Moose Stalking

Much has been written about moose stalking in the past, but the instructions for stalking are mostly universal. Now we will focus on the different nuances of stalking and how things should be done.

Stalking takes place either in the morning or evening. Moose move in the dark and at dusk, so they come to the fields in the morning under cover of darkness and usually leave before daylight is fully established. In the evening, moose usually come to the fields at dusk so that they can be there in the dark.

Morning stalking is the most productive in moose hunting, especially in the early part of the season. This is when the duration of darkness is shorter and usually the moose spend this time lying down, so they come into view closer to daylight. In this case, it is enough for the stalker to go to their watch position in the dark before the moose. As the season progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that the moose are still following "summer time", coming to the field up to several hours before daybreak. This poses a challenge, as there may not be enough light to shoot the moose during the time they spend in the field, and they will already head back to the shelter of the forest in the dark. So you can still see the moose from time to time, but there is not enough light to shoot them.

Evening watches are by far the most popular form of stalking, but this form of hunting is risky and laborious. Firstly, the period of light for finding a moose is short and, secondly, handling, transporting and skinning a moose in the field takes time. This form of hunting requires a healthy dose of patience, discretion and good preparation. You have to be able to set a limit to your shooting in terms of the range, the position of the moose and an acceptable time window.

The pros and cons of morning stalking

According to the body clock of a moose, morning means the small hours. Successful morning moose stalking requires waking up in the small hours, which for some tempers their enthusiasm for stalking. You must go and watch quietly, so that any moose in the shelter of the forest but waiting to go to the field are not spooked by you and, secondly, you must be on the move before the moose. The most typical failure in morning stalking is that the moose are in the field or in the immediate vicinity before the hunter. In this case, it is only rarely possible to begin the watch without scaring the moose away completely.

The advantage of morning stalking is the mercy afforded by this form of hunting. The amount of light is constantly increasing, which makes it easier to place a good hit calmly – the more you can wait, the easier it is to spot the target. As light conditions improve, it is also easier to find a moose that runs for a long time after being hit. It is also easier and usually quicker to get help than in the late evening. The moose can be handled in daylight, skinned and hung in the morning, and the necessary equipment maintenance can be done during the day. With all the arrangements, morning stalking is the most sensible and least risky form of stalking. It is also productive, as moose are more active in the morning.

The pros and cons of evening stalking

Evening stalking is an attractive form of hunting, as it fits in best with the daily rhythm of most hunters. This human aspect is also the reason why moose stalking is often seen as an evening activity that keeps people tied up late into the evening. Unlike deer hunting, the evening stalking of moose requires more organization; i.e., the moose, as a larger animal, is more resource-intensive than a deer, which can basically be handled from start to finish by one competent man, including all the steps involved. Pulling a moose out of the forest in the dark requires the efforts of several hunters, even when using a mechanical pulling aid.

The advantage of evening stalking is that often, especially when the food runs out in the forest, the moose are eager to come to the field to eat. This often occurs during the rut, when an otherwise uninviting open space encourages calving females and young adult moose in particular to feed without pressure from bulls. That is why fields attract moose earlier than usual during the rutting season, and the light needed for shooting is more plentiful. After the rut, moose behavior tends to favor the dark, and the effectiveness of the evening stalking fades.

The worst thing about evening stalking is its lack of mercy. While morning stalking gives time and opportunity for everything from finding a moose to handling it, evening stalking is the opposite. Moose that may rush from the field into the forest in the evening are hard to find, have to be handled using artificial light, and will tie you and others up until late into the evening. Because it is also a risky business, this form of hunting is not popular in many places. That is why the evening stalking of a moose requires commitment, patience and solid expertise.

But don't panic!

Moose hunting by stalking requires patience. This type of hunting emphasizes discretion and a cool head. Your own stress level, the position of the moose, the shooting distance, the condition and characteristics of the equipment, the amount of light and the location of the moose in the sector are all things to take into account and, because of them, you need to be exacting yourself. If something in the equation does not favor the shooting of the moose, then don’t do it. It is better to record a sighting as the outcome of the hunt than to make carrion of the moose or create a situation in which you may have to search for the carcass.

The best training for stalking is to watch a moose without shooting it. This teaches you a lot about moose behavior and improves your objectivity about good shooting situations. In hunting, such observation and selection are often forgotten, and this increases the risk of failure. The precise selection of an individual animal to shoot is also a way of getting used to seeing moose and being selective about shooting locations. This helps the hunter to embrace the coolness required for stalking, improves the quality of hits, and makes it easier to follow up after a successful hit.

Rules/Suggestions for a moose stalking checklist

This checklist can be used to try and make stalking easier.

