Antlered Moose WMU 503 general inquiries

masonjames · #1 07-12-2018, 08:09 AM

I drew late season (Nov 1-30) bull moose in the 503.

Now, I was not expecting to draw such a tag (moose) so early into my hunting years. This will be my 4th year hunting and I have only been putting draws in for 2 years. This being said I am still just barely learning the draw system never mind the hunting system.
Anyways, I have sufficient experience outdoors as grew up partaking actively the outdoors and backcountry. And have so far been blessed with success each year I have so far hunted and have successfully been able to fill the freezer and even a wall mounted whitetale.

So my inquiry into the 503 is specifically bull moose, and hunter landowner relationships.
I in my lack of experience with the draw system out in for the 503 which is a zone 8 hours away.
That being said I decided to put in there as that is where my father has lived for the last 15 years. So I have been to the area ample times, and have spent a decent amount of time in the area and have myself seen what appears to be healthy game populations as well as a family home there for stopping grounds if and when needed.

Yet as I do not live in the area myself, and that vast majority of the wmu is private with little lease land and little crown land, I obviously have not had the opportunity to establish relationships myself with any landowners.
So my question is (as so far I have read negative reviews on the area with hunter landowner relationships) how is the landowner disposition towards hunters, specifically late season bull moose hunters? I don’t mind putting in the leg work and even allotting an extra week if need be to help secure permission where needed, and my father has said he and his wife who grew up there will be asking around for me as well.

Would the area be best hunted focusing on the private or should my focus be in the green? I’m concerned the small blocks of crown might be busy due to the whitetale season in the crown.
Anyone have experience if the area and specifically the crown sections in the 503 get swamped in the late season? And where should one focus his energy trying to find these late season bulls in the zone? North,south, etc?
Certainly NOT looking for spots. Just looking for general direction.

Secondly, what should I guy expect for the hows of hunting the area. I do not currently own a quad, and I’m wondering if in such a zone this would be a huge negative for hunting the area, but I also am concerned weather dependant on wether a quad can get through allot of the area if not frozen solid.
I have no issues with putting 20+km a day on the boots, that I can do, but am also concerned about the retrieval of a bull deep in the bush by foot alone. However being late season I expect the temperatures should be in my favour for having the time needed for retrieval.

Have a nice hunting rig. But can also stay at my dads place and take a different vehicle up as well. Have a good 4x4, winch, tire chains, and a good old hard sided pop up camper in the back I rebuilt. Warm, and goes anywhere the truck would go without it in the box.
So I can camp in the bush someplace and hunt on foot, or move locations by truck, or stay at my dads and hunt and just head out from there each morning.

Thirdly, as I am relatively new to hunting, and again was not expecting to draw a moose tag so early, I have allot of research to do on moose hunting between now and then. Anyone have any pointers or information on what would be the best tactics (for the area) when it comes to these late season bulls? I have heard incredibly hard to find, but relatively simple to hunt if you do find them, as they are I bachelor groups and not doing much moving around and staying relatively close to where you have found them...additionally I will be coupling the moose hunt with general whitetale since I’m hunting anyways and have heard and seen myself some nice bucks up in that area... but whitetale will be secondary, happenstance, and not the purpose or priority.

Anyways, sorry for the length of post. I welcome all and any information, criticism, guidance or advice on the area and the game in the area.

Thanks!

jeffreys 21234 · #2 07-12-2018, 02:31 PM

Pack a few sets of good knives one tip I’ll give them moose seem to dull blades quick

masonjames · #3 07-12-2018, 05:29 PM

Good to know. Thanks for the info. Will be sure to pack a few blades for sure then.

-JR- · #4 07-12-2018, 05:44 PM

When it comes to hunting moose. If you do not have an Atv do not go walking and looking for them .Just shooting one 200 yards from your truck can take all day to get him in your truck.
Two guys can hardly carry a 1/4 moose 50 yards.

masonjames · #5 07-12-2018, 06:51 PM

My initial thought was pack it out. As many trip as would be needed. Figured the temps in November in central east Alberta would or should allow for the time needed to make the multiple trips in and out. Back braking work doesn’t scare me. However now you got me thinking about how sizeable a venture that could be.
Would I be insane to even continue to consider packing a moose out? I’m sure some get them that way no?

I can get access to a quad no problem when I’m up there for retrieval if need be. Father has. And I’m sure I could even find a few helping hands as well if I was to successfully find and kill one. Mah also have a buddy join me on the hunt who has a side x side.
Maybe it’s the year to get into atv... been wanting one but with all the closures going on in my area wasn’t sure if t was going to be worth the investment.

But thanks for the info. Really got me thinking and remembering just how sizeable these animals are and it’s nktblike going to be harvesting a deer...

Thsbsk

Gboe8 · #6 07-13-2018, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -JR-

When it comes to hunting moose. If you do not have an Atv do not go walking and looking for them .Just shooting one 200 yards from your truck can take all day to get him in your truck.
Two guys can hardly carry a 1/4 moose 50 yards.

