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Maine Moose Hunting Guide

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Hi folks,

Reading some about moose hunting. I have never, nor will I, ever hunt moose. I had one walk by me at arms length on Isle Royale at Rock Harbor, but they are as tame as cows. Size of the animal was impressive.

From a moose hunting guide in Maine, below -

"Recommended Cartridges There are vast options of appropriate firearm calibers and cartridge combinations to swiftly and humanely kill a moose. The most important factor is marksmanship and shot placement. However, it is important to choose a combination that has a bullet weight and terminal ballistics that is powerful enough for moose. Magnum cartridges can help with this, but are not necessary to efficiently kill a moose. It is important to remember that a .17 and .22 caliber rimfires are not legal calibers for moose. Where to Aim Placing your shot in a vital area is key to making a clean, ethical, and humane kill."

NOW - let's establish that shot placement is more important than caliber. We all know this, and it was stated several times above. What is up with the reference to these small calibers? Shouldn't the minimum legal calibers be higher - seems you would have a bunch of wounded moose wandering around using these calibers. Do people use 243's on moose?

My line of thinking is a 30-06 would be a minimum caliber with a heavy bullet, but again, I've never hunted them. I'm a very good shot and can drive nails with my .270, but would never choose that for a moose hunt.

What firearms/calibers do you guys use? I do love talkin' guns.

This is Maine - are the provinces similar? I'm sure they vary.

Thank you.
 
I can only speak to Virginia, but .22 and .17 aren't legal for any sort of big game here, and the quote may not be speaking to optimal cartridge size but more to legality. (I would think .223/5.56 would also be illegal, but that and a buck will get you a cup of coffee.)

I used to be a good shot when I enjoyed it, but I've developed a real distaste for firearms over the years. Now I stick to trad bows, but a longbow is about the most inefficient way to get meat in the freezer, and quite often I reminisce about able to squeeze off a 50-yard shot. Sometimes I pass them up inside 20 yards, if the situation calls for it.
 
For Ontario, all the regs say is something in the 30 caliber range. Indigenous hunters up here have been killing moose for decades with the old lever action 30 30, but for some reason, most of the non-native hunters think a 300 win mag is the lightest calibre needed. I use a .308 or 3006, both are good, but with my run of bad luck, I may as well be using a sling shot.
 
Hi Knee's,

I here you there regarding bows. I never made the leap to a compound. Used my Bear Archery Super Mag 48" with a 50lb pull. I probably couldn't even draw the bow now. Tough to stay on target.

Memaquay - there is now, and has been this magnum push down here, at least in my neck of the woods. It used to be the 7mm mag, but that gave way to the 300's now.

My grandfather, born in 1919 and was a trapper and lumberjack. He firmly maintained that his .32 Winchester Special was all you need for any hunting outside of grizzlies or polar bears. None of these where he was.
 
How many are available in Maine? Just curious - want to look at some numbers.

I have not hunted in years and have no desire to. But it's pretty tough to hunt here in western NY if you don't have access to private land and don't want to get shot.
 
In Quebec you can't hunt them with anything smaller than a 6mm/243. I wouldn't want to.

I'd hazard that 30-06 and 308 Win are the most popular cartridges around here. My uncle - a real man's man, outdoorsy, hunter/artist shot nothing but a 270 Win out of his Remington 760. A legendary shot, he was. I've taken them with a 308 (Browning BAR), 3006 (Sako AIII), and a 375 H&H (BRNO 602). Strangely, the one I shot with the latter was the most difficult to convince it was dead. 3 shots in the cage from about 100 yards. I shot a bull with that Sako, but I had called him in (with a bull call - very exciting as he was ready to fight) to about 25 feet. In that case, a 30-30 would have been just fine.

I now shoot a 270 WSM in a Connecticut-made Winchester Model 70 for pretty much all my big game. It is phenomenally accurate with factory 140's.
 
