratch 'n dent that I could throw on the trailer along with a generator. Would that be 15 cubic feet?

I use an ancient 12 CF Maytag chest freezer that refuses to die...travels well in the back of the pickup or on my open trailer. It held the 460# of vacuum sealed moose meat easily. And the Honda EU1000i generator starts and runs it fine.

[Albertacoyotecaller]

Originally Posted by A207X2

For those of you who have hunted this area (WMU 524) I’m told that shots are mostly 200 yards or less. Is that the case? I’m planning on using my 30-06 but really enjoy hunting with my Henry 45-70. 200 is out of the range of the Henry though, so it’ll be my backup gun.

Yes, shots are generally 200 yards or less. Depends where your outfitter has you hunting. There has been lots of logging the past few years in the Chin area.

I would bring the 06 with good 180-200gr bullets if wolf is on the menu as well.

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by Blockcaver

I use an ancient 12 CF Maytag chest freezer that refuses to die...travels well in the back of the pickup or on my open trailer. It held the 460# of vacuum sealed moose meat easily. And the Honda EU1000i generator starts and runs it fine.

I can pick up a 15 cf chest freezer scratch ‘n dent for about $500. I have a couple of Champion 2600v inverters. I would bring one of them with me.

Is there somewhere in Manning where I could buy some big Igloo ice chests if I needed them, or do I need to bring them with me?

Originally Posted by Albertacoyotecaller;4710709[B

]I would travel through the US as much as you can to save on travel costs.[/B] I don’t think you will have much issue with your truck on the Chinchauga to km 100 hill in 2 wheel drive. From km 100 onwards, could potentially be the issue but your outfitter should be right there to help you. I work/hunt down the Chin road quite often and live in Peace River. If you need help, contact me on here.

Have a good hunt.

Great point about the costs. How much are you paying for diesel these days?

I would bring the 06 with good 180-200gr bullets if wolf is on the menu as well.

The 06 has BuffaloBore 168 gr lead free Barnes TTSX moving at nearly 3,000 FPS. Supposed to be able to knock down anything in N. America.

[NCC]

That bullet choice will be more than adequate for moose.

I'd really look at how you can get everything into the box of your pick up and leave the trailer at home. Two more tires, 4 more wheel bearings, and additional lights, etc to fail. your fuel economy will suffer. You'll be in a bind if you get into trouble on a muddy road with a trailer.