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Inspired by Trial153 amazing hunting stories I felt it was time to write my own. One year ago today was the opener for my Maine Moose adventure. But I guess it really started in early June when the lottery results came in. Never thought I would actually draw that year considering I'd only been applying for 3 or 4 years. The excitement of seeing my name on the list was just a little bitter sweet when I saw that I had won a cow tag. But I was thankful nonetheless. So I immediately start looking for outfitters. The 3rd one I find online is OMM outfitters and right on the home page of their website it says "trade your cow tag for a bull tag" Well that peaked my interest!!! Called them up the next morning. They explain to me that some people will trade cow tags for bulls but they are going to want some cash thrown in too. They tell me they generally go for at least $500 but have seen them go as high as $3000. And the best part is that they would search the tag swap website and do all the paperwork for me. No need to look at another outfitter. I knew I already made the right choice. They said my cow tag should be relatively easy to swap because it was for zone 3 which is considered by many to be the best in the state. I gave them my info and waited anxiously for the next week or so. When the phone rang from a Maine area code I enthusiastically answered! They tell me they found someone to swap for a zone 6 tag in the September season. I ask if it's a good zone and they tell me anything 1 - 6 is great. And the September season is the best time for rut action. The guy wants $1500 for the swap. No brainer! Let's do it! I tried not to get too excited until all the paperwork was finalized and I had the bull tag in my hand. But when I did I was on cloud 9!!! And so the preparations begin. Got the 30-06 sighted in. Borrowed every large cooler I could for bringing home meat. and even practiced how I would pack up the Jeep with coolers and gear. Finally the day arrives! I leave my house at 3am for the 9 hour journey to Eagle Lake Maine. The scenery was beautiful and the colors of fall were increasing the further north I traveled. Arrived at the lodge and met my guide Eric and the rest of the crew. He asked me what I was looking for and all I said was "I'll know when I see him" I also told him I didn't want it to come to easy. I didn't want to come all the way to Maine with a once in a lifetime tag and spend a few hours in the woods and shoot something. I wanted to feel like I earned it. We had a short safety meeting and went to the rifle range to make sure all our guns were on point. Came back to the lodge and had an amazing lobster dinner. All of the food there was incredible. Tried to get some sleep but it's hard to when you know it's opening day of moose hunting the next morning! The first morning we saw a ton of sign. Tracks, droppings, beds and alder's that were raked up from moose antlers. Then it started to rain, and we got freaking soaked. The rain finally passed and right at sunset we had a cow call to us from maybe 40 yards away but the woods were so thick we never even saw her. That sure did get the blood pumping though!!! It rained so much that my guides binos got fogged up on the inside. Well day 2 we had some action right away. Weren't in the woods for more than 20 minutes and we stumble across a big cow. My guide says to get ready in case she has a bull with her. I put the rifle on the shooting stick and look the scope and see nothing. Same thing that happened to his bino's. Fogged up on the inside. It was a cheap Bushnell that came with my savage and I never even thought to upgrade it with all the other planning I had to do for this trip. So now I'm freakin heated. Luckily she did not have a bull with her and we head back to the lodge. My mind is racing on how I'm gonna fix it or get a new scope and sight it in and how much hunting time I'm gonna lose because of this and my guide says "I got my browning 30-06 semi auto back at camp all sighted in, you wanna just use that?" Well that was an easy solution. We head back out for the afternoon and find some wild blueberries and stumble upon a small bull. I say small bull because he was a spike but he was probably the biggest animal I had ever seen! We got within 40 yards of him before he wandered off. Just seeing how these huge creatures move through the woods was worth the trip. Day 3 we saw nothing but beautiful scenery and plenty of moose sign. As we were walking down one of the logging roads a truck passes us with a giant bull hoisted up in the bed. An absolute giant by anyone's standards. Amazingly I found a video of the bull on youtube at the check station. Unbelievable animal!!! By the time day 4 came along I was starting to get a little more anxious and thinking maybe I should've taken that small bull. Or maybe I shouldn't have told my guide that I didn't want it to come easy. Nobody in camp had gotten one yet and it was day 4 of a 6 day hunt. We