Ross Lake Camps
Moose Season 2007

The Quick Rundown

• John Mondello, guided by Bill Orne, 32” spread 4X4 rack, dressed 620 pounds

• Bill Nylic, guided by Steve Coleman, 32” spread 4X4 rack, dressed 578 pounds

• Tony Champagne, guided by Dana Packard, 49” spread 5X8 rack, estimated 880 pounds

• Frank Jones, guided by Travis Willett, 33” spread 6X6 rack, dressed 647 pounds

• Hank McPherson, guided by Don Lavoie, 56 ½” spread 12X9 rack, dressed 944 pounds

• Ben Chaston, guided by Bob Smith, 48 ½” spread 7X7 rack, dressed 987 pounds

• Beverly Smith, guided by Rob Prescott, 36” spread 6X6 rack, dressed 700 pounds

• Bill Kennedy, guided by Bob Smith, 43” spread 6X5 rack, dressed 728 pounds

• William Webber, guided by Don Lavoie, 39” spread 6X6 rack, dressed 596 pounds

• Steve Szymkowicz, guided by Bill Orne, 36” spread 5X6 rack, estimated 640 pounds

• Brian Goggins, guided by Bob Smith, 46” spread 6X6 rack, dressed 790 pounds

• All trips booked ended with a tagged Bull, keeping Ross Lake Camps at an amazing 100% success rate on all Moose Hunts for 6 years running!!!

The main rut for the 2007 moose season really started swinging the week before the season opener. Night time temperatures had been dipping down into the low 30’s, and the moose began moving around everywhere. Pre-season scouting revealed an abundance of rutting bulls in our area, and the whole camp was buzzing in anticipation for the hunters to arrive. Finally Sunday came and brought a camp full of anxious hunters into the woods. Unfortunately, the weather had taken an odd turn. Record breaking temperatures were being set all over the state of Maine, and all though the sun and warmth were great for being in the woods, that changes the scene for the moose hunting drastically. The rut was still in full swing, but the animals were moving around less and staying in thicker cover because of the heat.

On Monday morning the first bull of the season was taken by Bill Nylic of Cheshire, Massachusetts. Maine Master Guide, Steve Coleman knew that the moose were deeper in the woods to combat the hot temperatures, so he opted to walk into a remote stream area. Sure enough, a bull was spotted wading in the cool water and Steve and Bill got set up. After watching this bull for several minutes, Bill made the decision that he would take this one instead of taking his chances with some unpredictable weather. A spectacular shot toppled this moose over backwards and it was brought back to camp just a short time later. Final measurements were a 32 inch wide rack with 8 points, and a dressed weight of 578 pounds.

Many moose were both heard and seen throughout the rest of the day on Monday, but they were hanging back in the thick brush just as suspected, so no other shots were taken by the hunters. Tuesday however, brought some excitement with it when both groups of our zone 1 hunters scored on their Bulls. Ben Chaston and his father Roy, guided by Maine Master Guide, Bob Smith were the first to score that morning. Bob had his target area scouted out well in advance, and found this Bull hanging on the edge of a swamp just an hour or so into the hunting day. Ben did some marksman like shooting and toppled this monster bull after it lunged just a few yards. This one dressed out at a massive 987 pounds and sported a 48 ½” spread rack with a total of 14 points. It just so happened that Registered Maine Guide Travis Willett and his hunters, Frank and Kathy Jones of Washington, ME were in earshot of the shooting put on by Ben Chaston, and they were prepared to do some shooting of their own. Travis had Frank and Kathy set up in some cover and he cow called a couple bulls into their range. One hung up in the brush edge, but Travis called the other right into the open for Frank. After more than 15 years of lottery applications, Frank is celebrating his first Maine moose that dressed out at 647 pounds and had a perfectly symmetrical 32 inch rack with 6 points on either side.

Tuesdays action continued on in Zone 4 when Registered Maine Guide and camp owner, Don Lavoie led his hunter to a once in a lifetime trophy. Don had his work cut out for him, as Hank had already been fortunate enough to score on a Maine Moose with a 50 inch spread on it a few years ago, so he was holding out for something in a 55 inch or larger class animal. Don targeted an area on that morning’s hunt that has produced several trophy size animals on previous years, and although several moose were called in, none were of the caliber that Hank was looking for. Don knew that area was holding some big animals, so later that day he approached the area from the opposite side of the stream that cuts through the piece and called out a true monster for Hank. The excitement continued to mount when Hank’s gun jammed after the initial shot and the bull made it about 250 yards before a follow up shot could be taken. All was well though when this 944 pound bruiser with a monstrous 56 ½ inch rack and 21 scoreable points was loaded into the truck for his victory ride into town!

Wednesday brought some cooler temperatures on a front, but also brought some wind and rain as well. John Mondello of North Berwick, ME guided by Maine Master Guide Bill Orne was that day’s only successful hunter. An abundance of both cows and bulls were called in early in the week, but all that appeared were young bulls. By Wednesday afternoon, John decided that he had gambled on his permit long enough, and so he made the decision to harvest a respectable young bull that Bill had spotted bedded under some thick spruce trees while traveling through the woods. This was a fine young bull that measured out at 32 inches with an 8 point rack, and dressed out at 620 pounds.

Thursday came in with weather conditions running down hill fast, and just one hunter left in camp without a moose. Tony Champagne of Independence, Missouri had traveled way too far to let that tag go unfilled! Guided by Registered Maine Guide, Dana Packard, Tony and his hunting partner had some bad luck with a missed shot opportunity on a trophy bull Wednesday afternoon, but more than redeemed themselves when they brought in a beautiful animal on Thursday with a 49 inch wide rack with 14 points, including an unusual long point growing right off the base of the right side main beam. Weight on this bull was estimated at 880 pounds. Tony had driven all the way from Missouri with a freezer, large coolers, and an arsenal of other gear to cape and butcher his moose himself. They did the work, and are to be commended for their efforts!

