Moose Hunt

[Litehiker]

Interesting thread and brings up a topic that I never thought to address on a guided hunt. Since I compete at up to 1,095 yards on steel 1 MOA targets I would mention to the guide BEFORE BOOKING what I thought my max range was on a given animal.

For example with my 6.5 PRC Hornady 143 gr. ELD-X ammo I'd give the following max ranges I'd shoot on a clear day with 10 mph or less wind.
->antelope - 900 yards
->deer - 700 yards
->elk, male or female - 300 yards

With those ranges I'm considering my own ability, my cartridge's energy and my rifle's inherent accuracy. (My X-Bolt Pro with the above cartridge easily gets 7/8" at 200 yards.) I have a BUSHNELL 4.5-18 X 44 LRTS scope that's good at a 1,095 yard target on a clear day. It has an illuminated G3 reticle for darker, cloudier days.

 

[sea2summit]

Interesting thread and brings up a topic that I never thought to address on a guided hunt. Since I compete at up to 1,095 yards on steel 1 MOA targets I would mention to the guide BEFORE BOOKING what I thought my max range was on a given animal.

For example with my 6.5 PRC Hornady 143 gr. ELD-X ammo I'd give the following max ranges I'd shoot on a clear day with 10 mph or less wind.
->antelope - 900 yards
->deer - 700 yards
->elk, male or female - 300 yards

With those ranges I'm considering my own ability, my cartridge's energy and my rifle's inherent accuracy. (My X-Bolt Pro with the above cartridge easily gets 7/8" at 200 yards.) I have a BUSHNELL 4.5-18 X 44 LRTS scope that's good at a 1,095 yard target on a clear day. It has an illuminated G3 reticle for darker, cloudier days.

Well thought out post...sounds like it's an etikal opinion to me

 

[carl1775]

A moose is the size of a carport. At less than 500 yds., I absolutely sympathize with the OP. In that range, with a decent rig and confident shooter..... throw lead.

The "PH/guide," if THEY are competent, should be able to;
1) find a representative "trophy" quality animal, following all federal, state and local laws.
2) position the hunter into the most advantageous position available at the time, terrain and environment.
3) coach/ spot, the shooter into the correct range, wind and placement.
4) track and recover the animal.
That said, in defense of the outfitter, they shouldn't have to track very far, or over a cliff face if it can be avoided (game should be reasonably recoverable, ie. don't shoot a deer crossing a fast moving river, etc.). After that, the decision is up to the shooter 100%, no one else. Sounds like you were one of the unfortunate few that got a bad outfitter, or guide. One in the same, as far as I'm concerned.

In my experience a wounded animal is a paid for animal. The hunter chooses whether, or not to take the shot, not the guide. The only exception, is when the guide "knows" that there is a better opportunity, animal, or shot, to be had. Sounds like they just took you out to see their "breeding stock," so they could say that you had the "opportunity," it just didn't work out. Any way, that's just speculation. Sorry about the situation, but that's hunting.

 

[James L Holzhauer]

moose are a HUGE target. I shot mine with a .338 win mag at about a hundred yards in the chest four times. I think the first shot was clearly lethal but my guide said shoot until he drops. Moose can take some seconds to drop. I shot a mule deer at 368 yards in a 20 mile an hour wind through the heart. A very small target by comparison. I think the moose was in range.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I'm surprised so many posters have suggested that the distance you would be permitted to shoot should have been discussed beforehand. I have hunted with outfitters for a loooong time and this has never been brought up by an outfitter, the guides or any of the hunters.

I recently returned from Newfoundland where I was moose hunting. I was shooting a custom 338RUM that printed sub .5moa at 400yds repeatedly.

The first two bulls went to hunting buddies who had not been successful in previous years. I hunted hard right up to the last minute of the last day. With only a few minutes left of shootable light I spotted a huge bull and cow walking out of the timber at 725yds. Conditions seemed good with a dead calm wind. I climbed atop of the Argo roof and set the bipod up in 2 seconds. With failing light, a distance that exceeded my comfort level and a few dead twigs in just the wrong place, I held fire and watched them as the sun dropped.
What did my guide say - "why didn't you take the shot"?.

I think only the shooter can make the right decision as to whether you should shoot or not under the various conditions that exist at any given moment.

 

[Vol1975]

One thing I learned along time ago with outfitters are that most have seen so many hunters that could not shoot worth a crap and wound a lot of animals. Most era on the side of caution especially when they are of some distance and not in ideal shooting positions.
Live and learn and ask about distance and even what an outfitter thinks about the caliber and bullet u use. Him not knownIng you and ur abilities and even the gun u were using with the Bergers probably played a aspect on him on what he thought of the shot.
he more than likely thought he could get you a closer shot.

I done a spot and stalk on deer about 15 years ago and the outfitter told me that they would be lucky if 1 out of 8 people would be 1 shot kills. I was shocked at some of the stories he told me on people and their abilities.
long story short most people today didn't grow up around guns and can't shoot less they are off a bench.

Gents,

I had a guided Moose hunt this year in Alaska which was unsuccessful... it happens. I felt the outfitter was solid but I had an incident with a guide and I would like a second opinion.

