Moose Also Had Big Antlers

More than a month of searching paid off for Bill Phifer, who filled his once-in-a-lifetime Washington moose tag with a bull that unofficially ranks as the second largest ever recorded in the state.

The bull, which was taken in Pend Oreille County, had a green score of 160 7/8 Boone and Crockett points, short of the 160 state record, but easily surpassing the current runnerup at 155 points.

Phifer’s bull had a rack measuring 55 inches wide.

“The antlers didn’t look that big when I first spotted the bull because its body was so big,” said Phifer, who teaches chemistry at Spokane Falls Community College.

“I hunted real hard from Oct. 1 until I got the bull on Nov. 19,” he said. “I had seen quite a few cows and immature bulls, but nothing exceptional. I kept hunting because I knew there was a bigger bull around, but I could never catch up to him.”

On Nov. 19, Phifer was hiking off the road in deep snow when he spotted the trophy.

Then the real work began. After shooting the bull early in the morning, he spent a full day quartering the carcass. He had to tie one hind leg to a tree to get the carcass in position to field dress it.

As daylight waned, he packed about 150 pounds of meat 2 miles to the road.

“With those first two loads, I knew I was in trouble,” he said. “It was dark and I was pooped and I didn’t even have a quarter of it out.”

The next day, Phifer contacted a snowmobiler who helped him pack the rest of the meat out on a cargo sled.

“It wasn’t until I got the meat packed out and I got the antlers off the animal that I realized how big they were,” Phifer said. “When you go to carry them, they really start to grow.”