Moose hunting in the BWCA--tips, techniques, stories, advice?

[Jesse]

My party of four was drawn for a 2007 moose license in area 62 (accessible on Kawishiwi, Sawbill, Baker, Homer, Brule, and Ball Club Lakes.)  None of us were really expecting to be drawn, but we're really looking forward to it and we're starting to make plans for a successful hunt. 

With that in mind, I wanted to ask if anyone here has any moose hunting tips, techniques, advice, or stories to share.  Direct information about the area we'll be hunting would be nice, but not necessary.

The other guys in my party and I are all veterans of many BWCA trips, so we're well prepared with gear, maps, & BWCA camping knowledge.

How do I go about finding a bull moose?

[BearGuide]

How did you already find out?  I applied for zone 26.

Moose Lottery:
Applications available late March.
Deadline first Friday in May.
Lottery results available mid-June.

Good luck - I have been looking forward to this for years!

[Jesse]

DNR sent the notice in the mail--I got it on Saturday (May 12.)  I was surprised to find out so quickly, but that's okay--it gives us more time to prepare!

[BearGuide]

That is fantastic! Let me know how you do and how you went about getting you bull.  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[schwinger]

I certainly don't advocate this method but it is the only experience with moose hunting that I have and it is second hand. My dad took a moose hunting/walleye trip to canada about a year ago. The way the lodge said to do it was drive around in a boat, or in your case canoe, until you see a moose in the water or on shore. Get to shore and shoot him.

My dad ended up sitting in a tree like we do deer hunting and never got a moose. He would not hunt that way.

I don't think I would enjoy moose stalking by boat but maybe that is the way it is done. I hope someone has a better method to provide.  I am sure this will be an outstanding trip and good luck. I hope to do a moose hunt someday.

[JackpineRob]

Hunting from a canoe is a great method of hunting moose, and is in no way lacking in the standard of "fair chase".  Especially in areas where your only reasonable method of covering territory is to use the water, it only makes sense.  I'm not advocating motoring up to a moose in the water and blasting him - but I am saying that "jump-shooting" in the canoe might be the best method of taking moose in the Boundary Waters.

That said, my moose was taken by calling, and it was definitely one of the most exciting calling sequences I have done.  It wasn't easy - and it wasn't automatic.  In fact, I hunted for 8 straight days before finally calling in a bull. 

The Primos Moose Call and instructional CD is a good place to start for calling.  The noises on the CD are a bit on the high side (tone wise), and it wouldn't hurt to listen to some actual moose calls in the woods up north so you can adjust your tone.

[Jesse]

Thanks for the replies.  I think that in the BWCA, we probably will be pretty much restricted to hunting from the canoes--there just aren't any open fields or open forests up there.  I think we'll try to plan our routes so that we're passing through a lot of low-lying timber swamps, and we'll probably try to camp near these areas as well, so that we can try calling in the early mornings and late evenings.

Jackpine Rob, did you try any of the "coffee can" type of calls, or a cone call, or did you just use your voice?

[JackpineRob]

My uncle brought a "bucket" call with the rope along, and I tried it a bit but didn't care for it.

Most of my calling was done with the Primos Moose Horn, which is an open reed call with a plastic bell on it.  It is VERY similar to a coyote howler.  Spent a bit of time playing around, and was able to make a fair imitation of a love-sick cow with it.  When the bull was coming in I mixed in some grunts (voice) to get him fired up.

We paddled between areas that I knew had sufficient openings (beaver ponds, creeks, etc.) and would find a spot, call for a while, and then move if nothing happened.  We had beastly hot weather for the first several days of that hunt - and the moose were simply not moving or responding.  After a storm came through and things cooled down, we had a blast.