Moose Camp

 

Moose Camp

   Oren, Ryker, and I took a trip downriver to set up camp and look for moose. Our original plan was to stay for one night, but when the weather was really nice on Saturday we decided to stay for two nights. We had to check the status of our food though. On camping trips we almost always come back with food so I figured we would have enough to last us two nights. The boys figured if we ran out of food we could always catch a pike and eat them. Camp was about 15 miles from town and normally wouldn't have cellular service, but I was able to gain a little elevation and inform Kayla of our plans to stay another night.

Making Fires

Having Fun

Saturday we took our time going down the river. We stopped and hiked into 3 small lakes and meadows to look around. The last spot that we stopped near our intended camping location had plenty of moose sign. We spent about an hour overlooking a small lake. Then we continued on our way to camp. 

Marking the Spot

But before camp, fishing. We all enjoy fishing for pike. It is visual, fast paced, with aggressive fish. It's boatloads of fun. The pike were there and the boys caught a pile. We fished until almost dark (which is still after 10 pm) and drove back to camp. 

Fishing

Pike

Lots of Pike

I spent a few minutes glassing while the boys got ready for bed, but didn't see anything. The boys have been getting into the Percy Jackson book series so we read that for a while before going to sleep.

Set Up

I woke up at 5 am Sunday morning to what sounded like a moose rubbing a tree. I got up and listened, but did not hear anything once I got out of the tent. It was still dark outside so I went back into the tent and listened for a while but did not hear it anymore. Breakfast was oatmeal and muffins and then it was back to fishing. I don't know if it was the temperature, or the light, or what but the fishing was really slow. The boys powered through for a while and managed to catch a few pike, but after the action of the evening before we decided to leave and go look for moose. 

 

Breakfast

We took the boat out of our little side creek back into the larger side channel. We went back to the lake that we had scouted the day before that looked good. On this day we decided to try to still hunt partway around the lake that we had walked into the day before. We took our time taking 2 hours to walk 500 yards partway around the lake. Eventually the boys got tired of hiking and sneaking and not seeing anything and they informed me they were ready to head back to the boat.

Lichen

Old Man's Beard

Mouse Visitor

 We had just gotten back to the shore of the lake where we had dumped some of our gear and I thought I heard a boat. I had the time to think that, "they must have come from downriver, because if they came from upriver I would have heard them drive past us" and then I heard three gun shots. I thought "Ahh man somebody got a moose!" I definitely had mixed emotions thinking that we were sooo close, but then somebody else caught it. We hopped in the boat and headed to where we heard the gun shots. We got into the little creek where we were camped and sure enough a couple of boats were parked with a nice bull down. The boys wanted to help cut up the moose and the group that got it welcomed us to join in on the work. We helped gut and quarter the moose and get it into the boat. Every time I walk up to a moose I am surprised by how big they are. This moose was no exception. It had a massive body. The thing that amazed me the most was the size of the heart. I bet it was as big as my head. I wish I would have take a picture. 

Bull Moose

After helping cut the moose there was still some daylight left so we headed back to the fishing spot for some more pike action. The bite had improved from the morning so we fished again until just before dark then idling back to camp. 

The Strike

The Battle

Monday morning was uneventful with overcast skies and a misty rain. We ate oatmeal and muffins again for breakfast and when I inventoried our food we had 3 muffins, 2 granola bars, and 4 packets of oatmeal left. I guess we could have stayed one more day if we wanted to. We also had a cooler full of moose meat and a virtually unlimited supply of pike. Breakfast was lazy with an extra cup of coffee or two while finishing the rest of the Percy Jackson book. By the time breakfast was over the misty rain had turned into a steady drizzle. We broke camp down quickly, loaded up the boat, and headed home. No animals were spotted on the way home and we made it without incident. 

Camprobber Looking for a Meal