Posted on October 19, 2017
Hunting for moose in autumn
In our forests, moose are the largest beast. Hunting is interesting, profitable, and sometimes dangerous. At all times in Russia, elk was considered a successful prey for any hunter, he could provide a whole family with meat for the winter.
Equally important criterion for hunting this beautiful and strong beast is sports excitement and wonderful hunting trophies in the form of horns and interesting photographs from collective hunting.
Biology
Moose or sukhaty refers to the family of reindeer, a group of artiodactyls. Alces alces is the only species of the moose genus, but there are several subspecies subdivided by geographic habitat. The division of the American moose and the Eurasian one does not have a basis, since the differences between these two subspecies are only in the size of the animal – the Alaskan moose is somewhat larger. The animal lives throughout the forest zone of the Northern Hemisphere and, strangely enough, in New Zealand. The range of its habitat extends to the forest-tundra and goes to the forest-steppe. This is a very ancient type of artiodactyls, archaeologists find drawings of hunting ancient hunters on the moose on the walls of Neolithic caves. As already mentioned, moose is the largest representative of fauna in our forests. Growth at the withers in a male can reach more than two meters, and the record range of the elk’s horns is fixed at 180 cm. The weight of the horns can be more than 20 kg. The weight of a large male reaches 600 kg, the female is slightly smaller. The young calf of the yearlings can reach a weight of 100 kg by autumn.
To understand how to hunt the moose will help knowledge of his way of life and habitats. The main criterion in the behavior of this animal is the moose is one of the strongest in the forest. Therefore, he has practically no enemies, even a small herd feels calm. The statement that the moose are sluggish and awkward does not correspond to reality. The speed of moose running can be compared to a racehorse, its maneuverability in forest conditions is magnificent, and the force of a hoof of the front leg is sufficient to kill the trunk of an aspen tree 10 cm. It is well used by the male and wide shovel-shaped horns, using them not only in fighting the opponent for females , but also against natural enemies. Moose is one of the most protected animals in our forests.
The moose of elks begin in September, a little later than in a noble deer. In the autumn period, moose people like to visit solonetz soils to replenish mineral reserves in their bodies.
Ways of hunting
Traditionally, all methods of hunting for a moose for a hunter-athlete remain the same as hunting for a moose taiga resident for centuries. The whole palette of permitted means and all knowledge of the habits of this large ungulate is used. Such hunting can be divided:
- hunting for solonetzes;
- hunting during the rut;
- hunting chases;
- hunting with the approach;
- hunting with animal dogs.
The hunting period, according to the current hunting rules in the territory of the Russian Federation, begins with hunting for moose during the rut from September 1 to a month, and ends on January 15, taking into account the production of juveniles from January 1, when hunting for other sex-age groups is closed. Here you can learn more about the timing of moose hunting in the Magadan Region.
Hunting for solonetzes
Hunting for moose in autumn on solonetzes is somewhat easier compared to the summer period. Before winter, ungulates begin to actively visit such places again to replenish the mineral balance in the body before winter feeding. The grass is already beginning to go to bed, the slaver is weakening. The arrangement of solonetzes is a very tedious business, the choice of the place of salting, as well as the storage or stowage, requires knowledge of the local conditions. Air flows at different times of the day are taken into account, and the presence of natural enemies of ungulates, and the need for such additional feeding. After all, concomitant purpose, and sometimes the main thing, in the creation of solonetz is the feeding of ungulates. The density of solonetz on hunting science is optimal 2-3 / 1000 ha.
Solonetzes is a type of soil characterized by a large amount of sodium in the soil absorbing complex of the alluvial horizon. Unlike salt marshes, solonets contain water-soluble salts not in the uppermost horizon, but at some depth.
Moose is a very sensitive animal, both by ear and by smell, but sight does not play a big role in the life of taiga animals. The stationary figure of the hunter, especially if he is in camouflage, the moose can not notice at a distance and 50 meters. Shelter can be arranged on the ground. The main condition for the success of a sit-in is silence and the absence of third-party odors that can give out a person. But it is better to arrange a sitting at an altitude of 3-4 meters. This arrangement allows you to make a sure shot, even in conditions of poor visibility. The solonetz itself is performed by the usual method for all ungulates. Trampled area of 3 x 3 meters, the salt is diluted in water and the land in the center of the site is watered with a solution. The rate of salt consumption is 3 kg per solonetz, but with the arrangement of long-term sites it is better to increase it to 5 kg, and the brine to shed in a small depression made with a sharpened stick. Laying salt lick in wood decks is not always available for various reasons, but is the best option for such biotechnology.
The beast comes on solonets, usually at sunset. Unlike other ungulates, the moose comes to a place trot, hear its approach is not difficult. Before the exit to the site for 10-15 minutes, he listens, then leaves. Briefly looking around, the animal begins to lick the salt, at this time you can safely aim and shoot.
