E scouting for moose

[Dougfirtree]

I got a call from my hunting buddy over the weekend. He drew a bull moose tag for northern Maine and I'm listed as the sub-permitee. I am REALLY excited to be going moose hunting this October, even if it's not my tag. I'm beginning my education in moose calling and we'll certainly be speaking to biologists/wardens in the area. I'd like to start doing some e-scouting too, but I'm not entirely sure what to be looking for. Wet areas with access to recent cuts, as well as dense softwood cover? All advice is very welcome!

 

[Jnasa]

Congratulations that is exciting for you and your friend. I’d like to visit Maine sometime and do some hunting or fishing.

When I spoke to a biologist for my Idaho tag he said that wet forage was a primary thing to look for. Access to water is another but they can travel a fair distance from water.

Out here the rut tends to be end of September/first of October. They are more active then so if you can hunt during the rut I’d recommend. Check and see what the timing is in Maine.

That’s what I remember off top of my head. If I remember anything else I’ll let you know.

 

[Sask hunter]

Fresh cuts are best. Older cuts can be good too. Eventually they grow up so much you need to call the moose out to see it. But not every cut is equal just before season drive every cut you can find and look for tracks. Can even do that in the summer moose don’t move much between summer and fall

 

[nomadicbohunk]

Depending on the unit up there: Look for either fresh cuts or broccoli fields if it's not picked by then. Water is kind of everywhere depending. I've seen more new england moose away from water than next to or in. In other parts of the country I've only seen them in or right next to. Also, I see the most sign at pinch points you can't escout. I know a spot in VT that has a trail on it that's no joke 3 feet deep and 4 feet wide from just moose. It's a culvert on an old abandoned logging road between the start of two giant swamps. It's nuts. It doesn't look like anything on satellite, but it's there. it's just part of the road. I've seen more moose out here up in dry areas than in swamps, but I don't do much running around in Sept/October in swamps.

I've been told by those who would know that pre scouting way ahead is kind of useless. Like a week before is all they do. But, they're starting from knowing where they should be generally and sort of honing it down to individual cuts. The cuts can be kinda small. I didn't pick their brains on this, but these were loggers who guide. In my experience I can tell you areas about the side of a section or two where you could find some year after year. These guys I think were getting it down to what 40 in that section.

Also. Very important. You're in the daks so you probably know this. Try out every kind of neoprene boot you can find to find the ones that fit your foot and you like for hiking. You're going to be doing a lot of walking.

I've never hunted moose out here, but I see about 40x more moose than deer when I hunt, so I think I've got them a little figured.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Depending on the unit up there: Look for either fresh cuts or broccoli fields if it's not picked by then. Water is kind of everywhere depending. I've seen more new england moose away from water than next to or in. In other parts of the country I've only seen them in or right next to. Also, I see the most sign at pinch points you can't escout. I know a spot in VT that has a trail on it that's no joke 3 feet deep and 4 feet wide from just moose. It's a culvert on an old abandoned logging road between the start of two giant swamps. It's nuts. It doesn't look like anything on satellite, but it's there. it's just part of the road. I've seen more moose out here up in dry areas than in swamps, but I don't do much running around in Sept/October in swamps.

I've been told by those who would know that pre scouting way ahead is kind of useless. Like a week before is all they do. But, they're starting from knowing where they should be generally and sort of honing it down to individual cuts. The cuts can be kinda small. I didn't pick their brains on this, but these were loggers who guide. In my experience I can tell you areas about the side of a section or two where you could find some year after year. These guys I think were getting it down to what 40 in that section.

Also. Very important. You're in the daks so you probably know this. Try out every kind of neoprene boot you can find to find the ones that fit your foot and you like for hiking. You're going to be doing a lot of walking.

I've never hunted moose out here, but I see about 40x more moose than deer when I hunt, so I think I've got them a little figured.

