Keeping motivated when the whole camp has only Calf moose tags

[Suther]

I agree with you there.

area I hunt I have stopped applying for bull moose tags. Hardly ever see a bull, and it takes 4-5 years to get a tag on average.

calf moose there are many, and filling that tag is easy, and on average you can get the draw every second year, sometimes 2 years in a row. Calf moose is good eating and an angry cow moose can really get your blood pumping when your hunting solo.

now if only they would do something about the poachers.

Interesting. You say the bulls are rare where you hunt, but calves are easy to find, while it seems everyone else on this thread is claiming the opposite where they hunt.

 

[Cameron SS]

I have more empathy with Ontario hunters after reading this. Opportunities seem very very limited! I usually don't bother to hunt moose any more because I shoot an elk each year. Move West bros.

As others have said, drawing a moose tag in Ontario can be virtually certain, but living in the GTA you are going to have to travel far further than you would want to.

Well it's been about 4 yrs running where everyone at camp 5-7guys avg have got nothing but calf moose tags. Our area has a limited number of moose and going north just isn't what were interested in. Anyway we have all come to the reality that our moose hunts have become essentially a week away where we do go out to hunt but don't let us get in the way of relaxing. Then we get more serious for deed which is more likely well get something. I know it's all about the exp but this year we have not made the stands till well after 9/10am. Certainly well get nothing this way. How do you guys stay motivated to still go out hunting when there is a 99% chance you won't even see one.

I grew up in Ontario, went on one moose hunting trip with my dad and his group he had been hunting with for almost twenty years. That year was the last year he ever went or hunted with those guys. What started as a bunch of young keen men looking to get out into nature and actively participate in the food chain gradually over time became a vacation from wives, or a celebration of ex-wives, with lots of drinking and car playing, not a lot of hunting. The year I was there, with my dad and my brother, we accounted for nearly 70% of the time spent on post as just 3 people out of 12. The problem wasn't staying motivated individually. The problem was being depressed by the fact that if we did shoot an animal, by convention we would have to give up 75% of the meat to the other members who did precious little to actually get it. We did shoot a few dozen partridge though.

Ideally, a hunting group is always being in young/new hunters, whose enthusiasm can ignite the passion in the more seasoned older guys. Without any new members its easy for any group to grow stale and tired.

 

[kodiakjack]

As others have said, drawing a moose tag in Ontario can be virtually certain, but living in the GTA you are going to have to travel far further than you would want to.



I grew up in Ontario, went on one moose hunting trip with my dad and his group he had been hunting with for almost twenty years. That year was the last year he ever went or hunted with those guys. What started as a bunch of young keen men looking to get out into nature and actively participate in the food chain gradually over time became a vacation from wives, or a celebration of ex-wives, with lots of drinking and car playing, not a lot of hunting. The year I was there, with my dad and my brother, we accounted for nearly 70% of the time spent on post as just 3 people out of 12. The problem wasn't staying motivated individually. The problem was being depressed by the fact that if we did shoot an animal, by convention we would have to give up 75% of the meat to the other members who did precious little to actually get it. We did shoot a few dozen partridge though.

Ideally, a hunting group is always being in young/new hunters, whose enthusiasm can ignite the passion in the more seasoned older guys. Without any new members its easy for any group to grow stale and tired.

Well said.

I’ve hunted with a few different gangs now, and the other thing that helps is a plan. Someone in the group being willing to pull out a topo before bed and say “hey guys. How about tomorrow we...” Eveybody gets in on the conversation, there’s no bad suggestions, (just suggestions you’ll try another day of the week).

If you go out to the same old stands every day and do the same drives, it becomes monotonous and there’s a better chance of getting distracted by tasks back at camp. Make a plan and execute it.

 

[9.3mauser]

Ideally, a hunting group is always being in young/new hunters, whose enthusiasm can ignite the passion in the more seasoned older guys. Without any new members its easy for any group to grow stale and tired.

I have exactly the opposite problem; I've tried hunting with my younger nephews, but they aren't motivated to put the time in the stand, nor the time to learn the area. Too much time on Wild TV, and if they don't get results in the first couple of hours, they want to pack up and go home. When they are on stand they spend all their time on their phones instead of paying attention to what's going on around them.

My group has been whittled down by age and health issues to me alone.

As far as moose hunting goes, I see more orange in the woods than moose. I keep playing the lottery, but it's possible I won't see another bull tag in my lifetime. I'll have to give serious thought as to whether I want to keep it up.

 

[Cameron SS]

I have exactly the opposite problem; I've tried hunting with my younger nephews, but they aren't motivated to put the time in the stand, nor the time to learn the area. Too much time on Wild TV, and if they don't get results in the first couple of hours, they want to pack up and go home. When they are on stand they spend all their time on their phones instead of paying attention to what's going on around them.

My group has been whittled down by age and health issues to me alone.

