best moose bow hunt dates for Alberta
Moose
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Title says it all just want to know the best dates to be booking an outfitter for an archery moose hunt and if you can recommend an outfitter that would be most appreciated as well.
thanks in advance!
Last week of sept... get too far outside of that and it's very hard to get bulls to react.
Alberta Wilderness guide service (Dean Bromberger) is a great outfitter. A limited amount of hunters/year. This is a bow only camp. Weather is always a key as cool, dry, light winds is preferred. Late September can be a good week.
Late Sept. Last year I killed Sept. 25 the other person in camp killed Sept. 26. That week in North Alberta they were in full ru, seen alot of moose. The group that followed the following week only killed 1 small bull, rut was winding down. { I was with different outfitter}
I killed one in NE Alberta in '22. Up by the BC/Yukon border. Sept 25th, called in. Still really hot weather...be ready to take care of the meat. I cut mine up in base camp the day after I shot it, vacuum sealed the meat, froze it in my chest freezer with my Honda EU1000i generator the powering freezer.
Check out Mike's outfitting. 1st class all the way.
4-5 days either side of the 29th of Sept. Six of my Bulls killed in that period. I'd recommend AWGS as well. 85% success. I know one of his guides.
Last few days of September, first couple days of October.
I have done well second week of Oct and following year first week of Oct. My guide of 35 years admits its a gamble either you hit or you dont. Both moose came in on a string and arrow found its mark. This was with Savage outfitters in Alberta. Guide has a lot to do with success and Stacy is top shelf
I’ve hunted 3 times the last 10+ years by Athabasca. Stayed close each year on results at camp
Last week of September or first week of October is the best. Goes back and forth. Weather has been the only difference we have noticed. Hot weather can shut it down. Wind can also make hunting difficult. Pray for cold, calm and clear skies
The biggest thing that determines the success at camp is the composure of the hunters. My outfitter likes to say 80% of bow hunters can’t keep it together to make the shot. He has amazing stories. My favorite is the big elk guy who hunted with him. He got 16 elk with his bow. Bragged about it. He got a 12 yard shot at a moose and fell completely apart- hit the moose in the butt. Ended up getting it because he hit the artery.
I love moose hunting in Alberta. My group is on a 3-4 year rotation to get into camp. We are up again in 2025.
Called right in to 25 yards in open stubble field! Guide Gerard worked his magic!
Called right in to 25 yards in open stubble field! Guide Gerard worked his magic!
Not a big bull, but great hunt with Mikes Outfitting! Sept. 11, 2023
Much appreciate the replies here all, to further complicate things i would want a bit bigger moose 40"+ doesn't have to be a monster but something that will still lookk nice over the fireplace if you catch my drift hahaha. Seeing as this may be a once in a life time thing.
thanks in advance!
You’re looking at this right trying to hit the rut right but it really is a bit of a annual lottery
When you hit it right they’re close to the stupidest animals that are easiest to kill with a bow
it even a week off and you may not see her one unless you’re hunting field Moose
I’ve always tried to skew ever so slightly on the early side if the dates allow
if you’re a tad early things should get better over the five 710 days of your hunt
that’s good for the mental mindset
if you show up a tad late and the rut has peaked it’s tough mentally knowing you’ve got less chance as the hunt passes
Try to frame October 1 somewhere in your stay
I hunted northwest BC last fall. My hunt was Sept 28 - Oct 8. Weather was cool, but not cold. We did have snow flurries one night and rain several days. As the hunt went on, the bulls were responding more and more. We ended up calling in 7 bulls (only saw 6 as one winded us before showing himself). I killed this bull on day 5 (it was a gun hunt).
Best of luck on your quest!
Third or fourth week of September