Self-guided Alaskan Moose Hunt

Adam De Ruyter
Iowa
September 16-September 24

Coming from Iowa and having never hunted moose before, my dad and I weren’t exactly sure what to expect on a DIY moose hunt. Our worries of not seeing any moose vanished when we called in two 50” bulls 20 minutes after getting our camp set up!

We woke up the next morning to the sounds of a bull grunting and raking trees 200 yards from our tent. We spotted a nice bull mid-morning by climbing 30 feet up a spruce tree to gain a vantage point but our stalk came to an abrupt halt when I fell through the tundra up to my waist. After going back to camp to change clothes and eat some lunch, I decided to head back to my lookout tree for the afternoon and call.

Several hours past before loud grunting broke the silence. I could see for miles in front of me but there was a thick stand of spruce trees behind me, and this bull had snuck in on me. I was 30 feet up a tree, my gun was on the ground at the base of the tree, and this bull was close! I descended the tree as quickly and quietly as I could, grabbed my gun, and a second later a cow emerged into a clearing 15 yards from me! The bull was still grunting right behind her so I tucked behind a small spruce tree, raised my gun and waited. It didn’t take long and a huge bull stepped out into the clearing at 15 yards!

After the shot the bull bolted like a whitetail. My dad joined up with me and we found blood where I had shot the bull, but nothing else. After walking 100 yards in the direction he ran, I spotted a paddle sticking way above the blueberry bushes. I could not believe the size of the antlers or body when we walked up on him. There was definitely no ground shrinkage. What a magnificent animal.

After taking pictures we started the long task of butchering the moose. Luckily the bull had run straight towards the tent so we only had to pack it out 200 yards. It started raining the next day and would not stop for 5 straight days. My dad had several bulls in the crosshairs over the next few days, but he decided not to pull the trigger on any of them. On day 5 we ventured further from camp to check out some different areas. We set up in a stand of small aspens and after a half hour calling sequence, we heard a bull raking in the aspens. It didn’t take long and a nice bull crested the ridge, and my dad dropped him with one shot. We got him butchered and in game bags before dark and spent the next day packing him a mile back to camp in the rain.

It was definitely not easy but an experience I’ll never forget. It took a few more days before the plane was able to fly in and get us out because of all the rain. My bull ended up measuring 62″ and my dad’s measured 52″. I can’t wait to go back.

The weather made it difficult to get guys in and out, but the outfitter always put safety first. He definitely knew where the moose were, and we saw far more moose than I ever expected.

• Overall, my trip was amazing, I couldn’t have asked for more.
• My outfitter’s communication before, during and after the trip was good.
• My guide was good.
• Physically, the trip was difficult.
• The food and accommodations were good.

My consultant was Russ Meyer.

Russ had been on the trip before and his knowledge as far as when to go and what gear to bring were extremely helpful. It was the type of insight that you could have only gotten from a guy that has actually been there before.

• My consultant’s communication before, during and after the trip was perfect, I couldn’t have asked for more.
• My consultant was very knowledgeable, and a pleasure to talk to.
• Would you book another trip with us in the future? Yes
• Can we use your stories and/or photos on our website? Yes
• Can we use this in social media? Yes

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