I would dis agree. We shot a cow last year over 4km from the truck with no a atv access. There was four of us we had it all out in one trip. Just need the proper equipment. A pack frame is your best friend. I have packed A lot of elk and moose out a long ways adds to the hunt and is a story you can tell for ever.

masonjames · #7 07-13-2018, 09:19 AM

Great to know others have done a pack out with moose. I agree it can be done. Feels like I could anticipate a great reward or accomplishment on a pack out and memories to boot. Those are the type of memories that would last... now if only I can also find 4 friends to help. That would be far more ideal... lol

West O'5 · #8 07-16-2018, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -JR-

When it comes to hunting moose. If you do not have an Atv do not go walking and looking for them .Just shooting one 200 yards from your truck can take all day to get him in your truck.
Two guys can hardly carry a 1/4 moose 50 yards.

Maybe eat some Wheaties,lol.......I've humped moose quarters out on my shoulder 10x that distance between breaks while tripping over slash through a cutblock "back in the day",,,,admittedly though,I'm not as good as I once was.....nowadays as a 50yr old out of shape chain smoker I can only do 100m at a time.

West O'5 · #9 07-16-2018, 10:31 PM

Good thing about the late season is you will most likely have snow,and an ice fishing toboggan can easily handle a large deer or 1/4 moose and make life a lot easier on ya....even a 1/2 moose or more solo if you debone it and not too steep terrain.

Slapshot100mph · #10 07-12-2018, 07:43 PM

Couple of thoughts.....

I've hunted 503 exclusively for the past 5 years or so. Moose aren't particularly plentiful but they are there. I decided to get into bow hunting to take advantage of the rut. After about three years of practice and striking out I connected on my first bow kill two years ago in early October.

I only spend time in a small portion of the area but based on my observations November hunting is gonna be dicey. I put lots of miles on from July to November and barely see a moose outside of the rut. It's like someone throws a switch in late September and turns it off again in mid October. I've spent a full week walking and quadding during peak whitetail season in November and not see a moose track from start to finish. Wherever they go I've not been able to find them.....yet!

Now I'm not trying to discourage you. Quite the contrary. It's a great area with tons of crown land, especially in the north. I find that a large proportion of hunters tend to stay fairly close to highways and the better resource roads. If you can find a way to get back in the bush a bit you can find some real gems that are barely looked at by locals. Sometimes all you need to do is walk 10 minutes into a cut line and you have the place to yourself.

As for landowners, I cant help much because I've never tried to get permission. I've been told that people with my particular accent (moved from Newfoundland 13 years ago) aren't received favorably by the farmers in the area. Based on the stories I've heard I dont blame them. Some of my compatriots from back east seem to have wrecked it for the rest of us. I'm not someone who likes bugging people at the best of times so I stick to crown land. If your dad has some connections though you should definitely take advantage.

When I started I googled earthed the crap out of the area and found some points of interest to key in on. Then using the iHunter app I cross referenced with the landowner info and public leases. Lots of good spots for sure. Just need to do a bit of homework. Pay special attention to the leases. Many dont require contact but easy access is only available through the leasors property. If you can find an alternate access point they can be excellent spots.

Just in case you hadn't realised it though, you dont have a late season tag. The tag is good for all season. Just cant rifle hunt till November. My Uncle drew the same tag so we will be out again in bow season. If you are capable with a bow I highly recommend it. I'm always walking around 503 in early October and over the past 4 or 5 years you can count the number of other hunters I've see on one hand. Unfortunately the moose aren't much more plentiful. LOL

Best of luck with it.

Sent from my SM-G955W using Tapatalk

masonjames · #11 07-12-2018, 09:37 PM

Thanks for the info.

I know my tag is good for the archery season as well, but I only took up archery this spring. I thought about it, but I don’t feel comfortable trying to harvest a moose on what would be my first bow hunt and harvest. Just not there yet and if I’m not completely confident, so for the sake and well being of the animal, I will have to stick to rifle. Lol. Shame as hittin the rut would be nice.

I was able to find some old threads that said very similar to what you have said about the moose behaviour during that window of time. Of lack of behaviour. You’ve pretty well confirmed they for the most part just go missing for a period of time.. lol

Well I’m not sure how people feel about guys with your particular accent, but if it makes you feel better, my dad who is a hobbies photographer, sroooed in the side of the highway to take pictures of some deer he spotted in the field abjacent to the highway, and the hunter/landowner tried chasing him away yelling a cursing at him taking pictures of the deer in the guys field. Lol. And my dad has no accent...
It’s does seem hunting is taken incredibly serious there with game vrs land.

We’ll see wether some family connections in the area will help with permission or not but otherwise I will be focusing on the green.

I have already been starting to cross referencing iHunter/landownership with google earth. When I go up I know the on the map where I will want to try and focus efforts but we’ll see if the game and what actually happenes throws it all out the window. Lol.

But I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Info well taken. Thank you kindly!

Big Grey Wolf · #12 07-13-2018, 08:14 AM

If you are in good physical shape you can carry a moose out of bush, one quarter at a time. In the 60's and 70's we always threw 1/4 on back and walked before we had quads. However my father did not like it when I shoot moose more than 1 mile from road and he had to help carry it out.

masonjames · #13 07-13-2018, 08:34 AM

My job description could pretty well be summed up as I carry heavy things. My job requires me to move around, carry up scaffolding and flights of stairs 100s to often 1000s of pounds most every day. Physically, I feel I would be capable of a pack out. But will really have to make sure where I ventured to before I take it on. I did had to pass on an animal last year solo hunting. Just wasn’t confident I could pack it all out in time where I was located before the meat started to spoil in the warmer temps we were having.
But if need be I feel confident I could pack one out. Good to know orhers have done just that. Make me feel much more confident it can be done. Thanks.