I was wondering if anyone knows whether a rutting moose will run off deer in their area. Last archery season at the end of September I was all set up on several whitetail bucks that were then frequenting my stands. It was supposed to be a great weekend. Turns out I didn't see anything. I mean nothing in way of deer bucks or does. So one afternoon I got out of my blind and did a still hunt through some dense timber where I had luck in the past.
Not far into the slow step by step process I see a dark hindquarter through the timber. Could not tell what it was but believed it was a large mule deer buck. So I pursue for several minutes until it disappears but never saw the headgear at the point, only the occasional glimpse of a leg. Then I hear what sounds like the animal laying down--sort of deep slump to the ground sound. Thinking I have a buck in its bed I wait a while and then circled up and around just a bit to view the animal. I step out from a tree and sure enough there is a bull moose bedded right in front of me. I'm talking like 30 feet at the most. He did not know I was there. It eventually saw me, pinned its ears back and its eyes seemed to bulge with veins.
I backed away and once a hundred yards away I realize its following me. This thing ran me off the mountain. I had to call my brother who picked me up on a road below me. Anyway, I've been wondering whether the reason I did not see any deer had something to do with this moose. He was rather aggressive. Any thoughts?