Average Joe Hunting Adventures with Dan and CJ

Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
Cory and I were feeling pretty good about day six since we'd already seen more animals in the last 24hrs than I'd seen the first 72 combined. I also decided to make a rifle change. I switched to my old, trusty .257wby. The rifle I carried the first few days had gotten soaked and I just wasn't positive how well the bore had been protected. Plus my weatherby has been nothing but a killing machine. It's never let me down, and I wasn't expecting any far shot opportunities.

We set the alarms extra early, and ended up beating the sun to our spot by more than an hour. I let out a few long cow calls in hopes a bull somewhere nearby in the thick woods would hear us and step out for a peak, but by the time 11 o'clock rolled around we'd seen zero animals. We decided to head back to camp for lunch and go to The Hill for the evening sit.

As we were eating lunch and talking about the plan, we had a change of heart. We figured our best bet of seeing some action would be to sit along the creek for a few more days. There was more fresh bear sign down there and more moose sign all together. I would have gladly shot any bear that decided to step out. So we loaded into the truck and drove the increasingly sloppy road back down to the bottom.

When we got to the bottom we saw Dan Everson, the outfitter I spoke with in June, tending his horses and mules. So I figured I say hi and let him know how things were going. He was glad to see I hadn't given up on the unit. It's not everyday that a guide or outfitter offers free advice on an area, but he basically reaffirmed what I had already known. The unit was tough, the moose were in very few numbers, and that I was hunting in the best spots the unit had to offer... (That didn't mean they were "good" spots)

According to Dan, (and all of the physical sign) The Hill was a better late season spot, since it's a wintering area for the moose. He said they'll pass through there through all year, but it gets better later in the season. The tips and insight Dan and his guide Jeff gave me were extremely helpful in solidifying my expectations. I knew I had to continue to be patient, and keep putting in my time. It would happen eventually, and if it didn't I could always put in for a tag again next year.

After shooting the breeze for a little while Dan offered to let us come down to his camp for a hot meal, and a shower... IDK if it was because we smelled bad enough for him to feel bad for us or if he thought we were genuinely nice guys, but we gladly accepted his invite and told him we'd see him later that night.

---

We headed down the trail and decided to head further down than we had the night before just to explore some new country. The further up the creek we went, the less sign there was. The terrain choked in on the creek and visibility through the brush decreased to just a few yards. We decided to head back to the spot we saw the bear.

It was turning out to be just like all of the days before... uneventful. The wind was picking up and it didn't seem like things were moving much. So we started making our plans for the next day. Just as the sun was hitting the top of the mountain Cory pointed and said, "what's that?"

I turned and saw what appeared to be a large log poking out of the grass and overhanging a small bog. I didn't remember seeing that particular log before. So I stared at it for a few seconds baffled, before I pulled up my binos.

HOLY CRAP!!! It was a bull moose... just standing there! 200yds away!!! I imagined a moose would have been easier to pick out in that grass, but he was tough to see even with binos.

Just like on my mule deer hunt last year with Cory, I looked at him and said, "it's a bull. I'm shooting it."

At this point all logical thought left my mind. Remember after my elk hunt how I said I do a really good job of keeping a cool and level head in the heat of the moment? Well that all went out the window in this moment. I grabbed my weatherby and beat feet down to the bull. I don't know why I ran, or really why I did any of what I did, but the next thing I remember is looking through the scope at the bull and seeing a droptine.

It was happening! It felt like my mind was in some kind of third person state of being. I was in the moment, but it felt as though I had no control over my body.

The bull turned broadside and came up out of the bog, and all I remember was thinking I needed to shoot for the lungs because I was shooting a small caliber rifle. As soon as my crosshair found its mark, the rifle went off. I nailed him! I'll never forget the huge shockwave of water that sprayed off his hide after my tiny little bullet, going somewhere in the neighborhood of 3400fps, struck the side of that massive beast. Since he was still on his feet, quartered to me, I racked another round into the chamber and put in into his onside shoulder. After the second shot, he did a backflip and landed in the beaver pond he just come out of. After all of the commotion of me running, and the massive animal splashing into the water, the woods fell silent.

HE WAS DEAD!


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
We wouldn't be making it to Dan's camp for dinner. Cory and I had our work cut out for us.

b157e4d1235cdee9ecffd89e637d48c7.jpg


I'm glad I had a mule along to help get the moose out of the water. ;)

6bf6db4529a2e3cbf668dbf23db0ab55.jpg


c09524d92304e906a2b028e2f804c708.jpg


764d43e77fc897053644e951ce10d233.jpg


dce1a6a128867785dc8f72c27c12d345.jpg


bfa3f2e669392833eefafd438d1a5f50.jpg


It was an amazing moment. I couldn't have been more happy to punch my once in a lifetime tag and put it on this bull, and not because he's a unique bull, but because of the entire experience. Having Cory there to share the moment was very special.

b51f04d820609e523bce52277a2f8f16.jpg


The last time I was this excited was probably after I killed my first deer. I couldn't stop smiling.... Still can't.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
We hardly noticed that our legs and feet were completely soaked and covered in a mixture of mud and blood, nor did we care that the temps were dropping and it was getting late. We took our time and did our best to enjoy every part of the experience. I told Cory, "I can't believe it happened," "I can't stop smiling," and "I just killed a bull moose!" about a million times.

We had the bull de-boned, caped, and our first load packed out and back to camp by midnight. We ate a double portion of Mountain House and slept like kings. We didn't set any alarms. It didn't matter when we woke up.

----

My excitement had me awake at 630, but I forced myself to get a little more sleep. Cory didn't have the same problem. He was sawing logs like his life depended on it. When 830 rolled around I heard a truck coming up to the saddle, so I threw on my blood covered pants and my camp shoes.