The week in between the moose hunting seasons had moose activity in the area continuing at a fast pace. The rut was still on at week’s end, and again, the guides were chomping at the bit for the hunters to arrive for the late moose season. Many moose were seen by the hunters and guides on Monday during the hunt, but only one that was in a shooter class presented an opportunity.

Steve Szymkowicz of Hadley, Massachusetts was following a dream of taking a Maine Bull moose with bow and arrow. Guided by Maine Master Guide Bill Orne, the two got into some hot and heavy action right off the bat on Monday. Several young bulls were called in and passed on throughout the mornings hunt, and then Bill made a move to the backside of a cutting that they had worked earlier in the day. The guys set up in the brush on a ditch edge of an overgrown road for cover and Bill started calling. Just a couple minutes later a bull started grunting back and it became obvious that the animal was coming into the calls. Bill kept calling and the moose kept coming until it finally came into visual range about 60 yards away. Suddenly, Bill spotted a second bull (A much larger one!) that came out into the opening a couple hundred yards away. This bull was one of the biggest that Northern Maine holds. The 2 bulls actually ended up passing by each other as the monster bull, obviously the dominant animal in the area, kept heading into the cow calls. This giant kept coming head on to the calls and came into within 11 yards of Steve! Unfortunately, the moose would not turn, and would only face head on to our bow hunter until he finally got wise and ran from the area. This moose was estimated to have a spread nearing 65 inches and palm width and points that could easily be mistaken for an Alaskan moose. The guys kept at it all week, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Steve did end up taking a respectable bull on Saturday of the week that measured out with 11 points on a 36 inch wide rack.

We had one of many special hunts come together for a successful end on Tuesday afternoon. 16 year old William Webber of York, ME had been drawn as a winner of a moose tag and he had named his 14 year old brother, Andrew as subpermittee for his hunt. The boys were guided by Registered Maine Guide and camp owner, Don Lavoie. A few bulls were seen on the hunt throughout Monday and Tuesday morning, but then Don was able to get the boys set up on one within range on Tuesday afternoon. He made a cow call to turn the Bull broadside for the boys who then timed their shots together and dropped that bull right in its tracks. Older brother Jarod and father David were along on the trip to celebrate with Will and Andrew over their 39 incher with 12 points and a dressed weight of 596 pounds. Congratulations to the whole family!

Registered Maine Guide Rob Prescott still had some special memories to make for another special hunter in camp with us that week. Beverly Smith of Brooklin, ME ventured up to the North Maine Woods by herself for this once in a lifetime hunt. Her subpermittee was unable to join her on the hunt because of responsibilities at home, but she was not to be denied of the opportunity to make some dreams come true. Guide and hunter ran into some bad luck on Monday when a group of bird hunters running dogs stumbled into their target area. The pair regrouped though, and on Wednesday brought it all together. They were sitting in some mixed hardwood and softwood cover doing some light calling when Rob spotted a bull coming their way. They waited patiently for the bull to come into range, and when he did, Beverly steadied her gun on the rest Rob provided and the moose fell after making it only about 100 yards away. The whole town of Brooklin is proud of their home town girl bringing back this 36 inch 12 pointer that dressed out at 700 pounds on the nose.

Yet another interesting story is about a hunter by the name of Bill Kennedy from Bennett, Colorado. Bill’s permit was originally awarded for the September hunting season, but his wife Cheryl, a barrel racer on the PBR circuit qualified for the National Championship that was the same week as the September moose hunt. Bill was not willing to miss his wife’s lifetime event, and so the Maine Department of IF&W made a special exception, and allowed Bill to hunt in the October season instead of September. The stress was all worthwhile when Maine Master Guide Bob Smith led Bill to the 43 inch 11 point Bull Moose that dressed out at 728 pounds. This moose is species number 25 of 27 on a quest for Bill to complete the North American Big Game Slam. Good luck to Bill on those last 2 hunts, and congratulations to both Bill and Cheryl on all their remarkable accomplishments!

The 2007 Moose hunt seemed to be filled with special stories about special people, and our final hunting group of the season fit right in with that description. Permit winner Brian Goggins of Levant, ME is one member of a tight knit group of friends that are all Vietnam era Disabled Veterans. They were hunting together on an unguided trip based out of our sporting camp during the October hunt. Conditions became tough late in that week with rain and wind coupled with the fact that the rut had ended on Monday afternoon. We at Ross Lake Camps were not about to see our friends leave with that tag unfilled, so we donated all our available time and efforts for the remainder of the week. It only took until Thursday afternoon though, before Maine Master Guide Bob Smith was able to show the guys to an awesome moose to top off our season. Measurements for Brian and subpermittee, George Mathis, were a 46 inch wide 12 point rack attached to a bull that dressed out at 790 pounds. Congratulations to the guys, and many thanks for your sacrifices in your service to our Country.

Once again, Moose season at Ross Lake Camps was a remarkable success in 2007. Through hard work and tireless efforts we have maintained a 100% success rate for our moose hunters over the last 6 seasons running which is a remarkable accomplishment. Congratulations to all who have enjoyed a successful hunt with us in the past, and the best of luck to those who choose to hunt with us in the future. We’re looking forward to it!

If you are interested in more information check out the website at www.rosslakecamps.com or contact Don & Andrea by phone at 603-320-3208.