A small, but stable permanent population of about 100 animals is recorded in Connecticut. Discussion in 'Hunting' started by Freedom_fighter_in_IL, Dec 12, 2011. They issued over 3,800 moose licenses in 2011! No ducks or Geese either. The subspecies of moose found in Maine is the Eastern variety. Researchers are concerned with somewhat low calf recruitment rates, balanced somewhat by high adult cow rate. A guided hunt is your best recourse, but moose hunting without one is not uncommon. The US offers an interesting choice of opportunities to hunt moose. If you are up for a challenging hunt in a remote, rugged space and are looking for a chance at one of the largest bulls in the United States, Alaska may be the place for you. Moose are widely distributed throughout the state. Some of the most impressive growth in ten years from 1991 to 2001 was recorded in Washington, that went from 200 to over 1,000 animals, Idaho (from 5,500 to 15,000), and Vermont (from 1,300 to 3,500). Archery moose is usually for 2-3 weeks in early Sept . The biggest numbers of moose were in Maine, with some 29,000 animals and where the species was considered overpopulated, Idaho, that housed some 15,000 moose, and Wyoming, with a herd of 13,865 Alces alces shirasi. The most desired area, especially for hunters coming in from out of state for a guided hunt, is the region known as the North Maine Woods. This was partly a conscious management act, meant to reduce the number of vehicle collisions, and partly attributed to winter tick and brainworm parasite infections. And human harvest continues to be an irreplicable method of moose population control. Bulls in the Lower 48 (Alces alces) weigh from 800 to 1,000 pounds. The bulls can reach weights of 1800 pounds and have a spread of 65 inches. You may have to climb hills or slog through the sloppy ground that surrounds the streams and lakes that attract moose. Whether you want the biggest bull you can find for a trophy or would be just as happy with the meat from a cow to stock your freezer, you need to know where to go to have the best chance of a successful hunt. Some areas are controlled by Native American tribes, and they have sole authority to regulate hunting activities. Maine has the most dense concentration of moose in the lower 48 states. If youre lucky enough to draw a permit, it will specify the season dates. If you draw, you cant apply for a moose tag again until 5 years passes. Time of Day: The best time of day for moose hunting is during the coolness of early mornings and evenings when moose are the most actively in search of food and water. However, limited draw is not the only way to get a moose permit in Maine. Snow may make some roads impassible, and property owners may close off roads that hunters expected to have available. The moose hunting season in Washington may be impacted by snow. It looks like the current numbers of moose in the Lower 48 are likely to remain at the same level for the next few years if not decades. The answer is that moose will have to die anyway. The best states to hunt moose in 2000-2001 were Maine, where 6,000 hunters put their tags on 2,250 moose, and Wyoming, with 1,379 hunters accounting for 1,215 trophies 88% success rate (source)! It is, however, your duty to ensure that your hunt is legal. The managed forests of the North Maine Woods offer excellent habitat for moose, which has helped to increase their population. This lodge will offer the finest of hunting for all of Newfoundlands big game animals including Black Bear. Hunting is a way of life in the United States, and we are here to help you be as successful on the hunt as possible. The subspecies of moose found in Maine is the Eastern variety. It is best to check the maps at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to see where your permit allows you to hunt, and always make sure you have permission from private landowners to hunt on their land or pass through it. FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2010 file photo, moose graze in Franconia, N.H. Success rates for adult first draw applications was 1.5% (1 in 67) for residents and 0.7% (1 in 145) for non-residents. 10 permits are sold from a sealed bid auction, and 2% are distributed, via a special lottery, to licensed hunting lodges, who then can sell them to their clients. Since much of the land is owned by the state or federal government, most hunting takes place on public lands. They considered the 5,000 moose population of the early 2000s overabundant, with moose depleting their habitat. KaBeeLo Lodge offers a high success rate for bear, moose and grouse hunting in northwest Ontario Canada. Although most people use the services of guides, it is ultimately your responsibility to make sure your paperwork is in order and your hunt is legal. GMU's (Game Management Units) 17/171. Load up your freezers and/or enjoy some of the tastiest recipes our chefs can prepare for you when you get back to the main lodge. Peaking at about 12,000-13,000 animals in the early 2000s, Wyoming moose population is now down to some 4,000. The bulls can top out at weights over 1000 pounds and have a spread from 38 to 50 inches, although trophies with spreads up to 57 inches have been recorded. If hunting later in the season, your search for a bull may take