I posted about this in the big game section, but figured I'd ask you guys as well. I got the okay for a moose hunt tonight for 2005 and was looking at going to Newfoundland (due to price). What is the success rate there, it seems pretty high if what I read is true. Also, what is the best time to go that would provide the best chance at taking a moose? I appreciate your help.

Al

Never went but I heard that NF (on the island, not in Labrador) has a high concentration of Moose, but not the biggest racks (on both moose and girls)

Have fun anyways!

Speaking from experience, I think the best way to find a moose in Canada is to go driving down a road at night with your vehicle. I had the unfortunate experience of bagging my first moose that way. 90 clicks an hour and whammo, one pissed off moose. Got up and looked at me, I swear it smiled too. Hope your hunt ends up being cheaper than mine. Good luck!!

Newfoundland is just plain lousy with moose in some areas. For example, I _never_ drive through Terra Nova National Park at dusk. That's simply taking your life in your hands (and there's good enough restaurants in Gander or Clarenville depending on which way you're going!).

Racks are not esp. large I've been told--though I'm not an expert re. trophies. Size is good. Locals probably fill from 60% of their tags (city hunters with limited time--no Sunday hunting here, so time off work is required to hunt) to nearly 100% for locals who spend time in the woods and hunt for each other to fill out tags.

By all accounts thre are a goodly number of lodges who get into the 90% success range. Again, the critical variable is time: if you spend a good hard week in the woods in a good area, you WILL see moose in range. I can pretty much guarantee that as much as anything can be guaranteed in hunting. If you're seeking a specific trophy, that means you'll need to spend more time, basically, not that you won't see one.

BTW, if you're looking for trophies, caribou and bear are the way to go. I hunt caribou as, being a prof, I simply can't take the time off in the fall to hunt for a week (no Sunday hunting really hurts people like me ). Caribou are quite a lot easier to bag, though, are quite reachable from St. John's, where I live, in drives of less than 2 hours, and inhabit some of the most stunning habitat on the planet as far as I'm concerned! Many other caribou areas are reachable in around 8 hours or less drive (or you can fly into Gander or Corner Brook if you're hunting Central or in the West. Anyway, many trophy caribou are available. Bears are the same: the subspecies here is very large and local hunting pressure for them is quite low.

I came here from Texas in 1980 with a Texas wife, and we've never looked back. Newfoundland is one of Earth's special places. I think you'll have a good time.

Best of luck.

jgnfld

Oh...one other note: gdupuis may know about moose, but his ignorance is legion in other areas .