| Nothing quite rivals the site of a moose in the wild, | | | | How To Find a Moose |
| huge and gangly, head often raised over its forage, | | | | Moose are found throughout Alaska, except on the |
| strings of vegetation hanging from massive antlers. | | | | Aleutian Islands. They prefer forested or shrubby |
| The moose is the most sought after big game animal | | | | habitats and generally avoid the openness of the |
| in Alaska. Over 7,000 are taken each year from a | | | | tundra. They are most commonly found in |
| population of approximately 175,000. | | | | southeastern or interior Alaska and their density can |
| Licenses | | | | range from 1 moose per 30 square miles to 5 or |
| Licenses, big game tags, duck stamps and hunting | | | | more moose per square mile. |
| permits are available from the Alaska Department of | | | | Their favorite habitats by season are: |
| Fish and Game, Wildlife Conservation and are | | | | Summer - commonly seen in open meadows and |
| obtainable online. Purchase ahead of time and bring | | | | around water eating aquatic plants and drinking large |
| them with you. Licenses are good from the date of | | | | amounts of water. |
| purchase through December 31 of the license year. | | | | Fall - Diets change late august to early September to |
| Big game tags are necessary for nonresidents if you | | | | include woody browse of willow, aspen, poplar and |
| plan to hunt brown/grizzly bear, black bear, bison, | | | | birch. Migratory moose move to fall ranges for the |
| caribou, deer, elk, goat, moose, bull musk ox, sheep, | | | | rut. |
| wolf or wolverine. | | | | Winter - remain in rut areas and feed on low shrubs |
| Seasons | | | | early winter. Late winter, mountain moose move to |
| Alaska is divided up into 26 Game Management Units | | | | valley bottoms and lowland burns where they forage |
| (GMUs). Each unit has separate regulations and sets | | | | on willows along rivers and creeks. |
| its own hunting seasons. A map of these units and | | | | Spring - Diet shifts back to herbaceous plants and |
| the regulations pertaining to them can be found on | | | | leaves. Migratory moose move to calving areas and |
| the web at Click on the GMU of interest and a | | | | summer ranges. |
| document defining the seasons will open. A complete | | | | How To Scout for Moose |
| copy of the Alaska Hunting Regulations can also be | | | | Scout in summer and hunt legal bulls on the opening |
| downloaded at the ADF&G site. | | | | day of the season. |
| Alaska moose season generally runs from as early as | | | | Scout after the end of the fall season. Bull moose |
| the 1st of September until as late as the 20th of | | | | tend to stay near rutting areas for a month or two |
| September, depending on the hunting unit. Legal horn | | | | following the rut. Once you locate a fall concentration |
| size varies between units, but has been for the most | | | | area, hunt there the next year as late in the legal |
| part a 50 inch spread or 4 brow tines. Check the | | | | season as possible. |
| regulations of the unit you are interested in hunting | | | | Find and utilize fall migration routes. Rivers, creeks |
| for more information. | | | | and low mountain passes are preferred routes. |
| Important Points | | | | Keep alert for rubbed trees. Early in September, Bull |
| Mature bulls can weight over 1500 lbs. A kill can | | | | moose begin rubbing the velvet from their antlers. |
| yield 400 to 700 pounds of meat and 65 pounds of | | | | They continue to thrash trees in late September as a |
| antlers to transport from the kill-site. Seasoned | | | | sign of dominance. |
| hunters recommend never taking a moose more than | | | | Watch for droppings. Summer droppings resemble |
| a mile from your vehicle. | | | | cow patties; winter droppings are pelletized. Fall |
| A properly sighted rifle of adequate caliber and a | | | | droppings are a combination of the two. |
| well-placed first shot from a good rest is the best | | | | Hunting Techniques |
| way to avoid having to trail a wounded moose. A | | | | Stand Hunting and Glassing - Select a panoramic view |
| rifle capable of shooting a bullet of 150 grains or | | | | of a hillside. Don't scan with binoculars. Pick a spot, |
| greater at 2500 fps or more is adequate for moose. | | | | search it carefully, then move to a new area. Listen |
| A lung shot is the best shot for dropped a moose | | | | early and late for antler clashes, mating grunts or |
| quickly. | | | | breaking branches. |
| Some moose are migratory; some are | | | | Floating - Floating down rivers and creek in a canoe is |
| permanent residents of an area. Any one area may | | | | the most pleasant way to hunt for moose. Plus, you |
| have several sub-populations with varying migratory | | | | have a method of getting the meat back without |
| habits. | | | | carrying it on your back. |
| Hunt very early or very late in the day. | | | | Road and Trail Hunting - Cruising the highways with |
| Moose have excellent sight and smell. Avoid | | | | trucks or four wheelers. Mostly, an unsuccessful and |
| being visible in silhouette, such as on a ridge. Avoid | | | | expensive method. Park vehicles and hike in. |
| noisy clothing, such as jeans. Fleece clothing is quieter. | | | | Calling Moose - The four basic sounds made with |
| Stay downwind. | | | | megaphones made from birch bark, cardboard or a |
| Successful hunting is knowing where bull moose | | | | milk jug. |
| will be in the fall season. | | | | |