My 2010 Moose Hunt

[Surface Tension]

Hunt of a lifetime.

That is what my partner, Jr, and I would sort of jokingly say when we taking a midday break from hunting to wet a line in the nearby trout lake, or when making a sling shot for all the grouse we'd been seeing. Then my partner developed Atrial fibrillation 3 days into the hunt that resulted in a helicopter ride from Grand Maris Hospital to Duluth.

I figured the Hunt of a Lifetime was over or at least it didn't matter anymore. 5 days later my partner and I were headed back up the Gunflint Trail with a dr's. OK. Jr had to stay back as he already missed a week of school.

Our area we had pre scouted was full of moose in Sept which had our hopes high.

After hunting the area for 6 days with out any fresh sign we gave up hope on that spot and headed to another area we had scouted. That area was a fresh clear cut.

4:30 PM we had setup on a small bump that gave us a vantage point over looking the cut and its edge.

I started the cow calling with some bull grunts once in a while. At 6:30 PM we heard our first twig snap of the 2010 Moose Hunt that could only be a moose. About 200 yards out and coming closer, breaking branches the entire way. The anticipation ran high. Then a roar like we've never heard before. It was loud and piercing, we could feel the re-verb as the sound waves hit our chests. WOW! More snapping branches, we followed his movement as he got closer and then more roars. Could not see him as there was a small rise between us but he was close. Shooting hours came to a close and we had to back our way out of there without being seen.

I had wished Jr could have been with us.

6: AM the next morning guess where we sat. 10 minutes before shooting hours I started the the first cow call.

I'd repeat another every 20 minutes or so. 7:30 AM the howl of a lone wolf pierced the silent cold morning air then the whole pack lite up. 8:AM and we started to wonder if that bull would be showing up and that maybe the wolves weren't helping. I cow called and was answered by 4 grunts. Not the roar we had heard the night before it was urgh, urgh, urgh, urgh. Then 5 minutes of silence, no snapping of branches, nothing. I thought maybe he was with a cow and then thought maybe we should close the distance because of him hanging up on us the night before. Then I got a glimpse of him 250 yards out. I was chilled at that time and then seeing him had me shaking. I sat down and tried to control it. My partner and I hunted side by side the whole hunt. I tell him to move from in back of me to my side. He hadn't seen the moose yet. I slowly stand, looking and listening. I see him again but he is a long ways off. More cow calls. The moose is getting closer at 100 yards and coming in head on. Finally my partner gets to see the moose and he starts shaking. Rifles shouldered as we're standing in the open frozen still. Ready and waiting for the moose to come in and turn. Time crawls as the moose snatches a young sapling along his way with grunts now and then. 8:30 AM, 40 yards now, two shots, moose down, high fives, and hoots.

We came to the moose and stood in awe. Magnificent, in his prime, MN don't get much bigger if any.

We field dress him, my partner needed to get into Grand Maris for a blood test.

I started the skinning without him. By the time he got back I had one side quartered, trimmed, in game bags, and started on the other side skinning. Together we made quick work of the quartering. 1/4 mile from the road, I packed out the meat while Lonnie finished taking the back straps and trim meat off. Last trip out was the head and antlers. that was the heaviest load but the sweatiest load for sure.

Back at moose camp with all the work done and daylight to spare I built a fire, cracked a beer, and pulled up a chair.

We noted to each other that it was a hunt of a lifetime, this time we weren't joking.

Another photo from camp.

52 1/2" spread.

The cold night cooled the meat down nicely. Next morning we took our time as we broke camp and packed the meat into large coolers.

We had planned on cutting and wrapping the meat ourselves as we usually do all our deer.

Bears Den in Twig does a fine job and vacuum packs the meat, at a good price I might add. So

it was a no brainier to have them do it. Plus we didn't have to worry about keeping that large a quantity of meat cold.

[tonkapat]

What a beast. Great job guys.

[Mike Stark]

awesome story frank. that moose is a beast! congrats on a hunt of a lifetime.

[Steve Foss]

Great job, you guys!

[Big-Al]

Congrats Frank, what a great bull.

[fishinfey8]

AWESOME! That is one of the best stories i've read on HSO. I can't imagine what it would be like to have that thing closing in as you are trying to keep cool, wow. Thanks for sharing Frank!

[nonteepical]

congratulations! with limited tags in minnesota there is a real good chance at a true trophy bull and you guys got one of 'em!

[matchset]

i couldn't be happier for you! great story telling; and great photos! congrats guys!

[spivak]

A great post. Congratulations! I have to ask--2 guys and 2 shots=1 big moose. Who gets the rack? A traveling trophy? Or like Solomon proposed and you split it down the middle and each get half?

[jerkin'm]

Awesome bull!

[Powerstroke]

What an amazing story and trophy!! Way to go Frank.

[picksbigwagon]

that moose is huge, a big Mamma Jamma for sure

[ripstick]

That was one heck of a nice moose ya got there frank. Oh by the the way your meat is done and bagged. Hope your back has recovered to carry it out agian.

[Northlander]

Congrats again Frank and Lonnie!! Thats a awesome Moose and surely a once in a lifetime deal.

[swampbuck]

Aewesome hunt story an photos,pretty cool to stand side by side and double team him.

usully donot get to experience taking an animal with someone else around great job

[walleye365]

great job guys. Hes a beast

[mrklean]

congrats guys thats a beast of a bull

[leech~~]

A true "heart attack" rack!

[reinhard1]

that would make the hunt of my lifetime. time to think about a tag. good luck.

[Deitz Dittrich]

good gracious!!!! My gawd!!! Congrats dude.. thats awesome!

[Jim Almquist]

Thanks for sharing your hunt with us Frank. Very cool story and a great ending.

That thing is just so HUGE !

Glad to hear that Lonnie is doing OK

Way to good of a guy to leave us so soon !

[paceman]

Wow! Indeed that is a great hunt and a great story!

[Monkster]

Congrats on the big bull! Great story also.

[sticknstring]

Congrats on a true MN trophy! Time to buy another freezer!

[Bran32]

Thats a bull you can only dream of!!

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Hunt of a lifetime, NO DOUBT! Congrats to you both! Nice work!

[BD110]

Great post Frank!!!

I'm lucky to have been heading to the cabin on Saturday while you and Lonnie were at the Bears Den. It was great to get the story first hand and listen to the pure excitement in your voices. That is truly a great looking mount.

Glad to see Lonnie doing so well and look forward to seeing more of the two of you in the coming hard water season!!!

Thanks to ripstick for the call letting me know that you guys were back in town as well.

[Surface Tension]

Thanks guys

After applying for years and not getting a tag I was surprised to get one.

The rack will have two homes, not that I didn't offer to buy it off him.

Although his wife was all for the idea.

We're thinking of repo done so the separation anxiety isn't so bad when it goes to visit.

[panhead]

Congrats on the moose, enjoyed the great story. I was on the gunflint trail during the first 10 days of the hunt.A group from the citiies camped in the site next to me.They hunted zone 72.Same zone as you? They did get a younger bull. 800lb range they guessed.They brought it back to the campground after gutting it. Cut it up there. I lucked out as they gave me 2 steaks.Another couple that I have met on the trail for the last four years treated me to a grouse dinner. They also were from the twin city area. So me, being from se.wi.,not a hunter lucked out with some great eats. I did what I could,gave them some walleye fillets.Seems like every year I meet some really good folks on the gunflint in the fall. Camped 28 days this year. The weather made it possible.

[lungdeflator]

Whoa! Awesome! Thats a great moose for anywhere let alone MN!