Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

2011 ND Moose Hunt: Once in a lifetime tag


Scoot

Recommended Posts

Scoot, if you're gonna have a chance to get out during the warmer weather this week I would try walking some creek or river bottoms...when the weather is warm moose need a place to stay cool during the heat of the day...swamps...creeks, rivers, etc...any place that has a good water source...I've seen moose in drainage ditches with only their head sticking out of the water as they are trying to stay cool and away from the bugs....find a likely area and walk it slowly...watch for tracks and rubs...and I'm sure you know... a moose rub will reach much higher on the trees or brush than that of a deer...good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 155
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Scoot

    42

  • sticknstring

    8

  • DonBo

    8

  • cbrooks

    7

Thanks Lichen, I appreciate the tip. I don't think I'll get out again until next weekend, and probably won't be available on Sat. I'll hopefully hunt Sun and half of Mon. Maybe I could sneak out this Fri, but not sure I can make that happen. By the time I get back out, who knows what the weather will bring by the time I get out there, but I'll keep your tip in mind.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just got a call from a friend who was looking at a cow and a bull in a bean field about 45 miles from here. However, I've got three meetings today- 10:00, noon, and 5:30 and I can't miss any of them. Dang it!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Scoot - Not sure what the budget/schedule is but hiring a flight over your hunting area could be really helpful, especially with all the crops. An hour session in the air could cut down on days of windshield time I bet. Just a thought...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just got a call from a friend who was looking at a cow and a bull in a bean field about 45 miles from here. However, I've got three meetings today- 10:00, noon, and 5:30 and I can't miss any of them. Dang it!!!

The time to fake an illness is NOW! grin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sticknstring, it's a great idea, but not in the budget. I'm pretty sure I know how my wife would respond when that check cleared! smirk I've done as close to that as I could by dropping off flyers at the cropdusting places in the area.

Wanderer- you aren't kidding! Personally, I think it's ridiculous that anyone is expected to be at work after 3:00 PM from Sep 1 through Dec 1!

Bear, I didn't fake illness, but I did disappear for three hours! Here's the report:

I got to the area where the cow and bull were seen after driving just slightly over the speed limit ( wink ). I couldn't find them, so I called the buddy who had originally spotted them. He clarified where he'd seen them and I spotted them just in time to see them walk into a farmstead. I drove into the farm yard to ask for permission to hunt them and discoverd both moose laying in the grass in the guy's backyard!!! I backed out of the driveway and waited... Eventually both moose walked into a little sloughy area about 60 yards off of the guy's driveway. I sneaked into his yard and knocked on the door- nobody home. I looked in the plat book and his number was unlisted. So, I drove into the nearest town and stopped at the local grain elevator- they got me on the right track. It took almost an hour, but I finally got ahold of the landowner and got permission to hunt them.

Long story short is I sneaked into the area I had seen them and they were gone. Not sure where they went or when they left, but they were gone when I stalked into the area they had been. Bummer.

Another bummer is that I was only 60 yards from them, but I didn't have my good camera. To make matters worse, I grabbed my crappy camera and took some pics, but discovered that I didn't have an SD card in it, so I only got three pics before it was full. Also, I don't own a cord to get them off of the camera- I'm working on that. The quality of the pic will stink though, so even if I get it, do't expect much. I don't hardly ever forget my good camera when I hunt, but I didn't expect to need it at the office today. I'll be better prepared next time...

It was a smaller bull- maybe only about 30 inches. However, he was big enough for me! I'll be back there on Sun to give it another try!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nothing better than getting close. You've finally got a good lead and permission to hunt.

GOod luck Scoot. I know we'll hear how it goes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Probably bedded out behind the farm house in the thousand acre corn field. GO GET EM! wink

You could probably spot them from the farmer's grain silo or the roof of the house. Sounds dumb I know, but worth a shot if they are in the corn and actually standing up high enough to see their heads.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cheetah- that's not dumb at all. However, if they're in the corn, there's little I can do about it. Unless I can call a bull out- that's a definite possibility. But like you said, finding them is 90% of the battle.

Here's the pic I got of the bull. Obviously, it's a terrible picture and doesn't show you much. I'm only posting it here so you don't think the whole story is a figment of my imagination...

Moose.jpg

He wasn't a very big bull, but he was plenty big for me to get excited about.

I'm very short on time to be able to hunt- I fly out of the area for work on the 21st of Sep and have work and family commitments between now and then. Like was said earlier- this work thing really gets in the way of hunting and is pretty ridiculous! Oh well, I guess paying the morgtage is sort of important too... frownwinkgrin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My brother and I took my two kids out tonight on a "moose hunt". Long story short is we had a GREAT time and a very exciting encounter. My wife is out with some friends for an NDSU volleyball reunion, so I've got the kids and it's past bedtime. I'll try get some pics posted and more details tomorrow. My brother also has some video that'd be fun to put a link to, but he's not sure if or when he'll have time to put it together for me (I don't have the software or know-how to do it myself).

Very fun night- I'll post tomorrow with details.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My six year old son, Ryan and my four year old daughter, Morgan really wanted to come with on a moose hunt. Last night worked out great to bring them along. Temps were comfortable and it was beautiful out and I got my brother to come along to help entertain the kids if need be.

