What is the average shot distance for Moose both before the rut and during the rut?

Thanks
Mark

before actual rut they could be easily outside of 100yds and just abit wary, in rut you can bring them right into camp if you're a mind to.

I've had them to within 30 FEET while in the rut. My son (then 8) was with me and his eyes kept getting bigger and bigger the closer the bull came. Unfortunately we were carrying rimfires and shotguns at the time.

I never shot a moose beyond 40 yards under any conditions. A friend shot one at 125 when we were hunting together once. Did manage to shoot one 30 feet away once with a handgun after calling it in.
All of these were three brow tine moose. You better be dang sure of the tines before you pull the trigger.

Thank you for your replies!

How often are shots over 200 yards taken?

In my hunting circle of friends none of us ever shot one over 125 yards. For us average distance is certaintly under 50 yards.

quote:

For us average distance is certaintly under 50 yards.

yep! that is why I personally feel velocity is not the killer--good ole .30-30 works fine in these scenarios or maybe a .307 Winchester and .358 etc....darn .45-70 is quite the "in close" workhorse--just ramblin.

Grizz,
What kind of boat and motor do you run?

I shot one at 340 yd. but all the rest while I lived in Alaska were 100 yd. or less.

Mark

quote:

Grizz,
What kind of boat and motor do you run?

pm will be sent.

I've lost count of all the moose I've seen get killed over the years, but I do know that two were over 100 yards, one at 150 and one at 250. That's way less than 10% of the total.

I managed to get a 300 yard shot last year on a 54 in. bull. (.375 cal. 260gr.) He came out accross a lake from my calling position. That has been rare in my experiance. Most of my moose kills have been under 100 yards. Two kills have been with bow at 30 yards.

Seasons in our area, and indeed I believe the rest of the state end before the rut - at least for rifle. Having written that, yeah, I had 'em as close as 20 yds. or so. As to ranges during the firearms seasons, I'd say that with us, it's possibly about 50-50 on shots 100 yds. or less vs. shots over 100 yds. On the over 100 yd. shots, one of the guys got one at about 300 several years ago with a 30-06. This last year, we were 2 for 5 on moose. Mine was about 175 and the other was about 125 - across the slough at our main base camp. Ugh!! What a mess. The 2005 season saw us taking 2 at about 75 yds. each. The 2004 season saw us take 1 for 3 and he was taken at about 250 yds.
We usually hunt moose by watching their crossings on the river so distances can be somewhat longer than most of the other guys have posted. Later, Bear in Fairbanks

The main thing that dictates shot distance from what I have seen has been being able to accurately judge size or number of brow tines. I shot my moose last year at 280 yards. I could have shot a few more in the last few years from 100-300 yards especially when hunting up higher in the mountains where the terrain is more open and you can see moose from miles away. We also get some chances in very large swampy areas where it is open for several hundred yards. It all just boils down to where you are hunting.

You want to be darn sure of the spread or points on any moose you shoot, that limits how far you can shoot at them.

Thank you all for you response and opinions!

I think I'll take my 375H&H just to cover all possiblities. I thought about carrying my 1895 Guide Gun 45-70 with the 460gr Cast bullets. It is just so easy to carry! But the 375H&H would probably be a better choice.

Thanks
Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Thebear_78:
You want to be darn sure of the spread or points on any moose you shoot, that limits how far you can shoot at them.

Um, what?

Mr. Alasken,
Do believe he is referring to the requirement of a Moose rack being a minimum of 50" spread or have at least three or four brow tines on a side; depending on where you hunt.
Personally, we can have a hard time telling the difference between a 49 1/2" rack (illegal) and a 50" rack (legal) in the areas where we hunt.
As am getting along in years, will only shoot a spike or fork horn these days as it is about all I can quarter and load up by myself. And they always taste GOOD!
Best Wishes

I've stared at too many moose trying to will that extra few inches of spread or brow tine onto them to make them legal. I won't shoot one even close to 50" without the required brow tines just to be safe. You need pretty good optics to count those brow tines much past 150 yards or so, even more so if they are in some brush or at a weird angle.

;;;; A 375 H&H does fine with down to a 20 " barrel and there are plenty with shorter...The factory Win, mod. 70 tended to be heavybut shortening it up a little makes it alot easier to get around with ....Most big game is shot well within 100 yrds ...but the 375 is the Alaskan standard for good reason...it does everything well with easy recoil..

My longest shot on a Moose was about 150 yards. Ive never hunted in an area where you could see farther than that through the trees. My Caliber of choice has always been my 45-70 with 400gn Kodiak bonded loads. This year Im trying a reamed out 405 Ruger #1. It now takes 405 but with a C.O.L of 3.875". It will push a 300gn Barnes XFB to 2650. Hoping to get a Bison permit this year but thats a long shot.(the chances of getting one that is)

Custom 405 ;;;;;;;;;;;That sounds like a good reason to use a #1 405...Do you long load the brass or use a basic case????

Hey Gum.
Depends on what you mean by basic. I use whats called 405 Basic 3.25 Brass made by Bertram Bullets Company out of Austrailia. Its called basic but its far from 405 "normal" brass.