Hunting for the “waboo” (on the roar)
Moose hunting for roaring is one of the most fascinating and sporting, but it is not the main thing in the production of this beast. Rather, such hunting is a complement to hunting with approach or overtaking, to discover the trophy male before it starts. However, there are many adherents of “waba”. The voice of the moose male resembles a rough mooing, it is not as beautiful as the call of a maral. At the beginning of September, the elk starts to collect a harem of 2-3 females. It is they who give the signal. All other males, hearing this voice, try to challenge the territory and the right to own females. There are clashes, although real battles are not often. Usually, the matter is decided by mutual inspection and demonstration of force.
It is on this and it is worth playing a hunter, imitating the voice of a young male. The moose during the rut is an example of a dangerous beast, who, feeling his strength, can attack a too annoying opponent. The object may be a hunter.
But the night of battle fades away. Early in the morning at dawn the moose begins to moo, comb the bark on the trees with horns, marking the territory, crackling with a windbreak, without hiding. At this time he is attentive, but not careful. Any movement he can take for the appearance of an opponent, but a wrong smell or unnatural sound can scare him off. The danger for the hunter may be in a furious beast that has come out to the enemy, when caution is inferior to the spirit of rivalry. Hunting for an moose during the rut with its danger adds to the acuteness of sensations, gives sports excitement, and the conquered trophy becomes even more valuable.
Hunting during the rut
Moose is a settled animal, with a good fodder base, it keeps in a certain tract for a long time. He changes places of his stay only depending on the season change, or under any force majeure circumstances. Knowing the terrain and preferences of the beast will help the hunter to discover it. Beloved for moose – swamps, floodplains of rivers, lowland areas with rapid vegetation. During the mass distribution of the nest, it moves to water objects, with the onset of cold weather – into dense coniferous young growth. The pre-winter stop is usually in young deciduous thickets of willow or alder. In the early spring, the moose family likes to go out to the swamps to feed on succulent rhizomes, and visit such places before winter itself. Marshes are the site of the growth of trifoli, a plant used by the beast, and man, as a vermilion. Eating this plant helps the animals to clear themselves of parasites before the winter period.
Moose are moved by small families, the older male, two three females and young. Usually it’s 5-6 goals. The sensitivity of the beast all the time, except for the mating season, is high.
Track the moose family carefully, only against the wind. Clothing should not have foreign odors, preferably if it is camouflage or camouflage.
Vision of moose is not very acute, if the hunter is immobile even in an open place, the animals may not notice it. It is best to cover the beast on the feeding. Defend the animals in dense thickets, and approach silently to them is unlikely to succeed. On rest, it is convenient to shoot moose with an overtaking.
Hunting chase
Well, if a few days before the start of such a hunt, reconnaissance surveys of the grounds will be conducted. Thus, the places of settling of moose, their larvae will be established, as well as tracks filled with moose will be established. For two or three days the animals will not significantly shift, and finding them will be easy. Usually, the disturbed family tries to go out into the open space, where it has freedom of maneuver. Experience tells them that it is easy to hide in the swamp, or on the floodplain of the river. In the taiga zone, hunters should use forest clearings to wait for the approach of the beast. Moose is not shy, leaves at a low speed, lingers in open places to look around. All this should be taken advantage of.
The command of the beaters should start the noise no earlier than the arrows will take place on the rooms. To intimidate it is necessary to begin intensively with ratchets and ringing, otherwise a strong beast can try to break through the corps of the beaters, in the direction necessary to it. Avoid this in two ways – to choose the right direction and produce noise intensively to frighten the beast. A frightened beast will strive to leave the thicket, the paths, the river bank.
Hunting with dogs
Hunting for an moose in the autumn on a blackstone, before the beginning of the fishing season is very effective with dogs. The best in this case are the bears. A pair of well-designed dogs can confidently hold the beast and let the hunter get to the shot. The chance to find moose in the land is increasing at any time and in any locality. Usually, moose does not fear dogs and even tries to attack them. For inexperienced dogs, this can end badly. If the object of hunting is the uterus, then it can try to detain the dogs and allow the young to leave. Young animals under the dog are not worth it, in this case it is necessary to recall the dogs if they are not used for the chase.
To pursue the departing strong beast on the black trail is a thankless task, you can be wasted all day, and even go far from the chosen site for hunting.
With any method of hunting, it is necessary to take into account that the moose will act instinctively as he would act when meeting with the natural enemy. A strong male can attack an opponent. When leaving, the moose leaves the open space, where it has freedom of maneuver. With unequal forces, on the contrary, the moose tries to leave the most uncomfortable places for the pursuer.
Weapons and ammunition
Moose is very strong on the wound. In hunting stories there are many cases when the beast was raised and left even after a fatal wound for several kilometers. The one for the shot is always the area of the blades. The second for slaughter is the large head of an moose.
The choice of weapons remains entirely with the hunter. Under the rules, only small-caliber weapons are caught. Rifled carbines in caliber of 7.62 and 9.0 mm, smooth-bore weapons with specially equipped bullet cartridges will be a good choice. It is better to use expansive bullets, arrowheads, since the lungs do not give the desired effect over a long distance. It should be remembered that according to the hunting ethic, and also according to the current rules, the hunter is obliged to pick up the pork. In such cases, even the pursuit of a wounded beast on foreign lands and outside the site allocated for hunting is permitted.
