Ross Lake Camps Moose Season 2011

The Quick Rundown

• Bill Beverly, Guided by Bill Orne, 51" 21 point rack, estimated weight of 825 pounds
• Robert Zahoransky, Guided by Tom Greenlaw, 55 1/4" 13 point rack, body weight of 894 pounds
  
• Richard Taylor, Guided by John Graves, 45 3/4" 11 point rack, body weight of 748 pounds
  
• Bruce Paradis, Unguided hunt, 49" 14 point rack, body weight of 1005 pounds
• Jeff Ward, Guided by Jeff Lavway, 54" 14 point rack, body weight of 853 pounds
  
• Ted McCarthy, Guided by Matt Tinker, 32" 6 point rack, body weight of 691 pounds
  
• Derek Astrike, Guided by Dan Roeder, 36" 10 point rack, estimated weight of 683 pounds
  
• Derek Roche, Guided by Don Lavoie, 38 3/4" 10 point rack, body weight of 705 pounds
  
• Nathan Kuykendall, Guided by Dana Packard, 29" 6 point rack, body weight of 543 pounds
  
• Bob Borja, Guided by Jeff Lavway, 55" 15 point rack, body weight of 909 pounds
  
• Maryellen Mara-Christian, Guided by Bill Orne, 50" 15 point rack, estimated body weight of 860 pounds
  
• Mark Powell, Guided by Dan Roeder, Cow, body weight of 408 pounds
  
• Alex Getto, Unguided hunt, 25" 4 point rack, body weight not reported
  
• Brent Phinney, Unguided hunt, 47" 11 point rack, body weight of 701 pounds
  
• Dave Flynn, Guided by Don Lavoie, 36" 9 point rack, body weight of 638 pounds
  
• Rich Lawrence, Guided by Bill Orne, Cow, estimated weight 415 pounds
  
• Tabor Horton, Self Guided, Cow Moose
  
• Rick Mack, Self Guided, Cow, estimated weight 475 pounds
  
• Matt Cox, Self Guided, Cow, estimated weight 650 pounds
  
• Troy Dow, Self Guided, Cow Moose
  
• Lucille Vellieux, Self Guided, Cow, estimated weight 550 pounds
  

We do apologize, but this years summary must be started off with a note of sadness and regret. Our friend and team member, Master Maine Guide Steve Coleman, died in a tragic boating accident just 5 days before the start of the September moose hunting season this year. He was a consummate sportsman, an accomplished guide, a dedicated family man and friend, and he was taken from us all way too early in life. There was a hole left in our hearts this year without Steve and his son Tennie who is also a member of our moose guiding staff here. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Tennie and the rest of his family throughout this unspeakable time of loss, and we would like to dedicate our success from the season to our friends, lost and in absence.

On a bit happier note, we have additions to report to our team this year. Welcome to Master Maine Guide John Graves and Registered Maine Guide Matt Tinker, and thanks to both of you for your efforts to help us in a time of need on such short notice.

Our September moose season started off this year to hunters arriving on Sunday afternoon in warm weather conditions, although things were not unbearably hot. We had 9 hunters in camp with us, and there was a buzz of anticipation in the air, as we knew there was bound to be excitement on many levels around camp throughout the week. We started off the year with 93 successful moose hunts under our belts in only 9 years of hunting. We were bound and determined to see our 100th Bull moose brought back to camp in the start of this, our tenth year in operation of Ross Lake Camps.

First out of the gate was Bill Beverly Sr. and his son Bill Jr. being guided by Maine Master Guide Bill Orne. That's a lot of Bill's put together and they connected in more ways than one. Guide Bill had his hunters in their first set up of the day at first light and started off with some cow calling sequences. There were responses in the area from at least one dominant bull, but after working him for a little over an hour, it became apparent that this bull was not going to show himself as he already had some live cows he was tending. So, it was off to the next spot that Bill had scouted out, and it was a few miles drive away so the guys all loaded up in the truck to head to the new area. About halfway there, Guide Bill spotted a beauty of a bull heading up an old skidder trail. In great haste he was able to get his team of two Bill's out of the truck and set up for the shot. Just a couple quick cow calls and this bull was in position broadside, right near the edge of the road. Some fine shooting was displayed as this bull dropped pretty much where he stood for a nice and easy Monday morning recovery....and so number 94 was brought back to camp. His measurements were a 51 inch spread with 21 scoreable points and an estimated weight of 825 pounds