you deeper into the forests. Residents pay $112 and non-residents $1,402. This lodge is currently under construction. There are other limitations, too, including the fact that a large part of the state is a short-range weapon only zone. Logging activity in this region has actually created great opportunities for moose hunters. The New Hampshire Fish and Game states that the moose population in the state peaked in the late 1990s, at about 7,500 animals, and declined to about 3,500 since. All in all, it appears that the peak of moose populations of 20 years ago was not a new normal, but an anomaly. A law passed in 2010 placed moose on the game species list and allowed for hunting up to 10 bulls a season; however, the population growth didnt live up to optimistic predictions and currently a moose season is not on the table. Two permits are available through a special raffle (with nearly 7,000 tickets bought at $6 each). The land is served by logging roads that give hunters easier access to the interior, and cutting practices make the forests more open with greater visibility. We offer fully guided and non-guided Moose hunts in WMD (zones) 11, 10, 19, 18, and 6. Only 55 moose tags were issued for 2020. In most parts of the range, the moose are seldom found south of the 50th parallel, and when they are, its usually in the mountainous regions. If youre more into herd size than antler size, Scandinavia and Finland are hard to beat, and the former USSR Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and Russia in its European part offer some of the best bargains. So, what can the heart of the USA offer to an aspiring moose hunter? In addition to trophy moose hunting, we also offers 4 combination 14-day hunts for Moose and Dall Sheep or Moose and Grizzly, and if permits remain, Mountain Caribou on a trophy fee basis. Oregon has a resident population of about 50 to 60 moose and occasional animals wandering in from Washington and Idaho, and some 40-50 moose can be found in Nevada. Moose Hunting Location - Jackson County, CO - Units 17 & 171. The average number of preference points of successful winners were between 13 and 18. Most likely, the Rockies arent a moose-optimal environment, and are missing some plants that provide nutrients essential for reproduction. This is most often a consideration later in the season. Both residents and non-residents can apply. The moose is the creature of the temperate climate and the boreal forest. The archery season is in September, and the general season in October. The state seems to be the only one in the lower 48 with a growing population. Much of it is covered with hardwood forests, but they are interspersed with stands of softwood and cedar. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife provides maps that show where hunting is allowed and whether permission is required. The population is stable, and while the moose numbers are dwindling in some areas, they are expanding to others. High number of permits results in relatively high draw odds, even with over 50,000 applicants: about 6% (1 in 16) for residents, and about 1.2% (1 in 82) for non-residents. On the other hand, I consider moose to be the best of all wild meats, and theres a lot of it if you get one. The moose population in Utah, like in Colorado, is a relatively new thing, fostered by logging (that replace mature timber with meadows and young trees that are the preferred habitat for moose) and extermination of wolves and grizzly bears. Of the Lower 48 states, Maine has the highest moose population density of them all. The population is estimated at about 3,000 head and a hunting season is open. Maine has the most dense concentration of moose in the lower 48 states. The highest concentration of moose is found in the northeast part of the state. When you are making plans, it is a good idea to check the maps on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website to see where your guide will be taking you and confirm that it is permissible for you to hunt there. The season is October 1-14, and the tags cost $305.61 for residents and $ 2,240.20 for non-residents. Check with the state authorities, and then check again, to make sure you are hunting in an area where it is legal for you to do so. Resident moose licenses are $332, non-resident $1,652. Visit the website of the state in which you will be hunting and read the rules and regulations. When discussing the correct armament for adequately tackling the task that is Alaska moose hunting, the first step is to not ignore the animals generous size. During the fall hunting season, the oldest, biggest bulls will be the first to move out of their summer ranges and into the higher elevations. In 2019 the moose population in Colorado was estimated at 2,910 animals. I know that Maine offers tags. While many hunters blame wolves, Wyoming Wildlife Federation quotes research that suggests that the reason for low twinning rate in Shiras moose is poor nutrition. This is also a excellent moose area located on the banks of Long Harbour River. Alaska is by far the best state for moose hunting. However, if you are unfortunate enough to kill a moose in a vehicle collision, you may obtain a permit to keep the carcass. You do not want an expensive trip to be made even more costly by fines, and you do