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overkill? how much more dead, is dead, than dead?

If I had a 3006 I wouldnt feel the need to go out and buy a moose gun. I probably wouldnt with a 30-30 either, or a .270, or a 308, or a modern muzzleloader for that matter. I personaly wouldnt hunt moose with anything smaller, no matter how stupid guy's say they are.

Maines a fabulous state, I envy you.........good shooting....10

Can you let me on your secret to getting one of those moose permits. I've been applying for 9 years now and still haven't drawn. Maybe with my 4 bonus points this year, my name will come up. As for how much gun is needed, the people I know in Maine seem to like the 30-06. I myself wouldn't feel undergunned with a 308, 270 or 280. If I ever do draw a permit, my choice of rifle will be my yet to be completed Mark X 375-338.

quote:

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Originally posted by CraigP:
halfbreed,

Can you let me on your secret to getting one of those moose permits. I've been applying for 9 years now and still haven't drawn. Maybe with my 4 bonus points this year, my name will come up.

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That's exactly it, luck of the draw. Residents have a much better chance and some of them have still gone a dozen years or more. I'll apply this year but am not holding my breath.

As for range -- I hunted deer there this fall and would say a .30-06 is adequate in terms of trajectory. Moose could be almost anywhere, from in your face to way across a clearcut or down a logging road. We actually jumped three of them at the top of a steep ridge, but couldn't see them in the heavy undergrowth.

If you have more questions about hunting in the northernmost part of Maine you could check with Sean Lizotte at Allagash Guide Service -- www.allagashguideservice.com -- I didn't hunt with them but he's a friend of the buddy I did hunt with.

Sean and his wife are good people. They have a nice lodge with great-smelling food and lots of happy-looking hunters. He puts folks into a decent number of good deer, too, considering how hard the hunting conditions are up there. And, he went the extra mile -- in reality, a good bit more than that! -- to help my buddy find me when I ran out of daylight before getting back to the road my first night. (I now have a GPS and carry more and better tinder. :-))

John

Moose are pretty tough, but your deer rifle will likely do the trick. Ive been on moose hunts twice with my brother in New Hampshire. Both moose were taken with a 30-06 with 180 grain remington round nose bullets. Both animals took several shots to down (the first three, and the second five!), but neither went anywhere after the first hit. Both were shot in the ribs behind the front leg. If you want to drop him on the first shot, hit him in the shoulder.

Ranges will likely be close, usually under 100 yards, but don't count out longer shots. You'll find your moose back in the thick brush, in the clear cuts. You will notice many hunters driving the logging roads looking for moose, but you will see more if you get out and walk back into the brush. If you do some serious scouting before season, you should be able to have your moose by the second or third day. Our hunts were both over in the first day.

I see dozens of moose every year while deer hunting, you just can't predict how they will react to you. Some will just stand and stare, others will run off. Some have even followed me. One day last season I saw 12, including several good bulls.

Good luck, I hope you bag your bull. Maine's success has been averaging arround 85% in recent years. Dave P.

My sister dropped a large bull from close range with one shot from her 308 Winchester this past year.

As with any game animal, shot placement is critical.

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overkill? how much more dead, is dead, than dead?

I am going to use my 460 weatherby whit 500 grains hornady round nose bullets at 2650 f/s

I think the moose will be dead and very dead if i hit him in the shoulder bone in 50 yards.

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overkill? how much more dead, is dead, than dead?

He did start running tho, straight towards a chest high creek. And we'd probably be cutting him out of it still if I didnt break his back before he made it there.............10

http://www.buckexpert.com/Pages/welcome.htm

-Rockhead

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overkill? how much more dead, is dead, than dead?

You face two major challanges. First is getting the carcass out and second not getting lost in the woods there. In much of the country you just walk downhill and you come out on a road at least. In Maine it can be the opposite.

Now it's possible that the Moose will die by the back of your pickup truck and all that you will have to do is winch it up into the back but it's not likely.

But topographic maps, a compass and maybe a GPS are necessary and will enhance the planning and the fun of the anticpation.

This is a heavy duty "contruction" project unless you hire someone to handle the dead mooose. Plan this out including who is going to butcher it.

If you go early in the fall there could be Black Flies.

The traditional Maine hunting method is to ride the roads. Out of state hunters go into the woods.

It's time to get a bigger gun and practice with it. Any cartridge similar to the 30-06 will be fine.

Just wondering, you are planning on hunting Maine this year, but the lottery (or application deadline-whichever) won't be until May... you must be planning on buying one of the tags that are auctioned off each year, no?

DP

[This message has been edited by dogtagger (edited 03-03-2002).]

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overkill? how much more dead, is dead, than dead?

Keep puting in for those permits and then you will look forward to it. I put in for one, as a non-resident, and never got one. Don't give up.

Apply for a disabled permit to hunt from the vehicle! I was riding on a logging road up there near Patton and a bull moose crossed the road well ahead of the car. This road was quite wide and visiblity was good. So I turned around and drove back really slow looking into the woods for the moose. It charged my car! It came right out of the woods right after me! I spun the wheels and took off down the road and could not see the moose any longer because of the dust. There is more to this story and if I meet you up there we can talk about it.

The woods in Northern Maine are almost impossible to walk in. There is a tangle of blow downs and slashings from logging everywhere! But then there are the roads! The northeast is full of nice woods and logging roads that can be walked or driven depending upon their age and maintenace.

I cannot pick up a 200# buck myself. You will need help on this trip. There is no way I would shoot a moose in Maine alone unless I was going to eat the whole thing right there!

The Rockies are not wild! Northern Maine = wild!

The only sure way of not getting a permit is to not apply. You never know what can happen. Yeah I've been putting in for 9 years without success but that doesn't mean a non-resident can't draw on their first attempt. I'm sure a few of the non-resident tags go to people applying for the first time. Anyway good luck. Hope to see ya up there this moose season.

Craig

Don't despair not getting the moose permit. Keep trying. The state allows an applicant to submit 6 applications (I think-I haven't applied in years). Maine also has a system where applicants get points each year you are not drawn. Don't forget that a few tags are auctioned each year. Very pricey though.

The North Maine Woods (NMW)-where most moose hunting takes place is indeed thick, as is most of Maine. I still would rather (personally) take a moose on foot (should I ever choose to take one at all). If you ever see the circus there during moose season you will understand, groups of 2-3 trucks parading around, hoping a moose will walk out in front of them. By the way ATVs are not allowed in the NMW. There are other areas that do allow ATVs. On one of the moose hunts I made with my brother, we packed a large bull a mile off a mountain. That�s a lot of work, and we had four helpers! Good luck.

DP.