Maine Moose Tag Punched!

Nevertoomanyguns · October 17, 2012, 07:41 AM

Well had a bull permit for Zone 3 October season. Went up there with the impression that there were moose everywhere and that we would be able to be picky on which one we shot. That wasn't the case, seems like I'm eight or more years behind the good ole days! lol. First day of the hunt we passed on this bull with a cow thinking that we would be able to find/call out a nicer bull.

We only saw one more moose the first day, a cow that I happened to call out.

The second day I called out a bull just before last light, he came into within 30 yards of us. He presented a nice shot but rack was smaller than the first one, however his body was about the same size. We ended up passing on him.

On the third day I called out another bull within a few minutes of first light, however this guy was just a baby under 500 pounds so we passed on him. We did not see another moose all day. We were told that Zone 3 was a trophy zone and that we would have our pick, however; when we got there after we had already passed on three bulls we were told that Zone 3 was awesome about 8 years ago and that it has been hunted hard since then... and it is not the same! They gave us funny looks like we were foolish to pass on the other bulls. Our hearts sunk and we started to wonder if we made a fatal error?

The fourth day of the hunt didn't make us feel any better when we didn't make one moose sighting for the whole day! We hunted from first light to last light everyday with a lot of road running and calling at prime spots. We ran into other hunters that said that they still haven't seen a moose!!! Oh boy have we messed up??

So that night with only two days of hunting left we decided that we would shoot the very next legal bull that we saw, unless it was an absolute baby. Well Friday morning 20 minutes after legal first light this bull stepped out, and I took the shot. He wasn't the rack we were looking for but getting real close to crunch time and sightings dropping I would rather have some nice moose meat in the freezer rather than an unused tag stuck to the wall. He was three year old weighing in a little over 700 pounds.

On the way to the butcher we crossed over into Zone five and of course we saw a Monster Bull standing right next to the road,, just exactly the size we were dreaming of . I just hope Zone five doesn't get hunted out by the time I get my tag!! Cause that’s where I want to go..LOL By the way I was the alternate. My aunt gave me the go ahead to shoot because she was having gun troubles, feel kind of bad taking her moose, because she has been putting in for 30 years with no avail until this season and her health isn't the best so who knows if she will see another hunt? She gave me a big hug and reassured me that it was fine with her, as far as I am concerned it is her bull, she gets the antlers, and we made a good team!! Hopefully a bigger one next time if there is a next time?

There are still a few big ones left in Zone 3. At the tagging station we were told that the heaviest one weighed in so far was 1267 pounds,... state record is 1300 pounds.

Nevertoomanyguns · October 17, 2012, 08:02 AM

Nevertoomanyguns · October 17, 2012, 09:10 PM

Glad you all enjoyed it... It worked LOL

huntinaz · October 17, 2012, 09:16 PM

Pretty country! Congrats on the moose, that's a lot of meat.You shoot him with that pistol?

Nevertoomanyguns · October 17, 2012, 09:27 PM

Thanks! I shot him with the revolver.

shortwave · October 17, 2012, 10:45 PM

I know your Aunt will be eating more then the antlers your giving her.

Sounds like you had a great time in some beautiful country.

Great pistol shooting by the way.

Congrats!

couillon · October 17, 2012, 11:44 PM

Congratulations. Any moose would be a trophy to me. Especially with a revolver.

Kreyzhorse · October 18, 2012, 06:48 AM

Congrats. Great post too. I'd have been thrilled to have taken that moose.

Thanks for posting.

hooligan1 · October 18, 2012, 08:38 AM

That country is beautiful man, congrats dude.

AllenJ · October 18, 2012, 09:04 AM

congrats on your successful hunt, you'll enjoy that meat for a while.

bird_dog · October 18, 2012, 09:22 AM

That's great -- Maine moose is one of my dreams.

I've hunted that area for bears several times over the last 20 years, and I always wish I didn't have to leave.

Congrats on an awesome kill.

Joel

Vermonter · October 18, 2012, 01:22 PM

Nice work. What caliber is that hog leg anyhow?

Deja vu · October 18, 2012, 02:24 PM

That is great photography. Moose is great meat, one of the best wild game you can get (in my opinion)

p.s. what caliber is that revolver?

Nevertoomanyguns · October 18, 2012, 11:12 PM

Thanks everyone! The revolver is a Smith & Wesson Model 29-3 8 3/8" barrel .44 magnum. I used my reloads = Hornady 240 grain XTP over 23 grains of
H110. Called him in to within 30 yards shot him in the neck = Bang! Flop! Stiff legs quick death.

Sphawley · October 19, 2012, 03:48 AM

Congrats!! Sweet trophy!

mete · October 19, 2012, 06:27 AM

Another 44mag hunter !!

great gun !

from the photos that's a potato fed moose, must be extra delicious !

