Joe
Short version of the story
I've had my trail camera set up since July 1st and had gotten a lot of elk on film with multiple bulls. This last Monday I walked in to check my t-camera and I jumped a young bull moose right above my treestand (bedded down about 50 yards from my stand) and right next to the watering hole where my stand is located. I notified our local fish and game officer and he had indicated that they had received reports of a few moose several miles north of my hunting location but they had never seen nor heard of any sighting where I'm hunting. The officer didn't appear to be very happy about this moose moving in to this area (fairly close to homes and right off the inter-state).
Since this moose moved in, the elk seem to have moved out. I walked in there yesterday afternoon for an evening hunt and jumped him again right off the trail as I walked in. He ran about 80 yards and headed right back up the trail I was walking in on, it was obvious he didn't want to leave the area. As cool as it is to see a moose in an area I'm a little concerned that he's going to run all the deer and elk out of the area.
I sat in my stand until dark, calling periodically with no results. I became more aggressive with my calling and eventually got one elk (forked horn bull) to answer but he was barking non-stop for about 15 minutes. I became even more aggressive with my calling and he eventually ran in but wasn't stopping for anything (ran right past my 2 Montana decoys). You would have thought he had been kicked or was being chased by a predator.
Approximately 30 minutes later that moose comes walking in for water coming from the same area where the young bull elk had just came from. I've come to the conclusion that unless that moose moves on, the elk aren't coming back anytime soon. I know very little about moose but I do know they are very territorial and prefer to be left a lone.
I watched a 5 point bull chase a cow moose last week. She was curious about his wallowing and walked up for a closer look. When he noticed her he jumped up and took off after her, shaking his antlers.
Elk are moving more now that the rut is kicking in. Might have just cycled over the next ridge
In 2009, I was boning out my elk. I had a beautiful bull moose come within 35 yards, moaning away. I pulled out the bear spray because the moose showed no fear as he kept coming as I waved my arms. Me on the other hand,,,,,,,
Elk and moose both move for no real apparent reason sometimes. The other factor is they prefer different food types. Maybe the forage foods are not as good in quality and the browse is, hence the reason the elk moved out and the moose moved in.
You are completely wasting your time and energy in trying to get him to move on. Instead, you should be moving on finding where the elk went to.
Good luck.
