Hey moose hunters....

[David Yukon]

Good day trad gang, In the same line of thoughts as raserback, but for moose specific. In my area, moose is the only one that I can hunt with out a special draw permit, and was wondering for the one of you who hunt them succesfuly with bows, what are your tactics for hunting them?
Thank you.

[Thebear_78]

Same as any other big game animal.  Spot and stalk, ambush at natural funnels, calling.    Drifting or stalking down a river can be very effective too.

[David Yukon]

That is what I do with the gun... but never got a chance to get close anought for a bow shot... I'm going tomorow, i will see what I can do.

[2treks]

You can do it! Good luck to you.

[mmgrode]

Shoot a big one, David!  Best to you!

[Thebear_78]

It can be very exciting this time of year because they are usually aggressively coming in to a cow call.   Luckily moose aren't terribly wary and you can often get them to come in by rubbing a fiberglass moose call against the trunk of a tree and breaking a few branches. A couple years ago my buddies kid drew a coveted any bull tag right here near anchorage.   The moose came tearing in to the cow call and even came back after the kid shot him.   I think he had 5 arrows in the moose before it finally tipped over.     They kept calling it back after he would shoot it.  Its crazy how aggressive they get in the rut.

[Stump73]

That bull sounded like a time-x watch.

[Thebear_78]

Its common for a moose to be dead but to stupid to figure it out.

[AkDan]

rut crazed moose are brain dead LOL....maybe someday I'll share my first moose clients hunt.  Scent control whats that?   hahaha.   THat bulls eyeballs were ready to pop out of his melon.   That or he had a severe sinus infection he never did catch us twice at less than 10 yards down wind LOL.

Two people work really well on moose.   Find someone to sit back a ways (depending on cover) and all...you dont make a sound and dont move.  Let the caller adjust his position to where you are at in relation to where the bull is coming from...if he passes you no sweat, dont move let the caller double back with the bull in tow.   Did two complete 360 circles before my client got his shot.  I was in tears, best hunt I've been on by far.  Well he was probably the best client a guy could ask for too....fun 2 weeks for sure!

[Canadabowyer]

Wow, I wish I could find one of these rut crazed moose. My experience is somewhat different.We have a bow only season fron Oct.1-8 which is right during the rut.They will answer your calling if they are not with a cow but usually they circle downwind to try to pick up the cows scent.If they get your scent they dissapear quick. Some guys have good luck with a "Moose Bomb" scent and after the bull grunts at the cow they grunt like a bull and smash the bush to try to convince the bull that there is another bull with the cow. This will sometimes bring the bull right in but sometimes they hang up just out of range and nothing you do will bring them in.This year I called in two bulls but could get neither to commit to coming in for a shot. Just keep after them, sooner or later one will come right in and this is the most fun bowhunting you will ever do. Bob

[David Yukon]

Nice, I always got lucky i guess with moose so far(gun hunting), but never got a moose realy coming on a call... maybe I don't have the right number...LOL. I was out for a week last week, when it ewas supposed to be the best time here, and nothing, one bull thrue the night one night but nothing befor nothing after...

It is snowing this morning, and decided not to go since we were supose to go as a family and the 4 year old would of find the day to long I think...

Maybe one day this week... next week end is salmon fishing in Haines AK... season is to short... only 3 months...

Thank you for all the tips I realy appreciat it!

[bucksaw]

Hunt during rut peak- Sept 20 Oct 10 in my area.
Call from leeward side of lake points/ river bends and use steep terrain like rock cuts to your advantage to minimize the bull circling down wind.
Cow call first. If he hangs up or you think he is with a cow, be aggressive and bull grunt and move in one him. Cow call and bull grunt in the opposite direction he is coming from. Cows make lots of noise, so break branches and step in water. Rake trees/brush when bull grunting. The agitated cow call is the killer call as far as I am concerned. Learn it well.Calm, cold frosty mornings are dynamite, but hunt any weather. If it is really windy & rainy,a tree stand set up on a trail will be better than staying in camp.

[AkDan]

well if the bull is going to try and cut you, dont let him..cut him off!   

Finding a partner for a calling adventure, one you can understand and communicate with with out having to sit down and have a conference with...is the difference between killing one and another close call.   This is where having the caller move...and if you need to, move also.  I dont advocate the shooter move unless you work good as that team. But staying flexible definatly a must.

 Dont sound too big, if you're raking and grunting, or too aggressive.you want him to think he's the baddest biggest meanst swampdonkey around and he wants to come in and take your cow or kick your butt.

Another one is get close..just like elk, once you break that barrier, they have no choice but to come in and defend.   

Cow call softly...its amazing what the sound of sex can do to a bull.  Calling and getting hangups is likely, too loud, too aggressive, too much.   Give them just enough to string them along.  ONce they're coming, back off, as they get closer..get softer.

Just somethings to try.  Nothing is perfect and nothing is absolute.