1. You do not have to shoot a moose. Hunts are still in their early stages during the stalking season, so there should be no panic about catching moose at this stage of the season. This rule is number one, because remembering it reinforces the other rules for shooting moose.

2. Shoot only when the moose is in a good position. This point relates to being patient in the timing of the shot. Moose usually move constantly, and their position varies. If at any time during the moose's time in sight, it is not in a suitable position, it should not be shot. It is precisely finding the right position that is key to a good hit.

3. Do not shoot a moose if it is too close to a sheltering forest, especially if it is heading towards the forest. After being hit, moose usually make a final run and, if they do this into a forest, it will make it much more difficult to find them.

4. Don't try to show off! The time available for a shot when stalking sometimes tempts people into showing off in the placement of their shot. This tends to be more problematic than beneficial.

5. Use a bullet that opens powerfully yet stays intact. In moose stalking, maximizing the target effect always takes precedence over everything else. A fast and powerful bullet with sufficient penetration is the medicine that moose obey. A few kilos of meat on the back of the truck is a small price to pay for a quick and clean kill.

6. Adults in the morning, calves in the evening. The challenges of evening stalking are multiplied if the prey is a large moose. A calf, on the other hand, is easier to handle and usually runs less far after being hit than a large adrenaline-pumping bull.

7. Know your equipment. It is irresponsible to shoot a moose with a carelessly aimed gun or a gun aimed at too short a range. You must also have plenty of power for the ranges at which you intend to shoot moose!

8. Only shoot if you can accurately determine the point of impact on the target. This places particular demands on the telescopic sight in low light, which must have sufficient luminosity and magnification to prevent the hit placement from becoming magnified.

9. Cover your back! A moose stalker must have a support network that covers all possible events. For example, if a moose falls into a ditch, it will require assistance and machine power, so all help must be properly available and ensured in advance.

10. Remember, shooting a moose by stalking is not difficult. The problems only start after the shot, if they are going to start at all. So remember rule number one!

Typical mistakes when shooting a moose:

1. Shooting "behind the shoulder blade" in cases where the position of the moose does not favor this. Perceiving the angle at which the moose is standing is difficult, and darkness makes it even more so. A typical mistake is to shoot behind the shoulder blade when the moose is standing at an angle to the hunter. In that case, the damage to the lungs will be minimal and a glancing shot is almost certain. This often results in a long final run, spoiled meat and, at worst, a long hunt for the carcass.

2. Shooting along the line of the leg or behind the shoulder blade when the moose is eating from the ground. Then the moose's ‘elbow’ will be pushed backward and a glancing shot from the rear is probable.

3. Shooting in haste as if the moose’s current location or position is the last possible opportunity. In stalking, the difficulty is in selecting the right time, and you need to be aware of this. Just seeing a moose certainly does not represent a shooting opportunity!

4. A moose that has been shot is startled. It sometimes takes time for it to die. It can be shot again if a good opportunity for this arises or if the quality of the first shot is in doubt. The worst thing, however, is to scare the moose into moving when it would otherwise be about to fall.

5. Not requesting help in good time. If a moose makes a long final run, a dog will likely be needed to find it in the forest. For that reason, you should have a dog and learn how to use it for tracking.

6. Moose stalking is a divisive issue. In some clubs, it is now the main way to catch moose, but in others it has been "mutually agreed" to be banned. The popularity of stalking is increasing as the average age and hunting goals of the hunters rise. At the same time, there is an ongoing phenomenon where, for example, the difficulty of acquiring an elk hound is increased by where people live today. Inappropriate places for dogs are also constantly increasing as settlements and road networks expand. So there is a demand for stalking, but it is not a form of hunting to be taken lightly. It requires dedicated effort to make it smooth and hassle-free.

Hunting alone yet together

There is a strong personal performance requirement in stalking. It is a form of hunting in which the hunter is, to an exceptionally large extent, responsible for the course of events. This is reflected in the fact that some people are able to stalk while others find it difficult.

One of the worst shortcomings in the development of stalking is the lack of an analytical attitude to both successes and failures. There are those who say and those who know, but, among all the nonsense, it is good to be able to identify the things that led to failure or success. After all, stalking is a very simple business and, no matter how you criticize what goes on at the final place of death, that is nothing compared to having to search the woods with cats and dogs for a poorly or hastily shot deer.

When stalking moose, it should always be remembered that a moose as prey is collectively shared by several different hunters. This is why stalking, even as an individual form of hunting, is such that it belongs to people other than the hunter themselves. Both the prey and the blunders are usually shared among the whole moose-hunting fraternity.

This article was originally published at Riista magazine. Text and photos: Arto Määttä