Travis Stromness

CANADA – Fort Frances, ON

The week was slow, no calls back, no nothing. It was the night before we were packing up and ready to head home....almost empty handed. Finally on the afternoon hunt after writting "this sux" into the dirt at my feet, we heard him. Agressive and ready to rumble. with every step and deep harsh grunt, smashing and crashing through the trees like a bulldozer pushing out a logging road. He came from about 400 yards away. hit the road and stopped. my dad was behind me about 50 yards on a ridge. with the call in one hand and an old shoulder blade in the other he put them above his head. Immediately the bull starts swaying his head walking right into me. he walks off the road onto a small 30 yard gravel access where im on my knees watching him walk up. theres nothing but air around and between us. he walks up and stops @ 11 yards with his focus entirely on my dad on the ridge. as slowly and as straight as possible i drew my bow. He turns and looks straight at me. Thinking to myself as im at full draw "i hope he doesnt run at me when i shoot". I line up the sites and let it rip, not sure where i hit him but confident i made a good shot. he turn and runs down the gravel access and begins down the logging road as my dad lets out a bellowing cow call. by this time im standing and watching. BOOM he stops dead in his tracks to the cow call and looking directly at me he stands 32 yards away. i load another muzzy 100 grain, come to full draw, as i can hear the blood already pouring out like a cup of water being dumped onto a hardwood floor. I only have one pin, set for 15 yards. Not sure how i knew the distance of the second shot but i pulled up 2 inches on his body and let the second arrow rip. I move my bow and watch the arrow as it flys throught the air and smack right behind the front shoulder halfway up straight into the "honey hole". he starts down the road again as i start jumping up and down screaming and yelling throwing my hat to the ground and and stomping on the ground. Seeing the second shot i knew there was not a single fiber in my body that had even a hint of doubt. I knew he was going down. my dad is yelling to be quiet to listed for the "crash" in the trees of him falling. I can even contain myself im about ready to cry and throw up im so excited and pumped. my dad runs down and we run up the road and about 100 yards there he is, laying on the edge of the road. me and my dad start screamming and yelling, hooping and hollaring with sheer joy and excitement. My first moose hunt after missing 2 yrs away in school and the first and only moose i see the entire trip. what a hunt and a memorie ill never ever forget. glad i could share it with my dad.