Moose calling techniques...

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Furync

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I'm an experienced deer hunter but I've hunted moose only once before, I basically still-hunted and no luck...
The moose population in my area is pretty low so to even the odds a bit, I figured I could try "calling them in" when I go back this fall.

My question is, aside from other hunters, where/how can I learn to call moose? Are there any good DVD's out there or anything that could help me?

I'm not looking for a DVD where they go "mooooooo" and then a moose stampede appears. I'd like a detailed, instructional video or course, showing how the moose reacts to a call and which calls to use in different situations... does such a thing exist?

Cheers,

moooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOooooooooo

edit: Thanks in advance!!! :)
 
This thread made me think of a documentary I saw as a kid. It was filmed in Algonquin Park and the guy got really close to some bulls by wearing a fake moose head. His name was something like Bubunik. Anyone know the correct spelling or a link to some of his work?
 
The best show I saw on TV was by Gisele Benoit called a Whole Lot of Moose filmed in Gaspe Peninsula and this was available on video. A good book to read is In The Company of Moose by Victor Van Ballenberque. As for learning calls and what calls to use try a homemade "can" call which is the easiest to use and it works.
 
beretta boy said:
Dr. A. "Tony" B. Bubenik .... Google Tony Bubenik.
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Thanks!

Tracker - I've been fortunate to hunt in the Matane Wildlife Park (Gaspe) as well as other areas less densely inhabited by moose. There is a significant difference in calling techniques.

In Matane, where there are 3 moose per square km, the female call is just about useless. The bulls have all the females they want within sniffing distance. Their greater concern is other bulls. Using bull calls is much more effective in that environment. A neat trick - pick up a beef shoulder blade from the butcher and dry it out. Rubbed across shrubs its sound is identical to an antler.

In areas where there are less moose, the female call is definitely the way to go, although there is a time and place for a bull call in these situations also.
 
Gouthro's Moose Madness 4 DVD set and the various Rackman DVDs. They are all available at S.I.R.

Betwen those DVDs there is everything you every wanted to know about moose calling.

I've got a Wayne Carlton VHS, Calling Trophy Moose but it's not nearly as good as the others I mention.
 
Looch I agree with you, I have at least four shoulder blades at camp, all taken out of moose. We have been sucessful every year calling in bulls and or bulls with cows. The only thing that has kept us from taking a bull each year during the archery season is we got not tags, but the bulls keep coming to the can call.
 
Demonical said:
Gouthro's Moose Madness 4 DVD set and the various Rackman DVDs. They are all available at S.I.R.

Betwen those DVDs there is everything you every wanted to know about moose calling.

I've got a Wayne Carlton VHS, Calling Trophy Moose but it's not nearly as good as the others I mention.
Click to expand...

+1 on the Gouthro set. Never heard the Rackmans' but will definitely check out.
 
The "can" call that I'm familiar with was simply a metal tobacco tin with a small hole punched in the bottom and a piece of nylon twine threaded through it. You pull the twine taught with one hand and pinch it with the other and pull down towards the can. The vibrations are amplified by the can.
 
Using a hammer and nail, punch a small hole in middle of the base of an empty coffee can(I prefer a pringles chip can).

Tie a knot in one end of a shoelace(leather is best), and insert the other end in the hole. Pull the shoelace through the other side until the knot hits outside of the can (the shoelace should now be inside the can).

Apply rosin on the leather shoelace. Hold the can under one arm, and grab the shoelace with the other hand. Pull hard. The vibrations on the shoestring are amplified by the can to produce the sound a moose makes.Some use water on a regular shoelace but it will freeze up when cold.

If the sound is too metallic, put some wet leaves,or moss in the can to dampen the metal sound. If it is a coffee tin you can wrap it with duct tape.

Your best bet is to buy a good video,and practice.Don't worry if you don't sound perfect as no two moose sound the same.If they are in rut they will come.
I worked in Algonquin park logging for a bit better than 15ys,and had plenty of time to practice.I have had some bulls come within a few feet of me,and my calling is anything from award winning.I have even had moose come to me(both bulls,and cows) bawling like a domestic calf.
 
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Quite a few years ago I was out WT deer hunting in late September around Grande Prairie, AB and thought I would try out a new set of rattling antlers. I knew it was way too early for the rut, but I thought something might get curious. I rattled for about 5 seconds and as soon as I stopped a bull moose grunted and continued grunting every step of the way as he rushed in. Another bull from the same direction also started grunting and coming in. They were a long way off and took a while to reach me. I didn't have a moose tag so as soon as I could see him in the bush I waved my arm and yelled at the first one. He didn't break stride or stop grunting, just swerved and trotted past me at 20 feet. The same happened with the second bull who was about 15 or 20 seconds behind the first. I had heard about scraping a shoulder blade on bush, but never heard of rattling them in. Its a heavily hunted area. I'd called moose around that area before and had a real problem with them hanging up when they got close. With the rattling antlers they didn't hesitate. Has anybody else have that happen?
 
That's the technique that was taught during the hunting course, and the only one I'd be comfortable in using.

Those bark bullhorn things they sell at hunting shops look kinda silly, not to mention cumbersome to me, and I always thought that cupping your hands over your mouth and hollering mmmmmmmmmoooooa, mmmmmmoa, looks like you're trying to blow the moose a kiss or something. Well if I ever go moose hunting, it won't be because I want to kiss the darn thing, it'll be because I want to KILL it and then EAT IT.

What was not discussed in the course is which "call" does what, long stroke, 2 short strokes, a long and a short etc... It's still all greek to me.

captonion said:
Using a hammer and nail, punch a small hole in middle of the base of an empty coffee can(I prefer a pringles chip can).

Tie a knot in one end of a shoelace(leather is best), and insert the other end in the hole. Pull the shoelace through the other side until the knot hits outside of the can (the shoelace should now be inside the can).

Apply rosin on the leather shoelace. Hold the can under one arm, and grab the shoelace with the other hand. Pull hard. The vibrations on the shoestring are amplified by the can to produce the sound a moose makes.Some use water on a regular shoelace but it will freeze up when cold.

If the sound is too metallic, put some wet leaves,or moss in the can to dampen the metal sound. If it is a coffee tin you can wrap it with duct tape.

Your best bet is to buy a good video,and practice.Don't worry if you don't sound perfect as no two moose sound the same.If they are in rut they will come.
I worked in Algonquin park logging for a bit better than 15ys,and had plenty of time to practice.I have had some bulls come within a few feet of me,and my calling is anything from award winning.I have even had moose come to me(both bulls,and cows) bawling like a domestic calf.
Click to expand...
 
As I have said before, in prime rutting season, almost any noise, will bring in an over-###ed bull moose. However, I grew up in a land of genuine meat hunters, where their families depended on the meat harvested, and meat hunters usually chose their animals carefully. They wouldn't dream of shooting an over-###ed bull moose to eat.
I have at least twice, had a bull moose I couldn't get rid of, plus another that chased two of us up a tree after black dark, because he thought our over-nighting under a tree was his dream lady.
One I couldn't get rid of was about 25 yards away, licking the foam that was slobbering out his mouth. So, I put a 30-06 bullet through one of his large antlers. I thought that will at least give a hunter a story, if it is later shot. The moose never batted an eye, or even flinched, at the shot.
Another year a really over-###ed bull was so close to me, and did nothing but get closer, that I thought I would have to kill him in self defence. It was on a slide on a mountain, with my vehicle at the bottom, still over ¼ mile away. I did manage to get away, and when I was nearly to my vehicle, I gave a cow moose call, and that old boy charged down the mountain like a race horse!
 
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