Moose Hunting Dates

[Richard]

Hey everyone, I have a moose hunt booked in northern British Columbia for 2027. The available dates are:

• September 5–15
• September 15–25
• October 5–14

I’m leaning toward either the later part of September or October. I apologize if this has been covered before, but this is likely a once in a lifetime hunt for me, so I want to gather as much insight as possible.


I’m mostly focused on having a great overall experience and I won't be passing good bulls for a giant.

 

[Smokinyotes]

If it was me paying I would want the last 5 days of September first 5 of October

 

[glock233]

If it was me paying I would want the last 5 days of September first 5 of October

Exactly this. The prime dates are missing on your options.

Last year, the rut across the PNW was apparently very slow. They weren’t answering until around OCT 4 in some areas. I heard about strikeouts and hunts where zero moose were seen.

If this were me, I’d do the later dates you listed. That was you know you’ll have some days in the rut.

 

[Richard]

Sounds good. THanks for the responses.

 

[medvedyt]

it is depending on few things like moon phase, weather of course. i got moose in the opening on the 1st of august to the end of october. what thing i noticed too is that is not because moose are not answering or coming to a call that this is not rut activity.
on another note: northern columbia and if you are hunting high in elevation you might got some cold nights.

i will avoid the a full moon phase period if i can as most of the time they will travel around that time unless a lot of clouds: if planned i avoid if im going hunting i will go but that is just my 2 cents.

 

[Smokinyotes]

2024 I shot my 20th Alberta bull moose. Of those 20 moose 7 were shot on Oct. 4

 

[Sitkaspruce]

When I was guiding moose hunters, we had one hunt end on the 25th and the next start on the 26th. We killed just as many in that Sept15-25 hunt as we did in the later hunts. Buy Oct 8-10, the bulls are still looking for love but seem to be less responsive to calls and are starting to stay in the thicker stuff, putting on the feed bag.

Bull moose will start to get active mid Sept and will respond to elk bugles, yes elk bugles (but not all the time), and moose grunts around that time. They are sorting out the pecking order and will be actively moving around. By the 20th, they are starting to get interested in cow calls and bull grunts (elk bugles seems to have stop irritating them) and by the 25th, it full blown game on!!

This was in Northern BC

I would pick the Sept 15-25, if you cannot get the 25-Oct 5.

Good luck

Cheers

SS

 

[CHL]

We’re there September 18th - 27th later this year. Hoping last 10 days of the month are prime.

 

[Adamsfj]

In 2024 I shot my Northern BC moose September 16th. Like you this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The rut activity really started to pick around the 12th. There are lots of variables as described above but for the dates you selected I would be leaning towards the Sept 15-25. Good Luck it was an amazing experience for me.

 

[Richard]

When I was guiding moose hunters, we had one hunt end on the 25th and the next start on the 26th. We killed just as many in that Sept15-25 hunt as we did in the later hunts. Buy Oct 8-10, the bulls are still looking for love but seem to be less responsive to calls and are starting to stay in the thicker stuff, putting on the feed bag.

Bull moose will start to get active mid Sept and will respond to elk bugles, yes elk bugles (but not all the time), and moose grunts around that time. They are sorting out the pecking order and will be actively moving around. By the 20th, they are starting to get interested in cow calls and bull grunts (elk bugles seems to have stop irritating them) and by the 25th, it full blown game on!!

This was in Northern BC

I would pick the Sept 15-25, if you cannot get the 25-Oct 5.

Good luck

Cheers

SS

Thanks, doesn't look like I'll be able to get the 25-Oct 5 so im going to take your advice here.

 

[Richard]

We’re there September 18th - 27th later this year. Hoping last 10 days of the month are prime.

Thats awesome. Would love to hear about your hunt after its over.