Any suggestions to get the meat home. Was thinking of bringing back about 200# and donating the rest. I leave this Saturday for my hunt.
Lots of businesses around Soldotna, Homer, Seward, etc. pack and ship sport fish, They must be doing the same for big game there or in Anchorage. Won't be cheap though.
I was going to try to check it on Alaska Air. I bought first class to get my first two checked free and add additional for $25 up to 100# each.
Moose down on 9/7/2019 Finally back home after a month away from the office. Spent 14 days in Alaska and 14 Days in Hawaii. Scouted in Alaska for 5 days prior to the opener. Seen a few grizzlies and blackbears in our search and a few really small legal bull moose. Also spotted a bunch of cows. On opening day I passed up on a spike bull that we came up on to about 15 away. Wated to let that one grow. Than we heard a few shots in the distance so we ran upriver to see what they harvested. Two gentlemen were already covered in blood from head to toe cleaning a large bull elk. We helped them quarter it out and for our help they gave us a quarter of the moose without us even asking. Went back tot he cabin to gring the leg up and go to bed. Second day seen a bunch of beavers and bald eagles. No moose in the area we were hunting but after getting the boat out we spotted a huge bull in a marsh eating but of course it was in a no shooting area. We sat and called and the moose started coming our way. than we lost sight of him for about 5-10 mins (seemed like an eternity) than when the bull was seen again someone was able to pull the trigger on him before we could get a cleqan shot. We helped the lucky hunter get him out of the marsh using a come along tied to a tree nearby. Third day went all morning with only seeing beavers and moose. Decided to park the boat and do some calling in several areas. My hunting buddy wanted to go for a hike and sit and glass on a ridge just to change things up from riding on the boat. I used my Cartridgecalls Bull Funnel and made a long Horny Cow call. Seen a huge moose about a mile away. While waiting for him to come in the one I eventually shot was in the river below me. He was lterally straight down a cliff only abou 60 yards away but through some thick brush. I wrapped my arms around the tree and leaned over the cliff and fired a round. I hit him right in the boiler room with a double heart and lung shot. The moose stood still like nothing had happend. the Barnes 180 GR TTSX whizzed right through him. The second shot was also right in the boiler room and a double lung. the moose gain just stood there in the river and went back to drinking water. I finally thought at this point that I must have missed the shots. Before He could get out of the water and make a run for it a head shot presented itself through a small opening. I put the round right under the right ear. The moose went down like a sack of potatoes into the water. this is where we learn a valuable lesson. I had about a mile walk back to the cabin where the boat was docked. We drove down river to find the moose and couldnt find it anywhere. We searched for over an hour. No tracks, no blood, no signs of a moose even being in the area. My hunting partners who did not see me shoot the moose were questioning if I had even seen one or if I was just messing with them. I assured them at hte price of Barnes Bullets I would not waste three rounds as a joke. Than out of nowhere two hunters shows up in a boat and say "hey theres a moose dead in the water down river over a mile away" then they say if you can tell us where it was shot to claim it its yours. I said theres a head shot and two behind the shoulder. They nodded and agreed that it was my moose. After fighting with getting it out f the ater for about 30 minutes we were able to get it 3/4 of the way out of the water on the bank with 6 of us pulling then proceeded to skin and quarter. We left the come along we used earlier in the story in the truck. What we learned was that moose float after you shoot them and wait till they are on solid ground to pull the trigger. P.S. The gentlemen that helped pull mine out of the water were able to get on the much larger moose that was spotted by me on the following day. I will post pics of that bd boy as well. We were able to come help them out as well. Hope you enjoyed reading and as always stay safe.
Why pack all that gear to get a moose. All you need to get a Sasquatch is something that smells like tuna, like a practice wife! Congrats, Ducker!