How many are available in Maine?
Every year it's about 2000-3000 permits are issued, it all depends on the herd size and other factors. Approximately 50-60000 people apply for the lottery.
There are a few stipulations, you are awarded either a bull or cow permit, and they let you know what area you can hunt and what dates, always a one week Monday thru Sat hunt for each permit. You can trade permits with other hunters who have also won a permit for any reason.
This year they will issue many more permits than usual because of the "winter tick issue". Many young moose die because of winter ticks and the powers that be will try to thin the herd out in certain areas to try to slow the spread of the ticks by removing hosts. If it works is anyone's guess?
It used to be you could ride the logging roads all week and the success rate was very high, but that's changed. Last year was one of the worst years for the success rate. It has become common knowledge that road hunting is over and getting back in woods or remote clear cuts is the way to go. Road hunting is popular for a few reasons, the most is getting that 700 plus pound carcass on a trailer. My grandson shot a bull 1/2 mile in last year and they had to pack it out.
If I ever get drawn I hope to do a canoe hunt, I only own a lever action 30-30 but my friends/family members have lots of rifles I could borrow if needed.
 
Keeled Over - Sorry but I have to disagree about moose being as docile as cows. I'd love to see you explain that to a bull we encountered in Rocky Mt. National Park a few years ago. Of course, he was aggravated by an idiot hiker we met and the bull was accompanied by a cow but, all and all, it was in no mood to have people around. He stomped his feet and was slashing the air with his antlers. We didn't stick around to see the rest so go out of there quickly.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper
 
Great info folks - thank you!

SP, I just can't get over that small caliber minimum, it seems so strange. How was shooting that .375?

Robin, thank you for the recap of the process. If I may ask, how long have you been trying to get a tag? Are Americans, or any other nationalities allowed to get a tag?

Snapper, yes this might seem a bit odd, but it is true. I have not been on Isle Royale in over 30 years, but the island does have practically tame moose, foxes and rabbits. It's changed now, but at the time the Rock Harbor side had the restaurant, hotel, cabins, store, etc. Windigo is on the other side of the island and just had a ranger facility and some lean-to's.

We got off the ship at Rock Harbor, checked into our cabin and went for walk right before dinner. While just a few yards down the trail there was a good crashing sounds and a cow popped up right on the trail in front of us. Deuce. Looked right at us and started towards us. We just backed up as far as we could on the side of the trail and she ambled by, swinging that dinosaur sized head over to look at us. After standing there for a bit I think I uttered WTF and we wandered back to the hotel. Later on, walking on the trail a red fox popped out, looked at us and continued down the trail. Same with a rabbit - he hopped over and sniffed my shoe.

The next day the boat from MN picked us up and we sailed down to the Windigo side. Here, the moose have an entirely different attitude, and the one we saw here snorted and stomped or something and had us moving FAST. It was required back then to attend a ranger briefing before heading out to backpack across the island. I asked the ranger, who is author Nevada Barr but a park employee at the time, about this. Essentially Rock Harbor had all the human activity, and since there were no predators at the time - wolves are at the Windigo side - there wasn't fear among the wildlife.

We never saw or heard a wolf on Isle Royale. I think at the time we were there just a few remained. Unsure what the status in now. I always wanted to paddle around the island, but there's this like 14 mile stretch of sheer walls with little opportunity to exit on the north side.

If anyone has paddled it, even inland ponds, please let me know.
 
The BRNO 602, scoped, weighed close to 12lbs. This makes the recoil a lot less "snappy" and much more "pushy." Quite pleasant to shoot - you know you're sending some power downrange but without the snot-bubbling smack of a 3 1/2" 12 gauge turkey load.
 
....how long have you been trying to get a tag? Are Americans, or any other nationalities allowed to get a tag?