Before the hoist chain was out of our hands, lifting the Beverly's moose up on the game pole, another truck was pulling down into the yard. It was Maine Master Guide Tom Greenlaw returning to camp with his hunters, Bob Zahoransky and his son Robert who is a 13 year old junior hunter, and the primary shooter on this tag. One quick look at Tom's pick-up and all you could see was antlers and hooves! Moose number 95 was a beauty indeed. Tom had the guys set up on the edge of a Beaver Bog that he had scouted out and made the choice to start off the week hunting on, and that turned out to be a fine decision. Almost immediately after Tom began his calling sequence, a big chocolate antlered bull started calling back with his deep throated grunts. This moose came in to the calls like a kid to a candy store, and when he got into a broadside position Tom gave the go ahead for Robert to take the shot. The moose ran about 50 yards into knee deep water and crumpled! Congratulations to Robert on this fine bull weighing 894 pounds and sporting a 55 1/4 inch wide rack with 13 points.

Many of the other hunters saw some cows, young bulls, or heard responses to the guide's calling, but the action slowed way down as the sun came higher in the sky and heated things up for the day. Richard Taylor hailing from Scarborough, Maine decided he would like to take a lunchtime break in the mid part of the day back at the lodge. Maine Master Guide John Graves gathered his hunter up when it was time to head back out to the field, and it was quite some time before we saw their return. It's usually a good sign in moose season when we have someone show up late to dinner, which was just the scenario here. Late in the afternoon John spotted a bull a long ways down an old green road. He took Richard in to set up on the bull and called him back into range for the shot that Richard so obligingly delivered. Our day ended with the hanging of Richards 45 3/4 inch wide, 11 point bull that hit the scale at 748 pounds dressed weight, and number 96 was safely on the game pole.

Tuesday's action started off right out of the gates at first light. Jeff Ward had made a very long drive from Indiana for his once in a lifetime moose hunt in zone 2, and he's got himself some memories that will last him a lifetime. Maine Guide Jeff Lavway is a woodsman by trade, and he knows where to go to look for some quality moose. Jeff had a primary target area picked out for this hunt in an area where he knew there was 3 different big bulls hanging around. Although things didn't quite work out on Monday morning, Tuesday was a completely different story. The guys set up in the target zone at first light Tuesday morning, and the bulls were responding as soon as Guide Jeff starting his cow calls. There was a hot bull grunting in some dense spruce growth dead ahead of them....and then another bull turned on and came in at a run grunting on every step. This bull came out in the open only 20 yards away from where Guide and Hunter were set up, and Jeff calmed his nerves and mastered the adrenaline to make a well placed neck shot on this trophy. Indiana will now be home to an 853 pound bull moose with a 54 inch wide rack with 14 points atop his head. Number 97 was sent into town immediately for processing and taxidermy preparation!

Tuesday's hunt was not nearly finished off yet. Maine Guide Matt Tinker was at the helm for Ted McCarthy on this guided hunt and a respectable bull was called right in to the timber edge where Matt had his hunter set for the shot. Ted dropped the hammer on this 32 inch wide 6 point bull that weighed in at 690 pounds. This one will provide some fantastic table fare as well as a beautiful set of antlers for the hearth. Chalk up number 98!! We were helping Ted get his moose loaded up on a trailer to head into town for tagging and the butcher shop, when our only group of unguided hunters on the season pulled down into the yard. Bruce Paradis along with family and friends came back with a true monster bull. Bruce was assisted on this hunt by his buddy, Dave Kirton, who is experienced in hunting and calling moose. The guys had scouted out their spot ahead of time, and had a place nailed down that was holding numerous bulls. Dave called one out of some thick spruce cover into an open lane and Bruce decided this was one that couldn't be passed up, and so the round was fired. Now the guys were trophy hunting on this tag, and when the moose was called out, he was judged to have a rack in the low to mid 40's spread range. A little smaller than what Bruce had his sights set on, but still, too good a bull to pass on. Didn't they get a pleasant surprise when they walked up on the animal and discovered that the rack only appeared to be less in mass and width because of the 1005 pounds of dressed weight body that it was sitting on top of!! Truly a remarkable accomplishment to take a Maine moose that dresses over 1000 pounds, as there are less than 10 of these shot State wide every year. The trophy rack turned out to have measurements of a 49 inch spread with 14 points and the countdown number turned to 99!!!