had put a lot of miles on the truck and our boots. Well the morning of day 4 was no different. Slowly walking down old logging roads with the wind in our face and calling, lots of calling. By mid day my guide says "we gotta try something different" So we sit on the edge of an old swampy clear cut with the wind in our face and wait like a deer hunt. It was maybe 100 yards wide and maybe 500 yards long. The brush was mostly 2 and 3 feet high so I sat on a stump and he sat on the ground. Assuming we wouldn't see anything until closer to sunset he decides to take a little cat nap. We found some more blueberries and I said to him "last time we found blueberries we saw a bull" And history repeated itself. At about 3:15 I laid eyes on what I had came for. At about 300 yards away he crossed the clear cut at pretty steady pace. I start smacking my guide in the arm and whispering loudly "Big Bull, Big Bull, Big Bull" He immediately starts grunting and raking the brush with a moose scapula. The Bull was already on the other side of the timber. But he grunts back!!! Then he starts raking!!! My blood is pumping. For the next 15 - 20 minutes we hear him come a little closer, than go further away, then closer again. So we crouch through the brush and head towards the wood line in case he doesn't want to come out in the open. As we get closer we start to hear him again. He's close. And he's fired up!!! He's trying to circle around us to get downwind and he's coming in hot!!! I get the gun up on the shooting stick and before my guide even finishes saying "he's gonna come out right there" there he was. 60 yards perfect broadside. I shoot. Felt good but looked like it hit a little far back towards the stomach. He runs a couple yards then stops and looks back. I shoot again. Couldn't tell if I hit him or not. he runs a few more yards then stops again. 3rd shot looked and felt perfect but he still ran off where we couldn't see him. Pretty confident he was down, we start to celebrate!!! What a rush!!! We give him just a few minutes before we go looking for him. He didn't go far. Amazingly it was one of the only spots out in the bush that I had any cell pone service and I must have sent 100 texts simply saying "The Moose is Down" We quickly found out where that 2nd shot hit. right between the nostrils and blew out through the bottom jaw. Now I had just taken a taxidermy course that April and had every intention on doing a shoulder mount if I got one. Guess I'm gonna have to learn how to fix that!!! So my guide walks back to the truck to call for help on the radio. While I was alone with the bull I grab the flap of skin that hangs from his throat that they all call "the bell" and it makes a noise!!! Not gonna lie, that scared me for a second!!! My guide came back with a helper and they got a good laugh about that!!! And we start taking tons of pictures. My guide even says to me "your gonna get sick of smiling" and I quickly replied "no I wont!" Another guide shows up and we make quick work of skinning and quartering the beast. When we get back to camp we got to see the 500lb bear that another client had got while hunting with hounds. The next morning we bring him to the check station. He officially measured 41 inches. Couldn't get a weight on him because he was quartered but everyone guessed around 800lbs which seemed accurate because the bull ahead of us in line was around 760 and a little smaller than mine. We get him back to the lodge and into the walk in cooler. My guide says I can hang out there or go with him and help the other guides. Well I didn't come all the way to Maine to sit at camp! As soon as we got back towards the hunting area he got a call on the radio that someone shot a bull. We arrived just in time to start following the blood trail. They were in a spot were they had about a 200 yard shooting lane and the bull came it to about 10 feet!!! Client said he just saw black in the scope. Well he did make a good shot because the bull was only about 100 yards away laying dead. About the same size as mine. Got to help them skin and quarter the bull which was such a cool experience. We get back to the lodge and a father and son team brought in their monster 53 inch bull I make the 9 hour journey home on cloud 9. Probably smiled the whole time I get back just in time for deer season here in New York. I have a freezer full of moose meat so I'm holding out for a good buck. Passed on a bunch of does and small bucks during archery and shot my first coyote on opening day of rifle season. And then on Nov 19th I see a decent 8 pointer and decide this is the perfect way to end this amazing season. And now the taxidermy process begins. Did them all by myself and am damn proud of them. I know I have a long way to go but for my first coyote and first moose, I think they came out good. Had a lot of sewing to fix that moose face but it was a great learning experience Even if I never go on a hunt like that again I will always have the memories of the hunt of a lifetime!!!

