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First we are trying to decide where to go. I live in Vermont and would most likely drive. We would also like to try for a 45"+ bulls and maybe combo another animal if possible. I should add that I have a place in southern Colorado so that would easily be the jumping off point for the drive instead of Vermont.

I have caribou hunted in Newfoundland before so that would be a consideration. Lots of moose and easy drive. Only issue is a 45"+ bull would be a hugh bull there.

Not interested in Quebec.

I understand Ontario has drastically reduced the moose tags because of a decline in population. Not sure if i would want to chance it there.

Alaska is way out of our budget.

Alberta's Peace River area looks interesting. Also BC looks incredible. Would love to take a wolf and maybe a black bear for my daughter.

Any advice from those who have moose hunted these places? At this point I am leaning towards BC but would like input whether my thinking is correct or is there a better option that I am not considering?

Any suggestions on outfitters? Looking at Red Willow in AB and Babine in BC.

Thanks!

Friends of mine do very well there on moose. You could combine it with another caribou hunt.

You need to look at B.C Give Art a call at Gundahoo River Outfitters. I will guarantee you will get a 50+ moose with Art. The price is worth the trip, it is a world class outfit in the best Moose area in B.C

Prez

I looked at every outfitter in B.C., Alberta, and Manitoba... The Yukon and Alaska are out of my price range.. Northern B.C. is the place to go.... You will go home with a big bull... Good luck.

I had originally booked a hunt in Newfoundland but got skittish about the lack of quality bowhunting guides; especially since I use a longbow. So I cancelled that trip and booked with Ryk instead.

Darren

They have nearly 100% success on firearm moose with over 100 tags per year. We opted to moose hunt early prior to gun season. We were their first true bowhunters. Most people seem to want to hunt the rut, which is rifle season. So even though they may start with a bow, they quickly switch for a magnum gun once all the shooting starts.

We saw and could have stalked moose everyday. Let me repeat - we saw moose every day. Depends on size you are looking to shoot.

A great place, a reasonable price ($3,900) - plus 1x1 guide. You could go the last few days of bow season and your daughter could hunt the first few days of rifle.

Can't say enough good things bout Mountaintop and owner, Art Ryan.

Bowcrazy, what size were the Bulls you took?

The reason more big bulls are not killed is most hunters want an easy kill and most Newfy guides want an easy kill. Road hunters delight. Get back in the bush with a good archery guide and it can be incredible moose hunting.

This bull was 41 5/8 inches and netted 145 1/8 P&Y. Shot September 2 (or there about) Called in to 28 yards in the archery only season in full velvet.

PS: This thread reminded me I need to book another Newfy adventure. Thanks for the reminder!

Well worth it.

Newfoundland is very scenic......no question about that, but can anything compare with Northern British Columbia, The Yukon, and Alaska? It's hard to imagine just how spectacular it is until you've been there. And there is always the opportunity to do a combo hunt for Mountain Caribou, Mountain Goat, Grizzly, or Stone Sheep (but you'd better have some deep pockets!!).

I'm sure nobody in their right mind would question the difference in potential between NF and Alaska or the northern and even central portions of BC. But he also said AK is out of his budget. A hunt along the Yukon border probably is too then. guys like Coal River want 12K plus.

I couldn't agree more Tatonka... I'd be heading over there too. Just not so sure he can swing that. Do you know of any true quality affordable hunts in north central BC?

Also.. I know you said guided Rob but I think that since you said in 3 to 4 years with a little homework and by getting on the books early you could do it on your own and have great success at the same cost, or less, just by finding the right transporter to drop you in somewhere in Alaska. THAT is the way to get a good moose without breaking the bank. You can do it!

I have seen BC hunts near Smithers under $7,500. That is still a stretch, but doable given the 3-4 year timeline. Keep in mind I have the cost x2 with my daughter. That's a good question Mule, "any true quality affordable hunts in north central BC?"

Most of my hunts have been DIY and I have done 9 successful DIY elk hunts in southern Colorado. I suppose an AK DIY is a possibility. I will admit that an AK DIY hunt seems very intimidating to me, especially with my daughter there. The thought of getting tangled up with a griz is what nightmares are made of.