not want to have your kill confiscated or yourself arrested because the hunt was illegal. Shiras Moose are the smallest of the 3 classifications, and also the most difficult to be drawn for in the lower 48 states. These bowhunts are very expensive but often times produce exceptional trophies. Ticks and wolves cant. Humans can say OK, were killing too many, lets stop. We have hunting rights in a part of Alberta that contains some of the best Moose habitat in the country. They prefer the vegetation in the more open patches of forest that have been cleared by logging or burning, which makes the animals easier to spot. After success in license drawing, you may not apply for another moose license for 7 years. there are numerous outfitters Copyright 2016 by Hunting in the USA. A stable permanent population also exists in Massachusetts, that could number up to 1,000 animals. According to a 2018 census, the state had 5,169 moose. While Alaska-Yukon moose cows give birth to two calves in about 70% of cases, the twinning rate for Shiras moose is no higher than 15%. Not so much because its usually a quicker and less painful death, but mostly because human harvest is controllable! They do not do well in areas where there is no stable snow cover in winter. The chance of drawing a tag ranges from about 10% up to nearly 100% depending on the unit. No hunting season opened now, after a sharp drop in populations ten years ago; however, Native Americans living in the states utilize their treaty rights to hunt moose. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the moose population in the state is doing better than in other states of the Lower 48. Maine is of course is the big boy on the block in terms of lower 48 moose hunting. Hunting land in Idaho may be publicly or privately held. You must also take care to be aware of state boundaries and not unintentionally stray into Idaho. The high success rates are explained by the fact that a moose tag in Idaho is not only a once-in-a-lifetime proposition, but is also not cheap, at $2,150 for non-residents. Overall, 6,213 moose were harvested by legal hunters south of the Canadian border in the 2000-2001 hunting season. Thread Status: Not open for further replies. At higher elevations the ground will be more rugged, while the river valleys are more accessible and easier to navigate. There are an estimated 2,200 moose in Vermont, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife. The number of the animals in Washington seems to be increasing at an impressive pace, making it a viable choice now and into the future. Before the moose population in the state can grow again, the numbers of the animals must be kept down, so that the foraging resources may recover. Since moose can be found throughout Alaska, the terrain that you will be navigating during your hunt can vary, but it will almost always be rough. Theres also bald eagles, falcons, owls, grouse, not to mention a plethora of cutthroat trout. Tags are available to residents only. So, there is such a thing as an OTC moose tag in the Lower 48! Wyoming allows up to 20% of tags to be drawn by non-residents, but with the low number of tags this doesnt help much. And if you decide to have a go at moose hunting, your chances are well above zero. The best places to hunt moose are, beyond a shadow of doubt, Alaska and Yukon, where you find the biggest subspecies of all, Alaska-Yukon Moose, or the Kamchatka and North-East of Siberia, where the giant Kamchatka Moose reach the same impressive size. Moose Hunting in the Lower 48: Problems and Opportunities The best places to hunt moose are, beyond a shadow of doubt, Alaska and Yukon , where you find the biggest subspecies of all, Alaska-Yukon Moose , or the Kamchatka and North-East of Siberia, where the giant Kamchatka Moose reach the same impressive size. A stable population of about 40 moose exists in Wisconsin, and in Minnesota average population estimates are at about 3,150. Three of the four subspecies of moose recognized in North America are found in the Lower 48. The second choice are other Canadian provinces, which may not offer trophies quite as monstrous, but make up for that in easier logistics and normally more affordable prices. Moose hunting is one of the most exciting big game hunting experiences out there and the United States is loaded with hunting opportunities for this magnificent game animal. Also, weve left Alaska off of consideration because while there may be more game to hunt here in the lower 48, Alaskas openness and public lands give it quite a hunting advantage. Northern Maine is the best choice for hunters who find that either the cost or the distance of a trip to Alaska puts that option out of reach. Some of the most famous Roosevelt Elk hunting in North America is on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Alaska is, without a doubt, the most appealing choice for the hunter looking for that once-in-a-lifetime trophy moose. Moose can be found throughout the state, but the area closest to the Canadian border has the greatest density. In 2020, there were 1578 non-resident applications and only 7 non-resident tags (success rate a meagre 0.5% or 1 in 225), and 9724 resident applications for 64 tags (0.7% or 1 in 152). 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