Keep in mind folks, that the hunters and guides did know that we were shooting for this goal, but they had no idea of the standings as the hunt progressed because they are not in contact with one another throughout the day. We had the board running back at the lodge and so some extra fun was had by all the hunters and guides as we had them just as anxious to find out when we were going to turn that century mark. So...when Maine Guide Dan Roeder returned to camp with his far traveled hunter, Derek Astrike from Michagan, they had no idea that they were coming back with our 100th successful bull moose hunt, and happening as early as Tuesday mid afternoon. This was a very special hunt all the way around. Derek had brought his father along on the trip from Michigan, and they had a lifetime experience that they will never forget. Guide Dan Roeder has been with us for many years, first as a bear hunting customer, and then 2 years as an apprentice once he decided his passion for the Maine outdoors was strong enough for him to pursue his guides license, and now his first successful solo guided moose hunt. It seems we all have received a great gift that we can take pride in and celebrate for many years to come. Congratulations to every one!!

As Maine Master Guide Dana Packard returned to camp at the end of the day's hunt on Tuesday we were all anxiously awaiting details from his hunt. Dana was in the lead for another 13 year old junior hunter, Nathan Kuykendall and his father Jim all the way from Colorado. Nathan is no beginner, having already successfully taken many western big game species including Prong Horn, Elk, and Mule Deer. Even seasoned hunters can get brought to their knees and humbled by the sight of a 60 inch plus gigantic Maine Moose. With only 10 minutes of legal shooting light on Tuesday afternoon Dana spotted this huge bull moving to the back edge of an old woodyard along a road where this big boy has been spotted by us several times over the past couple of seasons. There were only seconds for Nathan to get loaded up and set up on his shooting sticks. Dana was able to make a call to the bull and stop him on the back edge of the yard before he disappeared into the woods, and Nathan took his shot. Unfortunately the distance was deceiving in the low light, and Nathan blew the shot right over the back of the moose. We took 7 guides and a group of hunters to the area that night to look for the moose, and we didn't turn up a drop of blood or a cut hair at the spot where the moose had been standing, so undoubtedly this legend will walk for us to hopefully tangle with again on a future date.

There wasn't much action to report from Wednesday, only a couple of cows spotted during the day, and then there was the arrival of our final group of hunters late, late that night. Yes folks, I said the arrival of our final group of hunters on Wednesday night. Derek Roche from Pennsylvania was a lucky tag winner for the September moose hunt, but he is in his freshman year of college and had class commitments that he could not get away from for the entire week of the hunt. This was a real barn burner as the weather was taking a turn for the worse with a low pressure system bringing in colder weather, rain, and wind. The pressure was on for Maine Guide and camp owner Don Lavoie to produce a bull in adverse conditions and a shortened 3 day hunt for his group from Pennsylvania. Also, still hunting, were Nathan and Jim with their guide Dana. Thursday morning came early for Derek Roche, his father Dennis, and younger brother Chris after only 3 hours sleep following a grueling drive from central Pennsylvania. The weather was dreary, wet, and a bit windy. Don was able to call a small 6 point bull into range at one of his hunting spots about mid morning, but all decided they wanted to pass on that one in hopes of something a little larger. There was a little more action on Thursday with some cows and fleeting glimpses of a couple of young bulls for Nathan, but those weren't hanging around long enough to get a shot at. The wind really kicked it up a notch for Friday's hunt and it was pretty slim pickings in the hunting area's, so when Dana was able to put a nice young bull in front of Nathan, there was no hesitation on what to do. Not quite the trophy that Nathan was hoping to take back to Colorado with him, but a very successful hunt still the same with this 29" wide 6 pointer that weighed in at 543 pounds. So, we're right down to Saturday, the last day of the season and Don was still looking to put a respectable bull in front of Derek and Dennis. No worries...they were back to camp after just a few hours of hunting with a very nice looking 38 3/4 inch 10 point rack bull that came up to 705 pounds on the state scales in Ashland.

So we finished out our September moose hunt this year with 9 bulls tagged for 9 hunters, and there were special stories and milestones thrown in there for sure. The first week of October was the opener for the Ruffed Grouse season here in Maine and we stayed very busy with a sold out camp for that, but we did manage one day of R&R to enjoy a few hours of bird hunting ourselves. We knew from what we were seeing throughout that week that the October season hunters were going to be in for an additional treat with the best Grouse Hunting season we've seen in the last decade. The woods are just teeming with birds this year!

