What makes a good Ontario bull moose?

[buckchaser]

I was very fortunate to draw a coveted Eastern Ontario bull moose tag and I've been putting in a tonne of time scouting (120 km hiking in the last month) since the draw was announced on August 1. I have two quick questions I'm curious about:

1) What would a "good Ontario bull" be in terms of antler width?

2) Any estimates as to what this bull (from one of my trail cams in late September) would go in terms of width? I'll happily shoot him whatever he measures, but just curious.

 

[blargon]

Looks about a 40"...Average size.

 

[waltman]

I guess I would call anything over 40 to 45" a good bull but really any bull harvested is good enough, if tags or bulls are hard to come by I would shoot the first one I saw.

 

[maynard]

Can’t eat antlers. Shot the first bull that you see.

 

[9.3mauser]

Tags are hard to come by, and the season is short, so unless you're ok with waiting a decade or two for your next tag, I would suggest dumping the first legal bull to cross your path.

 

[buckchaser]

Yes, I plan on putting down the first legal bull that walks past - was just curious as to what a “good” Ontario bull was.

 

[CV32]

Yes, I plan on putting down the first legal bull that walks past - was just curious as to what a “good” Ontario bull was.

50+ would be a 'trophy' bull. There are some 60+ out there, but those are exceptional.

 

[577/450]

ball and horns They need to have a sarcasim emoji

 

[CV32]

ball and horns They need to have a sarcasim emoji

You might be hard pressed to find a moose with 'horns'.

 

[53Izzy744]

Can’t eat antlers. Shot the first bull that you see.

This. Lots of meat on the table for friends and family!

 

[Gillshot]

I would consider the bull in your pic good to very good for Ontario. Hopefully you see him during season!

 

[Bigbubba]

IMO a good bull is one that is about 2 1/2 years old and not too far from where I can get the truck....standing broadside at 0800 on a clear cool day.

 

[Highwind]

It looks like the pic of this one needs another year... But food is food...!

 

[hoytcanon]

This is an Ontario bull;

 

[Johnn Peterson]

This is an Ontario bull;

Beauty!!

 

[Dorian Gray]

50"+ is a good bull. 60"+ is a very, very nice bull.

The one in the pic is 40"+ or so and it'd be a very good eating moose.

 

[BlackRam]

Nice bull Hoyt!
That is a very good bull and is a shooter anywhere you hunt moose!
The moose in the OP's pic appears to be a 3 1/2 year old bull, but I would highly doubt that it reaches 40"; more likely mid 30's. This from looking at how the bull is carrying his ears upright so that they are not constantly in contact with the antlers. (You'll see the similar type of behaviour in large deer where they hold their ears flat under a wide rack.) But the angle and poor clarity of the pic can be deceiving!And yes, it will be very good eating!!!
Good luck on your hunt!

 

[hoytcanon]

Nice bull Hoyt!
That is a very good bull and is a shooter anywhere you hunt moose!
The moose in the OP's pic appears to be a 3 1/2 year old bull, but I would highly doubt that it reaches 40"; more likely mid 30's. This from looking at how the bull is carrying his ears upright so that they are not constantly in contact with the antlers. (You'll see the similar type of behaviour in large deer where they hold their ears flat under a wide rack.) But the angle and poor clarity of the pic can be deceiving!And yes, it will be very good eating!!!
Good luck on your hunt!

Around these parts, moose hunting is mostly about filling the freezer... and to that end, I am usually looking for a 2 1/2 (top) or 3 1/2 (bottom) year old bull... they represent the best ratio of size to meat quality... like the two below.

 

[CV32]

Nice bull Hoyt!
That is a very good bull and is a shooter anywhere you hunt moose!
The moose in the OP's pic appears to be a 3 1/2 year old bull, but I would highly doubt that it reaches 40"; more likely mid 30's. This from looking at how the bull is carrying his ears upright so that they are not constantly in contact with the antlers. (You'll see the similar type of behaviour in large deer where they hold their ears flat under a wide rack.) But the angle and poor clarity of the pic can be deceiving!And yes, it will be very good eating!!!
Good luck on your hunt!

Agreed. Shy of 40.

 

[Trimmer 905]

Can’t eat antlers. Shot the first bull that you see.

^^^^^^^^ THIS!! ^^^^^^ The best I've taken was a three year old Bull with a 40" rack that weighed 900lbs. on the hoof that field dressed to 640lbs. It was split among 8 hunters. The meat quality was excellent.