Steve's Great Moosehunt Expedition
on the September 17, 2005 weekend
Jef and Kathy drove most of the day of September 16, 2005 from Mesquite NV, arriving in the Strawberry Reservoir Recreation Area late in the afternoon. They were greeted with Matt's racoon stew. Both sampled the gamey faire. Here are a couple of photos around the campfire that night.


Here is Uncle Garrison telling a scary story around the campfire that night.
After being rousted out of bed on the cold morning of September 17, 8 of us piled into Steve's Toyota Tundra. We left before 5 a.m., about an hour before sunrise. Only 6 could fit in the cab, so Jef and CJ manned the bed. CJ stood up most of the way and looked for moose. At about 5:30, CJ spotted a couple of moose. Steve drove over and checked them out, but rejected them and moved on. Just before sunrise he spotted a couple more. Before Steve could get the truck close enough, they had wandered into the brush. After that, Steve drove to the top of a nearby hill... The first photo below.

Kathy out stretching her legs. CJ stood at his post.

After another hour of unsuccessful searching, CJ spotted a lone moose at about 8 a.m. Here is Matt and Steve checking it out.

Steve had already dropped the bull by this point, and was closing to make sure. The rack was still sticking up (at the left in this picture), and another shot was made.

Steve, CJ, and Garrison approaching the downed bull.

Just as Steve took his 2nd shot, and turned his back to announce success, the moose raised his head.
After this was pointed out, Steve took the 3rd and final shot.

Kill Shot Video (1.8 Mb)

Before the job of field dressing, we took the opportunity to snap a few pictures.


WATERCOLOR
Of course the witnesses had to pose by Steve's kill. Steve had chosen a good eating 2 year-old instead of waiting for a tough-eating trophy.

Jef and Kathy

Garrison, Samantha, Kara, Justin, Josh: Linda's brother, Garrison and son Josh came from AZ for this

Kara got coaxed to follow Matt's example, and sit on the downed moose.

Josh was teased into even touching the downed moose....

...and finally got the courage to sit on it.

Steve unloading his gun after the kill.

CJ, Matt, and Steve performing the field dressing.

WATERCOLOR

Views from plateau - Moose is to right of 2 people standing near the middle of the photo

Some of the bystanders did a token amount of help.

Although Steve did most of the work getting the bull on the trailer, here is Jef doing a token amount of cranking

Aunt Sandra (Mrs. Gary), CJ, Garrison, Steve, Justin, Josh, Samantha, Kara, Kathy, Matt, and Gary (from Salt Lake City)


Loaded and ready to go

Back at camp


CJ by morning campfire

Jef, Steve, and Matt enjoying Kathy's coffee. Matt was especially pleased, as noone was making coffee until Jef and Kathy arrived.

Kathy's back was bother her, so Jef and Kathy remained. They decided to hike up creek from camp, and found the alternate moose camp.

This road had a big mudhole, and so Steve rejected the alternate moose camp, as others, such as Jef might not make it to this camp.


Skinning rack at the alternate moose camp


Alternate moose camp had several fire rings

Roads were stopped at 2 canyon entrances near this camp

One of 2 beaver dams on this creek. Kathy got stung by hornet while taking this picture.

After skinning the moose, the trophy remained

Salting the hide
Later that night, the camp feasted on moose tenderloin grilled with bacon. Kathy and Jef enjoyed another nice bottle of wine around the campfire that night.

The white sheen on the tent is frost!

The final morning campfire
The 2 pictures to the left were taken on the morning of Sunday, the 18th. It was so cold the previous night, that Jef threw a frisbee of ice frozen in the frying pan. Just after noon, the last 2 vehicles - Steve's Tundra and Jef's 626 left camp.