Hello. If possible I would love to see some pics of moose of all sizes and there antler spread size listed as I am going on a trip to newfoundland in September and would like to have some kind of idea. Thanks so much
Thanks guys, those are some beautiful moose. I was concerned that a mid 30's moose would look too small but I would definitely be happy with one judging by these pics
Ive looked at so many moose pics since i booked my hunt.. I still can't tell width.. Not at all.> But one thing i do know. Is i REALLY want my bull to have good fronts.. I won't be to picky tho ha
Remember, you'll be in the woods, not Walmart. You probably can't just go over to aisle 7 to find a bull with better fronts, or one that's 45" instead of hte 40" that's in front of you at 15 yards, tearing apart a tree.
Like the thread.I guessed close on most.That 1st one I thought was 50".Would have got me in trouble in Ak.Definitely will be taking my time on deciding
I hope so Rick.Been spending a lot of time looking over moose spreads.I just can't wait to see some up close and personal.Been a long wait to finally go on Ak moose hunt.Thanks to Joe wanting to go along.I just got my moose tag in the mail yesterday;2 months till I'm out there
Ive looked and done the same thing with pictures and Guthros vids and what Ive noticed is!! If his`s eye`s look close together hes a big bull hahahahaha I have 56 days until touchdown in Bethel AK sooo pumped Best of luck to ya Mr. MikeC
Thanks for all the pics and we'll wishes, I'm really amped up now. Definitely some monsters in the mix but I'm also impressed on how some of the 130's are looking.
"Definitely some monsters in the mix but I'm also impressed on how some of the 130's are looking."
Troy, much depends on the subspecies and area you're hunting. I would love to have killed a 45-50" bull, but the odds of that happening was remote, at best. When you find a bull, and can honestly tell yourself "I'd be happy with that guy!", then do your darndest to close the deal, don't look back, and enjoy the result! Best of Luck!
Matthew, you didn't think we were going to let you get away without the back story on the 49" with the arrow stuck IN THE ANTLER! Who got the woops and how did he/she get over it and close the deal?
Interesting topic..... Had I not seen the measurements listed with the photos, I'd not have come close on guessing the spread on several of these. Photos can be deceiving, of course.
Interesting to see the variety here, and I would have guessed very wrong on many. But it doesn't matter much. I haven't seen one yet that would leave me disappointed! Hope to measure one of my own next year!
Interesting to see the variety here, and I would have guessed very wrong on many. But it doesn't matter much. I haven't seen one yet that would leave me disappointed! Hope to measure one of my own next year!
My simple rule... outside eye to eye a bulls head goes 10 inches. So I need double that on each side to make 50. The tricky part is getting head on views. Nothing other than time to look from the front will help you judge.
This thread is conclusive proof that judging moose is difficult and takes serious practice. 51 inchers can look bigger than 57s. 60 inchers look like they are as wide as a car. Anything but a head on frontal view is worthless. Yikes!
On the hoof angle is the only one that really matters.
Sitting at the rear of an 8’ animal for the hero shot adds a lot of inches. Or taking the photo from below as in my photo above, adds a lot of perceived size.
The previous 2 comments by Mule and Altitude deserve a second read.
Most guys see the main palms and judge spread from that view. Lower points (the first ones above the brow palms/points) can sometimes extend past the main palms by several inches on one or both sides....adding many inches to the overall maximum width. For my money, width is less impressive (to look at) versus number and length of points, length of main palms and shape of those palms. Big tall, rounded and cupped palms are awesome.
Anyone else think that mikewood photo bull is smaller than 55"? I am trying to judge off live bulls in the field versus trophy photos. Of course there isn't a good way to know how big a live bull is except to shoot him and measure. Still, I'm thinking that is a bull I would have a tough time shooting.
I am no expert or guide and we didn’t put a tape to this bull but you can compare body size to his antlers and see he probably no more than 38-40 inches imo.
I am no expert or guide and we didn’t put a tape to this bull but you can compare body size to his antlers and see he’s probably no more than 38-40 inches imo.
A typical Alaska bull will measure about 10 inches from outside to outside of the eyes. Using a ruler I estimate the bull immediately above to be minimum 45"....likely 48"....and maybe a touch more. One good clue is how his main palms lay back, and are well outside his brows.
I would guess southern draws at 47, not a shooter. Upon closer examination of mikewoods pic I see the left palm lays out flatter and there are some out of focus tines that add an additional 4-5" which brings the bull from borderline to legal IMO.
I usually figure 10 inches out side the eyes of an Alaskan moose, then extrapolate from the center of the skull to either side and the widest part of that side. Needs to reach 2 1/2 increments of the ten inches to reach 25 ". Double this will give you 50 inches. Its easy to play with when you have a photo or on the computer screen. Much tougher in real life. I passed up this bull. I think he is slightly over 50 inches. But not 55 or more which is my comfort level. Mike
This old bull had four brow points on one side making it legal, which I look for first. I think it is also just over 50 inches, but I waited for a better bull and passed him up. This is a bad angle to judge as well. Mike
Awesome bull Kevin Looks to be a 65"? I'm no moose expert. I just shoot the first bull I see on a hunt. And they will never reach that width here. Not in my area anyway.
Kevin’s bull is very laid out meaning it doesn’t come up but it keeps extending it’s growth outward imo meaning longer overall length . Using the 10” eye to eye method well over 60” ?
The bull in the picture above is one I stalked for almost 4 hours as he hung out in a section of wooded cover. I finally got to 13 yards and he stood up facing me. When he turned to leave I came to full draw and shot him in the middle of his turn. Unfortunately my arrow caught a spruce tip and deflected enough to hit bone. I didn't get more than 3" of penetration. I watched him after the shot and knew he wasn't mortally wounded. About 3 days later my friend and partner spotted this bull and stalked him again. He got the bull with a great shot. We found my broadhead buried in the shoulder.
He was a really old bull. The right brow palm and all points were completely snapped off in a fight, and that's something I've never seen before. Due to his older age and fully broad skull he's likely about 11” wide at the outside of the eyes. I want to emphasize the picture isn't distorted and that's exactly how the bull appeared when we walked up to him. I don't ever spend any time measuring or trying to remember numbers, but this guy was at least 61”....maybe 63”.
Kudos to my buddy for killing him and solving the mystery.
Another attribute to look for is what I call squared off, others call it layer out. It developed with age. If you look at the live bull in my pictures his main beams angle slightly upward which impacts width. If the beam came straight out from the skull it would have added several inches to the width. My Ontario bull's beams were 90 degrees to his face and my Yukon bull's beams actually drooped down. You can see this feature in the other pictures also.