I have been trying about 14 years, one chance costs $15 for a non-Maine-resident, (which I was most of that time), anyone can apply. You can buy extra chances, as many as you want. The way the system works is if 1000 permits are given out, Maine residents get 900, non residents 100. (iirc)
Everyone gets extra points if they have been applying for a long time without a break. Sadly, when my health took a dive for a couple of years in 2014-16 I stopped applying and lost the points.
Maine also has an alternate moose hunt for disabled veterans with a 50% or above service-connected disability. It too goes thru a lottery, I'm not sure how many permits are given out, but the hunt is in August/Sept and takes place in the vast broccoli fields of northern Maine. The veteran is assisted by a licensed guide service and the real purpose of the hunt is to cull the moose who graze in the broccoli fields. It's a strictly meat-only hunt, with no waiting for a trophy to appear. I apply for both hunts, the state hunt and the veterans hunt, of which I can only take one.
Here's my then 12 year old grandson with the moose his dad called in last September. His mother, (my daughter) had won the permit and he was the co-permitte. They have to stay within eye site, but either person can harvest the moose. She let him shoot.

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WOW - very cool. Certainly explains those smiling faces in the pic! How much would that dressed moose weigh?

I love the fact that there is a moose hunt for veterans. I have not heard of this before - I hope all states and provinces have a similar program for the Vet's. It's only right.

I always seem to learn something from your posts. I didn't know Maine was big on the broccoli scene, just the spuds and blue berries. My father used to go to Maine in the 50's for moose and brook trout. He never got a moose, but he did catch some beautiful brookies.

Thank you Robin!
 
Robin, the Maine draw sounds very similar to the Ontario draw, only I think you guys might have more tags, if you can believe it. Moose populations have been crashing in Ontario, but if one is a really dedicated hunter up here, and you can procure a tag, there is a good chance a moose can be had. Irene and I just got our results back from the first draw...negative. There is another draw coming up in June, we will probably end up with calf tags, which means we will have a lot of fun fishing, hot tenting and swilling beer in October, without having to worry about hauling a moose out of the bush.

I dunno, I think the Quebec laws including the .243 is a little optimistic, sure shot placement and all that jazz, but it's not a caliber I would use on an 800 pound critter.
 
Moose are the most dangerous animals in Maine. More so than bear.
They are instinctual animals with the brain the size of a grapefruit.
In May they are cranky as they are hungry and new browse is sought.
I was able to read a moose hackles up feet spread head down. Thou shalt not pass.
Had I moved closer it would have ended for me
The fall rut is a dangerous time and mama and baby can be vicious.
Tame as cows not
Wardens tagging moose sometimes get hurt
If you shoot you do NOT want to miss
 
Nice looking Moose Robin! Reading thru this i don't see any mention of antler size? Up here we have cow tags (very few) and bulls have to meet certain size/point’s to be legal. We have “any bull”, spike/fork, 50 inch or wider, 3 brow tine, 4 brow tine etc. depending where you hunt all these things must be considered.

As i walked up to the first one i ever shot it just kept getting bigger! Standing next to him he looked like a small horse, as does your’s! It’s amazing how something that eats sticks can taste so good!
 
....but if one is a really dedicated hunter up here, and you can procure a tag, there is a good chance a moose can be had.
I saw the biggest moose I have ever seen on the Powitik River (Marshall Lake circuit, NW Ontario), his hind quarters (butt) had to be over 40". Huge!
Later in the trip an outfitter I met asked if I saw any moose, na, no moose I told him.
I saw 7 on that trip, mostly cows and calves plus that big bull.
He blamed the wolves for no moose.
My son and I saw 6 moose in LaVerendrye, Quebec one morning in May on a small river, including two large bulls, and that place is hunted hard.
 
Reading thru this i don't see any mention of antler size? Up here we have cow tags (very few) and bulls have to meet certain size/point’s to be legal.
Yes, I have read about the Alaskan moose, that's a whole different ball game with some really huge moose being taken every year. Here in Maine there is no size limit on bulls as long as you can see horns. Here it's all about herd management.
Here the big moose hang out in the backwoods swamps, the younger ones cross roads. Two years ago my SIL's dad harvested this one crossing a logging road at day break second to last day of the hunt. Not a huge moose but some great meat for a few families.

075.JPG
 
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