And, moving right along to opening day of the October season, we had some chilly nights, but very mild and sunny daytime temperatures at the beginning of the week to make for some of the most beautiful days to spend afield in the bright foliage of the North Maine Woods. Striking first again on the hunt was Maine Master Guide Bill Orne who brought one in on a rope with his traditional birch bark call for our first lady hunter of the moose hunt this year. Maryellen Mara-Christian, accompanied by her husband Mark, is quite the hunter. She travels and hunts with her husband around the country, and she has quite a number of impressive animals under her belt including the world record Alligator that she killed last year! Still, it was a long time coming for this moose hunt as she and Mark have both been applying since the inception of the lottery, and this was the first time either of them had the privilege of holding one of the coveted tags. She acted just like the pro we knew she was with a textbook perfect shot to drop her 50 inch wide 15 point rack bull with an estimated body weight of 860 pounds. This will make a grand addition to the family trophy room!

Coming into camp a short time later was Maine Guide Jeff Lavway with his hunter all the way from blustery Chicago, Illinois. Bob Borja, accompanied by his wife Wendy, had some special dreams come true when Jeff called a massive bull into a spot that was scouted out earlier in the season. This was the first set up of the hunt for the trio, and the bulls were proving to be hot that morning. Jeff had this old boy lovesick and coming towards his cow calls from the beginning of hunting hours. It was only a short time later that the bull lumbered his way into shooting range and Jeff made a call and turned him broadside for the shot that Bob laid on him. The massive beast took his last breaths about 100 yards later and all were celebrating the glorious site of this 55 inch wide 15 point rack on top of an impressive 909 pound body. Maine Guide and camp owner Don Lavoie started his hunt right on schedule this time around with Dave Flynn and his son Kevin from Lyman, Maine. They got into some action of their own on Monday afternoon with a mid sized bull, but some swirling wind got them into trouble and the bull gave them the slip before Kevin could get set up for the shot. Another first for us here at the camps when Maine Guide Dan Roeder brought our first zone 4 guided cow hunt home Monday evening. This is the first year that we have had cow tags in WMD zone 4 since there were either sex permits awarded around 15 years ago. Another hunter from Michigan, Mark Powell with his father along on the hunt, had a great time and a successful hunt when they took down their 408 pound cow. She'll be even more heartily appreciated at the dinner table!

Tuesday of this week belonged to an unguided hunter by the name of Alex Getto. He was hunting on his tag in WMD Zone 1, and although we were not priveleged to see his moose, his success was relayed to us back at camp. He and his hunting partner had walked into a spot they had scouted out and put the shot on a young 4 point bull that was estimated to be 525 pounds. The guys shot the moose back in the woods a ways, so they opted to quarter their moose on site and pack it out of the woods. Congratulations Alex on a job well done! Our second unguided hunter of the week got the job done on Wednesday morning after having quite the Mexican standoff. Brent Phinney and his hunting companions were set up at the end of an old green logging road where they had seen plenty of action earlier in the week. They had a huge bull they were working with some calls, and he did make a momentary appearance clear of the brush at the end of the road, but it was too long a distance to take a shot for the brief moment he appeared. The guys did get a really good look at him though, and they believe his rack was in excess of 55 inches. The bull stayed in the area answering Brent's cow calls with steady grunts for over an hour and a half. Our guide Jeff Lavway stumbled across their set up while taking a break for some grouse hunting after having tagged his hunter out earlier in the week. The frustrated hunters were just about to give up on this bull, but Jeff offered some words of encouragement and they took his advise to continue calling to the bull and working him since it was obvious he was a hot bull still in the rut. Their persistence paid off!! The big guy hung out, but still wouldn't present himself for a shot, but then something else happened. A very nice satellite bull stepped out of the woods in between our hunters and the target of their frustration. This was a very nice bull and Brent made the decision to take him. A good decision it was since this bull had a very sharp 47 inch 11 point rack sitting atop his 701 pound body. Some tough luck was had by Amy Douglass and her father-in-law Bruce that afternoon. Maine Master Guide's Tom Greenlaw and Bill Orne teamed up on this hunt to further entice some bulls that were heading toward the end of the rut. The guides had Amy and Bruce set up on shooting sticks and had a bull coming in to them. At about 65 yards, the bull was still just in the edge of the brush where they all could see him, but there wasn't a clear lane for a shot. He got a glimpse or a whiff of something he didn't like all of a sudden, and whirled and ran just before stepping out into the open. Hang in there though, the guys will get you on another one! The action on Wednesday continued on in the late afternoon as Guide Don Lavoie got his father and son team in on another bull. This one was spotted while traveling in between hunting spots, so the guys had to make a quick set up on the bull. Don was able to stop the bull with a cow call just at the edge of the woods line, and although Dave held the tag on this one, he really wanted to see his son take a moose. Kevin and Dave agreed that this would be the one and the shot was made while Don held the bull in position. Congratulations to the Flynn's on taking this 36 inch 9 pointer that weighed in at 638 pounds!