As far as moose hunting goes, I see more orange in the woods than moose. I keep playing the lottery, but it's possible I won't see another bull tag in my lifetime. I'll have to give serious thought as to whether I want to keep it up.

Well I got a bunch of young goons that are keen, fit, and very motivated, but lack access to good property or an experienced hunter to show us the ropes. Perhaps inter-generational hunting groups are going to go the way of arranged marriages, replaced by online dating and social media formed groups.

There is probably a dozen or more young lads and lassies in your area who are trying to find you, but don't know where to look. There are whole facebook groups dedicated to helping hunters connect.

 

[RojamB21]

Came back from 15A, had cow bow tag. Seen 2 big grown Bull Moose. No calves or cows seen. Ate grouse at every dinner though.

What motivates to go next year, we cover lots and lots of grounds to be in the bush, next year and spent days in the bush count.

And This ........

Originally Posted by cant_rope_the_wind01 View Post
some are just guys wanting to shoot and kill something
some are and most of them are lazy,
none of them can appreciate, just being out there,
a beautiful sunrise, a quiet afternoon in the outdoors on a sunny hillside,
they all whine and snot and sniffle ,it costs to much, or its to much work and effort, or they have some kinda ache or pain
they have no heart , or drive , or incentive to educate themselves on hunting regulations, or ethics , of fair play , or the species of wildlife they are hunting for

 

[Brian46]

Well it's been about 4 yrs running where everyone at camp 5-7guys avg have got nothing but calf moose tags. Our area has a limited number of moose and going north just isn't what were interested in. Anyway we have all come to the reality that our moose hunts have become essentially a week away where we do go out to hunt but don't let us get in the way of relaxing. Then we get more serious for deed which is more likely well get something. I know it's all about the exp but this year we have not made the stands till well after 9/10am. Certainly well get nothing this way. How do you guys stay motivated to still go out hunting when there is a 99% chance you won't even see one.

In BC someone got a bull or a cow tag every year in the past. Now it has been over 15years since anyone got a draw. Completely useless system they currently have

 

[galamb]

We hunt moose in 25, so train in 151 miles north of Cochrane. Because of the remoteness (pain in the butt, no road access) we usually pull an adult tag every second year.

The season there opens the third Saturday in September and by the time the (new) calf season opens at the end of October you don't want to be up there in a tent. Usually we get below freezing in September so for (us) it's either an adult hunt or no moose hunt now.

Since we take the week regardless (because you don't know soon enough to change plans) if we don't get an adult tag we go up with bear tags and turn it into a bear/grouse hunt.

So for "me" while I would like to be going up with an adult moose tag it's still a "hunt" regardless. Some will remember "back when", you went to the hardware store, bought your "moose tag" which also included a bear tag (same with deer, included a bear tag - no wmu's then). Maybe because of that I have always seen bear as a "consolation prize" for not getting what you are really after. So now I have finally looked at bear as the "target species" when the moose tags are missing..

 

[trevj]

I have more empathy with Ontario hunters after reading this. Opportunities seem very very limited! I usually don't bother to hunt moose any more because I shoot an elk each year. Move West bros.

I don't. If it takes a two day drive to get where the hunting is good, then book a room in a roadside Motel at the halfway point and get moving.

I drove 8 hours North out of Edmonton, to get into decent hunting areas where you didn't have to check both ways with a mirror onna stick, before you walked out into an opening. It also got us into a zone that made it a very high probability of getting drawn. Lots of Moose, almost no hunters.

If you want to hunt, hunt, if you want to sit around and whinge about life and the Ex, stay at work. That was the norm for the lunch table BS.

Frankly I agree with the 8 guys too many thoughts. I was pretty picky about who I went into the woods with, they were too. No slackers, no contribution= no meat in your freezer. Some guys want to drink and play cards, fine, but they should not expect to get more than a token steak, if even.

Here's a question. What are the actual success rates in the zones where the calf moose tags are so easy to get?

Another. Why does anyone think that shooting the calves is better than shooting adults, and letting the calves grow out? I know mortality is high, but it seems to me the end result of shooting them, is to increase the mortality, rather than increase the population.

Oh yeah. Stay out there!

My experience with folks from out there moving out here, has been that they want to make out here, like out there. I like it out here just fine, and don't want it to be like out there. I can get lots of 'out there' if and when I want to, thanks. No. Just no.

 

[69firebird]

Stay busy and draft up a letter to the Ministry

Mis management and poor draw system is the issue. Along with most guys don't want to get off their ATV. Look around abit, some bush operators will fly you into the "no road access" zones for a very small fee and you bring your tent and canoe. And you get a Bull tag with 2 pool 1s.

I have no sympathy for the groups of 14 who go just north of Toronto and whine about no licenses--do some research and find a better spot. Lots of good quality moose.

You can't get tags north of Toronto because there is not enough room on the roads or in the bush for everyone.

Also Quebec is no secret, lots of places you can get "exclusive" zones and a do it yourself hunt, the tag just costs $485.