At first light I spotted a 65"+ moose about a mile away. At last light he fed out into a meadow and was 464 yards away. In short, the guide denied me on a clear shot. I spoke with the guide afterward and he said I did not understand how much respect he had for those animals and he did not want to see me wound it.

Yes, I kept my composure and this was my only opportunity at a moose during the trip. I had a 7mm rem mag with VLD 180s at 2910 FPS and carry 2000 ft pounds of energy at 500 yards.

I wish this opportunity had never presented itself as it tainted my experience. I did speak with the outfitter and he stands behind his guide and is not willing to work something out that would be a win win.

Adding; I practice out to 1000 yards and have taken several animals cross canyon. Prior to the hunt I established 500 yards as a max shooting range as I wanted plenty of energy to take the animal.

Thoughts?

Gents,

I had a guided Moose hunt this year in Alaska which was unsuccessful... it happens. I felt the outfitter was solid but I had an incident with a guide and I would like a second opinion.

At first light I spotted a 65"+ moose about a mile away. At last light he fed out into a meadow and was 464 yards away. In short, the guide denied me on a clear shot. I spoke with the guide afterward and he said I did not understand how much respect he had for those animals and he did not want to see me wound it.

Yes, I kept my composure and this was my only opportunity at a moose during the trip. I had a 7mm rem mag with VLD 180s at 2910 FPS and carry 2000 ft pounds of energy at 500 yards.

I wish this opportunity had never presented itself as it tainted my experience. I did speak with the outfitter and he stands behind his guide and is not willing to work something out that would be a win win.

Adding; I practice out to 1000 yards and have taken several animals cross canyon. Prior to the hunt I established 500 yards as a max shooting range as I wanted plenty of energy to take the animal.

Thoughts?

 

[carl1775]

I have always discussed "distance" on previous hunts. Only percieved competence was addressed. "How far do you feel comfortable shooting?" And, as previously mentioned, sight in and zero checks at a known range before hunting. Evidently, as I'm reflecting, that seems to be the trade mark of a good outfitter...

 

[BrentM]

At a local match a month ago they set out a life size steel deer. Out of 40 shooters and 2 shots each, only 3 Hit the vitals. I think 8 hits total out of 80. Yardage was known. 750 yards. This is common.

 

[Clem Bronkoski]

I can understand where the guide is coming from. But like others said this is something that should have been discussed with the outfitter even before booking the hunt. I was on a hunt several years ago and after a 5 hour stalk on a nice 4x4 mulie, we could not get any closer than 437 yards. The guide asked me if I could make that shot (no wind) because the outfitter did not want hunters to shoot farther than 300 yards. I told him I could make it. That mulie is hanging on my wall.

 

[Clem Bronkoski]

At a local match a month ago they set out a life size steel deer. Out of 40 shooters and 2 shots each, only 3 Hit the vitals. I think 8 hits total out of 80. Yardage was known. 750 yards. This is common.

Were these experienced long range shooters? Seems awfully odd if they were.

 

[RogerPA]

I've been fortunate to have participated in several guided hunts, including a BC, Canada moose hunt. In all cases, either by a direct question, or through conversation with my guide, I let them know the distance I was comfortable shooting the game we were pursuing. In that all my guided hunts have been for game animals I wasn't totally familiar with judging age, trophy class, etc., I've "always" told my guide; "When you say I should shoot, then I'll shoot". I've eaten a few tags that I could have filled, but honestly, I've never regretted setting this standard. And BTW, On BC moose hunt, despite the fact I did not take a moose, it was the most unforgettable, exhilarating, and at times even terrorizing, hunts I've ever experienced!

 

[MTBMaine]

Hi all, could someone fill me in on these "rule violations"... I'm not really into long range hunting... I just frequent this website cause I'm into target shooting.

 

[Tidus56]

Rang the grizzly bear dinner bell and took a 64" bull moose in British Columbia a few weeks ago 7mm LRM, 180gr Berger 425yds and dropped it. Had a shot at 1000yds but wasn't comfortable that bullet energy would suffice so stalked in. This is a little bit off the topic but I have great luck with Bergers at 200+ yds but closer I find we are doing a lot of tracking and not always successfu. Took a 300" 6x6 elk a couple days after the moose at 50 yards in heavy bush. Double lung shot and we found him just as his legs wobbled and went down and put another in just to be safe as it was the last minutes of the last night of our hunt. Have lost a few deer at close ranges there is blood but very little, we found one 3 days later by seeing the crows circling. Although I've had on rare occasions the opposite where the exit would was pretty well the entire front quarter of the hide, messy! So thinking about going back to Barnes when hunting closer ranges anyone else have similar experience with Bergers at closer ranges?

Consider the Hammer Hunter bullets instead of Barnes. I used a Hammer Hunter on a bison at 100 yards and it put on whooping on the bison. It did a lot more expansion that the TTSX Barnes bullets I have used and still retained 72% of the weight. I was pretty pleased and I was pretty bummed when I was told I had to use a copper on this ranch. Anyway something to consider.

 

[Pacecount]

I greatly appreciate the feedback and I hope that someone is able to benefit from my mistake.

*put in writing any range limitations*