The truck belonged to Dan and he stopped to say hey. I apologized for not making dinner last night and told him we got a little busy and had a bull down. He was genuinely excited for me and said, "well... Let's see some pictures!"

I shared the story with him and he congratulated me on killing a nice bull in a tough unit.

As luck would have it, his guides Jeff and Dave were packing some feed to an elk camp that day, and they'd be passing by where we had the moose down. Dan offered to pack out the meat for me, and Cory and I enthusiastically accepted. I may not be a smart man, but I do know a good deal when I see it. Cory and I could have packed the moose out ourselves without too much trouble, but since we both jump out of airplanes and have a history of back problems we were very happy to save our backs for another hunt.

Although, they were willing to pick the meat up down by the creek, Cory and I felt obligated to bring everything up to the trail so Jeff wouldn't be too inconvenienced by us.

The weather was beautiful and made for some awesome pictures.

2c7ab85d9ad5ce4cf745d123ab4c0aad.jpg


835429f33032b933b970f66b57ce9805.jpg


4ca1d0eef30280fb882fdc486e826c99.jpg


ad017fcbea9f2d221bce3b0bf222c6ad.jpg


96ec0172ff824699ac3431e89577fa1f.jpg


a2d54e24813984a898639d10558fd700.jpg


1ab4d6029a07b3409ba44c20c24fb5ed.jpg


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
232420173b7821cf00d1de643c751762.jpg


37028964f22952ab1c3238fb34bd3440.jpg


5ee015080e60062db9b582d786b1d766.jpg


6e01347f689a8796802e976ab316972c.jpg


e3018021c3132009cf40255028ea3fa9.jpg


8fc7149adb060d3b178f3d14c73a4434.jpg



We brought one of my favorite snacks along for when we waited for the mules.

9e808976f6dd3648b8cfff458f96f8df.jpg


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
12,624
Location
Eastern Utah
Chips and salsa all the comforts of home on this trip. Congratulations on a great bull and really enjoyed this write up

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
Chips and salsa all the comforts of home on this trip. Congratulations on a great bull and really enjoyed this write up

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Thanks. I hope I was able to accurately express how I felt and the thoughts going through my head on the hunt. It was a terrific experience, and something I'll cherish forever.

---

Dan even sweetened the deal when he offered up one of his cabins for the night. That way we could tear down camp while it was dry (it was supposed to rain hard the next day, and it did) We only had to worry about waking up and leaving in the morning. It was an extremely generous offer, and we were very grateful for it.

I can't thank Dan Everson and his guides Jeff and Dave enough for their help, hospitality, and the fun conversation. I don't really like to plug any companies or businesses, but I can tell you with confidence, Dan is a terrific guy, and runs a top notch outfit. If you're looking for an adventure in an extremely beautiful and rugged place, check out Cayuse Outfitting. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
There is no break for this guy after the moose hunt. I still have a few days of leave, so I'm going to take advantage of them.

I promised my daughter that I'd take her deer hunting, so this morning I got her up and out of the house way before her normal wake up time.

I got to one of the spots I'd find last winter and scouted a little this summer just as the sun was rising. We ended up seeing 11 deer total; 10 does/fawns and 1 legal spike/fork. I chose to pass on the little fella since he was smaller than most of the does.

4e6abd861675f958b8f75aa9ee791610.jpg


bc48b25c3ff3da7c57b2cb7ff24f7d3c.jpg


145c6f547a3fe598f0425976544869e7.jpg


I was going to hunt hard for deer over the next few days, but then a light switched in my head... I need to get my antelope and moose down to the taxidermist in NM this week, so I figured I'd tag on a Barbary Sheep hunt while I'm down there.

The wife's Subaru is packed, and I'm on my way shortly. (My pack is still drying from washing the smell of death off of it. I didn't notice with it in the bed of my truck. ;) )


d57d96844276bf57737d41d870f4c635.jpg


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
Oh, and I also submitted an application for AZ javelina with my buddy Ryan. We're going to try to kill then with wood longbows his dad made. It's going to be a blast.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
Look what I found at the Taxidermist...

ff6f638b6c337d0c318fa20e42146fc0.jpg


e499873f494063d88d641c2cac260999.jpg


Now it's a few hours on the road and I'll be in Barbary Sheep country.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
OP
Lostinthewoods
Joined
Dec 10, 2016
Messages
363
Location
Coast to coast
Look what I found at the Taxidermist...

ff6f638b6c337d0c318fa20e42146fc0.jpg


e499873f494063d88d641c2cac260999.jpg


Now it's a few hours on the road and I'll be in Barbary Sheep country.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Sweet picture!!! We definitely shot some funky bucks!
The cool thing is he will probably finish both of ours around the same time....
Guess we will need to meet there in exactly 1 year to pick up our heads and Barbary sheep hunt!!!
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
Sweet picture!!! We definitely shot some funky bucks!
The cool thing is he will probably finish both of ours around the same time....
Guess we will need to meet there in exactly 1 year to pick up our heads and Barbary sheep hunt!!!
Deal. This time you'll need to be ready to shoot 600+ at a 30+ degree slope... Good luck practicing that in Florida

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
Found a good... Now I just need to figure out how to get to him without killing myself.

76080c2e6b05877f6eee6c9552a03ff6.jpg


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
An easy target is awfully tempting, but I came for a big one.

1c22bdfca7c5e00847ee2f4cb0bcd554.jpg


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
318
Location
NM
Holy guacamole! I'm gonna have to stop hunting for a bit...

638b9de833d95b4e42b84edf8d0b0b0f.jpg


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Top