You took a fvcking Wolverine? That is badass! Congrats on the skunk bear and goat.

I suppose I should write up my season report sometime...

Bycatch

I have a huge amount of respect for Wolverines. Tough as they are, that one didn’t fare well against the .300wm. By most accounts they are the least often seen Alaskan wildlife, but I’ve happened across quite a few of them. We must have a few things in common.

Very cool! Definitely animal of a lifetime - Congrats Coley. When my family used to live up there, my pops had an opp to take one while sheep hunting, but he passed on the shot. He said he always regretted it and didn't regret it at the same time.

I assume you kept the pelt right? Any plans for mount or tanned hide on the wall?

I keep thinking that I go hunting to kill things to eat, which is a prime reason. Then, I see places like this and remember that there is so much more to it. Looks like you add good people to the mix, too.

Thanks for sharing.

Almost! The surf was pretty rough for most of the trip which kept us from getting out to the good fishing/hunting grounds. Surfing was a higher priority than fishing for most of the trip. I did have one Tako cornered for a bit that wound up getting away. I picked up a new Gatku pole spear that I like quite a bit but wasn't able to stick anything with it. Had some close calls with a few kumu and papio.

Carcassman, both hunting and fishing for me are vehicles for adventure with the added bonus of sometimes adding to the food supply. They are both great excuses to get out and enjoy wild places.

My buddy shot it. I don't kill stuff I am not going to eat unless it is trying to kill me.

Kind of an interesting story on the wolverine. The day after I shot my goat we headed back up into the same area to find another one for my buddy. When we got above treeline we stopped to glass for a bit and I picked out a wolverine cruising across an open face about 1000 yards away. We watched it for a while and kept hiking in search of goats. When we came around little rock wall to the spot where we cut up my goat the day before, a different wolverine was munching on the gut pile. My buddy wanted to take it home so he did. I spoke with another group of hunters after the trip that watched another wolverine chewing up the bones from the goat my buddy took later in the trip a few miles from the first. Seems like a robust wolverine population in this little area.

The hide is absolutely incredible. We had it tanned with the goat hides, which are true trophies as well. FYI. Wolverines smell terrible.

A Booner BT is my #1 bucket list hooved animal. I / we got close this year dancing with "The Masher". He's awfully close to being a book buck and if he doesn't start digressing this year, he should be an even bigger stud next year. He went from a 5x5 two years ago, to we don't even know what this year (8x7 or 7x6). I don't think he'd made the book based on standard inches alone. He's gonna need those extra points to have a chance.

It'll be neat to see how his rack changes this off season. If at all and if he's still around, but I don't see why he wouldn't be. He's in prime shape, lives right there, nobody has ever laid eyes on him in person and we're the only ones who hunt around our area.

Past that, I reeeeeally want a good Yukon Moose, so I'm with you Stam. He doesn't need to be a Booner or reach that magical 60" mark. To me, any nice Moose would be my trophy of a lifetime. It's the $20K+ for the trip which holds me back. I'm one big business deal away from putting down a deposit. Hope 2019 is the year I can make that deal.

Coley is addicted to elk hunting.
LOL
Nice pics and a good season.

A tad inconvenient seeing as how the closest elk are about a thousand miles away.

Nick, a DIY moose trip here in AK is not unattainable, quite the opposite. You could piece together a float hunt in a sweet spot for $5-$6K RT from Seattle. It could be done for less off of the road system but your odds of killing something would go down.

Coley,

Don't non-Alaskans have to use a guide or hunt with a state resident? I'd love a DIY moose trip, but didn't think I could. Hence the high cost I threw out because I have looked into guides and its extremely expensive.

I'll make you a deal. You take Toff and I moose hunting in AK and I'll get you into big Colorado bulls.

Guides are required for NR to goats, sheep, and brown bears. NR can hunt moose without a guide, but in some places the antler restrictions vary based on whether or not you are a resident.

Thanks for the offer on Colorado. With family in Montana that is a pretty plug and play trip for me and where I will be chasing elk in the future as often as I am able. I'd be happy to collaborate on a moose trip at some point. I haven't moose hunted the last two years as I have had plenty of moose in the freezer from the last one, and I prefer to do more hunts for smaller animals throughout the year. Half a moose keeps us stocked on meat for two years pretty easily.

70" is the new 60"

Always enjoy CG pixels & prose.

When it comes to large ungulates, a man's got to know his limitations. That often includes freezer volume. *grin*

Have had the pleasure of seeing moose while chasing chrome "up north" and also while hunting elk in WY and MT. First glance at the cow in WY made me believe I was seeing someone's horse tied to a tree at the edge of a snowy meadow. We were both at the edge of treeline about 10k above sea level. Leica 10X solved the riddle. Also jumped one in the MT timber while tracking smokin' hot elk sign in the snow. Both surprised me for being in the high timber and their size. I've long solo hunted for bulls & bucks in remote areas but the idea of packing out a moose makes it a two-man endeavor. Even more so for the Yukon variety and available freezer volume. YMMV.

Coley,
Don't take the bait and get in Todd's candy van.........

I've been in the candy van. In isn't as scary as it looks.

Three people works well for cutting up and packing a moose. Mine usually wind up in 8 chunks when I leave the meat on the bone.

Front Q x 2
Rear Q x 2
Ribs x 1
Possibles Bag x 2
Head x 1

Each one of those chunks is a load for one person. The lightest load is usually the head at 50-75lbs. The rear quarters can weigh 160 but for an average sized bull they are usually more like 120-130. I don't shoot them more than a mile from where I have to get them to on flat ground. Add any ups and downs, swamps, schwacking, or other hardships and that distances starts shrinking quickly. I fell down with a large hind quarter on my back in a swamp and the thing almost killed me. My face was getting pushed into the muck and I couldn't roll over or breathe. I guess the moose was just looking for a little revenge. Moose are big critters.

I would like to eat more moose, and I would like to shoot one (or participate in the death of one)...I would do some packing to make that happen, but I wouldn't enjoy it.

Fish on...

Todd

I hate myself so I would thoroughly enjoy it. It can't be worse than packing big bulls out on snowshoes from many miles into the deep in subzero temps.

Ah youth.

If'n I want that moose, I need to get on it. Old man time is starting to creep up on me. I shouldn't be sore from just sleeping. Why am I sore from just laying there? This getting old business is a buncha bullchit.

I think I'm still in decent enough shape, but that doesn't mean I want to do schit like carrying out large animals any more.

I'd do it for moose. That schit is good.

Fish on...

Todd

Oh, I so wanted to make a cute comment about the hike out of Cook Creek with a nice Steelhead, running outta wind by the time I got back to the hatchery parking lot but realized, Ida been talking AgeSmak about myself !

Real men pack a chicken on their head.
Just Sayin.

You are the last person ever on this board that would need to apologize to me!

As always, your report(s) won the internet and put everything and everyone here on PP to shame.