Newfoundland Moose "Adventure"?

[MuddyWaters]

All-

I'm very interested in booking a moose hunt in the coming years and am looking particularly close at Newfoundland, largely because of the bang for your buck that it offers. I'd say my priorities in a potential trip are twofold, with adventure being #1 and opportunity a close second. I'd be focusing on a fly in arrangement in order to better my chances at both of those priorities.

That said, I know Newfoundland offers plenty of opportunity of harvesting a moose. However, for those that have done it, do you feel that the hunt offered the sense of adventure that you may have been looking for? Or am I better off saving more money for BC or otherwise?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ATC]

There's plenty of adventure in a Newfoundland moose hunt. Do your research on the outfitters, I suggest one that has fly in camps. Take a few days if you can to sight see. The people are wonderful. Two years ago I hunted with Moose Valley Outfitters and am headed back again this year. Good luck in your search.

 

[Jim1187]

Define adventure as you see it on your moose hunt.
Newfoundland certainly has ruggedly beautiful terrain and offers its share of challenges and excitement. Will it match floating down an Alaskan river or a horseback hunt in Alberta, BC, Yukon or Northwest Territories maybe not. The will be no Grizzly bears to dodge, no wolves howling at night and odds are the greatest hardships aside from weather will be putting up with Newfie hospitality and trying not to eat too much.
Yes you can find a float plane in and sleep in a tent option if you do your homework, if this will be your only moose hunt and truly massive rack is important then save up and go where that is more likely. If you will be happy with a smaller rack but great memories of a fun hunt Newfoundland is certainly a great choice in my opinion.

 

[keller]

i was/am in the same boat as you.i couldnt find a hunting partner to commit to a diy alaska hunt.and guided is out of price range.i was looking for adventure foremost not driving around in a pickup or argo.alot of moose hunts alaska/canada are main camp based from what i have found. antler size is secondary .i just got the mindset of what a trophy is for the area and just want a mature representation of the species.so i began looking for a fly in outfit without vehicle use and all hunting packing done on foot.talked to references and the owners of outfits and believe i found a fit and was able to book a spot for 2020 season.in newfoundland.hopefully covid 19 will allow travel. have been close to moose hunting before but never hunted them and i am excited for the adventure to say the least. and looking forward to some great meat.
good luck the research is half the fun john

 

[keller]

another aspect i didnt mention was travelling and seeing different area and cultures. ive heard newfies are very pleasant and hospitable folks and will enjoy the drive and ferry experience as well.a couple years ago i did a sheep hunt in ak and drove up early camped, hiked and fished.wonderful experience that i think about every day will be hard to top. i also intend on going to africa at some point.dont really have a strong desire to hunt the animals their but to experience the culture and sights and sounds with my wife. everyone has different expectations of what they want in an experience.ty to fulfill yours as best as possible.figure out what you want and try to match an outfitter to it as best you can.

 

[MuddyWaters]

Thanks guys.

Keller, you and I seem to share the same thoughts. I tend to look for adventure in hunting trips and like to experience new places. As for Newfoundland, I too want to avoid pickups and Argos, and would want to pack the meat by foot. Call me crazy, but I find the butchering and packing very enjoyable and rewarding. Glad to hear you've found something that should fit your desires, I'd like to hear about it afterward.

 

[Oklahomadave]

There's plenty of adventure in a Newfoundland moose hunt. Do your research on the outfitters, I suggest one that has fly in camps. Take a few days if you can to sight see. The people are wonderful. Two years ago I hunted with Moose Valley Outfitters and am headed back again this year. Good luck in your search.

What week are you going to MVO? I will be there the first week of October. Was there in 2018 as well?

 

[adamkolesar]

Thanks guys.

Keller, you and I seem to share the same thoughts. I tend to look for adventure in hunting trips and like to experience new places. As for Newfoundland, I too want to avoid pickups and Argos, and would want to pack the meat by foot. Call me crazy, but I find the butchering and packing very enjoyable and rewarding. Glad to hear you've found something that should fit your desires, I'd like to hear about it afterward.

As to packing. A possible play is you and the guide will quarter and debone at the kill site. Each quarter gets it's own bag and tag. The deboned meat will await p/u when you're extracted from camp. (This is assuming you're on a fly in camp adventure). I know there was no way my guide was going to assist me in packing meat 2 miles across the bogs and river crossings back to camp. I was flown into camp by helicopter and the pilot picked me and my meat up for return to the helo pad. I was lucky the temps were reasonably cool for the two days I awaited extraction. The other guy in my cabin wasn't so lucky. Your experience may differ. I had no idea what the plan was going in, if you're not certain, you have ample time to confirm your outfit's protocol for meat care.

 

[JGRaider]

I think an Alaska/Yukon moose hunt would be an adventure that would be hard to top, but I'm not about to spend $15-20k to do it. I've heard for years how much fun the NF moose hunts can be, so I booked a hunt this Fall with Mountain Top Outfitters, a fly in hunt. I've heard this is the only way to go like you guys have. I'm wanting an adventurous hunt, comraderie, see new scenery, and the option to bring some of that great meat home with me on the plane which is what you can get on a NF moose hunt, or so I'm told. My hunt is mid September, opening week, so I just hope we are able to travel by then. Good luck with your hunts guys.

 

[Team4LongGun]

Taggin in

 

[Wallace]

It can be an adventure, but it depends on what you deem an adventure, and it can vary in different aspects.

I did a fly in hunt 3 or 4 years ago. I flew commercial to NF, was picked up by guide service, flew into camp, hunted (saw one cow and calf first day, nothing after, hunted very hard), flew home. It was disappointing hunting wise, but still fun. It was an experience, I wouldn't call it an adventure.

This past October I decided I wanted to go after moose again. I told the outfitter I was willing to walk all day and hunt as hard as needed to kill a good representation of a NF bull moose. I worked my ass off for the bull I ended up shooting, hardest stalk of my life. Too make the trip more fun/memorable, I decided to drive instead of fly. I took the trip from western North Carolina all the way to NF in my Land Cruiser by myself. I don't mind driving, I do it a lot already for hunting, I saw a ton of new areas I'd never seen before. I had never been too (except for flight layovers) Maine, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or taken a ferry before. I got to do all of that along with seeing places I hadn't been to in a few years.

It's what you make of it.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Be sure you research the task of retrieving your meat, antlers and robe back to the states.

 

[Sawdust145]

I did a fly in hunt with Moose Valley Outfitters back in 2010. It was a awesome adventure. I would love to do it again. Hunted the Bear Pond camp which was a 2 hunter camp. We had a blast.