Moose hunt - BWCA

[jeweaver]

Got drawn for the 2004 MN moose hunt for Unit 20 which is within the BWCA. Looking for anybody that has hunted that area before so that I can pester them for some info.

[wh1stler]

How did you find out? I couldn't access the information on the DNR HSOforum!

Wh1stler

[This message has been edited by wh1stler (edited 07-08-2004).]

[jeweaver]

Got my application in the mail yesterday. So did the rest of my group members.

[wh1stler]

Crud...I guess this means I didn't get it again this year.

Wh1stler

[Nels]

Hey jeweaver,
How many times have you applied in the past?
This was my first year applying, so I didn't get my hopes up.

Nels

[jeweaver]

This was our 4th year applying so it was kind of a suprise when we got drawn. But at least we are all in our lower 40's so we still have a little stamina left. Can't imagine waiting until we were in our 50's or 60's and trying to do a BWCA hunt (not to say that 50 or 60 is old :-)).

[jeweaver]

Found out through the DNR that I could contact the Minnesota Bookstore and get a list of all the successful lottery winners (basically a mailing list). Talked to a lady at the bookstore and she informed me that she still had the list from 2003 available. She stated that in the next month they would get the list for 2004 and discard the 2003 list. The 2003 list or prior was what I was after. I gave her some criteria such as the zone number and she emailed me a list of all the successful winners for 2003 for zone 20 sorted by zip code. Now all I have to do is put on my pesky telemarketer hat and start calling some of these folks for hunt details....

[Nels]

Where has the required Moose hunt orientation been in the past?

[Ruttin' Buck]

Hey jeweaver...finally decided to take up some of my lunch to give you some tips. A group of us went in the Bdub last year to help out a few buds that were selected on their first time applying!

It was not the same area you are hunting but I can tell you that 6 of us took 3 canoes in 11 miles...it was 10.5 miles just to get to the zone they were selected for. On day two, a 56" bull was harvested...#5 in MN last year.

The evening went like this....
6:15...moose down

8:??...those of us fishing finally able to get the two guys on 2-way radio.

9:??...the two guys finally GPS'ed the shortest course out while marking it. Decided to canoe 1/2 mile to camp and eat to fuel up...we knew were in for some work.

10:00...back at trail head.

10:45...arrive at kill site...took 45 minutes to walk in darkness through swamp and thicket with headlamps, 9 empty Duluth packs, and 1 Duluth pack with tarps, knives, hatchet, saw, poly bags, 2 lanterns, batteries,etc.

11:15...after pictures, we begin boning...we were systematic and I think we set a record because....

1:00 (AM)...on our way out! Six guys with knives can bone out a 1200lb animal on dry ground in a hurry. Note...we did not gut the moose. Removed quarters and got 2-3 other guys boning them while a few of us worked on getting the next quarter off. The tenderloins were taken last by making a cut just below the spine...I reached in up to my elbows and cut them out blind.

4:30...yup...3.5 hours to hike out the animal just 5/8 mile! The head and rack was the worst. Over 200lbs, we stretchered it but it was all 2 guys could do to get it through the brambles. We had to keep doubling back since it was 2 guys on the head and 4 guys that had to carry 10 packs. We took turns carrying the head and tried to double pack (front/back) packs when you could. The head set the pace...about 100 yards...then switch.

5:00...back at camp, opened packs and poly bags in canoes...meat was already cool...it was 28 degrees out.

8:00...awake had coffee, grabbed water bottles, purifiers and snacks and canoed out 11 miles.

Noonish...Hauled animal 45 minutes to where we had a freezer trailer my family built that we usually use for bear hunting. 4 of the 6 members turned back to camp since we had all week off! Hunter and I returned later in day and made it the 11 mi. back in just before dark with a record time of 2 hours and 15 minutes.

I will not kid you and say it was easy. I will do it again but everyone should know that this is not an easy undertaking and it does take alot of planning. Our group of guys had a few meetings and many emails and phone calls to pull it off. We were all 27-28 years old and that night in the bush was very taxing on us.

The bad part is that you have to be prepared for anything. What if you kill one in a swamp? We brought block and tackle's and hip waders. What if somebody gets hurt? What if somebody gets sick? What if the temperature is extremely warm? When you get an animal are you wrapping up camp too?

Make sure you know the answers before the question is reality. Good luck! Let me know if I can help with any other suggestions.

[jeweaver]

Buckblaster, thanks for the info. Somewhat along the lines of our elk hunt dragging elk down on foot from 10,000 feet except without the water.

Nels, not sure about the past, but this year there is one in White Bear Lake, one in Ely, and a couple more up in the Iron Range.

[jeweaver]

Anyone know if the moose are in rut during the MN moose hunt? Wondering what "standard" hunting method is used.

[Ruttin' Buck]

jeweaver...yup, getting a moose out of the Bdub will be much like trying to wrestle an elk at altitude down a mountain....alot of work.

They should be in rut during the season. The guys I went with hunted the second of the 2 weeks (am I remembering the season right?). The first night they called in a bull but it was very swampy and never did see the animal. The second night, they called in the bull also. If I remember the story correctly, it did take the bull about 45 minutes to get to them from the time they heard the bull's first bawl/grunt.

[merc]

Hey jweaver, I posted in the hunting site before I checked here. This is the first year we applied since we had a license in 1989 and got chosen. This time we are hunting on land, there is a reason for that after we were in the BWCA the first hunt. Where is your area as I threw away my map. Didn't think we would get picked the first time that we applied since the first hunt. The first time we applied the guy who sent in the application was in a hurry and thought he sent in for the NW area and instead was in the BWCA,. Since none of us were ever there it ended up being an interesting experience to say the least. We did get a moose the second day right on the shore of the lake we were on, what luck that was. Packed up and went to Ely to sleep in a motel that night. Hopefully being on land will be easier. Good luck, we were on Isabella lake the first hunt and now on land!!