Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Other Big Game => Topic started by: Clinton on October 05, 2011, 07:20:16 PM
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I just returned from three days of scouting and three days of hunting in the 49 degrees north area. The elk proved to be elusive, but I did see over ten moose. By happenstance I jumped a big bull out of his bed in some fairly thick brush. He had at least one cow with him, and I was not able to see the third moose, but I could hear him. Before that I also rousted three or four moose in some thick trees. In both cases they ran and made a lot of noise crashing through the brush. When you spook a moose in thick stuff, is there a way to approach him and not spook him farther so you can actually have a chance of seeing him? They do not tend to go far, but keep going each time you approach. Also, will a moose soon return to his bedding area after getting spooked during the day? Finally, what are the chances of me finding this same large bull in this bedding area? Does a moose use the same bedding area regularly? I have 13 moose points and hope to get drawn soon. Thanks.
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I'm certainly no moose expert, but I did luck into the coveted moose tag last year. I learned a lot about them in the few days I chased them. First off, I noticed the same thing you mentioned.... when jumped, they don't go too far. I was expecting them to line out like an elk and run for 3 counties. They don't. They run out through the brush a hundred yards or less, and stop. If you don't push them, they stay there. I jumped my bull 3 times the first day, and killed him the second day, and all those encounters were within 1/2 mile of each other. He had rut pits dug in several places throughout the areas of my encounters. You'll be hunting them in the rut, and I had great success calling the solitary bulls out into the open. My bull had a cow that he was holding tight to, and I couldn't get him away from her, and he was still with her the next morning when I shot him.
I'm sure you'll find others that have more knowledge about moose behavior, but nothing is better than your own observations when afield.
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Thanks Hyde.
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Not sure if I have the answer to your questions - But I have a tag and I am heading over in the morning for a week to hunt. If you have any info on were you saw these moose I will check it out.
