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Alaska Moose hunting
Information about moose hunting in Alaska including hunting techniques, calling, judging bull moose,
hunt prices, outfitter operations, gear lists and more.
Your guided Alaskan moose hunt will begin with a bush plane flight into a remote area of Alaska. The Alaska-Yukon Moose is the largest member of the deer family in the world. Adult male moose or Bull moose have the largest antlers of all North American Big Game animals and can weigh over 1,600 pounds. We Moose hunt in September when the moose are moving into their fall grounds and getting into the rut. By observing seasonal migrations year after year one is able to predict Moose behavior and movement to a great degree. Terrain features such as ridges and ponds sometimes create natural “funnels” where traveling moose will be concentrated. Known areas with ideal browse, water and seclusion draw large bulls and their harems each year.
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Moose are very vocal and use grunts, moans and brush-raking combined with their exceptional hearing to locate one another from great distances. Moose respond well to calling and can be called from miles away. A bull moose's antlers and ears act as a parabolic microphone. Sound waves are bounced off the large dished palms of the antlers and directed into the ears. Different calling techniques are effective at different times during the rut. Early in the rut and during the pre-rut bull moose often pair up and form small bachelor groups of 2-4 bulls. As the rut progresses bull moose start seeking cows and become more combative with other bulls. The biggest bulls will collect and defend multiple cows. Once a large bull moose has several cows he will be less responsive to calling. However, big bulls with cows can be approached and effectively hunted as long as you “speak the language”.
Much of the areas we hunt are inaccessible by other modes of transportation and have restrictions preventing the use of motorized ATV’s or boats. These remote, “controlled use areas” are home to some of the healthiest moose populations in Alaska. More about the Areas we hunt Moose
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Anatomy of a Moose Rack
Click for more information on judging trophy bull moose, moose antler terminology, harvest requirements
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We use a combination of moose hunting techniques including spot-and-stalk and calling. We often use spike camps where elevation and terrain provide good visibility of the surrounding area. They are secret places known only to us and the moose, with names like "The Moose Knob", "Mystic", "Tennessee's Ridge" and "The Lightning Tree". From these places you will hear their nightly mating carrying-ons, and be able to spot moose from your sleeping bag when you awake in the morning. On a typical day of glassing it is not uncommon to see a dozen or more moose. Hunters often pass on one or more mature bulls before harvesting a trophy moose. Although antler spread is the most common measure of size, it is only one of many factors to be considered.
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Moose hunting in Alaska often results in close encounters with these enormous big game animals. Calling moose in the right conditions can bring them in right on top of you. Though older bulls tend to be more reserved when coming to calls, some bulls can get downright belligerent. Moose hunts are among the most exiting big game hunts North America has to offer.
It is not necessary to buy lots of new expensive gear for your hunting trip to Alaska. However, it doesn’t pay to scrimp on some things. A few pairs of good socks might add more to the enjoyment of your hunt than a new rifle. I would prefer to see someone come with their trusty 30/06 that he has carried for many seasons rather than a brand new .338 that he is not familiar with. If you want to treat yourself, consider a new pair of top quality light weight binoculars. There will be many interesting things to view through them. Other items that deserve consideration include boots, camera, sleeping bag, and raingear. The most important thing you can do to increase your enjoyment and improve your chances of success is to be as physically fit as possible. However, we can accommodate most people with physical problems. Please give us a good assessment of your physical abilities and handicaps or medical problems, if any so that we can plan your trip accordingly. Find detailed information on Hunting Gear and Equipment List
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Base camps are comfortable and equipped with wall tents, wood stoves, cots, plenty of food and snacks etc. Once we reach camp we hunt mostly on foot. Most moose are harvested within two miles of a base camp. We also use river raft float trips during some hunts. The cost of a fully outfitted, 10 day guided moose hunt is $10,500.
I am a Alaskan Master guide with 34 years experience guiding and outfitting in Alaska. I keep my guiding operation small with a very limited number of clients each year to ensure the best in adventure and success, minimize impact, and retain a personal relationship with everybody. Our hunts are fully outfitted and guided with one guide per client (1X1), who will be with you for the duration of your hunt. In addition to Moose, we also offer guided Dall sheep hunts and guided bear hunts. We take pride in delivering the highest quality hunt possible. We have good healthy populations of all the above mentioned species, and we get consistently good trophies every year. I obey the game laws and I stick to the principles of Sportsmanship and Fair Chase.
For available bookings, questions about our operation, or to request a reference list please Contact Max Schwab.
For more informaion about our outfit and available hunts, vist the Home Page
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