Moose in the 500’s

[Moo Snukkle]

Has anyone seen any sign of moose rutting activity in the northern zones? Specifically p pits and any answers to calling.

[Dean2]

Nope, not so far.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Just for the record, elk rut in September, moose in October and deer in November. At least it has been that way in the 60+ years I have been hunting in Alberta.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

Just for the record, elk rut in September, moose in October and deer in November. At least it has been that way in the 60+ years I have been hunting in Alberta.

Yup! Not what he asked but dead on. You are obviously a nicer person than I, since I didn't feel a need to explain why I wasn't seeing any signs.

[OL_JR]

Was out elk hunting yesterday in a 300 zone and a little bull moose was just grunting his little face off. Not to early to start calling imho. The actual peak of the rut may be later on but like all deer species there are different stages to it and not every animal is the same.

[blgoodbrand1]

Rut pits are showing up in the GP area, lots of rubs. Bulls are starting to respond. The next 10 days is go time


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[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

Just for the record, elk rut in September, moose in October and deer in November. At least it has been that way in the 60+ years I have been hunting in Alberta.

Not uncommon to experience really good moose rut action in the last 10days of September

[Moo Snukkle]

Thanks for replying fellas. I do have an understanding of the rut lol. I’m not looking for cows to be in heat. I am however trying to target the time bulls are jockeying for territory and marking their own piece. In my opinion, that is as good a time to pick off a bull as any.
So, for now, I would call no sign within 5 hrs of Edmonton, good news.

[Moo Snukkle]

Originally Posted by blgoodbrand1

Rut pits are showing up in the GP area, lots of rubs. Bulls are starting to respond. The next 10 days is go time


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Good intel thanks

[blgoodbrand1]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Yup! Not what he asked but dead on. You are obviously a nicer person than I, since I didn't feel a need to explain why I wasn't seeing any signs.

If that’s what you believe then carry on but I can tell you for certain that from about the 15th of Sept on is go time for moose. And I have a stack of pics with 50” plus bulls to back up my words.


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[KegRiver]

I'm not seeing any rutting activity yet but then again that's not surprising given the weather we've had lately.

As for when they start, that depends a lot on the year. I've seen rutting activity as early as the first week of September and as late as the end of November.

When I was working as a guide our busiest week was the first week of October but we called in many a bull in the middle of September.

I found they came in more readily early in the season. Once the cows started to come into heat the bigger bulls were often harder to call in especially if they were with a cow.

If I were hunting this time of year I would definitely try calling one in.
They will come to a call even when they are not calling or making wallows.
Just beware, they will come in dead silent that early in the season.

The antler rubs tell you when they are shedding their velvet, not when they are rutting. But they are proof that a bull is in the area, so don't ignore them. Call anyway.

BTW, some will start rubbing in late August. Most are done rubbing by mid September. After that they will thrash a sapling but that's not true rubbing.
It's part of their challenge display when rutting.

Calling is a lot more then just grunting. In fact grunting late in the rut may work against the hunter.
Rule of thumb, grunt early, cow moan once they start breeding the cows.
Thrash a willow once they respond, dribble water to get them moving.

Last but not least. if you have to make noise, sound like a Moose. Learn to walk very deliberately, high step and stop often. Or put you head down and charge.

Hey. that's what I was told to do by a hunter who knew more then I'll ever know. Have I tried it? Charging that is? NO! Not going to either.
I may have a hard head but I doubt it's as hard as a Moose's head.

[Moo Snukkle]

Thank you Keg for that truly excellent post.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Moo Snukkle

Thank you Keg for that truly excellent post.

I'll speak with my CI tomorrow, that will give you thee inside line on the situation where you are headed.
Cat

[Moo Snukkle]

Thanks bud. And remember, friends don’t let friends play untuned guitars lol

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Moo Snukkle

Thanks bud. And remember, friends don’t let friends play untuned guitars lol

[Passthru]

Originally Posted by blgoodbrand1

If that’s what you believe then carry on but I can tell you for certain that from about the 15th of Sept on is go time for moose. And I have a stack of pics with 50” plus bulls to back up my words.


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I believe you. Every year around the Edmonton area I start to find rut pits after the 15th of September. Last week of sept is my favourite time.

