The crisp mountain air carried the scent of pine and the distant call of a bull moose. Deep in the backcountry, in some of Colorado’s most unforgiving terrain, Vince Rafferty was closing in on the hunt of a lifetime—one that would not only test his limits but, unbeknownst to him, would etch his name into the record books. For decades, Vince had pursued big game with a compound bow, a dedicated athlete in both the hunting world and beyond. But years of pushing his body to the extreme—as a firefighter, powerlifter, and as a former professional athlete—had taken a toll. A torn bicep tendon, multiple surgeries, and a severe back injury nearly ended his time in the field. Yet, true to his relentless nature, Vince refused to let these setbacks define him. Colorado granted him a special crossbow permit, a lifeline that allowed him to continue bowhunting. And so, armed with a Ravin 29X crossbow, he set out on a mission that had eluded him for over 25 years—to harvest a Shiras bull moose in his home state. It would be the hunt of a lifetime.
The Chase for a Colorado Giant Bull Moose
Drawing a Colorado bull moose tag was as unlikely as winning the lottery. In 2023, 399 applicants with weighted points competed for just five tags in Vince’s unit, giving him only a 1.25% chance of success. Yet, the odds finally tipped in his favor for the first time in over two decades. He drew that coveted tag!
Determined to make the most of this rare opportunity, Vince began scouting months before the season opener. He studied migration routes, poured over maps, and glassed high-alpine meadows where moose were known to roam. When the season opening day arrived, he had a tag in his pocket and a plan in his mind.
The first few days of hunting were grueling. Vince and his hunting partners covered miles of rugged country, following leads and tracking sign. A hiker, wide-eyed and rattled, reported being chased onto a boulder field by two massive bulls—an exciting prospect—but after a full day of searching, those moose remained ghosts in the timber.
More days passed. Leads came and went. A road maintenance worker shared photos of three impressive bulls he had seen a month earlier, but the rut was underway, and bulls were covering miles in search of cows. Vince knew he had to find the right place at the right time. Then, disaster struck.
Deep in the backcountry, Vince’s vehicle broke down on a brutal 4WD trail miles from camp. Forced to abandon the truck and hike out with their gear, Vince and his team faced an uphill battle—both literally and figuratively—to recover the vehicle and stay on the hunt. Precious time slipped away. But giving up wasn’t an option.
Face to Face with the King of the Forest
With his hunting partners headed home, Vince returned to solo hunting—his preferred style. Alone in the wilderness, he knew he would have to rely on every ounce of his experience and patience to close the deal.
He set his sights on a long, narrow meadow, a place he called a “breeding zone”—a prime location where bulls searched for receptive cows. Vince moved quietly through the timber, calling intermittently to lure a bull from the valley floor. Then, movement.
A massive, mature bull stepped into view, his towering palms cutting through the morning light. Vince’s heart pounded. This was the kind of bull he had dreamed of—an absolute monarch of the mountains. The stalk was on.
