Newfoundland, better early or late?

[GeorgeShaw]

Is there really a better time, really bird gets the worm, or wait for the rut later on? Going up in 2025. Thanks for any advice.

 

[duckcarver]

No personal experience, but I read a lot of reports when planning a hunt for this fall. Seemed to me that the most recommended time was the peak of the rut in the end of September/beginning of October.

 

[GeorgeShaw]

No personal experience, but I read a lot of reports when planning a hunt for this fall. Seemed to me that the most recommended time was the peak of the rut in the end of September/beginning of October.

My thoughts are that there can only be so many nice bulls, or bulls at all in a region. The saying, The early bird gets the worm comes to mind. I'm thinking the first week after archery myself.

 

[pacoalcracker]

In the case for Newfie moose, the early bird does not work. They move very little until the rut comes into play...then they are on the move big time. Before the rut...you are going to put on a lot of miles in very thick brush trying to find one and success will be very low. Calling won't work at that time either. End of September is usually still too early. Late into the first week of October and the second week of October are very good. I speak from experience.

 

[Novahunter]

I went the 2nd week of October in 2017, and the first week of October in 2022.

Two totally different hunts. Got a 4pt in 2017, and a 17 point (my profile pic) in 2022.

In 2017, we never heard a bull respond to the calls. We would just see them wandering around.

In 2022, we heard bulls calling every day. We called mine in for over 2 hours. It was thrilling.

Both experiences were fun, but the hunt during the rut was special.

I'd try to target the last week of September to first week of October if possible.

 

[Boston1]

I've been as early as September 15 to the northwest peninsula. Bulls were responding to calls all week at that time.

 

[GeorgeShaw]

I've been as early as September 15 to the northwest peninsula. Bulls were responding to calls all week at that time.

I guess I'll live with my choice at this point. I can't move my vacation, and I'm booked for Sept 18th-25th.

 

[Boston1]

I guess I'll live with my choice at this point. I can't move my vacation, and I'm booked for Sept 18th-25th.

We had a change in plans this year and are going the first week - September 13 opener. Last year, the guides said pre-rut bulls will still respond to raking/ rattling just to check out the new bulls on the block. So, I'm curious to see if there's any difference.

 

[GeorgeShaw]

We had a change in plans this year and are going the first week - September 13 opener. Last year, the guides said pre-rut bulls will still respond to raking/ rattling just to check out the new bulls on the block. So, I'm curious to see if there's any difference.

My outfitter does Thursday to Thursday hunts. I'll be getting off the boat Monday morning the 15th, and site seeing for a couple days. Good luck to us both. This is my one and only shot at this.

 

[Quandary]

I have gone the last week in September twice. Killed nice bulls both times. The meat is also much better pre-rut if that matters to you.

 

[GeorgeShaw]

Meat quality is nice for sure, and I'm really hoping for a nice bull for sure. Everyone wants a big one, right? My thought was the later the hunt, the less nice ones are left. I'm looking forward to a good hunt.

 

[Laramie]

Weather plays a big role imo.

 

[GeorgeShaw]

Weather plays a big role imo.

In what way? What's good moose weather, and what's bad moose weather?

 

[Boston1]

My first trip up (2023) we had a hurricane/ tropical storm run up the west side of the island. Heavy rain, high winds, thick fog, visibility 100 yards -- it sucked. High winds will cause most critters to lay down awhile. We still managed to hunt every day and saw moose every day. The biggest challenge with the weather isn't the hunting but disrupting your travel. The ferry can be delayed and if it's a "fly-in" hunt so can your inbound flight to camp. For those reasons I add a couple extra days to the inbound trip.

 

[GeorgeShaw]

My first trip up (2023) we had a hurricane/ tropical storm run up the west side of the island. Heavy rain, high winds, thick fog, visibility 100 yards -- it sucked. High winds will cause most critters to lay down awhile. We still managed to hunt every day and saw moose every day. The biggest challenge with the weather isn't the hunting but disrupting your travel. The ferry can be delayed and if it's a "fly-in" hunt so can your inbound flight to camp. For those reasons I add a couple extra days to the inbound trip.

I'm scheduled to get off the boat Monday morning, wife flies out of Deer Lake Wednesday 1pm, hunt starts Thursday, but hopefully no delays flying into or out of camp. Thank you

 

[Laramie]

In what way? What's good moose weather, and what's bad moose weather?

If you were forced to wear a heavy and dark winter coat, when do you think you would be active. Cool, to cold and wet is best for moose hunting. Warm and dry really limits moose activity, even during the rut.

 

[Berksbowman]

I’ve been to Newfoundland 4 times. There is no doubt that the early hunts shoot the bigger bulls. I was just there this year. I was talked into the last week hunt which was Oct 6 to the 12th. We averaged 10-12 miles a day hunting to see a decent bull. I asked the guide about the previous weeks. The first week hunters shot 2 50” bulls in site of camp. Each week got progressively farther. The early bird definitely gets the fatter worm!

 

[OftenOutdoors]

I’ve been to Newfoundland 4 times. There is no doubt that the early hunts shoot the bigger bulls. I was just there this year. I was talked into the last week hunt which was Oct 6 to the 12th. We averaged 10-12 miles a day hunting to see a decent bull. I asked the guide about the previous weeks. The first week hunters shot 2 50” bulls in site of camp. Each week got progressively farther. The early bird definitely gets the fatter worm!

I was under the impression that the last week of September and first week of October were the best weeks to hunt in terms of the rut. I have not hunted Newfoundland yet but will be in a couple of years.

Was the rut over by the time you got out there?

 

[Berksbowman]

We saw zero rut activity. We called with zero responses.

 

[OftenOutdoors]

We saw zero rut activity. We called with zero responses.

That’s frustrating. I’m going the first week of October. I hope I have better luck.