DIY Alaska moose hunting strategy

[Neubauer]

Myself and a buddy are headed to Alaska next September on a drop moose hunt. We will be somewhere near Iliamna hunting either a lake or ridge (not sure yet). My question for those that have done this hunt before- what is your daily strategy/routine? I’m assuming we would wake up stupid early and call from camp and then head to a higher vantage point to glass if possible. Does glassing all day make sense or should we relax back at camp until afternoon? Should we be hiking around and glassing? Call all day or just mornings and evenings? I’d love to hear what others have done.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

I've never been Moose hunting. But I do know that relaxing at camp rarely results in animals being killed.

 

[johnnycake]

Get really, really, really comfortable with accurately identifying a legal bull.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

One thing I learned, be prepared for 10+ pack trips to wherever you’re getting “picked up”. @AKDoc s recent post showing their sled they bring is an excellent idea.

Glass all day. Until your eyes bleed. That’s the only reason I killed one this year.

 

[Snowwolfe]

In all my moose hunting trips I can only recall killing one bull before 11 am.
I’m sure it happens but pretty much everyone I hunted moose with concentrates on hunting mid afternoon and later.
That being said, I would not waste the morning hours if I spent a bundle on the hunt. Moose can be cagey but generally they are as dumb as a rock.

 

[johnnycake]

Moose can be cagey but generally they are as dumb as a rock.

This x 1000.

Hands down the dumbest big game animal I've hunted.

 

[akcabin]

Wow certainly not the dumbest animal I've ever hunted. Been hunting them for over 40 years and still challenged.
Lots of moose harvested in the morning hours. Just at sun up is a great time to be out.
Every hour you put into activity hunted helps success. Get up early n glass. As time passes, still hunt your way around to another glassing area. Our if in the bush, still hunt. Continue to search for signs. Chewed on brush n such.
Strategy, generally putting the time in is proportionate to success. Even if you're sitting near camp your always looking around

 

[Neubauer]

Is there an average width between palms as a reference? I read somewhere that it was near 28”. Does this seem accurate? Do you think camp fires at camp effect the moose from coming near? Was curious about having heat in our camp as well

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Is there an average width between palms as a reference? I read somewhere that it was near 28”. Does this seem accurate? Do you think camp fires at camp effect the moose from coming near? Was curious about having heat in our camp as well

I was told that the ears are the best measuring tool as they are almost always 20” on a mature bull. The bull I killed this year had one ear that was 10 1/2” long and another that was 11 1/8” long.

The best measuring tool for me was a spotting scope with a MIL reticle (Leupold).

I had fires every evening and music playing from a small Bluetooth speaker to deter bears. I ended up killing the bull on a peninsula jutting out into the river. As the crow flies he would have been just 300-400 yards from where I camped most nights.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I hunted near naknek ak , glass & glass & glass some more from a higher vantage point, watch near swampy or low ground , beaver bogs,
Kill as close to a lake or area the airplane can get in and out of
Hell hunt out of camp or close , it rained at some point every day!
So a tent or awning tarp is a good idea

 

[AKDoc]

Much to learn about moose behavior...been doing it for nearly forty years and I'm still learning.

• Rut is a progression...learn about the different moose behaviors in the progression.
• Learn how to call bulls...which calls to use and how to use during different parts of the rut progression...and learn the typical approach behavior of bulls.
• In an antler restricted GMU get really really good at estimating width...even counting brow tines can be challenging.
• Sooooooo much more.

Alaska is huge and there are numerous types of landscape challenges in different moose hunting areas.

• Shoot one standing on dry ground.
• Don't shoot one standing in the water.
• On a drop DYI hunt in an area with high moose densities, hunt (call) from camp or very very very near camp.
• If it is critical to glass from a higher point, stay close to camp. Don't just hike all over the place and stink up the area.
• Soooooo much more.

Moose meat is absolutely outstanding to eat...take good care of it. I've passed on many huge bulls because responsible meat retrieval was questionable in my mind given the particular location of the bull.

• Don't shoot one standing in water (repeated intentionally).
• Moose is an ungulate that does not secrete rutting hormones into the muscle tissue...it's in the hide. Have two pairs of gloves...one for the meat and one for the hide...and never the two shall meet.
• Humping moose loads to your pick-up location on a drop hunt (or to the lake on a lake drop) will be remembered for the rest of your life...it is numerous heavy loads over typically challenging terrain.
• Learn how to responsibly care for the meat back at camp until pick-up, which might be several days down the road.
• Soooooo much more.

I've had the good fortune to have taken many moose at various times throughout the day. Calling them from camp and getting them to come closer to me is my preference and it's a lot of fun doing it. I'm already looking forward to next year.

I did try to be brief but clearly failed !! The best to all 'sliders for your next hunting adventures.

 

[akcabin]

Great information doc ! Habitat is important. Moose generally do not eat alder. Birch, poplar, willow are preferred. Sedge in the more open terrain. Learn your plant life, habitat in your area.
I use 8" as a guide. Using the distance between their eyes as my 8" guage. Then go down each antler. And use 8" for between the antlers.
We had a bull fall into a river full of dead salmon. Most running water has salmon. The river water washing down between the bone n meat and any exposed meat was full of bacteria. Meat spoiled, literally turned green in 2 days. Lost it all, tough lesson. Stick a large black plastic bag or 2 somewhere. Rain coat, tarp, meat cover, keep meat clean flys off . All in one.
I found putting a cheap clevis on my backpack or pack frame. I can hook my rifle sling to the backpack strap n never have to adjust my rifle strap. Keeps my hands arms free.

Stay safe n have fun n never quit learning more