[Marshall Stanton]

I could really use some direction from some experienced moose hunters. I just found out today that I got drawn for one of Idaho's once in a lifetime bull moose permits for the Priest Lake management unit in the North Idaho Panhandle.

Our season runs from 30 August through 23 November, and as such includes nearly all of the moose rutting season. I'd really like to call a moose during the rut, but I know nothing about calling them, other than it can be really exhilirating. If you fine folks here on the forum could direct me to some good, credible info I would really appreciate it! There's lots of information out there by folks wanting to simply sell their particular brand of call or equipment. I simply want to know what works!

Gettin' ready for moose season in Idaho! Many thanks.

God Bless,

Marshall

 

[halfbreed]

Marshall, As I have never hunted moose, take this for what it is worth. I am very interested in hunting moose in Ak. Maybe I will be up there next year? hopefully,
Anyhow, I have been renting/buying moose hunting videos.
I have one by Paul Newsome, Monster Moose. they hunt pre-rut and the rut season, lots of calling.
they don't seem to be trying to sell anything, except maybe more videos. Can't blame them for that.
BUT, they are not trying to sell calls or anything. and all of their hunting is from different boats on the Yakutat river area.
Hope this is of some help.

By the way you have a personal e-mail,
John

 

[kdub]

To call a moose, you take a deep breath, cup your hands about your mouth and...................

Nah - ain't gonna do it! Too cheap a shot!

Congrats on the permit, Marshall.

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Many thanks! I'll look into that video. So many of these videos produced are hawking some kind of scent, clothing or calls that it's hard to separate the fact from fiction, and tell what's staged and what's real. Thanks for the recommendation.

Yesterday was Alex's birthday, and we went for a sixteen mile round trip canoe trek through some of the best moose country in North Idaho, for a fun day, a picnic and I especially wanted to look things over for moose hunting.

Season opens in 14 Days.... AND COUNTING!

God Bless,

 

[halfbreed]

Marshall,
Sounds like the two of you had a great day, Congratulations.
I hope you BOTH realize how lucky the two of you are.
I bought the video from Cabelas,

and Congrats on the draw,
Now go get one.

John

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Season opens one week from today... any good suggestions for pre-rut bull moose calling techniques? I've been very busy, and haven't even gotten to scout, much less watch any videos.

Always ready to learn something from someone who's been there and done that!

Thanks

 

[MAINER]

Season opens one week from today... any good suggestions for pre-rut bull moose calling techniques? I've been very busy, and haven't even gotten to scout, much less watch any videos.

Always ready to learn something from someone who's been there and done that!

Thanks

Marshall - I'll try again. Here in Maine early Sept. is a real dead time for moose activity. You just have to find them. In my scouting, I really start to see some super bulls in rut starting about the 19th. The very peak, when these monsters are most susceptible to the call, runs around Sept. 25-29 here in Maine. This can make a tremendous difference to you. I urge you to call the head state moose biologist, or a game warden to find out when this peak is in your area. After this peak, it seems like you just call in a higher % of lesser bulls. As time goes on, the big boys become a little call (or fight) shy. The factory calls are a waste of $$. It won't take you long to become adept at doing your own calling. Just stay very quiet, and look and LISTEN very hard. If you call me, I can get you started pretty well on doing a few suitable calls with confidence. I believe that the aforementioned timing is critical if your seeking a good bull. GOOD LUCK

Btw, The North American Moose Foundation of Mackay, Idaho is having it's convention in Sun Valley on Dec. 5-6. I expect to see your name on the roster of moose calling contest participants! www.moosefoundation.org

 

[MAINER]

Marshall - ....Inquiring minds want to know>>>>?????

 

[kdub]

Yeah - ditto what Mainer said!!!!

 

[oldguide32]

With permission from kdub, I can make a few comments. I lived in Western Montana for 29 years and hunted hard for about 4 months of every year. I killed a dozen moose in that time. (now you can only shoot one every 7 years, legally).
First, the season in Montana was also 3 months, Sept to Dec. since moose are so easy to spot and watch in the lower 48, we seldom went hunting until it snowed a lot, even though the season was open. then it was easy to keep the meat clean and more fun hunting.
Second, the moose we hunted were much smaller than Alaska moose. I think they were Shirrus (Sp.?) I mostly shot cows because your chances of getting drawn for a permit were 4 times better for cows.
Third, and this is something never mentioned in all of the outdoor articles: I found moose really easy to kill. I started with a 7mm Rem Mag and finally switched to a 30-06 with 150 grain bullets. One of my friends hunts moose with a 7mm Mauser. they seemed no harder to kill than the average deer. Bullet placement seemed to be the most important factor by far. I admit to shooting several in the neck and several in the head, but even rib/lung shots put them down withing a few yards.
Obviously, after 29 years of hunting them, I could go on and on so let me stop here and offer to respond to any questos. Jack in Oregon

 

[oldguide32]

Marshall, you mention photography and Idaho. Years ago I knew a couple of wildlife photographers at the North Idaho College, one was Mark Bunn and one was Tim Christy. Ever run across them? I hunted elk with Tim's father when he was alive and Tim's sister, Vicky Christy, was a student of mine at the School of Mines in Butte. Just wondered if you knew them. Jack

 

[junke]

hey marshal go outside and pop off a couple shots so i can locate you;-) im in sandpoint. the moose around here are getting thick i see them often when hunting other animals. i often get them to come check me out with a low grunt from my mouth, no calls. KDUB was joking but i guess becuase nobody hunts them they are not the least bit skiddish and nearly always get curious. maybe they are thinking "what the @ell is that sound!"

 

[oldguide32]

No comments? Wuz it sumpin I said?? Jack

 

[alyeska338]

Jack,
Marshall has been under the weather lately, I'm sure he'll respond when he's on the mend. Nothing you said, I just don't Marshall has had a chance to see it yet.

 

[kdub]

Nope, Mr. Oldguide - ya ain't said nuttin' that would get you inta trouble - YET!!!!

You ought to drop by the "My Neck of the Woods" forum up above and tell the folks of your trapping endeavors of late. I'm sure they'd get a kick out of hearing of the bobcats, cougars and such.

Also, not many people have the opportunity to shoot off their front porch or out the window of their gun shop. Might explain all that for them.

(Hee, hee, hee - I'll get you involved in this board one way or the other!!)

 

[oldguide32]

ok, Ken thanks. I'm sorta new to this board and surely want to abide by all of the customs and traditions. I see many nice short informative posts and I have a (bad ?) tendency to rattle on for paragraphs. Thought maybe I'd put everyone to sleep.
Alyeska, you must be up North? I lived in Valdez for 3 seasons. I'm trying to sell my property in Chitina now.
And Ken, I did find it amazing that there were at least 4 adult cougars crossing here at the home place ( only 320 acres) in one night. Anyway, time for more coffee. Jack in Oregon