Just one hunter left to go....Amy and Bruce. Action for them on Thursday was slow with a full moon coming into play combining with some high winds and it also looked as if the rut was coming to a quick end. Bill Orne had them into a set up during the morning on Friday and there was some high action that came out of that one. Bill heard a bull grunt and started calling to try to bring him up a hill out of a slough. Slowly, the bull came in, and at about 70 yards he appeared for a clear shot just outside of the tree line. What a beauty this must have been as Bill estimated him to us to be definitely in excess of 60 inches with wide palmation and points sticking out everywhere. Both Amy and Bruce lined up for a shot and both fired. The bull whirled and went back down into the woods. Bill continued to cow call, but there was no further response and no other noise heard. After a couple of minutes, Bill, Amy's husband Bruce Jr., and Bruce Sr. went down after the bull to look for blood, hair, or other sign of a hit, while Amy stayed up at the top of the hill. No sign was found where there should have been point of impact, so it looked as if the shots did not connect with their intended target. Bill and the Bruce's proceeded into the woods further to continue looking for sign. As events would play out, that big bull must have gone into the safety of the trees to wait it out for the danger to pass, but the movement of our guide and his companions must have compelled that big bull to go back to the last place he was safe, as animals so often will do. Don't you know that bull walked out to exactly the same place in the treeline he had originally been standing for the shot! The bull was there for a quick moment, but Amy was suffering a bit of despair from the thought of having missed her opportunity and then was unsure of the position of the guys down in the woods, so she did not take the shot that was presented, and so this bull made the great escape. The weather on Saturday was very windy making calling a near impossible job since responses can not be heard through the whistling winds moving amid the trees, and only a cow was spotted that day, so unfortunately Amy and Bruce returned home with their tag still in their pocket. All hunters are sure to suffer disappointments sometime in their endeavors if they hunt long enough, but hopefully the sting of this one fades and they see the success in having had the privilege of seeing such a majestic animal in that close of proximity. Not many of even the most accomplished moose hunters and guides have had that opportunity.

Well, 2011 has a little added something extra on the end here. Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department recognized the need to add some cow tags in the hunting zones out in the North Maine Woods for herd management purposes. As a result, we now have a newly added cow moose hunt during the second week of November. One lucky pair of hunters from Massachusetts were quick to hire a guide and quick to see a moose. Maine Master Guide Bill Orne had them quickly set up on a nice cow moose early Monday morning. The guys were set up on the shooting sticks, and just about to pull the trigger when a young calf stood up out of the grass, so the hunters decided to let this lady walk. They were rewarded on Wednesday morning when they got their next opportunity, and laid her down in a chopping. That moose was NOT lonely on the game pole as 3 others were taken by hunters that day and brought for processing as well. Here's another bonus, Jeff McEvoy shot one of the ever elusive North Maine Woods Whitetail deer on Wednesday!! Congratulations Jeff...that was certainly unexpected. Just like me to get all out of order here...the first cow of the season was actually brought into camp the day before, on Tuesday; all hunters in that party are now enjoying some of our fine Ruffed Grouse hunting here in the woods.! Not to be outdone, Lucille Vellieux of Augusta, Maine brought one home on Thursday morning that she made a spectacular long distance shot on!!! So, 6 cows down and one tag left to go. Unfortunately as I write this on Friday evening our last group of moose hunters are leaving camp empty handed. Mother Nature threw a nasty curveball with heavy rains and wind that are making both road conditions and hunting conditions way less than ideal. Our weary hunters have some previously planned commitments, and so they must leave with that tag still burning hot in their pockets. They did have a couple of opportunities earlier in the week, but things just didn't come together for the guys. We're sad to see you go, but we wish you the best in your future hunting endeavors. So that's it folks, and quite a season it has been. 14 Bull Moose and 7 cows for a whopping 21 moose kills for us to end our 2011 season, and every single hunter pulled the trigger. It really is hard to ask for any better than that!!

As always we would like to thank our hard working team of guides that come out and produce for us and our customers year after year. You help to make all these dreams come true and your efforts are appreciated. We look forward to seeing all of you again next year!