Maine Moose Hunt 2012

[Mainehunter]

Just got back yesterday from a moose hunt that my co-worker’s brother-in-law got picked in this year’s lottery. The zone he got picked ended up being where my camp is location near Dead River/The Forks area, just south of that. Left this past Friday with some warm temperatures around 75 deg. but didn’t last long.



Cold front pushed through Saturday dropped the temps near freezing mark with some rain and snow mix. We scouted the area both Saturday and Sunday, found a couple of places that showed signs of fresh moose prints. In between scouting we did some bird hunting (partridge) but they weren’t cooperating!

Monday was the start of the hunt. Got up around 4:30 a.m., the temps were hovering around 29 deg. and we were on the road by 5:00 a.m. We reached our destination by 7:00 a.m. By 7:30 a.m. this young bull showed up.



A 2-3 year old bull weighting just under 700 lbs. In my opinion that’s perfect weight not too big, easy loading and it will taste good! But my friend’s brother-in-law was wishing for a bigger rack but he’ll re-think that once he sinks his teeth on some nice juicy moose steaks! He shot it with a pre-64, Winchester model 70 in 270 Winchester. Dropped him right on the logging road, distance was around 40 yards. It took us less than 20 minutes from dressing to loading it on the trailer.



We got back to camp by 9:30 a.m. Made coffee and breakfast along with some moose heart and onions. The rest of Monday and part of Tuesday we hunted birds but they had other plans. I’m so irritated on these birds now I’m thinking of going back in another week and even the score In all it was a good hunt with good friends and great food!

Mainehunter

[mod71alaska]

Congratulations on a successful Maine moose hunt! Yummmmmmm!!! Beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing.

[Old Savage]

Is that Katahdin in the distance?

[handirifle]

Congratulations on a successful Maine moose hunt! Yummmmmmm!!! Beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing.

+1
Outstanding on all counts.

[Ji in Hawaii]

Congratulations on a successful hunt, love the pictures especial the first along the lake. Last time I was in Maine was in '64.
Do you eat the liver and kidneys too. I'm a liver lover (with bacon & onions) so just curious. What birds were you hunting, timberdoodles?

[rjohns94]

fantastic. loved the photos.

[Mainehunter]

Is that Katahdin in the distance?

That’s actually Bigelow Mountain. It’s more southwest of Katahdin.

Congratulations on a successful hunt, love the pictures especial the first along the lake. Last time I was in Maine was in '64.

Do you eat the liver and kidneys too. I'm a liver lover (with bacon & onions) so just curious. What birds were you hunting, timberdoodles?

Unfortunately, the state biologists recommend NOT to eat the liver and kidneys due to amount of mercury that may be in them. The moose here love to eat in the ponds/streams and consume large amount of algae and water lily’s. As for the partridge, they are also known as ruffed grouse in these parts. They are good eating too when stuffed, baked, fried, etc.etc..

Mainehunter

[RustyJr]

I see he took it with my favorite rifle cartridge What weight and brand of bullet was he using?
RustyJr

[Mainehunter]

I see he took it with my favorite rifle cartridge What weight and brand of bullet was he using?
RustyJr

I was more than willing to come up with some custom loads such as Barnes or Nosler but he ended up using a box of Winchester Supreme 150 grn. I don’t know the ballistics on them but I was kind of surprised at the performance. Meaning he took two shots, one at the neck the other was a chest shot and both didn’t go through. I found that kind of odd at such a close range. Either the bullet shattered on impact or it over expanded.

Mainehunter

[6pt-sika]

Congrats !

I'd love to come up there or Newfoundland and kill ONE moose before I go . And I'd like to do it with my circa 1966 "Retro 444P" shooting my MM/RD 432-325GC bullet and the old Weaver K3 on top !

[RIHMFIRE]

congrats!
green with envy

[Ji in Hawaii]

What birds were you hunting, timberdoodles?

As for the partridge, they are also known as ruffed grouse in these parts. They are good eating too when stuffed, baked, fried, etc.etc..

Mainehunter

No timberdoodle (aka Woodcock) hunting in Maine?

[Shasta]

You guys are good!!

SHASTA

[TedH]

Sounds like the only thing wrong with that hunt was that it was too short! Congratulations!

[Mainehunter]

What birds were you hunting, timberdoodles?

As for the partridge, they are also known as ruffed grouse in these parts. They are good eating too when stuffed, baked, fried, etc.etc..

Mainehunter

No timberdoodle (aka Woodcock) hunting in Maine?

I should of looked it up but Yes, woodcock is available but it's considered a "migratory bird" need a special license for that. Interesting the season is only for a month. Never tried hunting them are they good eating?

Mainehunter

[iceman]

Congrats on a nice eating size moose. You have to like it when you can bring them out in one piece.

[86er]

Congratulations!

[Ji in Hawaii]

I should of looked it up but Yes, woodcock is available but it's considered a "migratory bird" need a special license for that. Interesting the season is only for a month. Never tried hunting them are they good eating?

Mainehunter

I've read allot about timberdoodle hunting along with partridge (Ruffed Grouse) but never had the pleasure. I hear the meat is dark, and stronger tasting than a grouse. They are supposedly one of the hardest gamebird to hit with their vertical launch at flush and their erratic flight path through trees, sounds like a fun challenge. Growing up my dad had a mounted woodcock for years but he wasn't a hunter so not sure what the story was. I just remember how weird this critter looked. Woodcock and Jacksnipe the only two shorebird species open to hunting.

Woodcock Recipes: http://www.wildliferecipes.net/Game_rec ... /index.asp

[Birdman]

Congratulations on a successful hunt. That's a lot of eating there. Beautiful pics.

[OldWin]

Congrats on the moose mainehunter. Beautiful country! You should go back for birds. The wife and i were there with the jeep Saturday and did well.

[Mainehunter]

Congrats on the moose mainehunter. Beautiful country! You should go back for birds. The wife and i were there with the jeep Saturday and did well.

I’m glad someone is getting them. Where about are you hunting? My “honey-do-list” before I go to deer camp got a little bigger so unfortunately I won’t be going up until then BUT I may take an extra day off just to devote on the little buggers and do some deer scouting as well.

Mainehunter

[OldWin]

Mainehunter,

Got a couple in towards pierce pond. Got to take it slow and watch off the sides. Still quite a few leaves up.
Deer hunting has been rough the last couple years so i decided this year to just bird hunt. Best eatin in the state anyway.....cept maybe moose.

[Mainehunter]

Mainehunter,

Got a couple in towards pierce pond. Got to take it slow and watch off the sides. Still quite a few leaves up.
Deer hunting has been rough the last couple years so i decided this year to just bird hunt. Best eatin in the state anyway.....cept maybe moose.

Ahhh, Pierce Pond! My favorite place to fly fish particularly upper Pierce. Quite a few years back we camped at upper Pierce to fly fish and that was a hike but now we go through Cobb’s Camps to get lake access and cut through the thorough fair to get to upper Pierce. As for the deer hunting, yes it’s been sloowww for years. It’s going on 7 years now with no doe permits BUT I would say within the last 3 years the does are rebounding, been seeing them a lot this past summer. Hopefully another year or two MF&G will lift the band but I’m not holding my breath on that one!

Mainehunter

[OldWin]

Mainehunter,

Got one today.....botched another, oh well. Used to spend lots of time in that country hunting, riding dirtbikes and fourwheelers. Spend most of my time east of the river and 201 now. Got a camp in the area and is not far from home. Im lucky!