Even though the first annual NHSHC meet and antler hunt is in the history books, I am still wringing water and mud out of my socks!
To say it was wet would be a gross understatement. Pittsburg moose woods are a wet destination without any help from the sky opening up, and with that help it just gets water logged.
To say it was wet would be a gross understatement. Pittsburg moose woods are a wet destination without any help from the sky opening up, and with that help it just gets water logged.
But being hardcore antler hunters we put on the rain gear and jumped in with both feet. You can't find antlers unless you are out there.
(MORE PICTURES at http://www.robrichardsonart.com/2010event2.html and http://www.robrichardsonart.com/2010nhshcevent.html )
Member Steve Bittner and I drove up on Friday. After unloading our gear at Spruce Cone cabins we did some scouting. We drove around and picked out some very promising spots. we then made our way to the Fogarty Camp on Indian Stream. We wanted to meet team members Nancy, Earl, and Dana in person to button down details for Saturday.
After we arrived and exchanged pleasantries, I gave Nancy an antler candelabra for her camp as a thank you for her help with the club and for making us some really great certificates for the hunt. We all sat down for a great visit and we even celebrated Earl's birthday.
We learned the history of the camp and heard numerous hunting adventures that have transpired over the years. We talked about antler hunting techniques that we each use. After buttoning down Saturday's agenda and deciding to meet back at Camp Fogarty Saturday evening between 3 and 4 pm for the awards ceremony. We said our goodnights and drove back to Spruce Cone.
Saturday June 5
Saturday morning broke with the promised rain that was forecast. We packed the rain gear in the truck and headed to Happy Corners Café for some much needed coffee and breakfast. We met the members who were there already waiting with a table. I could tell everyone was excited and raring to go. After ingesting the fine cooking at the Café we had the waitress take a group photo before we headed out.
We walked off into the rain and split off to go to our respective spots. Just behind happy Corners, between the restaurant and the hardware/lumber store a young cow moose was standing in the field drinking water from a moose wallow. It looked to me like she had shown up to say "good luck guys" as we stopped to take some photos.
We then headed on our trek some 20 miles to our spot off Route 3 and into the brush. The area we chose was looking even better to me this morning then it did last night. Steve was even anxious to get in there. We quickly geared up and slogged into the woods. This spot was a huge area of wintering ground for numerous bulls. It was a 4-7 year old cut surrounded by Moose maple and Spruce. Many streams and old tote roads intertwine this huge piece. In a word- PERFECT!
We first explored the old cut. Everywhere we saw wintering activity. Trees were tipped and bark chewed. We moved methodically but unfortunately, the grass and ferns were knee high and you could be within a foot from a big antler and never see it. June is a bit late for antler hunting, but in Pittsburg much of the area is gated and until the gates open it cuts your options in 1/2.
We worked our way up to the height of land and then moved over to the right of the cut. The whole area was bursting with old and new sign. we found tons of beds. It is amazing to me that moose will lay down to sleep in a wet grass bed that has water 3-4" deep! We followed some big moose runs on a hill side, when Steve was on another run in front of me, he yelled that he had found an antler. I hurriedly slogged to him. To his left was our first antler of the day. Steve had stopped to pee and just happened to look down to his right and there it was. It was a small 4 point paddle and while it was fresh, it was really chewed up. We strapped it to my pack after a few pictures and we moved on further to the right.
Steve followed one beat down moose path and I went even farther to the right and followed just inside the tree line following my own beat down moose trail. I lost sight of Steve for awhile. I slogged across a small meadow inside a small stand of spruce and once on the other side I noticed through the trees some IMMENSE antler rubs, NOT chews but true rubs. two of the spruce were bigger around then my thigh! There were six trees in close proximity. I called to Steve and got him to pose near some of these rubs. Towards the east and downhill through the open spruce and patches of moose maple, we just kept finding more and more rubs. Big, little, a real rub line of sorts. Steve and I split up again and I had him move over about 100 yards and follow along the rubs and a trail. I moved over to the left and after a short time I came out of a real swampy spot and back up on some more solid ground I found a place that all of the chest high spruce had been thrashed. The tops had been stripped and broken off. I started circling this scene because I have seen this type of activity before, and lo and behold! A fresh, dark antler laying at the base of this thicket of thrashed spruce.
