Of all my assorted big game hunts, the celebrated Maine moose hunt gets top billing for plain fun, challenges and, at times, downright frustration. Over the years, I have either hunted with a permit or been part of a moose hunting party. Most of my hunts have been cow hunts, except for two bull hunts. My last hunt, this fall, was a bull hunt, and I was invited along as a guest with my chainsaw-powered winch.
Moose sign was as plentiful as I have ever seen, but sightings were scarce. At least three times, we had bulls answering our cow-in-heat calls, only to “hang up” just out of range or in thick cover. Frustrating! Common sense said that our calling strategy or techniques were just not up to snuff. What were we doing wrong?
I went to the experts to try to get an answer to that question.
In his 2006 book “Moose Hunting,” moose guide Dave Kelso devotes a chapter to moose calling. His advice carries weight because he has worked with Maryo Peppin and studied moose in captivity at the Buck Expert Research Center.
Effective calling involves many variables, and hunters need to adjust their vocalizations to the situation, Kelso explains.
Although cows are in heat for just 24 hours, bulls can still be called long after the rut. It is wrong to assume otherwise, Kelso says. The key to a good cow-in-heat call is a quivering tone that softly fades out.
There are two important bull grunts: the fight grunt and the love grunt. Hunters should learn the difference, Kelso advises. When answering a bull with brush raking or the volume of a call, try to sound bigger than he is. He considers mouth or voice calls the best option. Raking brush is also an art form when communicating with an incoming bull. Always pause between rakes. A bull will not rake and call at the same time.
Moose guide Tenley Skofield has many hunts under her belt. Here are some of her thoughts.
Once you have scouted or discovered a productive area to hunt, be aware of wind direction and keep it in your face. Start by lightly tickling brush with a scapula, antler or antler imitation. In the stillness of breaking dawn, that little bit of brush rustling will sometimes be enough to get a conversation started. Too often, a calling sequence begins too loudly and too frequently, pushing moose away rather than pulling them in.
The same goes for first calls. If you are making your first call in an area and are unsure whether moose are in the vicinity, call lightly at first in each of the four directions. Listen, then call again every 15 minutes or so as you move slowly and quietly. Gradually increase the volume.
There may or may not be a moose within earshot. Continue calling for at least an hour. Two hours is not too much time to invest in opening a conversation with a moose, especially one coming in silently. You may only know those moose are approaching by the sound of a snapped branch or antlers moving through the brush.
The most underrated element of calling is being quiet. Have a plan in place as you begin, communicate with your party using hand signals and whisper only if absolutely necessary. Unnatural sounds, such as talking, clanging shooting sticks, zippers and crackling packs and wrappers, will spook a moose and ruin any chance of calling one in to shooting range.
Highly experienced moose guide Nathan Theriault of OMM Outfitters offers similar advice. Cow calls should not be too loud or frequent. Instead, hunters should focus on a slow, drawn-out, nasal tone and proper cadence to attract bulls during the peak of the rut.
Pacing and patience are equally important, Theriault says. Bulls move slowly and may take hours to approach while checking the wind. Sit tight and avoid moving prematurely, which could spook the animal.
Wind direction and setup also matter. Always set up with the wind in your face. Mature bulls typically circle downwind before appearing, so position your caller and shooter accordingly.
Mouth calling and horns offer another advantage over electronic callers, allowing hunters to adjust pitch, volume and cadence in real time based on a bull’s reactions and behavior, Theriault says.
My final thought: A Maine moose hunting permit is a gift that could mean a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. It pays to be ready. Calling is critical, especially during the rut. Consider doing more homework and practicing the art of moose calling. Only then will you truly be ready. I plan to heed my own advice on this one.