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Plus if you wanted to you can take multiple bulls.

Helicopter ride in is amazing. Great guides.

I have gone late on my hunts that's why I used rifle. All I will say from what I have seen is go during the rut if you can. Post rut will be difficult, pre rut better and the rut prime time.

If you are thinking of using bow but backup with rifle then you can be more flexible.

There are some really good outfitters.

Hunted with them 7 times.

I will PM you a detail account of each hunt.

I did put a good review of them on the Outfitters Review because they are such nice people, but upon reflection I wouldn't go back.

TBB

This topic has been covered in a few other posts like this.

When it comes to moose hunting in Newfoundland having a bowhunter as a guide is not as important as having someone who knows how to call and really knows the terrain. There are many guys in here who harvest moose in NL with non-bowunting guides.

Matter a fact, my last guide in NL has been almost 100% with bowhunters the last 2 years(even though he doesn't bowhunt). He knows how to call and knows how to put his hunters in positions for a shot.

My point, just ask your outfitter for success rates bowhunting moose. You will find out quickly if they know how to deal with bowhunters.

If the criteria for a successful bow hunt is to have a guide that actually bow hunts himself,then you can rule out NL as a bowhunting destination altogether. You will be hard pressed to find a guide in NL that actually bow hunts himself.

I'm not sure what you expect a guide who hunts with a bow to have done different for you other than taking your bow away from you and shooting the moose for you.

I didn't put a lot of that in the review because Dave is such a nice guy. He even offered me a return hunt at a discount, but I would have to use a gun. I decided not to take him up on his generous offer.

If you are looking for an outfitter who has good accommodations, good food and is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, then Victoria is a good place to go. Just be prepared to manage the hunt yourself. There are lots of moose around as evidenced by the tracks we saw. I did get a shot on the last day and missed, my fault not his. But as far as understanding bowhunters, they are not the place to go. Check out some of the other Newfoundland outfitters or go to BSC's website. Newfoundland has the highest density of moose in the world.

TBB

Honestly, when you got to NL unless you are in the rut you will likely only get one or two bow shots.

I am starting to question the statement that, "Newfoundland as the highest moose densities in the world."

That MIGHT be true but this isn't like going to Kansas or another WT, high density deer area and having shots at all kinds of deer. I have been on those type of hunts.

NL Moose hunt can be tough with a RIFLE let alone a bow. The terrain is unforgiving, the weather can be nasty and once pushed Moose can move much faster than you.

If you go during the few weeks they are in the rut you will have a much different experience than those who don't.

ANYONE who is thinking a NL moose hunt is easy should check that idea at the door. Some get lucky but from what I have seen most work their tails off.

Bob, I'm sure the shots you took at the two Moose were well within your effective range. So it sounds like the guides strategy worked.

I've had it put to me this way "My guide can get you within 100 yds after that it's up to you to close the deal" being a bow hunter you realize that AND take a chance of going home empty handed.

A good outfitter will have no problem getting you a gun kill. If they don't run 90%+ they are screwing up.

Do not equate NFLD rfile success with bow success. they may be spoken of and sold homogenously, but they are a world apart.

That sentiment isn't reserved for just Newfoundland Guides, You could insert that sentiment almost anywhere. Keep in mind, that guides anywhere see a lot of different hunters over the years, many are not hunters at all, many can't get out of their own way, many can't shoot, many wound animals repeatedly and then the guide gets blamed for their poor performance. Many "bowhunters" profess to be hunters when in fact they are inept spectators. Keep in mind, if guides are jaded about bowhunters, they generally have a reason to be. They aren't miracle workers. Having done a fair bit of guiding myself for Elk, years ago, I can tell you many "bowhunter" stories, many not pretty. It's pretty easy to adopt the attitude of...."Oh no...not another one"

Having said that, I know Bob's guide, He is serious about Moose hunting regardless of the equipment, He will get you a shot, the rest is up to you. Evidently he got Bob, two shots

My guide did work hard, but he just never understood the close shot concept. Dave is a very nice guy, he didn't have to offer me a greatly discounted hunt, but he did. But even he told me that if I came back I should bring a gun instead.

I tipped my guide well because he worked hard, and I did miss, that's not his fault. All I am trying to say is that you should be aware that there are outfitters who will take bowhunters, and there are bowhunting outfitters. And there is a world of difference between them. Many guide won't take bowhunters at all, let alone traditional bowhunters.

If I were to return to NL, I would ask more questions than I did the first time. It's hard when you are looking into a trip, because the outfitter is trying to gain you as a customer, and all of the references he provides are his happy face customers. I'm just trying to help out a guy who asked a question, not run Dave into the ground. you would never meet a nicer guy, he worked hard to see that I got onto a moose, but that didn't happen.

So all of that said, I'm out of here. you guys can flame me all you want. Have a good life.

TBB

You ought to give some more thought as to why the discounted hunt stipulated you hunt with a rifle. Was there any chance the outfitter lost confidence with you abilities with archery gear? If it were me, I wouldnt feel the need to subsidise someones practice. I dont know the reason why, but I can empathize.

....and if you find that 5% know that 80% of them are liars!

all they need to know where the moose live, how to navigate the area and lakes, have a pack and strong back to help haul meat out, know how to call, possess some basiic equipment repair knowledge, own a pair of binos and know how to use them, and that should be fine.

the rest is up to the hunter to get within bow range.

i agree with brian..............when I go on a bowhunt i feel that somewhere on the trip i should get a shot opportunity. i expect that really....that is what i prepare for mentally. if i get two that is two trips worth of opportunity as far as i am concerned. four would be four trips wortth, etc.

anythng over one chance is nothing but gravy.

I first me Dave at a Bowhunting-only hog hunt in Tennessee, and he sent his bow back to the states with me when I left camp, to have it worked on (not many bow shops on the Island I guess)

My bear setups were tailored to the concerns and needs I expressed to the guides (ie: I am left-handed, I shoot a 64" recurve so need a bit more clearance, I'd not been shooting up to snuff so wanted my bait setups for 18-20 yard shots, max) and they did really well. I also stressed that I wanted to be picked up quite late, after legal shooting light, as my no-sights shooting style allows me to shoot well, right up to the end of legal hours. They were accommodating there, as well.