Starting at O'dark thirty tomorrow morning my husband, father-in-law, and myself will drudge ourselves out of bed and into the great outdoors. Our moose season begins. The second season. Cow season. Shawn got a cow tag for E2, which opens tomorrow morning. Unfortunately it is suppose to rain so I am not exactly thrilled about spending the entire day in the woods getting drenched. Lets hop we spot something early. Very early... like say.... first light tomorrow.
Last week was the big weekend. The first weekend of Moose season. It literally is a spectacle in town and every year it never gets old. There is nothing like spending time down at the town garage watching proud hunters line up to have their catch weighed. Everyone stands around guessing the weight and taking photos. Of course you have to have proper attire. It's like the Kentucky Derby, but instead of wearing crazy hats we all wear flannel and camo. For such a small town it is quite a big event and next to the forth of July it is one of my favorites.
There is so much to see and do.... a sub culture of Vermont really. So I will provide a little education.
PSA - if you don't want to see dead moose or parts of moose guts then.... well... don't scroll down I guess??
In case you want to quickly get caught up with the haul for this season all you have to do is check out this board. This years record and the all time records are posted and updated as moose are brought in. It doesn't make up for missing the big one get weighed, but it keeps you up to speed.
All the moose are weighed by being tied with chains and lifted up into the air. At this point everyone is formulating their guesses before the Natural Resources guy shouts out the accurate weight. Notice that there are places where the hair has been rubbed off. Its from dragging the moose out of the woods.
This is what happens when they go to weigh your moose and find out that you left a half a lung and a kidney inside still. They make you take everything out. Can't add any extra pounds by doing a half-assed job.
Various parts of the moose are assessed besides the weight. They calculate the
Boone and Crockett score by measuring the antlers and tines. And they take a tooth with a giant set of pliars in a rather bloody manner. By taking a tooth they can tell what the moose have been eating, the general health of the moose, and an approximation of its age.
This big guy was the biggest moose brought in while I was there. 790lbs. What a beauty.
And this little guy is the cutest thing ever. Oh, it is a sight like this that makes me want to start producing little one's of my own. Just so I can dress them up in flannel and hunter orange with muck boots.
I've got to get myself ready for my own and wear my own camo and hunter orange first. Three thirty is going to come very early....
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