Moose Hunting Lessons Learned

[The Ursus]

I'm a big fan of raking.  This bull was called in from over a half mile away.  Response time was about 45min.  This wasn't the bull we were looking for so he walked.   An hour later, we heard faint grunting.  It was so faint that I wasn't sure of what I heard.  I looked at my "partner" and he also thought he heard something.  Minutes later, it was clear a grunting bull was advancing.  Turn's out this one was clearly big enough as he stood in the same exact spot as the previous bull.  My "partner" didn't like the way his antlers looked so he also walked.

One tip I'll add is that it's highly advised you revisit your call location the morning after a day of calling.  They don't always come in "red hot" and may very likely bed down near you and out of sight especially in a pre-rut situation.   I like to start out light on the raking then increase the intensity to simulate a bull getting worked up.  
Calling moose in is VERY exciting!  Hope this helps .

[Craig Warren]

Michael,
Don't make the mistake I did.  Record books have never been of much importance to me.  I hunt because of the hunt, not because I'm actively seeking trophys. But, when I shot my moose in September, after waiting 27 years for the chance, I was heavily "encouraged" to enter it in the Maine book and the Pope & Young book and then, after seeing the current entrys I realized that it really was an exceptional animal, and agreed that it should be reconized. I filled out the forms, waited the 60 days for drying and had it scorred by an official scorer from the Pope and Young Club. It scored high(for all types of bows not just trad bows)in Maine and well up in the Pope and Young records too.  By now, I must admit that I was getting a little caught up in this record book stuff.  It is fun to compare.

I received the Pope & Young certificate shortly there after, but, unfortunately, while reading an article in the Pope and Young news letter, I discovered that the use of an electronic call would make the entry invalid.  It either wasn't on the fair chase affadavit that I had signed or I had missed it. Neither my outfitter and friend  nor I had any idea that an electronic call would dissqualify an entry.  Heck, we haden't even thought about record books at that point never mind weather an electronic call would be consider not fair chase.  My outfitter had agreed to try the electronic call for a friend who was the manufacturer of the call and this hunt was the first time he had ever used one.  His mouth calling, we both agreed, was much more realistic, and, in fact, the Bull actually came to his mouth grunt, not the electronic cow call that he had used earlier  before he turned off.  But, we had used the call during the hunt, so I fealt obligated to withdraw the entry.

You never know when that monster bull is going to show up so, the long and short of this is that you better check to see if an electronic range finder will be accepted under the fair chase rules before you use one.  I have also read that even the use of a lighted arrow nock will disqualify an entry.

Best of luck on your hunt.

[Bill Carlsen]

You can be much more patient with moose than whitetails. They tend to be slower to react so don't rush your shot and don't shoot them too low in the chest. The brisket is pretty thick and non vital.

Hey, Craig....what were the final numbers for your moose?

[Herdbull]

Don't shoot one while its lying down. Wait until it stands broad-side!

[Robert Honaker]

Sounds like there's a story behind that advice there Herdbull???

[jcar315]

Great thread!

Someday...........

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

go more often then one or two times in your life

[IndianaBowman]

Killed two Alaskans over 60" and they both died in the lake (no I didn't shoot them there)! So, if at all possible don't shoot one in the water. They are tough to butcher in 2' of water.

Moose float and you can tow them with a canoe.

Buck Stop Cow in Heat seems to work. Don't put the cow in heat on your clothes in camp.

Don't put the cow in heat scent on your wife's pants. They'll slap you.

If you are doing a drop hunt and shoot a moose in the water, try to have a partner bigger than 5'1" that can hold up a 150# quarter so you can cut it loose.

The Bull Magnet moose call works great.

Bears can bite through a fiberglass canoe.

Don't go tromping through all the best moose cover. It just spreads your scent around. The moose will come to you when they are ready.

Never, never, pass up a moose you'd be happy with on the last day. Not even if it is the 1st day.

[Bryan Burkhardt]

Carry a small air horn so you can signal your hunting partner when it's time to come and help with the meat chores        

[Kevin Dill]

No matter how badly you want to...don't go visit the kill site in grizz country. Don't let your partner go either....

8^D

[Robhood23]

What are the "PRIMETIME" dates to go moose hunting or when is the peak of the moose rut?

[jeanpaul3006]

i'd guess the 3rd week of september to the first week of october is prime.

[Bowmania]

Elk and whitetails may go forever when wounded.  Not so with moose.  My father shot one in the "bicept" with a 7mm mag.  Canadian lumberjack said let's go slow he probably laid down in a 100 yds.  He did.  Lumberjack said it was a "moose charastic".

Bowmania