Maine Moose Hunting 09

[Raider]

Well of all things, what are the odd's of a non-res Moose tag ??? Well Thurs. nite the good state of Maine drew a tag that had my name on it for an Oct. hunt 8) 8) Now I will have to do my home work on scouting my area! :P I know that a lot of people have tried a lot longer than I have, but I guess that's why they call it a lottery :D Oh by the way went downtown Thurs. nite and bought some powerball tickets ;D ;D just in case    Raider

[SwampDonkey]

Out where we are cutting brush I see moose every day, mostly one and sometimes six per day. One day I was marking out and came out to the road and one was standing beside the car. :D  There are all kinds around the neighborhood here to. There needs to be a longer season than 3 days. I've found a couple dead calves that died for some reason, they looked like yearlings. They are on our thinning blocks and ain't too pleasant to smell all day. :

[thecfarm]

Lucky you.  ;D Daughter in law got a moose tag a few years back. They hired a guide to help out.They do all of the butchering too.No moose tag in thecfarm this year.   :(  I have to go to the city to see a moose.On the way to work last week one run in front of me.

[Raider]

Unit 10 is my draw. : Will have to get some maps and do my homework. Oh well back to school again :D I hope to get a passing grade 8)   Raider

[CLL]

I think with all the tags that is being drawn, someone would feel guilty and let one of the fellow forestry members have one. 8) :D

[Ron Scott]

Congratulations! and good hunting.

[moosehunter]

Raider, you lucky dog!
I went in 1998, my first year of entering the lottery. My hunting partner was drawn in 2003. We had a great time on both hunts. This year my dad is #11 on the alternate list, so if you and ten other out-of-state-ers back out we will get to go :D :D. I can't see that happening :.
If you are just after meat you probably don't need a guide. If you want a trophy or plan to hunt in the deep woods a guide could prove very valuable.
Have fun and post pics when you get back!
mh

[SwampDonkey]

Found a beat down moose path today, wide enough for a car to go down through the woods. I never looked close on the aerial photo to see where it goes to. I know it comes into our thinning block where there are lots of young hardwood to eat. The road coming out of there was all tramped up with tracks like a feed lot. I was surprised to see what looked to be 6 set of fresh deer tracks on the road going one way. Never knew a deer would survive in that country, snow gets real deep.

[pappy]

Spoke with Raider and zone 10 is where my nephew is head forester in that area for a rather larger land owner and he'll be showing us around a bit  ;D my other nephew  his brother will be coming with us and they are both real good outdoors men 8)  ......  Man o man I can't wait  8)  8)  8)....  Moose meat is some of the best !!

"Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet" Will Rogers

Thanks to the FF  we've made some really good friends here  8)

Salut and peace,
pappy

[Mooseherder]

We have some friends that had two winners in the same family for this year's lottery. 8)

This video is of an experiment in the middle of Moose country that is well known for Moose/Car collisions.
It is 2 miles from our camp on Route 1.  The testing of these reflectors actually light up the sides of the road with reflections off car headlights.  Moose are really hard to see at night.  There were 2 collisions by our place within our 2 week stay.  One was harvested, the other is still on the side of the road stinking up the joint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_ydlkkoj7g

[TimberGhost]

Wow sounds like it should be a great hunt and you have a bit of an advantage where you don't have to go in blind.  Good luck to ya on hunt.  Hopefully we see pics with a moose and some ear to ear grins!!

[moosehunter]

 We got word. We are going moose hunting also! Who hoo!!
My dad is 74 and hasn't hunted in ten years. He is really looking forward to this.

We will be in zone 3, thats Pappy's neck of the woods. Can't wat to chew the fat with Pappy & Gram again. I think it has been 3 years sense we saw them.

mh

[SwampDonkey]

Hope everyone has good luck up there. I know there are all kinds of moose, just gotta go get one. 

I know we need a longer season here, you just see them too frequently for their existence to be threatened. The place is tramped to death, it takes moose to make moose tracks. When they come up in the yard to nibble my birch and apple trees, it's too many.  :D

[Raider]

Well the Wisconsin boys are ready for the hunt 8) 8) My son(Warthog) called to say he got the plane tickets bought, so on the 10 of Oct we fly East! ;D Looking forward to meeting at Moose camp and the "Outback". I just got to stay safe here, stay away from
electricity and not break any thing! So "cut me some birck bark and make a call" we are on our way!   Raider

[moosehunter]

Raider, I will be picking up my dad at Bangor int on the 10th @ 1pm.
Are you flying to Bangor?

mh

[SwampDonkey]

Why not fly into Presque Isle? Or is it cheaper to drive up from Bangor, than to take the extra hop? Come to think of it, it may be the cheapest to drive from Bangor. I always found it that way unless there is a seat sale into the "Star City". I have flown into Presque Isle most times when I lived in BC. It's only 45 minutes from here, Bangor is over 2 hours.

