Wild Guide Magazine Fall 2017 | Page 19

wild guide: 36 commandments of moose hunting “ HUNTING LOCATION With hundreds of thousands of desciples, the activity of harvesting which consists of outwitting the king of the forest, is almost considered a religion. To help you increase your chances of harvesting one of these great creatures, I have listed the top 36 tips that will help you, in my opinion, to thwart the mighty moose. 1 Make sure there is moose in your area. You may be a good scout, an excellent tracker and the best shooter, but if there are no beasts on the piece of land on which you operate, you will not make them appear. make themselves fat stores. Fodder sites composed of mature deciduous forest or mixed forest are preferred sites. Much of the rest of the day is devoted to ruminating near a rest area of mature ​​ fir and spruce. 2 Visit your territory, especially if it is new, in the spring before the leaves appear to locate the scrapes and rubs of the previous autumn. The purpose of this reconnaissance is to find out where the moose was in the rutting season last year. There is a high probability that this site will still be used the following year, hence the importance of this spring visit before the leaves and underbrush grow. 4 Use topographic maps with forest cover or IQHO to better understand the morphology of the relief and to identify the sites most likely to harbour moose. Look for mature stands dominated by fir or spruce that form bedding areas alongside a mature mixture of hardwoods in the shade which makes up the foraging area. 3 Moose must eat about eight hours a day, eating more than 18 kg of leaves or branches in the fall, because they need protein to 5 Scouting is essential to find a suitable hunting spot. The ideal location will include a mature forested area bordered by a stream or a lake, near a ridge of deciduous trees. The forest roads and the existing paths will allow you BAITING 10 I rely on the permanent installation of a well maintained saline, located near a body of water. I mix dry salt in crystals enriched with calcium, iron, magnesium, potash, phosphorus, sulfur and zinc. Consult your local regulations regarding the use of salt licks or other bait. to cover as much terrain as possible to discover the various signs like fresh tracks, disturbed dirt, rubs, scrapes, etc. 6 On warm days, over 18-20 degrees, hunt in conifer stands, especially those whose soil is covered with moss. The characteristic of this type of forest canopy offers a much cooler environment where temperatures can easily be about ten degrees lower than the surrounding area. It is in these stands that you will find moose in your territory. 7 Moose frequent water bodies especially for eating plants and aquatic weeds. However, due to the summer grazing they do, there is less food at these sites once the fall comes. The hunter can maintain this type of habitat early in the season, but he must diversify his offensives. During the hunt, mountains, valleys, flows and fresh savannas are all places to consider. 8 Let go of a site that does not live up to your expectations. After one or two attempts in one area without signs of a moose, look elsewhere! Do not go back to hunt that spot for three or four days. Take the time, however, every day, at noon, to check if there are fresh traces in the surroundings. If so, you try your luck again. 9 The best “cafeterias” are found in places where hardwood regrowth varies from 1.5 to 2 meters in height. These habitats are often found after logging, but also after the occurrence of a windfall or a forest fire. In general, moose will not move in the middle of a woodcut, but at the edge of it. It is therefore better to call at the edge of this site. EYE SIGHT 11 It is good practice to put out two blocks of salt at the same site. There are social ranks among moose and if a more dominant subject is already on the spot, the second visitor will hesitate to approach. By placing two blocks, about five meters from each other, it is possible to see “reasonable accommodations” between them. 12 Moose have limited vision, however, this aspect should not be neglected because they easily identify contrasts and unusual movements. When you’re on the move, try to stay close to obstacles or wood edges on the edge of pyres and lakes. Do not expose yourself in opens. 13 Moose do not see details, but distinguish forms. If it is too far to loose an arrow, take advantage of this poor eyesight and move in without fear of frightening it. Use a rattling antler or canoe paddles positioned on your head to make your silhou ette look like a moose. Call and move towards him, swaying your “antlers” from side to side. Wild Guide . Fall 2017 16