October 17, 2012, 07:41 AM	#1
Nevertoomanyguns Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 213	Maine Moose Tag Punched! Well had a bull permit for Zone 3 October season. Went up there with the impression that there were moose everywhere and that we would be able to be picky on which one we shot. That wasn't the case, seems like I'm eight or more years behind the good ole days! lol. First day of the hunt we passed on this bull with a cow thinking that we would be able to find/call out a nicer bull. We only saw one more moose the first day, a cow that I happened to call out. The second day I called out a bull just before last light, he came into within 30 yards of us. He presented a nice shot but rack was smaller than the first one, however his body was about the same size. We ended up passing on him. On the third day I called out another bull within a few minutes of first light, however this guy was just a baby under 500 pounds so we passed on him. We did not see another moose all day. We were told that Zone 3 was a trophy zone and that we would have our pick, however; when we got there after we had already passed on three bulls we were told that Zone 3 was awesome about 8 years ago and that it has been hunted hard since then... and it is not the same! They gave us funny looks like we were foolish to pass on the other bulls. Our hearts sunk and we started to wonder if we made a fatal error? The fourth day of the hunt didn't make us feel any better when we didn't make one moose sighting for the whole day! We hunted from first light to last light everyday with a lot of road running and calling at prime spots. We ran into other hunters that said that they still haven't seen a moose!!! Oh boy have we messed up?? So that night with only two days of hunting left we decided that we would shoot the very next legal bull that we saw, unless it was an absolute baby. Well Friday morning 20 minutes after legal first light this bull stepped out, and I took the shot. He wasn't the rack we were looking for but getting real close to crunch time and sightings dropping I would rather have some nice moose meat in the freezer rather than an unused tag stuck to the wall. He was three year old weighing in a little over 700 pounds. On the way to the butcher we crossed over into Zone five and of course we saw a Monster Bull standing right next to the road,, just exactly the size we were dreaming of . I just hope Zone five doesn't get hunted out by the time I get my tag!! Cause that’s where I want to go..LOL By the way I was the alternate. My aunt gave me the go ahead to shoot because she was having gun troubles, feel kind of bad taking her moose, because she has been putting in for 30 years with no avail until this season and her health isn't the best so who knows if she will see another hunt? She gave me a big hug and reassured me that it was fine with her, as far as I am concerned it is her bull, she gets the antlers, and we made a good team!! Hopefully a bigger one next time if there is a next time? There are still a few big ones left in Zone 3. At the tagging station we were told that the heaviest one weighed in so far was 1267 pounds,... state record is 1300 pounds. Last edited by Nevertoomanyguns; October 17, 2012 at 08:30 AM.

October 17, 2012, 08:02 AM	#2
Nevertoomanyguns Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 213	Last edited by Nevertoomanyguns; October 17, 2012 at 08:30 AM.

October 17, 2012, 09:10 PM	#3
Nevertoomanyguns Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 213	Glad you all enjoyed it... It worked LOL Last edited by Nevertoomanyguns; October 18, 2012 at 11:07 PM.

October 17, 2012, 09:16 PM	#4
huntinaz Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2010 Location: az Posts: 1,332	Pretty country! Congrats on the moose, that's a lot of meat.You shoot him with that pistol? __________________ "When there’s lead in the air, there’s hope in the heart”- Hunter’s Proverb "Feed me, or feed me to something. I just want to be part of the food chain." -Al Bundy

October 18, 2012, 06:48 AM	#8
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Congrats. Great post too. I'd have been thrilled to have taken that moose. Thanks for posting. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

October 17, 2012, 09:27 PM	#5
Nevertoomanyguns Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 213	Thanks! I shot him with the revolver.

October 17, 2012, 10:45 PM	#6
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	I know your Aunt will be eating more then the antlers your giving her. Sounds like you had a great time in some beautiful country. Great pistol shooting by the way. Congrats!

October 17, 2012, 11:44 PM	#7
couillon Member Join Date: August 3, 2012 Posts: 58	Congratulations. Any moose would be a trophy to me. Especially with a revolver.

October 18, 2012, 08:38 AM	#9
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	That country is beautiful man, congrats dude. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

October 18, 2012, 09:04 AM	#10
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	congrats on your successful hunt, you'll enjoy that meat for a while.

October 18, 2012, 09:22 AM	#11
bird_dog Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2004 Posts: 225	That's great -- Maine moose is one of my dreams. I've hunted that area for bears several times over the last 20 years, and I always wish I didn't have to leave. Congrats on an awesome kill. Joel

October 18, 2012, 01:22 PM	#12
Vermonter Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2010 Posts: 962	Moose With A Revolver Eh? Nice work. What caliber is that hog leg anyhow?

October 18, 2012, 02:24 PM	#13
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 2,584	That is great photography. Moose is great meat, one of the best wild game you can get (in my opinion) p.s. what caliber is that revolver? __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...

October 18, 2012, 11:12 PM	#14
Nevertoomanyguns Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 213	Thanks everyone! The revolver is a Smith & Wesson Model 29-3 8 3/8" barrel .44 magnum. I used my reloads = Hornady 240 grain XTP over 23 grains of H110. Called him in to within 30 yards shot him in the neck = Bang! Flop! Stiff legs quick death.

October 19, 2012, 03:48 AM	#15
Sphawley Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 272	Congrats!! Sweet trophy! __________________ If guns kill people, then pencils misspell words, cars make people drive drunk, and spoons made Rosie O' Donnell fat!

October 19, 2012, 06:27 AM	#16
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Another 44mag hunter !! great gun ! from the photos that's a potato fed moose, must be extra delicious ! __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !