Author Topic: self guided moose hunt? (Read 2422 times)

lucky guy · « **on:** December 02, 2009, 10:01:48 AM »

If you were going to try a self-guided moose hunt in the western US next year where would you go? Experienced, ok in most any outdoor situation, just looking for a combination of decent numbers of animals, no guide required, either across the counter tag or good draw prospects if a lottery.

Thanks.

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2009, 11:02:38 AM »

Sorry but you are kidding yourself. You need to do some serious research.

There is no such thing as over the counter moose tags anywhere unless it's in Canada or maybe Alaska. When you say out west I assume you mean in the lower 48 out west. If so there are only two or three states that even issue tags for them and for the most part they are a once in a life time proposition and it might take you a life time to build enough preference points to draw a tag.

So bottom line is you are NOT gonna legally hunt them anywhere out west next year or in the next ten years for that matter. Should you ever get such a rare tag it would be foolish to wasted it on a self guided hunt unless you live near the area to be hunted so you can spend many days per year for many years scouting and preparing for that hunt.

lucky guy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2009, 11:19:42 AM »

All due respect GB, I don't think it's that grim. What do you base that on? And I am starting to do some research, that's what my post is for. Let's see what turns up.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2009, 11:46:12 AM »

Okie Dokie you let me know when you find that over the counter tag or a tag in any western US state that can be had in less than ten years of drawing for one. I base it on the regs of the various states that have moose hunts these days. If I recall correctly that is WY, MT and ID only. Shiras moose are in short supply and getting a tag is not an easy task.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2009, 12:10:54 PM »

From what I have read on Alaska, to hunt moose or bear requires a guide for out of state hunters. You can hunt caribou, sheep, or deer there without a guide. Reason is the bears are dangerous of course, but moose are generally found where the bears roam.

I know some people here who have hunted elk in Colorado, because out of state hunters can get tags easier than in state hunters. Reason is they spend money on travel expenses while there. Guides also get first dibs on tags in a lot of these states. The person I know paid a guide the first year. He arranged to rent horses to hunt with. He went with his friend the next year and went to the same horse rental place and hunted the US forest land without a guide. Obtained their permits and tags via mail to the Colorado game and fish department. Don't know about moose there though.

Canada might allow you to hunt in certain places without guides, but you have to get your ducks in a row with guns and ammo. Guides help with this.

I also know of people who have hunted pronghorn in Wyoming without a guide on US Forest land. They had to obtain USGS maps of the land, and plan on camping. It can be done

theoldarcher · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2009, 03:24:25 AM »

OTC elk and antelope tags are like comparing apples to grapefruit when it comes to obtaining a tag for Shiras moose in the three states GB mentioned. Please do yourself a favor and contact the three state departments of wildlife for information on how to apply for a Shiras moose tag; draw percentages for each state (no tags in CO); and the average length of time to draw a tag. You may just want to consider moose somewhere in Canada with an outfitter, or Alaska.

Best of uck, Arch

dukkillr · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2009, 06:15:06 AM »

Quote from: Dixie Dude on December 02, 2009, 12:10:54 PM

From what I have read on Alaska, to hunt moose or bear requires a guide for out of state hunters. You can hunt caribou, sheep, or deer there without a guide. Reason is the bears are dangerous of course, but moose are generally found where the bears roam.

Moose, deer, black bear, and caribou without a guide.
Brown bear, sheep, goats with a guide.

lucky guy · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2009, 06:40:13 AM »

Well, so far here's what I'm seeing. Alaska, no brainer. Any amount of on the ground support you want from zero to fully guided, and not too expensive. From here it's as cheap and easy to fly to alaska as drive to Wyoming or Montana, but still a little more expensive to get around once you get there.

Wyoming (and the rest in the mainland) are lottery, but Montana had at least on unclaimed leftover tag this year. I'm guessing not the best area but I haven't gotten that far to get good info on the areas.

Looking at draw statistics in a couple of the states, there are a number of units with a 15 - 20% hunter success rate with draw statistics of better than 1 in 6 or 1 in 5 with no preference points. To me that's a pretty decent combination and not too different from odds I live with in elk draws, etc here in Oregon. Cow tags are easier and that's fine with me. I'm not looking for the trophy, looking for the hunt and the meat.

I'll keep posting what I'll find. Plenty of time to figure it out, I appreciate any help or comments (even ones telling me I'm dreaming!)

dukkillr · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2009, 06:57:55 AM »

Subscribe to Eastmans and Eastmans bowhunting today. If you've got the spare scratch you should join Huntin' Fool too.

There are very few hunts that go un-noticed anymore. If you find decent draw odds with decent success expect access to be a problem. Remember that in Wyoming you can't hunt National Forest without paying some local, that alone will affect Wyoming draw odds significantly.

It is not "a little" more expensive to get around in Alaska, it is a lot more expensive.

lucky guy · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2009, 07:06:25 AM »

Thanks for the info.

This looks like what I'm looking for, as an example, doesn't look too bad. pristineventures.com

I'll keep looking.

379 Peterbilt · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2009, 04:54:42 AM »

It is very expensive to get around once in Alaska. Then factor getting your moose out of the bush to a remote village, then to Anchorage, then back to your house. It is ungodly expensive. Of course if you dont kill, as is the case with most first time unguided moose hunters in Alaska, your hunt will be much cheaper. A couple years ago we flew 3 bulls out of the bush, to a village, then to Anch - this alone was a few grand.

If you knew ahead of time, that you were only going to take say 50 pounds of meat home on the plane, you'd be better off donating the meat in said remote village. But you still have antlers, which you will obviously want to bring home, and those are not cheap to get on the plane these days either.

If you go unguided, you have to get all the gear youself, and pay to get it to the bush and back out. Again, the operative word here is expensive . Or, you can rent inflatable boats, but still it adds up. Pristine ventures is a biz that specializes in hunt planning, I have never paid for his services, but I know more than a few guys who have used Larry Bartlets service and have been very pleased with the legwork and research he does for his clients.

A total DIY Alaskan moose hunt, imo, takes a long time to plan and research. You dont want to go on a whim and wing it hoping to be lucky, all for $5000 min. Plan and research extensively.

I am going moose hunting in Alaska again this year. CAN NOT WAIT!!!!

If you need any more help, PM me and I'll try to help.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2009, 08:19:53 AM »

Even if you live here is not cheap to hunt, and chances of success drop quickly the closer you are to the road system. There are simply not that many legal bulls running around in easy accessable areas. Out cheap hunts generally cost us around 1k after gas and gear, and that is already having the 4 wheelers and trailers. A fly out float back hunt is probably cheapest way to cover a lot of ground and have a good chance at a decent bull. Also take some time to really get your head around what is and isn't a legal moose. The last thing you want to do is spend all thet money and shoot a 47" bull and have to give it back to state and pay a fine.

mrussel · « **Reply #12 on:** June 23, 2010, 05:16:51 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard on December 02, 2009, 11:46:12 AM

Okie Dokie you let me know when you find that over the counter tag or a tag in any western US state that can be had in less than ten years of drawing for one. I base it on the regs of the various states that have moose hunts these days. If I recall correctly that is WY, MT and ID only. Shiras moose are in short supply and getting a tag is not an easy task.

Dont forget Utah. Lots of great stuff to hunt here. There are moose here,but like you said,its a lottery and a once in a life time at that.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #13 on:** June 23, 2010, 09:15:32 PM »

Correction: Unless it's changed since 2002 (when I left) Wyoming requires a guide for non-residents in the Wilderness Areas. All of the National Forests are not in the Wilderness Areas. All this is displayed on the maps at Game & Fish. Correct me if I'm wrong...

Utah does have some GREAT hunting area!!

mrussel · « **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2010, 07:37:34 PM »

Utah antlerless moose permits are 708 dollars for non residents and I think its the same 10 dollars to apply for the drawing. (10 up front,708 dollars on the same credit card if you draw a permit). Bull moose permits are 1513 for non residents (same thing,$10 for the drawing,at least that's what I pay,I THINK its the same for non-residents) so right off the bat,the permit prices are rather steep compared to a 25 dollar resident deer permit. Im not sure all of the details of how to find one,but there is something called a Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit,or CWMU. Non residents cannot apply for the lottery but they can "get" (which I assume means sell your first born into indentured servitude or mortgage your house) vouchers from the landowners that can be redeemed for a permit. It lists a price for a CWMU bull moose permit,so presumably there may be some available. That seems to be what is essentially an "over the counter" moose permit,but my guess is your going to pay a fortune for it. I think the way it works is what your going to pay the land owner for the permit is going to be on top of the 1513 (or 708 for antlerless) dollars for the permit as well.

mrussel · « **Reply #15 on:** June 25, 2010, 07:57:10 PM »

Quote from: theoldarcher on December 03, 2009, 03:24:25 AM

OTC elk and antelope tags are like comparing apples to grapefruit when it comes to obtaining a tag for Shiras moose in the three states GB mentioned. Please do yourself a favor and contact the three state departments of wildlife for information on how to apply for a Shiras moose tag; draw percentages for each state (no tags in CO); and the average length of time to draw a tag. You may just want to consider moose somewhere in Canada with an outfitter, or Alaska.

Best of uck, Arch

http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/hunting/guidebooks.html

mrussel · « **Reply #16 on:** June 25, 2010, 07:59:45 PM »

Quote from: lucky guy on December 03, 2009, 06:40:13 AM

Well, so far here's what I'm seeing. Alaska, no brainer. Any amount of on the ground support you want from zero to fully guided, and not too expensive. From here it's as cheap and easy to fly to alaska as drive to Wyoming or Montana, but still a little more expensive to get around once you get there.

Wyoming (and the rest in the mainland) are lottery, but Montana had at least on unclaimed leftover tag this year. I'm guessing not the best area but I haven't gotten that far to get good info on the areas.

Looking at draw statistics in a couple of the states, there are a number of units with a 15 - 20% hunter success rate with draw statistics of better than 1 in 6 or 1 in 5 with no preference points. To me that's a pretty decent combination and not too different from odds I live with in elk draws, etc here in Oregon. Cow tags are easier and that's fine with me. I'm not looking for the trophy, looking for the hunt and the meat.

I'll keep posting what I'll find. Plenty of time to figure it out, I appreciate any help or comments (even ones telling me I'm dreaming!)

Not "just a little more expensive",but alot more deadly. Thats some harsh territory and even people who know exactly what they are doing can easily wind up in over their heads. At the very least take a PLB (a real PLB,not one of those SPOT things). Even so,it would be real easy to wind up a huntersickle before help came.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #17 on:** June 25, 2010, 09:38:11 PM »

Being somewhat familiar with moose hunting in Maine, I'd say you have to pay serious consideration to how you are going to get something that big out of the woods, sort of like a big elk. A real big elk... I know loggers with skidders who park at the entrances to major moose hunting areas with their cell phone numbers posted in the window, waiting to be hired to go in and drag a moose out. Drop it right in the back of your truck or trailer. Most guys try to take their animal within sight of a logging trail or fire road.

Larry

Drilling Man · « **Reply #18 on:** June 26, 2010, 03:07:57 AM »

I've shot more than 20 moose, i just butcher them on site, and pack them out. Today, i wouldn't shoot one if it was in season and it walked past my house! SO, i'm amazed at the prices i'm reading here to shoot one!

DM

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 26, 2010, 12:45:02 PM »

Another thing you have to consider with alaska is not only travel in state expenses and dealing with a large animal like a moose after the shot. it is also important to learn how to judge a moose so that you don't shoot an illegal bull. Most areas require a bull to be at least 50" wide and have either 3 or 4 brow tines depending on area. any bull with a spike or fork on iether side is also legal. Its pretty easy to think a bull is 50" and have it really be 46-48" and be an illegal bull.