BC or AK would be awesome but for a fully guided hunt, which in your situation would want, is probably going to be very expensive.

All I will say about NF is to go with a guy who flies to remote areas that locals can't get to.

Good luck! I hope you find a hunt where you and your daughter have a great hunt.

Here's a pic of him with one of his better friends named Ketza. I just love this picture, one of my favorites. This bull wasn't far from Smithers.

Some AK/Yukon moose hunts are pushing $20K.

If that doesn't make you a DIY kinda guy I don't know what will!

I looked at the hunts further south around Smithers.... the further south you go, the smaller the bulls and the hunting pressure increases greatly.. Lots of people on ATV's, etc. The way I saw it, did I want to spend $7,500 or so to hunt a place where I may or may not kill a good bull (probably not), or did I want to save up a little longer and hunt a place where the I would be pretty much assured of bringing home a good bull.

I understand the problem with the $$$...especially when looking at paying for more than one hunter, but a person could easily pay $7,500 (times two) and go home with nothing or a small bull.

There are no guarantees when it comes to hunting anything anywhere unless you hunt a preserve, but as far as moose are concerned, Northern B.C. is as close as you'll come if you are looking for a good bull and the possibility of finding a great bull is always there...

Do what you can afford...the time with your daughter will be what you'll remember more than the size of the bulsl.

A photo the outfitter posted from facebook from this fall... The hunter passed on this bull.

What a fabulous photo of a great bull!! Any explanation why the hunter passed (gun hunter looking for a monster, had killed several before, etc.)?

No way I'd pass on that animal with my bow....

Charlie R summed it up best on antler potential in NL and you obviously have NL experience from your caribou hunts. I was simply passing on my experience in response to your initial inquiry.

In response to your followup question, none of us shot 45" bulls as we were more interested in getting our first moose, not antlers. We were far from trophy hunters on this trip. Getting a moose with a bow is not easy, let alone thinking one will easily get a trophy.

However, my brother killed a very good velvet racked moose, and as stated, my other brother should have had a 50 incher. We filled our tags and are very happy with our first moose.

Good luck in your search. (note: we did see trophy moose and trophy caribou).

No, they don't split the racks.. This was a boat hunt..we cruised the lake and river stopping and hiking a bit to call, etc. at various places.. They offer both horse hunts and boat hunts. Here's a picture I took in the cook cabin.... they put up the width and scores, year, name of hunter, etc. on the wall of the cabin. Of course, this is just on the lake I hunted... I didn't get all of the names, etc. in the picture I took... This should give you an idea of the moose they kill there.

I saw a lot of cows and calves and younger bulls. From what I understand, the big bulls move in from the mountains when the rut starts, although there are big resident bulls also..

I passed on a bull around 45" to 47" the day before I killed my bull... The guide called him in from a long ways off right up to the river bank..he actually crossed the river over onto our side.. I would have taken him but the guide said no...that we could do better, so I let him go. I would have been perfectly happy with that bull, but I'm not complaining about waiting a day!!!

Kevin

When I hunted Caribou in Manitoba last year one of the hunters went from The Lodge at Little Duck to another camp to hunt moose for 10 days... We dropped him off on our flight back to Thompson. I think it was Webber's Lodge, but I'm not sure on that. Anyway, I've stayed in contact with him and in 10 days of hunting he saw one moose.. Fortunately it was a decent bull (about a 45" bull), but he said it was a tough hunt...

Manitoba looks like it should be fantastic moose country.. Flying over northern Manitoba was incredible...miles and miles and miles of lakes, rivers, swamps, etc. I'm sure there are moose there that never see a human...

I was happy with my hunt and I am only sharing my experience, so take it for what its worth. Got a pic of the bull you killed?

I posted photos of my hunt on here a while back..... Unfortunately, my archery days are over I guess... wear and tear and age has rendered me unable to pull a bow back. This was the first fall I've not bought an archery stamp...tough pill to swallow (admitting that I can no longer do what I've always loved to do).