BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[dgrant]

The birch bark call does help a little with the resonance a but it's main funtion is more for volume and direction. I usually just use my hands that way it lessens the gear you have to carry. Like I said before, when you first start to call don't go too loud. A couple of soft moans is about all you want for the first 10 to 15 minutes to see if there is anything close. After that increase your volume and mix up the candence and type of calls ie.. soft moans and long calls at different intervals and volume with about 15 minutes between each sequence. Don't be afraid to break a few sticks and russel a little brush while you are waiting. Moose are big animals and make a fair amount of noise while feeding and moving. You want to give the impression that you are a love starved cow thats ready to mate and is just kind of feeding along as she is waiting for Mr. Right. Calling a moose is an art form and "playing" with them is the ultimate in skill and fun. Sometimes they can be really hard to attract and other times so much as a fart will get they're attention. Once while bow hunting I called in 4 bulls at the same time but by the time they got close enough it was to dark to see 10 feet let alone 10 yards. It can be a very nerve racking experience and really makes a guy think twice about poking something that big with a sharp stick when it's all fired up.:grin: You could also check the sporting good stores for audio tapes on how to call. As for your question about hunting calves, it's pretty much hit and miss. The cows are usually pretty antsy when they have calves with them and don't often stick around when something is a little out of the ordinary. Again your best bet is hunt by the water. The moose have been by the waters edge pretty much all summer. They feed there and stay cool and free of flys. The cows with calves especially associate the water with safety. Any predators come around they just swim away. Check around the waters edge for trials that the moose use. When you see a set of calf tracks mixed in, set up just off the trail and wait. That's about all you can do. Eventually they should come by again but it could be at night and you might not get the chance but that's hunting.

[jenystr]

I posted several messages on this Ontario moose hunting thread. I appreciate all the help everyone gave to me. Here is the link to the story of my successful moose hunt in Ontario. It was a fantastic but short trip.

Take a look!

http://www.strictlybowhunting......unt_JN.htm

[joel@whitemoose.ca]

What do you guys think of setting something up like they do in Michigan for bear hunting where you're guaranteed a tag every certain number of years. Say 1 adult tag per hunter guaranteed every 8 years. I know that those odds still sound shitty, but lets face it, the MNR has done a crappy management job for moose over the last 40 years. At this point, even that may be too often. Is anyone else a little pissed that there is more food in the bush now, due to the forestry activities, than 50 years ago, and yet the moose population has plummetted? Maybe the government should rethink the ban on the spring bear hunt, given that the scientists indicate that 70% of the calves go down in the first month due to bears... If the baits on in the bush, the boars aren't roaming for calves.

My grandfather used to check the herds in the winter when they were herded up on the hills, and would report after every flight. His group reported every year that the population was crashing, yet the government did nothing because they were too money hungry....

I've been debating a system with some biology guys which would basically set up a slot size, like walleye in the N.E. region before this year, for bulls. So basically under 4 points would be legit, and then over 8 on one side would be legit. Most hunters would likely let the small ones go, in hopes of bagging the big one. This would up the numbers of the herd. What do you guys think?

As far as operators and moose tags, the systems set up to bring in out of province hunters and was never intended for resident hunters. In the past, guys from the states were comming up north, bringing all their own supplies including gas and food, camping in the bush, shooting up the moose population and then leaving. The government made it mandatory that these guys go through an outfitter to hunt to make them contribute to the economy. Get rid of the 'pork and beaners' they said... So the tags given to the outfitters are set up to bring in out of province revenue and create employment. While they do take a small percentage of the available tags, by a long shot, resident hunters get more tags than outfitters...

Joel

[atomikall]

I totally agree ontarios guns stuff has gotten way outta hand they need to fix it and fix stuff but nothing is perfect and they are trying hopefully all the government beurocrats get thier thumbs outta thier a%&es and figure out something that works for ontario

[Truenorth]

Get my tag every second year, but then my partner and I travel 18 hours to those WMU's that still have decent draw numbers. In this case these areas are north of the Trans Canada Pipeline. Long gone are the days when I could drive 3 miles from my doorstep and take a poke at a critter. I would love to see expanded Black Powder areas opened for moose........oh yea that would make me smile...... :P
BTW, just another newbie on the site, from Northen Ontario...hello all

[atomikall]

im gettin into black power hunting i love those old side arms..

[Remington270]

I dont know why Nothing is done about the Poaching here, But Myself I have seen lots of Enforcement in the bush here. and there is a hotline now, that helps, eliminate poaching. I dont think that it will ever stop, Even if they changed the draw. All they can do is come up with more different laws, Or change to a system in which it wouldn't take as many laws to manage the Moose and hunters.

[Remington270]

I hear you guys about all the Outfitters getting tags BUt also whatabout all the guys whose wives Draw and kids and grandfathers, They dont even Hunt and those tags somtimes never even get a chance to be filled. I know of a Family in my town that all apply seperate and Low and behold draw two adult tags a year, from a family of 5 including a grandparent. Only 2 people in this family even hunt, Our draw system isn't perfect.

My only hope is maybe A Surplus Tag here and there since i haven't drawn a tag in 3years this one included.