Sounds like good advice. Unfortuately, I don't think actual scouting is in the cards for me. He drew a unit that is waaay up there and a bit of a haul from here. That said, he lives in Maine, so maybe he'll get up there in person before the season. I'd like to think that I can at least find some general areas to try out, using the computer. And yes, my feet like LaCrosse Burlys and I put a lot of miles on mine each year!

 

[targetpanic]

Congrats on the tag!!! I am very familiar with zones 7 and 8, but it sounds like you are going to be in 1,2 or 3.
You should still have good rutting activity during the OCT hunt and they will respond to calls. Find new cuts on RECENT satellite images (even if its one of theose satellites that transmits low resolution images once every week or 2) to find more recent cuts.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Congrats on the tag!!! I am very familiar with zones 7 and 8, but it sounds like you are going to be in 1,2 or 3.
You should still have good rutting activity during the OCT hunt and they will respond to calls. Find new cuts on RECENT satellite images (even if its one of theose satellites that transmits low resolution images once every week or 2) to find more recent cuts.

Yes, he drew unit one. I guess there's really no reason to be cagey about this particular tag... I'll do some research on where we can get aerial imagery from the last year or two.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Fresh cuts are best. Older cuts can be good too. Eventually they grow up so much you need to call the moose out to see it. But not every cut is equal just before season drive every cut you can find and look for tracks. Can even do that in the summer moose don’t move much between summer and fall

Just curious what people mean when they say "fresh" cuts? Like, cuts that were made less than a year ago? 2 years, 3 years? With deer, I think of those areas that were cut 2-5 years ago as being full of food. What's your calculus for moose?

 

[Sask hunter]

Yes like cuts the previous winters are my favourite. It’s a little different here our moose get shot down around the fresh cuts pretty quick. An area only holds so many mooose and hunting pressure concentrates in the clear cuts. but after about 4 years or so they start to grow tall enough it becomes a moose sanctuary cause it’s so thick and tall you can’t see a moose unless he’s standing on a trail. Since you guys are on draws you shouldn’t have to worry as much about moose getting shot out in an area


This is a one year old cut around here. They grow up pretty quick usually. As you can see it’s full of saplings that are 2 feet high or so

 

[nomadicbohunk]

I'd say within a couple years would be prime. When it starts to get really thick they're just hard to see. I don't know what the cut off is as I know of a 15 year old hardwood clear cut that's just lousy with moose. It's thick enough you can't see 10 feet in front of you. I attempt to grouse hunt it. I've noticed the deer leave cuts sooner than the moose, which makes sense.

 

[targetpanic]

Just curious what people mean when they say "fresh" cuts? Like, cuts that were made less than a year ago? 2 years, 3 years? With deer, I think of those areas that were cut 2-5 years ago as being full of food. What's your calculus for moose?

The newer the better IMO. If moose have a choice of a 1 yo cut or a 3yo cut we find more in the newer cut. The area we hunt in Zone 8 is very mountainous and you are able to glass a lot of areas from long distance.

 

[Akcabin]

Not sure about Maine moose. But for ak moose. Disiduous hard wood trees such as birch, poplar, willow, cotton wood are preferred. They generally do not eat alders. They seem to tend to be be near the water more in the spring when fresh young aquatics are available. Probably a nutritional thing I suspect. In the heat of the summer and lots of biting bugs moose will move to the water for relief. But in the evening, morning. In the heat of the day I've found them in bedding in old growth forest. And in the thickest swampiest boggy areas. Where they can lay in tall grasses n brush and still be able to look around for dangers. And small branches offer feed.
Id be looking for disiduous trees in the fall. The bulls will get curious n move more. Cows in good habitat tend to stay there. Where there is feed for her n calf. If hunting pressure is greater around cut areas. Find areas where old growth disiduous trees are near and use to your advantage. Old beaver dams are used for crossing areas. They don't like being exposed in the open. Look for choke points between different tree areas.
Always remember that the opportunity is always great cake, harvesting is ice on the cake. Good luck n have fun.