The Moose Thread (As Canadian as it gets)

looch said:
I once road a moose in a Beaver. Was going to be 2 trips to get everything out of camp - me and two moose in one trip, the guys and the rest of the gear in the 2nd. They took the seats out and I straddled a couple of quarters in the back. Not the safest thing, thinking back.
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Wow, same memory, butt only one trip.
Buckley Lake journey.
The emptiness awf the fewl gauges had me might kon-cerned.

I laff at it now..........dang memories............. Laugh2
 
Can't wait for my first ever moose hunt in October. Both me and my buddy got drawn for a tag each of either ### moose. Are most of moose shot in close range? What are the average distance you shot a moose? It seems many of you encountered the moose very close, can almost touch it. Would it be better to use iron sight, like my good old lever action 30-30, or stick with other bolt action with high power scope?
 
All depends on the country you're hunting, where I hunt sight lanes are short and you're always in thick black spruce, so shots are generally close. If you're calling in bush, anticipate close shots. If you are proficient with iron sights there is nary a better way to shoot on big game inside 200 yards, but you have to know your limitations.
 
looch said:
I once road a moose in a Beaver. Was going to be 2 trips to get everything out of camp - me and two moose in one trip, the guys and the rest of the gear in the 2nd. They took the seats out and I straddled a couple of quarters in the back. Not the safest thing, thinking back.
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It could be said that "one time, you and a moose rode a beaver..." That would be one sore beaver... THAT would be Canadian, all-be-it Maritime Canadian...
 
Prairie Hunter said:
Can't wait for my first ever moose hunt in October. Both me and my buddy got drawn for a tag each of either ### moose. Are most of moose shot in close range? What are the average distance you shot a moose? It seems many of you encountered the moose very close, can almost touch it. Would it be better to use iron sight, like my good old lever action 30-30, or stick with other bolt action with high power scope?
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I have shot from 15 to 350 yards, I would say the average is likely around 75 yards, I would stick with the bolt and scope option, that way at least within the situations I encounter you would have have all bases covered. Maybe some folks are ok with an iron sighted thuty thuty but not me at 350 yards
 
Actually, I haven't been in a proper remote moose camp in a long time. Foot and canoe the only transportation, spending 2 or 3 days figuring things out, pouring over a map in the evening figuring out strategy...

In 1987, we were at one such camp. We would team up with guys on the other side of the "mountain" - an hour's walk. That made us 8 all together, 4 in each camp. One of the guys had a cow, 2 calves, and the bull walk out in front of him. He took 3, but was concerned we may not have enough tags for the 4th, so he let a calf go. We conferred that evening and went after the calf. Pathetically easy - we knew it would come running to even the poorest of calls. As luck would have it, it presented itself to my fellow rooky. He went absolutely nuts - really. Jumping up and down, running around the dry swamp. He stayed pumped for hours. My dad took advantage and while he was dressing it for the guy, he told him to take off his toque. He put the calf's important bits in it and told the guy to put it back on his head. Rooky complies and looks confused when my dad and I double-over, laughing. I don't remember much of that evening.
 
I've been luck, I've hunted them in two provinces and two territories. It's been too long since I've heard the bulls grunt or smelled the smells of moose country. I've packed out in trucks, on horses, on my back, under a chopper and in planes.



Found a half blind one once...



This one had the prettiest ears I've ever seen on a bull



I've called them in to an alfalfa field too



I spend a night swapping stories under a spruce tree because of this one



This fella put on a show for us



Some time you just get lucky



One we left to grow alittle



This was my last moose I helped relocate to parts in know.

 
You and Hoyt know your Moose, thank you for the photo story I enjoyed that, and wonderful bulls the whole way through.


Sask_Hunter said:
I've been luck, I've hunted them in two provinces and two territories. It's been too long since I've heard the bulls grunt or smelled the smells of moose country. I've packed out in trucks, on horses, on my back, under a chopper and in planes.



Found a half blind one once...



This one had the prettiest ears I've ever seen on a bull



I've called them in to an alfalfa field too



I spend a night swapping stories under a spruce tree because of this one



This fella put on a show for us



Some time you just get lucky



One we left to grow alittle



This was my last moose I helped relocate to parts in know.

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Hopefully I can get a spike fork this season; I have not had any luck with limited entry. My dad used to hunt moose all of the time but I have only been able to harvest deer.
 
hawk-i said:
Moose is my main table meat for the year so I prefer to shoot a younger bull, nothing special about shooting one just meat for the freezer....they don't seem hard to kill but I also think that a lot of other game animals don't require as big of a rifle as some say they do. :)
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pretty much same here. couple deer and half a moose (split with my huntin partner) and very little store bought meat in our diet.
Moose are all LEH here in my region but I've been out in a few spots I know each year practicing my mouth calls and have pulled some big moose out. I really need to take up photography LOL
as for needing a "big gun" , last years moose and my bucks dropped with one bark each, from my .303 brit , 101 year old lee enfield :D
I'll be hunting with it for everything but wolves, elk and bison from now on.
 
Ohhh Ardent mate, I know you might not of meant too but be careful quoting posts with multiple photos, its a common trend but all it does is double posts photos onto pages which doesn't neccaserily need to happen :)

im trying to make the aussies aware of it too on our hunting forum!

no biggy ;)

WL
 
First day, saw four cows...

lBSYSA.jpg


Hunting area, lots of logging the last couple of years.

K8D0gH.jpg


Eagles staying around some fresh kills.

r5i95o.jpg


Remnants, three bulls were killed in a small are:

4Dv26i.jpg


Hunting partners son finally got to try out his new 10/22 takedown - Best part of the day

zPmOXd.jpg
 
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Eagleye said:
If I actually stated how many moose I have shot, it may raise some eyebrows.

However, while Elk is still my favorite BG animal to hunt and eat, the moose is right up there.

I have taken 2 Canadian moose with 50"+ antlers, but do prefer to eat the spike/fork bulls, or a nice dry cow once the rut is well under way.

Moose are usually not hard to kill. Any decent centerfire puts them down quickly with proper placement.

Even though I have an Elk LEH this year, I will shortly be looking for a "swamp donkey" in our favorite hunting area.

Ardent's comment about cooling is very valid. Anything as big as a mature bull moose has considerable mass, and the hide/hair keeps the heat in amazingly well.

I want the innards out and the meat cooling ASAP, for the best table fare.

Regards, Dave.
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One old guy that hunts with us claims it's best to leave the hide on for about a week and wash the inside out w vinegar . I told him I thought he was nuts . You don't see cattle hanging in a butcher shop with a hide on
 
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