We started at a spot where a 38" bull had been seen in the past couple days. If he had sayed put and not left in search of love, we had a decent chance to call him in. I set up 40 yards ahead of my crew right behind a juniper bush. Here's the view to my right:

Right.jpg

And to my left:

Left.jpg

Behind helping doing the calling by raking trees was Ryan, Morgan, and Rod.

Ryan-1.jpg

Morgan.jpg

After a 30 minute calling set the most interesting thing we found was a caterpillar.

Caterpiller1-1.jpg

We relocated and went to an area where a family friend had seen a bull earlier in the morning. We met the guy who'd seen the bull and he showed us where he'd nearly hit it with his vehicle. He told us likely places to look and we went on our way to try find the bull. He mentioned that he'd go back to the farm and climb up a grain bin and see if he could locate the bull (thanks Cheetah!!!). Two minutes later he called and said he'd located the bull.

When we met him he explained the bull was 150 yards N of the farmyard, in the cornfield. We left the kids to play with his kids and my brother and I went into the corn field after the bull. At one point we climbed up on his irrigation system and located the bull- we tried to head him off in a hurry because he was about to get ahead of us. We ended up inside of 20 yards from the bull in the corn. He was grunting and trying to figure out what we were, but finally decided he didn't like what was going on and he boogied out of there. It was a close and intense interaction that was a lot of fun!

We relocated the bull and got about 100 yards from him a little while later, but he wasn't in a good spot to do much with and slinked away from us. Soon, we ran out of light and he had officially given us the slip. Lots of fun though and the kids got to see their first moose!

3ofus.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are you done hunting now Scoot?

Looks like you have a couple great apprenticies there too!

If you head back out good luck and I hope you can settle the score with a ND moose!

Brian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are you done hunting now Scoot?

Not yet, but the clock's ticking! I'll hunt all of tomorrow and part of Mon. Not sure how much I'll be able to hunt after that and I know I won't hunt after the 20th because I fly out on the 21st for work. If I don't get it done by Mon evening, I'm in trouble...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I spent the first part of 9/11/2011 moose hunting and will spent the rest of it with my family. Thanks more than I can possibly say to all of our past and present heros for the blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice that allows me to spend the day goofing off and hanging with my loved ones.

No big moose report today... I left the house at 5:30 and huntil 'til about 2:30. I quit when the thermometer in my truck hit 90. As far as moose, anyone reading this who didn't see a moose today saw just as many as me. I did two calling sets at spots where moose have been in the last week and covered a lot of ground otherwise. Tough day of moose hunting, but no complaints from me-- had fun trying. I'll be back out tomorrow for half the day and the weather looks better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Scoot. I drew a moose tag in minn. in o8 and it took me 10 days to harvest one but I had my mind made up that I would. I have a couple things to tell ya. First dont get frustrated. A old Indian man listened to me call( which I thought I was doing good hand calling) He laughed at me and told me I sounded Like a sick cow in heaat. He told me to call and start with my body bent over like I'm picking up something and as I call with my hands to slowly stand up as I call and it made all the difference in the world. It took 2 days and had several call back to me to get one after I started this way.I watched your video and it sounded o.k. but you have to bend down and gradually stand up with your hands around your mouth and keep calling until fully straight up.. I no that you are on a time frame but good luck!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks x- I'll give that a try.

I hunted from noon to 8:00 PM today. Once again, nothing. My time out there has resulted in me spotting exactly zero moose on my own. The three I've seen have been from friends contacting me and telling me where they've seen them. Maybe I should start looking for moose with my eyes OPEN! wink

I'm really hoping the weather change will kick the bulls into action and get them on the move. There's been such little movement that it's been really tough to locate a critter. Their numbers aren't great where I'm hunting, but they're much better than my abismal results would suggest.

Not sure when I'll get out again. With any luck I'll get a call and will race out there in search of an already located bull. We'll see...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They love clear cuts that are really new and close to swamps. If you stick your head down low and look across a clear cut it will look like you trimmed the tops with a trimmer. They only eat the new buds and growth from this years grow. You will see what I mean if you look.. Good luck Scoot and if I can help let me know..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They love clear cuts that are really new and close to swamps.

Thanks x- I appreciate the info. One small problem with the clear cut suggestion- there are no clear cuts anywhere near where I'm hunting. It's pretty much the opposite of what your talking about- insead of trees everywhere with the occasional exception of swamp or clear cut, it's crops everywhere with the occasional exception of a small slough or tree row.

From what I've heard and seen the moose are in the corn fields. There's corn everywhere and of the three moose I've actually laid eyes on, on was in the corn and two had just come out of it. I've also been talking with an extremely knowledgable moose guy from that area and he also said they'll stay in the corn until the bulls really get moving during the rut. Hopefully that happen with this weather shift.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Scoot, If it was me I would find the areas that they were seen around the corn and get permission and walk the perimiter of the corn looking for sign were they entered and them being so big they have to make a mess of the corn field( you'd think?) and determine fresh tracks or sign and then stalk them if possible. You cant mistake thier feet size so you will know they are there! Ideal spot would be a corn field next to a swamp! Good luck and let us know!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      i cant help you with the weed thing, but i just came back form out that way......Regal, New London Hawick area. i dont no how big the swat of rain was but there is water standing everywhere. my buddy told me they had over 3 inches of rain yesterday/last night 
    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.