[moosehunter]

I have to drive through Bangor anyway. Seemed like a good idea when I bought the ticket! Dad is flying from VA. I am driving from NY.

[Warthog]

Raider and myself will actually be flying into Portland and driving the 4 or so hours North from there.  I had a heck of a time getting the right tickets, too many options for trying to save a buck, but these made the most sense and we should have pleanty of time to snoop around on the way up and back.  This hunt is getting close, but in less than a month we'll be in New Mexico chasing Wapiti around the mountains and high desert, so we have a lot on our plate, but don't feel bad, we both would have it no other way!!! 

[SwampDonkey]

I'll be taking a trip down to Bangor with the folks after the thinning season is over to stretch my legs in the malls. I probably won't buy much, but I like to look around.  ;)

[dustyperry6]

Hi, Newbe to the forum here.  My 11 yr old son got picked for a bull in district 19.  We've been up about every weekend scouting and have seen one cow.  We have seen seven bear so I put out bait but they haven't found it yet.  We hunted from a blind monday with no luck.  I have a game camera out but so far have just a doe on it.  I did get three of the bear on video and put it on youtube (put dustyperry6 in he search box).  If anyone knows a moose hangout in d-19 that would be appreciated.
Thanks Guys

[Mooseherder]

Where is d-19?

[SwampDonkey]

Between routes 6 and 9 along the New Brunswick border, just north of Calais.

http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/management/wmd/19.htm

[Mooseherder]

Thanks SD.  Zone 3 is what I am familiar with. ;)

[SwampDonkey]

There should be lots of moose down his way with all that water around there that feeds the St Croix.

[moosehunter]

Mooseherder, are you going to be able to drop in on the great Forestry Forum moose hunt??

[Mooseherder]

I really wish that could happen but we already made that trip twice this summer.
Good Luck with the hunt.

[pappy]

the great Forestry Forum moose hunt??

I like it  ;)

Was out re-flagging the property line outback early last week and I spooked up a pretty good size cow moose about 200 yards from "Outback"  and last night the misses and I where out by the garden here at the house and we hear / see a Sheriff cruiser slow right down as there was a good size bull standing by the road ... I suppose he turned right around to warn passing cars about the brute's presences...  It crossed the road ( da moose knot da cop ;-) then ran into the swamp about 100 yards from us toward outback... Jen and I went out to the field and did some grunt calling but to no avail...  Moosehunter you and your dad might be able ta get one of em off the steps at Outback !!   ;) ;D 8)


Looking to this years Maine moose hunt fir sur ...  Should be enough meat around   8)  with two FF members ,, or familly members anyway with permits yum yum !!!

[moosehunter]

Three weeks  ;D

[SwampDonkey]

We have 3 days here Sept 24-26.

[Raider]

Here it is the 21 of Sept, Tomorrow we leave for New Mexico for some Elk & Mule Deer hunting. We leave from the Farm with our 5th wheel camper Me and the Mrs. bought this summer. My son "Warthog", his two friends, "Sparky"& Matt plus the Ole "Raider". We will have a good time, camp fires, good food, hunting, Yup, don't get better! We should get back around the 1 or 2 of Oct. Just Don't feel sorry for me that I will be gone from the mill that long, cause after all that on the 10th we will leave for Maine. Will see "Pappy" and his group for a "Grand" week. Will try and update when I can...   Raider

[beenthere]

Raider
Have a great trip. Sounds like a blast.

[moosehunter]

So does that mean that you will be bringing some fresh Elk meat to share? I am bringing some Sword fish. We'll eat like kings  8)

[Raider]

I will bring something : For sure Wisconsin Cheese, kinda hooked on Horseradish brick  8). We are going to be in the 18-20 hours away from New Mexico. Plan to leave at 4:30 this eve, will drive till the four of us get tired, pull the rig over and sleep for a bit. We will more than not drive straight thru If I can get to a computer will try to up date :P not :   Raider

[pappy]

Happy trails and good hunting Raider and crew and be safe out there. 

We got a crew of family ( kinda) coming in to Outback for the first week of the moose hunt then my oldest bro's coming up for the first week of bird hunting,,, gonna be kinda hard ta get anything down 'round here for a few weeks...  ;)  ;D  :D  8) 

Horseradish brick cheese  and Sword fish uhmmmmmm goooood

[moosehunter]

Do you suppose Raider made it back from the Elk hunt ok? We need an up-date!
3 days to go before we leave for Maine 8)

mh

[SwampDonkey]

I've seen 6 moose since Sunday. Four by my woodlot coming from a beaver pond and 2 cows out on a fresh clearcut near work. Man they sure blend in with the dark spruce slash on the ground. Been seeing tons of timber doodles as well. Not many grouse though, been too wet the last 2 weeks.

