Thought I'd throw this out to see if anyone else's moose hunts have been adversely affected by the hot weather the past few years. I can remember being snowed in late September at our fly-out moose camp in north central Manitoba, the last 3 years it's been 30+. We've been pushing our trip back by a week each year to try and get some cooler weather but it seems to follow us. Last year if we didn't have a sat phone we'd have lost our meat! This year we're not going until the first week of October which is probably past the best part of the calling season, and the prolonged hot weather this summer already has me worried. Anyone else having their plans altered by the unusually warm falls?
Has weather affected your moose hunting?
- Thread starter Big Game
- Start date
Yep. I refuse to hunt early in the season (mid September to early October) if it is too warm. I don't like hunting when its hot and sweaty, the flies are coming in squadrons, and you need quick access to a cooler for hanging meat. The downside, of course, is that the hunting might be harder later in the season.
Yeah, I don't want to sound like I'm jumping on the global warming bandwagon but all I have to do is go through my photo albums to see how fall temps have changed. When I lived in Ont. we always hunted opening week of rifle North of Superior and pictures show snow, dressing in heavy gear and frost/ice. Lately we've been swimming first week of Oct.
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
Hot weather is 100X better than wind and rain/snow. Never called a moose in in the wind or just after a snow. Called lots in on mornings and evenings on hot days. Best moose calling weather is a pleasant day that requires a light jacket to be comfortable.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I'll have to disagree with you on that one, at least the moose I've hunted in Manitoba. If it's too windy/snowy to call, it's great to cruise/paddle down rivers. Moose get active and hungry when it's cold and miserable. There's nothing worse than hot weather with blackflies for activity. Warm weather also generally means more wind, which is bad all around.
The best moose calling weather is a cold,frosty and calm morning. The call carries for miles.
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
I find after a snow fall early in the year before animals have toughened up to the cold I will not see a moose or moose tracks for a couple weeks even if it is the rut.
The wind lets you sneak up on them because they can't hear, but because they can't hear it makes calling worthless.
The wind lets you sneak up on them because they can't hear, but because they can't hear it makes calling worthless.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
A lot depends on the terrain one hunts, and I obviously can't speak for your area, but where I hunt there's no sneaking up on moose. You either have to call them in or get lucky spotting one as it's alongside a feeding cow on the river banks.
I do believe moose are one of the few animals who show no adversity to extreme cold, along with bison. They are tough m*****f***ers.
- Location
- lower mainland BC
Last years moose was shot during a rainstorm. I like rain becouse it covers my sound and smell. Also, the other hunters stay in camp. the moose i snuck up on last year were calling to each other, I snuck up on them and got the cow.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Cow? Is that legal in BC?
Sask_Hunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Can't kill a moose sitting in camp or worse at home. The bulls up north in the Yukon/NWT would call untill mid oct. the farther south the later they would call. They don't respond as well or come in as fast, but there is still enough interest in a cow call.
Most of the cows have been bred by then but one hot cow or a cow call can get things stired up. I found a hot cow late in the guide season (oct 10) last year and there was 6-7 bulls fallowing her around. We couldn't get with in bow range of the biggest bull but he put on a show grunting and he even fought the next biggest. It was quite the show and sound they made when they crashed together.
Good luck with the moose this fall
Most of the cows have been bred by then but one hot cow or a cow call can get things stired up. I found a hot cow late in the guide season (oct 10) last year and there was 6-7 bulls fallowing her around. We couldn't get with in bow range of the biggest bull but he put on a show grunting and he even fought the next biggest. It was quite the show and sound they made when they crashed together.
Good luck with the moose this fall
Don't you guys realize that the best meat from bulls are those that are shot prior to about Sept. 10th?
There's an open season for any bull for the last two weeks in August, over much of northern BC. Beautiful meat from those animals that are shot then and properly looked after.
The quality of the meat of bull moose goes down hill rapidly, when rutting season gets well underway.
There's an open season for any bull for the last two weeks in August, over much of northern BC. Beautiful meat from those animals that are shot then and properly looked after.
The quality of the meat of bull moose goes down hill rapidly, when rutting season gets well underway.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I've never had a bad tasting moose and all of it has come from rutting bulls. Can't say the same for deer or elk.
Sask_Hunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I ate a bull that I guided a bow hunter too on the last day of my guide season around the 12-15 of oct on year he was beat up but was still good table fare. But velvet moose are the best by far. Hunting is hunting and I prefer calling season to early season for the excitement and better all day action.
We have been doing the November hunt the last few years and although some moose have been shot during the calling season, they seem to bunch up more at that time. I prefer hunting with snow on the ground to any other time of year, it sure helps when you are trying to pull out a bull moose with the quad when there is 4-6 inches of snow on the ground.
- Location
- Dah Soo,ON
Agree 150% 'killer.
And yes the last 3 years here in West of Central ONT has been fuggin hot. Its fine if you hunt hardwoods and or walk some selectively cut blocks, but if youre hunting North-Western softwood forest with older growing up cut blocks (which we do a lot) walking through the bush isnt much of an option.
burnt_servo
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- right in the middle of b.c.
i grew up hunting moose mid to late oct.
most of the time it was cold wet and miserable .
then 2 things happened , the falls started to become warmer and dryer and i started to get draws on area 5 in early sept , rather than area 7 in oct.
i would much rather be hunting when it is warm and sunny , but the second the moose is shot i would love for the weather to drop to around -5 c
and like H4831 mentioned , some of the best tasting moose i have ever had where hunted in early sept .
what i have been thinking of building is , taking a enclosed trailer , installing a I beam down the center , insulating it and putting a couple of large air conditioners in it , like a portable meat cooler .
most of the time it was cold wet and miserable .
then 2 things happened , the falls started to become warmer and dryer and i started to get draws on area 5 in early sept , rather than area 7 in oct.
i would much rather be hunting when it is warm and sunny , but the second the moose is shot i would love for the weather to drop to around -5 c
and like H4831 mentioned , some of the best tasting moose i have ever had where hunted in early sept .
what i have been thinking of building is , taking a enclosed trailer , installing a I beam down the center , insulating it and putting a couple of large air conditioners in it , like a portable meat cooler .
You guys don't realize how lucky you are out west. Here in NB it is a 3 day season, always the last full week of September. I spent 3 long days last year in 22 degree weather swatting mosquito's, no moose in sight! To add to the aggravation we are on a lottery system for tags here and the average is 15 to 20 years between picks! Yes, I am jealous.