[58thecat]

Rut pits.....only found one to date....gonna hang a cam up there this week.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Keg, I always like the extra details in your posts and totally agree with you. I just like to be a "old hunter/Man" of a few words, especially when I type with two fingers. I did not explain the second estrus that brings rut into November for some cow moose that did not get serviced in October.

[7magtime]

Originally Posted by Passthru

I believe you. Every year around the Edmonton area I start to find rut pits after the 15th of September. Last week of sept is my favourite time.

x2, my last two archery bulls in the Edmonton area were called in to 10 yards September 27 & 28. Both came in on a string to cow calls. I always find my moose activity on the cams picks up after September 18th to 20th....

[marky_mark]

Buddy called one in yesterday and filled his tag

[NewGuard84]

Encountered two bulls on Saturday that responded to grunting and began raking trees. Each year in our 500 zone spot we tend to experience what Keg explained above and plan our main trips mid-late September and early October.

The “hypnotized” swaying stride of a bull coming in to cow moans is one of my favorite hunting moments and always will be.

Good luck to everyone on their moose hunts this year.

[Iceberg]

Last year on sept. 20 in 532 I called a bull in on a string off a cow that wasn’t interested in him. Flying in 4 days with Dan from Andrew Lake Lodge again to the same unnamed lake just south of the NWT border.. counting down the minutes...


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[Moo Snukkle]

Originally Posted by Iceberg

Last year on sept. 20 in 532 I called a bull in on a string off a cow that wasn’t interested in him. Flying in 4 days with Dan from Andrew Lake Lodge again to the same unnamed lake just south of the NWT border.. counting down the minutes...


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Good luck Ice
We travel Wed, stage Thursday.
How about a little horn porn?
My friend and neighbor
2017
First ever big game animal
50 cal muzzy @ 40yds
60”

[droptine894]

In the 300 zones, had this guy last week come in on a string. Grunting the whole way. Looking for the ELK that had just bugled lol

[IR_mike]

Awesome bull droptine984!!!!!

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by IR_mike

Awesome bull droptine984!!!!!

I guess when your that horny you will come to any cow in heat or to any fight too!

Luv the rut

[Ronaround]

Originally Posted by droptine894

In the 300 zones, had this guy last week come in on a string. Grunting the whole way. Looking for the ELK that had just bugled lol

Droptine:

That's a fine bull moose you got there.
48" ?

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

I guess when your that horny you will come to any cow in heat or to any fight too!

Luv the rut

That sir is an understatement.

I know people who call in Moose with power saws ever fall. Sounds incredible but I have seen it done.

When a Moose is horny they will come to any sound that is even slightly similar to a cow in estrous.
I know of, actually heard one big game guide who used a bugle to call Moose. I don't know if it worked, only that he used it for a couple of seasons at least.

I've also heard a lot of Moose and each one sounds different. Some sound like dogs barking, sort of. Others, like owls hooting, sort of. Most sound like the classic grunt Moose call but then again that is only one call, they make several sounds for the purpose of communications.

Most hunters know that they grunt, but trashing a willow is also a form of communication. They will also bang a tree with an antler. An old trapper told me that they can judge the size of an opponents head gear this way, and that a young bull will use this to avoid a fight with a dominant bull.

A hunter can use this to his advantage if he knows what to do. Even dribbling water into a puddle is a form of communication for a Moose and a trick that a hunter can use to draw in a reluctant bull.

The reason I reply is because I want new hunters to know, you don't have to sound like a professional. Calling a Moose is more about reducing human sounds as much as possible and being observant.

Be willing to try, to experiment, and most of all to wait. Once in a while a Moose will come charging in, more often they will work their way in slowly and often without making a sound.

Many a hunter has called till he determined that there were no Moose in the area, then stood up an spooked a Moose that had tip toed in on him.

The chain saw technique is a classic example of this. The way it works is the hunter chooses a route through Moose territory. Then, late in the day he chooses a likely location, then stops and cuts one or two blocks off a fallen tree and then moves on and does it again a mile or so away.

The next morning at first light he returns and approaches each location as quietly as possible. Sooner or later he will find a Moose hanging out at one of his locations. A Moose that heard the saw and thought it might be a cow in estrous and came to investigate.

Nutty as it sounds I know it works, but it takes a lot of patience and a lot of time. The people I know who employ this technique would be cutting wood for their winter fuel supply anyway and simply fit Moose calling into the first activity.