Building my moose set up (advice/opinions)

[JoeM]

So I'm going to Maine to try and kill one of the biggest animals in North America.  So I figure I need to put as many chips in my stack as I can.

I do not know anyone personally who has shot anything bigger than a deer or bear with a stick bow. I have no one to bounce this off of with real experience, so to the tradgang we go.

Heres where I'm at, first had heavier limbs made I went from 53# to 60#.  I seem to be handling that no problem actually getting better releases.

Now I'm building arrows, so far I've come up with this. CX heritage 250's, 100gr brass insert, 200 grain point, total arrow weight 645 gr.  Arrow from groove of knock to back of point is 28" giving me an foc around 21%.  I have also played with 175 grain tips that give me 620gr at around 18% foc.  I'm leaning towards heavier but not sure.

I know arrow flight and placement is the key but here is my REASON for WORRY, a 25" draw.

BH is probably going to be either a Woodsman or a VPA three blade.  

What do yall think.  I appreciate all the input and help I can get.  Thanks Joe

[JoeM]

A little more info.  Shooting a 60" Striker recurve with bamboo cores, and fast flight string.  I'm feeling real comfortable right now out to about 30 yds.  I can keep em in the kill of a Glen del at that range so I figure a moose should be know problem.

[Bill Sant]

You will be fine with your current set up.  As big as they are they are not all that tough to kill.  Take out both lungs and it is all over in 30 seconds or less.  Stay away from bone in the shoulder though, there isn't anything that will penetrate that.  Have fun and enjoy the adrenalin rush you will feel when you are within bow range of the worlds largest deer species.

[amar911]

Bill Sant is absolutely correct. On the broadheads, both of them are great, but I would personally pick the VPA as being the better of the two. However, either one will do the job well if you hold up your end of the shot. On this webpage is a shot placement diagram that will help.  http://www.mooseheaven.com/best-kill-shot-for-moose.htm  

Allan

[LONGSTYKES]

Joe , You are well set-up. Either weight arrow will work great, shoot which ever is more accurate. If the same use the heavier weight. As Bill said Moose are not hard to kill. I have shot  8 Moose over the years in Canada. Only one was a longer track,  a little far back in the liver. My fault for not seeing a branch. Enjoy the hunt and shoot straight. Good luck on a great hunt

[TDHunter]

Your set up should do just fine. I live in BC and Hunt Moose each year with my bow. The only change I would make with that set up would be a good two blade over the three blade. Prefrence I guess but I've seen the penetration benifits of the 2 blade on Moose and I'd never switch. The last one i shot, I got a pass through, with my 58lb recurve, and a sharp 2 blade, while my brother also hit it broadside with a 3 blad razor cap and got a good 20 inches.
Dead either way, but I just like a razor shap two blade incase I hit heavy muscle or bone.
Cheers and good hunting

[Birdbow]

Joe,
  In 2009 I killed a 1200# bull with a 53" spread hunting in Aroostook Cty. northern Maine. Hunted with Eldon Jandreau of Hunters Point Guide Service. Used a 54# @ 27" Hummingbird LB, CX 250 shaft and No Mercy SB head, total 750 gr. Shot was 6 YARDS!! Penetration to the fletching and went down in 15 yards, right in our laps. Hope this is helpful. Best regards, Todd

[Bill Carlsen]

Here is Birdow's bull.

 

Here is a cow I took in NH in '07. I was shooting 60# @ 28", Beman MFX with 200 grain Razorcap. Distance traveled after shot....3 moose steps.

 

I think your set up is fine. Shot placement and sharp broadhead will get it done. I think I would lean towards the VPA"s, but both bhs are totally fine.

[Lamey]

NICE!!!

[steadman]

I think you are fine. I killed this cow last year with a mohawk lb 59# with a 680 grain cedar tipped with a Red Feather Archery 3 Blade. Complete pass through. From what I saw, you have plenty. Have fun! Good Luck!!

 

[JimB]

Building a moose arrow.What a great problem to have!Good luck.I hope you take loads of pictures along the way.

[maineac]

I am planning on using my Iroquois #56, with CX150's and 250 gr woodsman.  Same state, zone 8.  I am planning on going up next week to scout some campsites with access to remote water.

[JoeM]

Thanks guys I felt pretty good with my set up, but wanted to hear from some folks with real world experience.

The pics are great they put the brain into the red!!  i can only hope for a bull like Birds.

Allan thanks for the link.

Michael I'm in unit 6 for Oct.  Going to spending some time with Tony and Lynn from Squapan Mountain.  
Any one else have some pics to stoke the fire some more.  Thanks Joe

[Bill Carlsen]

Biggie Hoffman got a really nice bull last year at Eldon's shooting a 55# bow  and Phantom  heads. Check  www.hunterspointguideservice.com  and you can see some nice bulls that were bow killed. There are even links to actual kills. You can see Birdbow shoot his bull.

[Tony B]

Ok guys! I also drew a zone 5 bull tag for this fall! I'm shooting a 50# black widow MA 600 grain ceder shafts with a 2 blade head(ACE) Will this work? Toby is going to send me 55# limbs. Do i need them? Scouted zone 5 today and found some great spots! JoeM we should have a blast!
Tony

[amar911]

Tony,

The 50# Widow setup should work fine, but if you can shoot the 55# limbs just as well, they sure couldn't hurt (except for hurting the moose). I know I would have the 55# bow in my hands on that hunt. Those arrows with the ACE 2 blade heads sound great.

Allan

[JoeM]

Hey Mr. Tony, can't wait to get up there.  We're going to have a blast.  Shooting bows, stalking, calling, in the big north woods sounds like a hell of a way to spend a week.   Oh yeah and big animals on the ground WOOOOHOOO!  We'll git r done, two for two with the curves. Talk to you soon Joe

[Bill Carlsen]

last year Craig Warren shot a whopper of a bull using a two blade Bear Razorhead and a bow in the low 50's. Sharp heads, straight shooting and you should be good. Do a search for Craig's moose thread....it's a great read.

[dpg]

Took my Maine moose with 57 lb blackwidow recurve and 2 blade zwickey.  I think there's something to be said for a sharp 2 blade- especially with those THICK moose ribs. I believe Eldon likes the idea of a 2-blade and he has certainly seen his share of moose go down with trad gear.  Good luck, you're in for a GREAT time!!