Hunting Moose in the Late Season

by Looking For Moose
(Canada)

What is the best approach for hunting moose in the late season? After the rut where do all the bull moose go? I know that a moose hunter cannot call bulls after the rut, so how can I find them? I have heard that bull moose will form into bachelor groups after the season? Does anyone know if this is true?
I can only hunt moose during the late season because of my work, so I really need some tips as to how best to hunt bull moose during the late season.
BTW, I am a bowhunter so I need tips to be able to get close to moose. I practice a lot out to 60 yards and am very confident in shooting to this range.
Please give me some good tips for bowhunting moose during the late season.

Comments for
Hunting Moose in the Late Season

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moose after the rut
by: robert richards

We usually glass and stalk, and walking by trying to be quiet, and sometimes calling works in late season, but be ready and know your rifle, may get a long shot of 300-500 yds, good luck
Great Site
by: Pasquinel

Your site is awesome- very helpful !
Heading to Quebec for fly-in moose hunt Oct. 6-12, 2012. Hope the rut is still on.
late Season Moose....
by: Anonymous

Do a google search for Wayne Kubat ..
He has a detailed explanation for early season to late season moose hunting strategy...

Wayne is a master alaskan Guide...

Good luck....
Late Season Bulls
by: Lloyd

After the rut bull moose want to get into some good food source such as young willows so they can recover from the stress and miles put on during the rut. They need to add some weight and fat for the winter months . Look for moose around beaver dams , or logged out areas where the willow trees and poplar are starting to grow back. You will likely find bulls browsing steadily. Move slowly and into the wind and if you know how to make moose talk you will easily be able to stalk within 30 yards for a bow shot.
Late Season Moose Hunting
by: Mark - Site Owner

Thanks for your comments BigBore.

Good luck in finding a bull, and of course don't forget to come back and tell of your experiences. It is helpful for all of us to learn new strategies for late season moose hunting.

The information about the moose going deep into the woods at this time of year has been show by studies done by wildlife biologists.

Now it is up to you to find them. Even though your main rut may be over there can be on occasion cows that come into estrus later than usual, cow calling during the late season can sometimes still be effective.
Thanks for some of this information.
by: Bigbore442001

I was lucky to draw a New Hampshire moose permit this season but it is basically in the center of the state where the rut is past and the moose population is scattered.

In 2004 I drew a NH permit in the northern part of the state and took a nice bull. The moose density is much more and the colder weather made them move as well as respond to a call.

I have hunted for the first part of the week and saw one small cow. What bothers me is that there seems to be no fresh sign. No fresh tracks, no fresh droppings nor sign of twigs being eaten.

I see from what you stated that the bulls have gone into the deep woods may be the answer that I am looking for. I will go back north to NH for the next four days until the season ends. Hopefully your advice will help out. Thanks
Tips for late season bull moose hunting
by: Mark - Site Owner

Anonymoose, you are correct bull moose will often congregate into bachelor groups after the rut.

Have a look at what happens after the rut. Cow moose and their calves will continue inhabiting the areas near water for safety. The bulls will stop their aggression toward each other and will certainly stop following the cows around.

As winter approaches, bull moose need food... and lots of it. During the rut they were on the move so often and ate so little they burned off much of their fat reserves. They now need to replenish those reserves for winter. Less time now will be spent sizing up their opponents, it is time to concentrate on one thing... food.

The bulls will mostly return to high ground again searching for food until the snow becomes too deep and pushes them toward the wintering grounds.

What types of food will the bull moose will be seeking? Poplar and willow saplings, tree bark and twigs. Bulls will be found where large quantities of quality forage can be found. They will not move around much other than to eat, drink and rest.



The best late season moose hunting tip I can give you is to hunt in the forest away from the forest openings and most importantly... away from human traffic.
Late Season Moose Strategies
by: Anonymoose

After the rut, bull moose move away from where you typically find the cows (lakes and ponds). You might find them in bachelor groups but more often they hang to themselves. You are right, bulls do not respond to calling once the rut is over,but... I think if you can locate a bull, you could use calling to fool a bull into thinking the noise he hears approaching is another moose. This way you can stalk closer to get within bow range. I use this method to approach bedded white tailed deer during the elk rutting season. It works awesome, I have stalked to within bow range on several occasions this way. I have not tried this on moose,but if it works for deer, why not for moose too? In late season I usually see moose higher up in the mountains back in the thick forest where they can avoid human and predator contact.
Good luck with your late season moose hunts!

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