Moose Hunting Tips & Tricks
6 Great Tips for Hunting Moose in Manitoba
Stay still.
Still hunting is a technique where the hunter, keeping the wind in their favour, walks slowly and quietly in and around areas of plentiful signs. The best time for this type of hunting is after a heavy rain when leaves and underbrush are soaked and it is quieter to move around.
Take a stand.
The second method for hunting moose, and probably the most popular, is stand hunting. This requires positioning yourself in a favourable area over which you can watch without being detected. Before the hunt, it is advisable to scout out prospective locations by looking for areas of fresh droppings, tracks, recently eaten brush or other telltale signs of frequent moose activity. Once a promising area has been determined, the hunter will find a suitable location to stay put comfortably for long hours, from which he or she can observe the area.
It’s your call.
Calling is certainly an addition to stand hunting that will greatly increase it’s effectiveness, but it is something that should be practiced and perfected before being used in the field. Although there are a number of sounds or calls made by moose for communication, the primary one used by hunters during the rut is the cow call or mating call. This essentially is mimicking an available cow in order to attract a prospective bull. During the rut, which peaks between mid September to mid October, is when calling can be most effective. Although the bulls are actually seeking cows continually through the rutting period, the cows are only sexually receptive a few days out of a 28 day cycle. If no bull is responsive to her during this short period of estrus, she may, after approximately 25 days, have a second “heat”. Studies have shown that the majority of conceptions are achieved in the September / October months. Because of this cycle, calling anytime during the rut can significantly increase hunter‟s chances of harvesting an animal, particularly a bull.
Size matters.
The large size of a moose dictates that a suitable calibre rifle be used. The rifle should be one which maximizes your potential opportunities while minimizing the animals‟ unnecessary suffering or loss. Many calibres are considered suitable for hunting moose, as long as they have the necessary power for a clean kill. A heavier bullet is recommended for game the size of a moose, as it is the bullets weight which influences penetration and expansion. This will, of course, lead to somewhat less velocity, producing poorer trajectory, but, in turn produces more shocking power at relatively shorter ranges, thereby being more effective for game as large and as tough as the moose.
Zoom in.
It is advisable that moose rifles be equipped with a telescopic sight. Quite often shots are made which are relatively long. Shots more than 300 yards are realistically not advisable as the trajectory drops off significantly for most calibre‟s after that range. Scopes should be calibrated so that they are accurate, (dead on) at 200 yards. This will allow for an effective shot anywhere from 0 to 300 yards, well within the approximate 8 inch radius of the kill zone.
Planning & patience.
Hunting moose requires a great deal of pre-planning and patience, and while this article has touched on some of the most important issues, there are certainly more that should be considered. The role of the weather on the hunt, unfamiliar sounds and odours, and of course how to properly handle and butcher an animal after a successful hunt are a few.
