Moose
Moose in Manitoba are absolute monsters! As the largest of all the deer species, moose can reach weights of up to 700 kgs (1,500 pounds). Males are immediately recognizable by their huge antlers, which can spread 1.8 meters (6 feet) from end to end. Moose have long faces and muzzles that dangle over their chins. A flap of skin known as a bell sways beneath each moose’s throat. The colouring of the moose varies from dark brown to reddish to grayish brown, making for a beautiful sight when you spot one on the open plains. It is estimated that there are between 500,000 and 1,000,000 moose in Canada.
Moose are so tall that they prefer to graze higher grasses and shrubs because lowering their heads to ground level can be difficult. In winter they eat shrubs and pinecones, but they also scrape snow with their large hooves to clear areas for munching on mosses and lichens. These hooves also act as snowshoes to support the heavy animals in soft snow and in muddy or marshy ground.
In summer, food is far more plentiful in the northern regions of North America. When the ice melts, moose are often seen in lakes, rivers, or wetlands, feeding on aquatic plants both at and below the surface. Moose are at home in the water and, despite their staggering bulk, are good swimmers. They have been seen paddling several miles at a time, and will even submerge completely, staying under for 30 seconds or more.
Moose are similarly nimble on land. They can run up to 56 kilometers (35 miles) an hour over short distances, and trot steadily at 32 kms (20 miles) an hour.
Males, called bulls, bellow loudly to attract mates each September and October. The usually solitary bulls may come together at this time to battle with their antlers for mating supremacy. After mating, the two sexes go their separate ways until the following year. Though they may occasionally feed in the same grounds, they tend to ignore each other.
Females give birth to one or two calves in the spring—each weighing some 14 kilograms (30 pounds). These calves grow quickly and can outrun a person by the time they are just five days old. Young moose stay with their mothers until the following mating season.
The hunting season for moose ranges from late August to mid December.
For information on resident & non-resident license prices and limits visit the Manitoba Conservation website.
For a list of outfitters that specialize in Moose hunting check out:
