Lighting up the mountain, the sun inched upward as we glassed the valley below. The willow laden creek bottom came to life as elk started doing elk things. But we were here for something else…a moose.
It went down fast. Our attention was on the aspen draws, scanning the edges looking for a sign. An ear, an antler, anything that would give his hide away. “BULL MOOSE!” Cody whispered with the sense of urgency that shit was about to go down. There on the sage brush covered mountain side he walked with a swagger that indicated he was getting while the getting was good.
Joined by a smaller bull and a cow we must have bumped the trio out of the closest quaky patch. They were headed back over the mountain we had just hiked down. Grabbing my rifle I laid prone and jacked in a shell. “574” Cody spoke softly as I dialed my scope. The Seekins 7 mm PRC barked, and the next 20 seconds was a blur. Three shots, and the bull moose went down.
If you want to hunt moose in the lower 48…good luck. Drawing a tag is the hardest part and the best way to explain it is with an analogy an actuary used when I brought him a new product idea: There’s a slim to none chance, and Slim just rode out of town on his horse! If that doesn’t resonate, maybe a tale from my days at Chadron State College will. Wyoming teammates would not claim Nebraska residency when eligible for lower tuition, because they didn’t want to give up their “moose points.” Drawing a bull moose permit is a big deal.
However, I have the same mindset as Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber when he asked Mary Swanson what the odds of getting together are and she replied “one in a million” to which Lloyd responded “so you’re saying there’s a chance!” If you want to hunt a moose you have to play the license draw game, and it might be a game you never win. If you do draw tag, it is probably considered “once in a lifetime” meaning you aren’t eligible to get another permit in that state if you are successful in harvesting a moose.
You had better bring some good friends, because bull moose are big. Onemore (Cody) and Walker made the trek from Colorado to Idaho…and I’m grateful they did. They are two of the best hunters I know, and when the three of us get together it’s probably going to get gamey.
After some grip and grins our knives went to work. When it was time for the packing Walker didn’t hesitate and grabbed a hind quarter rocking his taped-up cowboy boots (he forgot his hunting footwear at home). Cody only brought a day pack and slung a front quarter over his shoulder. We might not be the smartest bunch, but at least we are tough.
My final load was the head. The antlers swayed side to side, as I put one step in front of the other. When I dropped my pack on the tailgate, the reality set in. I successfully filled my Idaho moose tag on opening day…and it wasn’t even lunch yet.
How Does This Apply to Life
Bob Seger was singing Katmandu when I crossed the Nebraska state line while the phrase “Once in Lifetime” bounced around in my head. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that everyday is “Once in Lifetime.” Big events and accomplishments are good, but the time they occupy is minimal. I’ve made 44 trips around the sun, and my moose hunting career spans one day. My point is that any day can be “Once in a Lifetime.” Have a conversation with your spouse, call a new prospect at work, run a different route around the neighborhood, take the grandkids to the park or just watch the sunset. Enjoy today and until next time…you’re going to have to earn it.