Well, no elk, but enough memories to last a lifetime with USCG vet buddies. One of the guys had a clean miss on a 6x6, but that was the only shot we had. 13 days of up and down the mountains has certainly prepared me for tracking season! It would have been nice to shoot an elk, but I can honestly say the hunt was still a success. We had to deal with smoke from fires nearly the entire time which was unfortunate at far as glassing went. Grizzly sign was everywhere, but we only saw one. This nearly 65 year old man didn’t slow these late thirty and early 40 year olds down a bit.

Get some Remington sluggers and hit the range. You’ll learn what distance you’re comfortable out to. It’s no rifle, but smoothbore shotguns have killed piles of deer.

I’m getting tired of being told how races I am and how I have white privilege. If judging a person on their character, makes me a racist then I guess I’m a racist. If you’re an asshole I don’t give a shit what color you are your still an asshole. I owe you nothing and you owe me nothing! Then some snot nose white kid tells me about my white privilege. So, I told him if working since I was 16, I’m almost 63 and getting two college degrees. Served in the army. So, if I do have any privilege at all then I earned it. Then I asked what you have done and got no answer. MY RANT FOR THE DAY

How about first shots ever?? Ok, so he was aiming for the center (had to adjust sight) and this was after some coaching, but a helluva group for the first day he ever shot a bow!

Permethrin Day. LFG! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I am hearing people saying this. There is a HUGE difference between the two actions. Obama did not have the Senate on his appointment, Trump does. As I said previously, Obama himself stated "elections have consequences". The consequence of the Democrats not having control of the Senate in the mind-terms was Obamas appointment was DOA. Both of Trumps females from the top of the list have been vetted by committee for their positions. I wouldn't even hold hearings and simple put it to a vote.

Special guest Wilderness Athlete @mlammerhert made an appearance! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Jenn made shramp cobb salad. Shramp, avocado, hickory smoked bacon, feta, spinach, tomatoes, sliced hard boiled eggs, red onion, cucumber, etc

I knew I had a problem but didn't know it was this bad. Pulled a card this afternoon only to find out I didn't have a very good angle of what I was trying to capture. Got a couple of deer pics, but also confirmed the coyotes are worse than I thought. To make it even worse most have mange. Looks like I'll be trapping for mostly population control. Not much for deer but the coon numbers have increased. The good news is the coyotes do not seem to be affecting the turkey population. I resituated the camera and will check it again in a week or so.

sorry but unless normal type democrat's stop playing along with the crazy lefts ideas people like aoc things will only get worse . its not the crazy right that is calling for the down fall of civilization and all institutions as we know it, it is the far left and the media that plays along with their craziness ideas .

It's yours. PM sent.

Me to my own child: who do you have for Eng, HS kid: Mr R Me: what’s his real name hS Kid: I dont know - he lets us call him that since his name is confusing Me: whose pitching for the Yankees HS kid: Masahiro Tanaka (pronounced perfectly) Me: if you can pronounce that you can learn his name. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Was a great night for a first time appearance at the Academy ..... definitely felt good to go through the motions with the heavy hitters of the archery world pre Oct. 1!! Will be making a few more trips next August once the single pin HHA is dialed in for some long range bombs! Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

I'm getting married friday so that works. Lol

I was agreeing with Larry in that this BS needs to stop. Enough is enough. Wouldn’t you agree? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have 3 Range Finders . The 1st one I ever bought is the one in the left of the picture . It was called TLR 75 RANGING and manufactured in East Bloomfield , NY . It sometimes had to be calibrated and the directions were right on the unit . You look through the sight and see what you are measuring to and also see a yardage screen . You moved the dial until the objects line up and were focused ( like the old 35 mm cameras ) . I used it when we use to hunt the Wooly Mamouths and Saber Tooth Tigers .

I just bring my wife, she knows everything. lol

are we talking foot or motor races?

If the dems had the White House and the senate they would do the exact same thing. Even you would agree that would be the case.

