Post-Rut Bull Moose

B

buckchaser

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Ottawa
I was extremely lucky to draw a rifle bull moose tag in WMU 63 in Eastern Ontario.

The season runs October 19 - 25, which falls into the post-rut period in Eastern Ontario.

I would appreciate any advice/input into:

1) General tips into locating moose in the early post-rut period (late October)

2) I'm assuming bulls will be locked in a feeding pattern to prepare for winter. What general/specific habitats do they prefer for this?

3) Will calling be a waste of time?

Thanks in advance.
 
not sure about Ontario moose but out here in BC I have had good success calling in mid to late October.
Not all the cows go into heat in the main rut , at least that's how I understand it anyways.
2 weeks after the main rut, the late rut usually comes around
mix up your calls with lonely cow calls and some bull sounds.
Several times after cow calling for a few hours, a large cow will cruise in with younger bulls in tow.
It's my belief that she won't breed with them and is bringing them to the fertile cow she can hear wailing away from the bush we sit in :)

I've had to push in on bulls that answer loudly after a morning call in the late rut as they are tuckered out from the main rut and taking it easy and in no hurry to fight another moose or chase a horny cow. It's like they grunt with a "here I am, come and get me, I ain't movin" kinda attitude LOL

so ya, calling in mid to late October works for sure.
 
In my experience in central BC the second rut comes about 4-10 November, a month after the primary rut, so your draw is neatly placed between the ruts when bulls are much less responsive. They tend to pull back into the really thick quiet places, far from any roads or disturbances, not travelling looking for companionship. If you find one of these places they can be enticed to come to a call but they won't usually come far and they usually come silently.
 
I don't think the Ontario season is post rut. We were out last year on Friday before the hunt and took 10 minutes of video of a bull nailing a cow, like 40 yards away. Neither of them cared that three people were standing there watching. We were in 54 about two kilometers from the bottom of Algonquin Park.
 
Very promising - hope this trend occurs this fall too.

coreyd said:
I don't think the Ontario season is post rut. We were out last year on Friday before the hunt and took 10 minutes of video of a bull nailing a cow, like 40 yards away. Neither of them cared that three people were standing there watching. We were in 54 about two kilometers from the bottom of Algonquin Park.
Click to expand...
 
Your best chance will be a young bull coming in Ontario second phase rut usually starts 2nd week November.
 
For moose, there is no A and B distinction - the entire area is lumped together in 63.

I'm quite familiar with parts of this area as I rifle and muzzleloader deer hunt there. We've seen moose sign infrequently in the past, although I know there are more productive areas. I'll be doing some "e scouting" to narrow down some large wetland areas with recent logging cuts nearby as I'm told this is a great combination for late October moose.

I'll be riding my mountain bike on the area's plentiful ATV/logging roads to familiarize myself with new areas and then wearing out the boot soles in more detailed scouting of potentially good areas.
 
Hunt them like you would hunt deer. Find a choke point or travel corridor and plant yourself. Peak rut is late September/early October, but bulls may still respond to calling. If you have a bull located or in sight and need to pull him in closer, don't call aggressively, just use a very soft mmwwuuuhh.
 
Over the last 5 years or so we have not had snow during the hunt. We also have seen over the last 2-3 years that the trees have only dropped 60-80% of their leaves by the time the hunt starts. It would seem like the seasonal weather change is getting later and later over the last few years. With all that said, we have taken a couple of bulls each of the last few years and left the cows and calves alone.
 
Calling is never a waste of time. My post rut routine is following fresh tracks calling as I go and not worry about makeing noise. Moose make noise too, I think they get more suspicious when there coming to a call and theres not at least a little milling about brush noise.
 
Your in the rut thanksgiving weekend is prime time weather depending that is... those cold crisp mornings are what your looking for. But regardless if it’s pre post or prime time calling is your best bet wether it be bull grunts or cow calling always have someone sitting downwind for the ones that are being extra cautious sneaking around in the bush trying to get a whiff and as the evening winds down have him grunt and thrash and work his way towards you before you pack it in for the night it’ll get those ones that are waiting for the cover of darkness before investigating to get a move on it and try to get there first. Cow Calling is a patience game it takes minutes/hours/days but they eventually come don’t shy away from calling... oh ya as someone mentioned make noise I break sticks get that snap to echo if you ever heard a moose walking in the bush they only make a snap hear and there unless it’s spooked then they either get out in a hurry and not care for noise and break anything in its way or they sneak out very quietly oh ya and that person downwind stays still and quiet. Pm me if you need any tips
 
from my experience in northern BC moose only think of one thing at a time....once rutting is done its time to eat....red willow patches....they will eat their fill and then bed down....eat all night if the moons out....snow drives the smaller bulls down from the high country but I have seen 50 plus inch bulls plowing 6 feet of snow in the high country if foods available....
 
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