Do I need to buy a moose call?

[Rufous]

It seems like Jim Shockey generally just uses his voice without any special purchased call. Will that work okay? Or just use a plastic gallon jug with the bottom cut out? I just do not want to spend my money unneccesarily. I would rather save it up for the taxidermist. Thanks, Brian.

[popeshawnpaul]

There aren't a whole lot of good moose calls.  You essentailly need a bull horn to make your sound carry and to rake on trees and use your mouth.  Practice and you'll get good.  I bought a call called the 5 in 1 moose call and it worked ok.  I found my mouth call did better.  The call I bought from allpredatorcalls.com:

Buck Expert - X-Trem Moose 5-in-1 Call # 69XT-T
Considered by many the BEST moose call ever! Creates bull, cow-in-heat, and calf vocalizations. Tuff megaphone can be used to produce antler cracking and tree rubbing noises. The megaphone funnel can even be used to recreate loud moose urinating sounds. Call screws into megaphone - even has tuning holes allowing an increase or decrease in call sound volume. 100% freeze proof. Instructional CD and camo lanyard included. Check out Buck Expert's "Bull's Eye II" Moose hunting DVD # 00479 and see the Buck Expert - X-Trem Moose 5-in-1 Call #69XT-T in ACTION!

Considered by many the BEST moose call ever! - Made in Canada by SERIOUS Moose Hunters - Includes Instructional CD
 $39.95
 

[Rufous]

Pope, that was the call I was considering. I think instead I will get their video that shows their call in use on some moose hunts and then just wing it with my own voice and maybe a plastic gallon jug. Thanks, Brian.

[popeshawnpaul]

Speaking of moose sounds...  I was just explaining this to another guy but my experience has been that they don't sound like they do on TV.  To me it sounds more like a GLUNK GLUNK sound than a drawn out moan.  I've been trying to think of an analagous sound, and the only thing close I can think of is the sound of change rattling in a glass bottle. 

They still responded to my calls, but I felt I could better reproduce the sound with my mouth.  I wish there was a video or something that can get you ready for the vocalizations but I never found a good one.  The wayne carlton one was old and not very good.  Jim Shockeys weren't bad but that's not how the moose always sounded to me.  It turns out moose aren't the smartest animal so anything sounding close will work.  I never got a ton of calling in where I hunted due to the moose being very scattered.  Bone probably has some good pointers on it but it isn't rocket science like elk can be.

I'm going to look around and see if I can find audio of the vocalizations. 

[Ridgerunner]

I watched the dvd,s Love, Thunder and Bulls.  They seem pretty good.  Lots of calling tips in there.

[boneaddict]

You can go as cheap as a two liter pop bottle or your hands, to a very elaborate fiberglass call.  I like tradition and thats why I used the birchbark as its resonance is most natural to me.  You'll see some calls the size of a tuba, or french horn. NOT necessary. 

[blessed]

I'm going to use the sholder bones from an elk to scrape the brush. A guy at work sugested it and it sounds like real moose paddles ( much lighter in weight!) I just happen to have 2 here that wifey drug home.STB

[Intruder]

Short answer is no.

The round 1 gal bleach bottles and those that you get wiper fluid in work pretty well.  Just cut the bottom out.

[Dadbear]

I've always just used my voice, and honestly... it has worked at least 90% of the time. Twice I've had a bull 300 plus yards away literally charge in to within about thirty yards of me... no foolin'. I just use a kind of "ooomf" noise through cupped hands. On both of these occasions it was mid October. Best of luck. Hope this helps.

[Bullquest]

I purchased the two moose calling/hunting dvd's "Love,Thunder & Bull" produced by Wayne Kubat in Alaska. I found them pretty informative on calling with your voice. This voice calling was greatly enhanced with his "Bull Magnet" megaphone. Since I am a sucker for any thing that will help my "Quest", I of course ordered this on line! I have also heard/read many great things about the 4 dvd series produced by Alex Gouthro called "Moose Madness".                                                                                                This guy is from Thunder Bay Ontario and his web site is http://www.alexgouthro.com                                   
Since he has sold about a bazzillion of these sets I will probably swallow real hard and pony up the $99.00 and get one as well! What the heck, it's a once in a lifetime tag!