Post by wildwillalaska on Sept 28, 2017 19:56:36 GMT -5
Well we had a wonderful hunting season this year. My wife had a neat dall sheep tag, which sadly she wanted to bail on even hunting after her father was unable to go with us due to ill-timed pneumonia. Not that there is ever a good time. I was able to twist her enough to make her go anyway, and promised we would do it quickly whether successful or not, so she relented. Since the new addition to the family, it had been a few years since we were able to hunt together. To top it off, my brother went along as well, which was our first hunting trip together. While I grew up hunting with our father, he missed out and by the time he was old enough to really start, it wasn't an option. He is dozen years younger than me, and between college, grad school, new career, wife, baby--he kept having these lame excuses for missing out on hunting. Luckily he still made time for fishing trips and did a concert/hiking combo trip with me in Lake Tahoe this year too.
Think this moose season got him hooked though. My wife got a nice tender forked-horn meat bull the 3rd day in the Delta Controlled Use area, but wasn't feeling well and ready to go home the next day, so we packed camp and headed for home promptly upon her request. We hadn't seen any legal sheep, and leaving early left just enough time for a mad dash to Kotzebue where a buddy was waiting for us if we made it even with 3 days to hunt. As it worked out, we made it home, had 16 hours to wash cloths and repack before heading to the Anchorage Airport and off we went. Made it to Kotz in time to enjoy a little time with friends before dropped in the field. Hunted hard, but made it pay the end of our first hunting day. That evening I called an old bull we had found late morning all the way across the valley, which we poured off the ridge line to meet him part way, but he came right in clucking away, grunting with almost every step, rocking antlers back and forth the whole way. Was so cool for my brother to see. And ultimately, also a good experience for him to witness how much work these big bulls are when not right in camp, and taken at last light. By the time we made it back to camp in the pitch black (must have been a new moon), he was more than beat. Will say though, he did really well helping me part out both moose and was one of my best hunting memories having him with me.
Here we are playing with three sub-legal bulls I had called in. This was about 20 minutes before another bull and the forked-horn popped out of the timber down below. I was so wrapped up playing with the young gents I was surprised when my brother asked if I should have a gun. We had no intent of shooting of them--but prolly not the smartest to leave the guns with my wife.
Beautiful Country, but pain getting back in there on machines.
Wife and baby brother with her forked-horn
And my little bull
Baby brother enjoying a beer and the sights after all the work done.
Think this moose season got him hooked though. My wife got a nice tender forked-horn meat bull the 3rd day in the Delta Controlled Use area, but wasn't feeling well and ready to go home the next day, so we packed camp and headed for home promptly upon her request. We hadn't seen any legal sheep, and leaving early left just enough time for a mad dash to Kotzebue where a buddy was waiting for us if we made it even with 3 days to hunt. As it worked out, we made it home, had 16 hours to wash cloths and repack before heading to the Anchorage Airport and off we went. Made it to Kotz in time to enjoy a little time with friends before dropped in the field. Hunted hard, but made it pay the end of our first hunting day. That evening I called an old bull we had found late morning all the way across the valley, which we poured off the ridge line to meet him part way, but he came right in clucking away, grunting with almost every step, rocking antlers back and forth the whole way. Was so cool for my brother to see. And ultimately, also a good experience for him to witness how much work these big bulls are when not right in camp, and taken at last light. By the time we made it back to camp in the pitch black (must have been a new moon), he was more than beat. Will say though, he did really well helping me part out both moose and was one of my best hunting memories having him with me.
Here we are playing with three sub-legal bulls I had called in. This was about 20 minutes before another bull and the forked-horn popped out of the timber down below. I was so wrapped up playing with the young gents I was surprised when my brother asked if I should have a gun. We had no intent of shooting of them--but prolly not the smartest to leave the guns with my wife.
Beautiful Country, but pain getting back in there on machines.
Wife and baby brother with her forked-horn
And my little bull
Baby brother enjoying a beer and the sights after all the work done.
Did I miss it somewhere?! Details please! Nicely done all around!
