Boston Burbs

[buckhunter]

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/slideshow/news/19538311/detail.html

Its too bad we have to put up with these critters. This ain't too far from Downtown Boston.

[Adam Helmer]

buckhunter,

I worked many cases in Woburn. Yes, it is not far from downtown Boston. I would rather face a moose that the animals I faced in the projects in Roxbury and Dorchester.

Adam

[buckhunter]

I here ya. Its getting worse. Murders are up about 10-15%. There are areas of the city I will never go. Like you I'll take a moose anytime. A couple of weeks ago I was doing some work at one of my rental's. Next thing I new there were about 15 cops around my neighbors house. Shall we enforcing warrents. And this is a decent part of Boston. I'll be a NH resident in a few years and cannot wait.

[BriBri]

I just got back from New Brunswick (bear hunting) on Saturday, and I heard about that moose in Woburn. At first, I was amazed that there would be a MOOSE in any part of Massachusetts. But, I guess anything can happen here. Maybe there should be a moose season in Mass (hehe).

[buckhunter]

There is a picture of a doe on Commonwealth Ave in Boston that ended up on the Turnpike in the Prudentail Tunnel. Burger's anyone. Anyway the DFG killed a moose on the Brighton/Watertown line a number of years back. My bud lives in Newton and honest to God had a moose print in his garden. They are getting closer.
Bri Bri How was the Bear hunt?

[BriBri]

That's incredible! I could understand deer bring driven to more urban locations. But, I wouldn't have expected metro Boston to be moose habitat. I wonder from where the Woburn moose came. Maybe down Route 225 from the Carlyle area? The Concord River might provide some ideal habitat. Crazy, ain't it.

BTW...I took a 185# black bear on the last night of the hunt (Friday), with my .270 Tikka T3 (Remington 150gr SP Core-Lokts). I saw and shot at one in the late evening on Wednesday (right at the end of good shooting light). But I believe I missed low (I think I grazed it), as the bear kinda reacted like he got stung by a bee on the chest, did a 360, and ran off into a swamp on all fours. There was no blood (trail) and the only evidence I found that I hit it was a tuft of hair with some root-meat still attached (it was stuck to the barrel). We (the outfitter, guides, and the other 3 hunters I was with) looked for the bear for about 2 hours the following morning - but, we could not find any sign of it. The bear I shot on Friday was a good shot - right behind the left shoulder. Dropped it at the barrel (a different bait stand than Wednesday - 51 yards from treestand to barrel according to the rangefinder). The hide was a bit rubbed out from the ribs backward (I wasn't expecting that this early in the season). But I had it skinned out from about the "belly button" forward. I'll see if the taxidermist can make a 3/4 mount from it. I definitely have the bear-hunting bug, and I am planning on returning to the same outfitter (and most likely with the same hunting buddies) next year.

Now, I have got to get in bow-shooting shape for the fall deer season. One of my hunting buddies has permission to hunt on private land out in the Berkshires, and he offered to take me along as it will be my first time bowhunting for deer (he is an avid and experienced bowhunter and he offered to "show me the ropes").

[buckhunter]

Congrat's on the Bear. People think its easy to set in Tree for 6 to 10 hours a day. I have a hard time sitting still for 15 minutes.

As for bowhunting seriously take a ride out to the Templeton Development center in Templeton. 5 minutes off of Rt. 2. There is a state facility for some special folks. Its about 4000 or so acres. Bow hunting only. Check out the Mass Wildlife Web Site in places to hunt and you will find it there. They had a list of rules that are pretty liberal(man I hate that word) plus security is pretty hunter friendly. I hunted there and saw deer everytime I went. Its usually busy (about 12 hunter) the first weekend but after that its pretty empty plus its only about an hour from you. Sure beats diriving 2 1/2hours to the Birkshires. If I wasn't hunting in Medfield that's where I would be. The place is unreal. Plenty of room and a lot of game.

[BriBri]

Thanks for the congrats and the advice on Templeton. I will check it out, perhaps later in the season. I hate crowded hunting areas, and from what you say my best bet would be mid-week later in the season.

On a side note...I will definitely be entering the lottery for a New Brunswick moose tag. I saw moose last week right on the side of the road, and they are huge! Plus, I saw many deer (my guide almost hit one on the ride home one night) and they all have big bodies. Good thing I have enough vacation time.

[buckhunter]

There are more moose than deer there. We quite hunting there as the deer were on the downswing. Went back to hunting Maine. We hunted Plaster Rock for for 3 or 4 years in the late 80's early 90's. We always managed to get something with horns. A lot of moose.

If you are really interested in Moose try Newfoundland. No lottery and I would buy you a bottle of burbon if you didn't get one. License are guarenteed. My last trip I saw about 125 moose and really didn't kill myself(easy hunt). The moose are big but not by Alaska standard's. A 48" moose is big in Newfoundland. Most outfitters are 100% on Moose.

[BriBri]

Yes. One of my hunting buddies was talking about doing a moose hunt in Newfoundland in 2010. I'm not sure where he stands on that, but I should mention it to him again. Thanks for reminding me about that.