I'll winterize when I get sick of shoveling snow off the cover.... Till then, the boat stays ready to roll Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk

Thank you for proving my point

Clemson Brothers Brewery Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It was good to meet you both, Bill and Cynthia. I’m sure we’ve crossed paths a few times. I reported the numbers to region 3 biologist, I’ve been e-mailing. Unfortunately, it’s just more confirmation , that it’s widespread and significant all around.

Yes Matt has been reporting his finds. I reported . And they are sending someone out to pick up the ones we found or test them . And look for the 2 dying ones

Hey I resent that! Actually, I haven't bought ammo since early Spring. I guess that's the beauty of stockpiling.

Not to hijack the thread, but is anyone seeing slugs available at stores? I've checked a few places locally here in CNY and I am finding no slugs. Dried up like alot of the popular calibers?

A picture of you and @sodfather in the saddle together hanging could break the internet!

A "rant" thread would be a good idea. Mine? There’s no such thing as “sleep-away camp.” It’s a ridiculous made-up word that serves no purpose other than to dumb down the English language and as we have so few words to accurately describe things, why screw up the good ones? I’m all for fluidity of language—I really get excited when new words are added to the OED—though if you want to see my eye twitch try saying “awesome” to me when you describe how you found a parking spot in front of your building. But I hate the infantilization of language. It is double-plus ungood. We have a great word for that wilderness place where you pitch tents, build fires, roast food, tell stories and sleep overnight. That word is “camp.” Also comes with a perfectly useful verb, “camping.” No one says, “sleep-away camping” and if they do, best to excuse yourself and go stand on the other side of the room. If however, you’re not sleeping over then we have a pinpoint accurate descriptive adjective in …. wait for it … “day camp.” Camp … you sleep over. Day Camp … you don’t. That’s it. How simple. How elegant. How correct. Rant over.

Throw out the bat-shit crazy people on both sides and I think what we're left with are a lot of people in the middle.

255 with these 500 grain knitting needles Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

BUT I can't reconcile being pro America and Pro-Liberal.

Your range will be more limited but it will teach you to be a better hunter . To me it's way more exciting to get up close to an animal as opposed to sending it 300 yards across a field.

I have found many and IGNORED them. I have tried them many ways and every time they last like soggy WonderBread Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gotta keep the boat ready for late season diver duck mayhem! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Spreadsheet is almost done No the teams are not even, part of me thinks that representation for ones reason plays into winning.. if it winds up being super lopsided I may combine a team or two Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Avocado mash tuna tartar and caviar Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sure I agree . But without ammo ,one just owns an expensive club . I’m a be prepaid guy, topped off 4 gas cans last week, bought 24 D and 40 AA batteries, and my stock of 1pound green propane tanks is up to 20 or so for my Buddy Heaters, and Coleman stove . Canning 30 pounds of meat Thursday . I have three red dot sights that use CR2032 batteries,they last along time , yet I have a spare taped to the stock of each one , just how I roll .

Two more great sours courtesy of@turkeyfeathers #ThankYouForLessOverzealousModding #WeDemandUnlimitedLikes #WeDemandADislikeButton

Zima for the win - if they still make that stuff. Honestly, one of my favorites was always a Russian stout. Its a beer and a meal.

It is awesome that Trump is going to get to seat RBG's replacement before the election. That is going to be a serious set back for the pro-choicers and the anti-2nd amendment crowd. We ought to see some serious unhingement over the next few weeks.

Glad to be of service! I can't believe it's almost that time of year again when the new crop of bucks will start rolling in to the shop. I still have one forum member's mount to put together this weekend...

On the way home from SENY Friday I stopped in Binghamton and switched vehicles. Burned the first rental car like Bodhi's crew in Point Break. Cant be too careful

Democrats rolling out the same old playbook around election time portraying themselves as friends of the outdoor sports when nothing can be farther from the truth. Obama shooting skeet, Hillary claiming she Duck hunted and John Kerry the great bird hunter, all smoke and mirror bullshit as anyone that has been in the trenches with these phonies knows. Al