September 25 is a day the Quist family won’t be forgetting any time soon.
That’s when Josh Quist successfully hunted a 774-pound bull moose with a 12-point, 46.5-inch rack in the early morning, but making the hunt all the more meaningful was harvesting the moose with his grandfather Wilmer Quist; his uncle David; his father, Kevin and his younger brother, Carter.
“It was pretty cool to have three generations together for a hunt of a lifetime,” Josh said, “I will remember it forever.”
The family had been waiting for a good bull moose for days, after a slew of pre-dawn mornings and days that lacked abundant signs of moose.
“We knew we were in good moose country and that patience would pay off,” Kevin said.
Kevin Quist is a 23-year Registered Master Maine Guide and one of his favorite endeavors is leading multi-generational hunting trips for families— but guiding his own family was indescribably rewarding.
The trip got off to a slow start, but the family saw a few cows and Kevin began calling in a bull from nearly 600 yards away.
“As soon as I saw the bull, I knew it was a nice one and that I had to get him into a position that would allow the best shot possible,” the guide said.
The waiting was intense.
“We could hear the moose coming — not crashing through the woods but calling back, grunting,” Josh said.
Kevin called in the moose until it was close enough for the family to see its breath.
“A straight-on shot was not good, so Dad called again and it came right towards us to about 40 yards and finally turned a little,” Josh said.
Kneeling on the ground, Kevin whispered to Josh that he could go ahead and take the shot.
“I was thinking ‘Wow … that’s a BIG moose,’” Josh described. “I can still see that moose looking right at us. It was a really nice sight.”
Preparing to take the shot, Josh worked to control his breathing like he’d practiced and focused in on the target.
“My dad reminded me … ‘slow, steady, squeeze the trigger,’” Josh recalled. “We all high-five’d each other when the moose dropped.”
Both Kevin and Josh remember heading out with their fathers for hunting even before they were old enough to participate, but this was the first time the family had gone hunting with all three generations.
“Being able to call this magnificent creature in from a long distance and to be able to guide my son through the safe, ethical harvest of this moose at 40 yards was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” Kevin said. “The excitement of watching and helping this hunt develop was more satisfying than any hunt I’ve been on — even when I’ve had the opportunity to squeeze the trigger.”
“I’m so proud of Josh for making such an ethical harvest and waiting for the perfect shot,” Kevin added. “I look forward to being able to do the same for Carter.”
When Kevin was a boy, he remembers going out to the same hunting camp and had hoped to be able to pass that tradition down to his sons.
“I grew up loving to ‘go to camp’ and spending time there, it is very nice to be able to share that with my children and I enjoyed having them there with their grandfather — I know that my dad equally enjoyed the opportunity.”
It seems like the Quist family hunting tradition will live on, as Josh won’t be forgetting the memorable moment any time soon.
“I’m so thankful to have had the chance to take this moose with my grandfather, dad, brother and uncle,” Josh said. “It was awesome.”
