The Puch hunting party had fantastic success with their once-in-a-lifetime moose permit. They got this massive bull in the John Lake area of the BWCAW. The happy hunters are (L-R) Julie Puch, Craig Puch and Scott Puch.
There is one fewer moose in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and it was a brute.
Local outdoor enthusiasts Scott and Julie Puch and Scott’s brother, Craig, were hunting in Zone 6 near John Lake in the BWCAW for several days before they finally spotted a moose.
“We went in Wednesday and set up camp. The next day we started hunting,” said Julie.
The trio was hunting in a river system that flows into Finn Lake.
“It was about 9 a.m. on Saturday morning (Oct. 2) when I called him in,” said Scott. “It took three cow calls before I heard him beating on a tree. A few minutes later he stepped out in a clearing, about 250 yards away. I took aim. It’s a long shot but I felt comfortable with it. He was standing broadside and I decided it was now or never and fired. He stepped away and I shot again. Then he was gone in the brush. I was pretty sure I hit him, but when he was out of sight I started to have some doubts. My brother came and we paddled 30 yards to the spot where I first saw him. We got out and started to look. My brother found him dead 20 yards away. He died on dry ground, which was a blessing. Thefirst shot was a kill shot. At about 11 a.m. we started to quarter him. It took us four hours to finish the job,” said Scott.
Themoose had a giant antler spread of 59 inches and contained 27 points.
“Some friends we met, Chris and Rita, helped us with the moose,” said Scott, adding, “Chris guides moose hunters in Canada and Alaska, so he’s seen
” a lot of moose. He estimated that this one weighed about 1,500 pounds.”
It took an hour to paddle out to their vehicle. It was late when they got home. It had been a long day.
On Monday morning, following a trip to Buck’s Hardware Hank where a DNR game specialist checked the animal’s teeth and took some measurements, the Puchs stopped for a moment for a photo op and a chance to tell their story. Then they were off to a taxidermist in Duluth to get the head mounted. Following the quick trip up and down the shore they planned to go back into the BWCA and camp for four more days. “Just to relax,” said Scott.
Their moose hunting in Minnesota is over. Forever. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) sells hunting licenses on a lottery system. Once you have had your name drawn, you can hunt that year and then you are out of the lottery. Many parties never see a moose. But the Puchs not only saw one, they ended up with a trophy.
“Thehunt was fabulous,” said Craig, a police officer who lives in Eagan, Mn.
“I guess if we have to end our moose hunting in the state, this was a good way to end it,” said Scott.
Moose Hunt Facts
. Past moose hunts have been
designed to harvest 5% of the
herd in the northeast annually.
. Since 1998 success rates for
moose hunts in the northeast
have averaged 69%.
. Average dressed weights of
moose are: Adult bulls – 500 to 900 lbs. Adult cows – 400 to 600 lbs. Yearlings – 300 to 500 lbs. Calves – 200 to 300 lbs. For more
information on
the moose hunt,
contact
Dave Ingebrigtsen
at (218) 387-3034.
Source: MN DNR
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