Gibber-gabber
Vacation Favorite Pic and Story
Stacy DeGraffenreid 2009-10-31 04:11:10 UTC

Being born and raised here in San Diego, I really do not know anything about hunting!!! Now I have to admit my Dad lived in upstate New York and hunted all the time, he also raised pigs, chickens, etc all to be killed to be eaten. My Mom lived in Pennsylvania and also raised chickens not only for eggs but also for the Chicken and Dumplings!! So I have heard the stories!!! I on the other hand have always had my meals come from the grocery store! I have never killed anything in my life, I even try to save bugs in my house and send them outdoors where I think they will have a better chance to survive! But I must admit I am not the least bit bothered by hunting for food!!

So on our trip to New Hampshire I was surprised to hear there was a 9 day hunting season for Moose! As we were driving into the state I saw all the signs Moose Crossing, Watch for Moose etc… It really stands out when you are from San Deigo and all you see is the “Watch for People Crossing” So anyway I am thinking there is no way I can spend 7 days here and not see a moose!!!

Well truth be told, I did not see a single Moose crossing the road (ok I have to admit I have never seen a person crossing the freeway in San Diego either). But here comes the real story, it is the part where you completely embarrass your spouse and father in law!

We were on a road trip heading up to Canada (we had gotten our passport cards and just had to put them to use) We were just passing the Mount Washington Resort very picturesque and we had stopped a day before to get pics. But while we are passing I notice A pickup with 3 guys in camo taking pics, it is then that I do the double take, and I notice the Moose in the back! That is the moment I tell my husband to stop and turn around!! He in all logic says why? And I respond because there is a Moose in the back of the truck that I want to get a picture of!! ( please really) He looks at his Dad who is sitting in the front passenger seat, no words were spoken but the look just said it all!! After that he said are you going to embarrass me? Really like in the last 27 years he has not embarrassed me!! So I say absolutely not I just want to get a pic!!! To his defense he made a u-turn and drove back to the turnout where the moose and truck were located! As I got out of the car he said please don’t embarrass me! (I am going to remember that in the years to come). So I get out of the car, the guys made sure the windows were rolled up and I think they were ready to make a run for it!!! I immediately introduce myself and say I am from San Diego and that this is just something we never see at home. I said that I would love to get a pic with them and the moose, they thought it would be a much better pic if I had my pic with the Moose! I got there pic first, and asked all the questions that had been building up since I had first heard it was Moose hunting time!

How long did it take you to find this Moose? They had been hunting for 3 days and this was the first Moose they saw!

How much did the Moose weight? 718#s and they were expecting to get about 500# of meat!

How did you get it into the truck? They shot it at 5p.m. it took them till 11 p.m. to get it hauled out to the truck ( they were lucky there was a rail track and they made a sling and hauled it on the track) when the got to the truck it took 10 guys to get it on to the truck ( I guess people are willing to help back there).

What does Moose taste like? It is the best of all wild game!! (I tried to find moose at any of the places we ate and no such luck, so I am going to have to take there word on this) At least they did not say it tasted like chicken!!

Is it easy to get on the Moose Hunting List?? Not at all, it is done by lottery and they had been trying for several years. The last time anyone had gotten into the lottery was 5 years ago and it was one of the guys wife and she and her girlfriends went hunting and got a moose! ( how cool is that)!

So my questions were done and they said really you have to get your pic with the moose, ok!!! At this point my husband rolls down the car window and apologizes for me! (men) They said they were just going to take my pic with the Moose and would he not like to join me! He says “oh sure why not”!! (men, at this point I want to kill my own husband, it may be ok in New Hampshire)!

Anyway I have attached the pics. Really an incredible and beautiful animal! I wish I could share a pic of a live Moose, but I really did not see one while I was there. The season is only 9 days long and they seem to manage very well!

Congrats to all who got there Moose this year!!! I am guessing there will be lots of meals enjoyed and a special thanks to the 3 guys in the photo, who were so willing to share and educate a So. Cal girl on Moose hunting!!!