I got a news letter from an outfitter the other day and one of the hunts he is offering is a "Combination European Moose and European Brown Bear (this is the same species, Urus Arctoa, found in North America and Asia) hunt near Moscow". Has anyone done this hunt?

Mark65x55,

I'm not familiar with the Moose-Bear hunt but I hunted Bear-Boar and it was not a good hunt. We were told that there were Bear everywhere and that waiting for a big one was the hardest part of the hunt. If you offered the right guide enough money they would put you on a good bear. 5 of our group didn't even see a bear and 2 of the 5 paid big bucks and had a 7 ft bear each in 3or4 hours. I made one of the guides mad and they switched my hide and when I got home the one they shipped me was 48inches from nose to tail, about half the size of the one I shot. We booked our hunt through Denny Guerink from Outdoor Adventures. Beware of that outfit. I might consider going to Kamchatka but I wouldn't recomend the area Northeast of Moscow.

Hawkeye47

They sent you the hide off a cub? Ouch!

My uncle went to Northeast russia last fall and the 3 of them came back with a 50 inch, a 60 inch and a 73 inch monster moose. They were taken in by helicopter and spent the week in tents. The temp the day they left for home was -20F. Sais he would never do it again as it was real cold and lots of snow. Everything was done on foot and they had to walk 5 hours to get to the moose because the wolves had moved in to the area around their camp. When they shot a moose, the guide would carry the horns back to camp on their back and put wolf repellent on the carcass which they then picked up with the helicopter when it was time to leave. They had to leave all the meat for the villagers when they left russia though. he will give you info if you pm me I will give you his email address.

cliffs2, what the hell is "wolf repellent"?
For a 73" moose -20 and a bit of snow is a piece of cake

quote:

I might consider going to Kamchatka but I wouldn't recomend the area Northeast of Moscow.

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Has brown bear hunting in Kamchatka been reinstated yet?

I'd just go to Alaska. It will probably cost the same in the long run for bear and moose. Also, for for the same types of animals, I'd much rather be in America than Russia.

Having spent considerable time in Moscow the past 7 years, I can tell you that there is active hunting nearby, and it is of good quality. I have not hunted there, but many friends have, primarily for stag and boar. The trick is to get on the right tract/dacha. Many dachas there are like 5 star hotels, and you won't be flim flammed if you are with a local hunter/friend. Now, how you go about finding a new friend in Moscow is another matter. Most of the guys who hunt are so wealthy there wouldn't bother with licensing an outfitter on their land for profit.

I think unless you are living there and have good legit local contacts you are really taking a chance.

My 2 kopecs