Not a huge antler, but decent. It had 5 points, dark color, about 29" long. I yelled to Steve and when he arrived, he modeled the antler for my picture taking and then we searched the immediate area for the match. We did not find it but it may still be there somewhere. It could be back in the grass and we'd never see it at this time of year.We decided to move down to the East again. This way we could connect to the brook that leads down to where we parked the truck. On my way down we ran into even more rubs. Once back to the truck we quickly stowed our gear and the two antlers and motored out to Spruce Cone to gather up all the prizes and awards.
Anticipation was running high as we turned onto Indian Stream. I had recused myself from the contest as the judge, so my antler was not eligible for any awards or prizes, but Steve was in. Once we pulled up to the camp it was apparent that someone here would definitely be taking the Rack Track prize home. The deck of the camp was lined up with sheds and one was just a giant in comparison. When I walked around the back of the truck I could see earl holding his breath. I
pulled out our antlers one at a time, alluding to the possibility of a monolithic antler. I see the sigh of relief as I pulled out my medium. We walk onto the porch and can see Earl's antler is a fine specimen. It is double palmed with 9 points, 33-36" long, 10-12" wide and triple eye guards. Bleached, algae covered and a little chewed but full of character. It was very obvious that THIS was the most Impressive antler. So Earl Gaudet was the Official Grand Prize winner of the rack trap. Nancy Fogarty won the 2nd prize painting for an old 5 point antler, Dana Fogarty got 3rd prize of a $20 gift certificate to Place in the Woods and Steve Bittner won 4th prize (a large coffee mug from Place in the Woods)
After visiting and celebrating our club's first meet, we all decided to get together on Sunday to do a group hunt.
Sunday June 6, 8 AM
After breakfast, Steve and I met Earl, Nancy and Dana at our spot in the clearcut. The rain was coming down and we decided to limit our hunt to about 3 hours. We all moved up the hill and made a "beater line" while searching towards where Steve and I had found my antler yesterday. Somehow in the search Steve and I lost track of Team Fogarty, we tried to circle around in front of them but got slowed down in a huge swamp. We finally made our way to the top of the hill and headed down to where we thought they would be. We found nothing but their tracks. We looked around the area where we found the antlers yesterday. Nothing here. Steve went to the east side of the brook and I went to the West side. I started tracking Team Fogarty down along the brook and while standing in their tracks looking at a big rub, I happened to look back and to my left and lying not 10" from the tracks was an old 3 point moose antler (looks like a ghost costume), at least a year old, a little green and in great shape. Had I NOT stopped and happened to look back I would never have seen it, and that is likely why Team Fogarty missed it. I called Steve over to show him the antler and we headed back down to the truck.
When we got back to the truck, we found a note from Nancy and they had gotten out about an hour ahead of us. we were hoping they'd be back at camp so we could show them the antler and leave it at their camp; but alas they had already headed out of town. So the little "ghost costume antler" was to make the journey home with me. We drove over to one more place and gave it a quick go, but we just did not have a lot left in us. The rain had really beat us up. Steve and I changed into dry clothes, loaded up and sadly lefts Pittsburg.We made a detour to Beaver Brook falls, I felt like a tourist but Steve had never seen it.
Before I close I want to thank Gary Bedell of Spruce Cone Cabins for his hospitality and advice. If you plan to go to Pittsburg and need a place to stay, try Spruce Cone. Gary has a very impressive taxidermy collection in his lobby and that alone is worth the visit
Also a HUGE thank you to our event prize sponsors; Rack Trap and Place In the Woods . ALL the winners were thrilled with their prizes.
Hopefully next year, MORE members can join us (there will be a next year) antlers still can be found in June, despite what many think. Everyone went home with at least one!