[pappy]

Saw a small anterless one about 40 feet from me last night at around 8:00 pm (dark) right out here at the barn...  It seemed to be a might spooked... Some big bulls taken last week the first week of the hunt... Seen a couple jungle chickens yesterday just a bit behind from the shop too !!!


Raider and warthog how'ed you guys do ??

Will call em in the morning to see if'n they be back to WI yet ??


MH see you guys Sadee early PM ???   8) 8) 8)

[Raider]

We are back! No Elk this year :'( The weather was dry. Talked to a rancher in our unit, they had 5" of rain, with 3 the last week, that's not so bad cept that was for all of 09 The rancher runs 100 sections of land, but only 500 head of beef . Wart and myself are leaving for Maine on Sat. the 10th. Looking forward to seeing "Pappy" and all his gang 8) 8) Got three oaks to cut up, fill the steer feeder, get some dog food, check all the fences. Got to get the cheese :D :D Been seeing some nice bucks in the beans and alfalfa towards eve. Couple of weeks they might in the rut 8) We might get a killing frost Sat. nite. Our weather is about 1-2 days ahead of Maine, and close to same temp. Got to get packed, again :D  Raider

[SwampDonkey]

Flushed one grouse today on the edge of the plantation, flew off into the big hardwood. Seen one on the road picking at that sandy soil for his crop. He was a big fat one to.  Seen more timber doodles as well. They fly up in the head lights.

[Raider Bill]

Just saw this clip, shows twin baby moose playing with lawn sprinkler. Pretty dang neat!

http://www.wimp.com/babymoose/

[ely]

is a timber doodle the same as a snipe, or is it a woodcock.

[SwampDonkey]

American woodcock. ;)

There is a stretch of road I keep seeing one grouse almost every day. Not in the same spot, but near alder and a little trickle of water flow. They are an easy shoot in the outback, kind of stupid. In the settlements you really have to be alert and work for it. ;D

[pappy]

The 2009 FF Maine Moose Hunt has turned out to be very productive 

Both Raider and Moosehunter's dad tagged out...  8)  8)  8)

I'm gonna let them tell ya da rest    ;) stay tuned ...   ;)  ;D  :D 


Man o man what a great week with great guys in two different moose camps  8)  8)  8)  8)  8)  8)

[moosehunter]

We had a wonderfull time at the Outback. Pappy and Gram are wonderfull hosts!
My dad got his moose Thursday afternoon. We hunted from sunrise to sunset and did not see a moose to harvest until Thursday afternoon. It was a calf and will be very good table-fare. We were hoping for a larger Moose, but it was not in the cards.

We got to meet and spend some time with Raider and Warthog. Great guys. They even helped us look for a moose after they had gotten their's!

We ate well, fresh moose tenderloin one night, t-bones and pizza one night, Swordfish and mashed taters Gram style ( fresh onions, partially cooked in the hot potatoes, yum).

mh

[SwampDonkey]

There's a cow moose that thinks she's a farm animal on a guys farm here in NB. The guy's grand kids have even pet the darn thing.  :D

I should call him up and see if he's gonna put her in the barn to milk to make moose cheese. :D

Only in New Brunswick, dumb critters. :

[beenthere]

So that's where/how these stories get started. Next we'll hear about the moose in the harness.   : :

[SwampDonkey]

Yeah I know. Some of us have the real thing and others feel left out. :D  ;)

[Raider]

Well I got a picture in the gallery 8) so as to show the bull we got in Maine. The Bull dressed 810#'s with a spread of 47 1/2" after Rut weight. Was told maybe 2wk's before all the girl chasing, he would of had close to 200#'s additional to total. Had grand time. The folks I met in Maine are the salt of the Earth 8). Got to hunt with Pappy and his nephew, Andy. Andy knows Moose hunting, bar none. :P :P 8) Will try to add more later.    Raider

[Burlkraft]

Nice moose Raider  8)  8)

[Jeff]

[SwampDonkey]

I had to yell at some stupid moose (plural), making there way up my strip line this morning, to drive them off. Sun was shining in my face, almost blinds ya at 8:00 am in the morning. :D After I finished brushing out my strip I found an antler along by trail. I brought it out to the car and set it beside another fellow's trail. Maybe someone can use it. I seen where the rodents had been chewing on the antler tips. Probably hares, but could be quill dog to I suppose.

Also seen one in a soybean field next to a barn this morning. No, it wasn't a horse they are kept across the road in pasture. :D

[Raider]

I really had a great time in Maine. Out in the "Big" woods was very nice 8) 8) Would've liked to got up your way to see you also :, but the next go round will have to be the time. We found a shed while looking for my bull also!     Raider