The Northern Ontario Moose Hunt

Scouting, calling, and looking for sign–James Smedley reflects on why the hunt is much more than that final moment.

Aiming a rifle at an animal and pulling the trigger is arguably the most intense aspect of a hunt, but experienced moose hunters know there is usually a lot of legwork that occurs before looking at an animal through the crosshairs. In my experience, spending time in the woods, looking for sign, and preparing for a moose encounter is the most fulfilling part of hunting these magnificent creatures.

Moose 01

No Tag, No Problem

I’m a relatively new moose hunter and I must admit that I didn’t get serious until I drew my first bull tag last season. I learned as much as I could from my more experienced partners, immersed myself in moose habitat, and thoroughly enjoyed becoming more familiar with the ways of these large antlered ungulates. The result was the harvest of a beautiful three-year-old bull and the confirmation of a love of the moose hunt and all it entails. I don’t have a moose tag this year, and won’t have the opportunity to take an adult animal, but that does not mean I can’t enjoy aspects of the hunt.

James and Moose

Scouting

Looking for moose sign gives me the excuse I need to spend hours and hours in the wilderness, learning about their autumn habitats and habitat. I’ve been frequenting feeding areas like wetlands rich in aquatic vegetation and openings in the forest where these giant creatures chew on plants and nibble the tender tips of young deciduous trees. I paddle through swamps where severed stems of lily pads point to feeding ungulates and walk old cutovers amongst broken trees and heavily browsed new growth where the ground is heavily imprinted with tracks.

Signs 01

Signs 02

Evidence of bulls, in particular, is found in rubs where they announce their reproductive intentions by bashing their racks against trees, resulting in heavy damage to young growth and stripped bark on mature trees.

Signs 03

Another sure sign is a ‘wallow’ or ‘rutting pit’ where a bull will urinate and wallow in the testosterone-rich scented liquid as a means of alluring a female. I recently found a rutting pit and my discovery was accompanied by the sound of a large animal moving slowly through an old cut, followed by the noise of antlers intensely thrashing shrubs and trees; it’s another means of attracting mates and warning off male competitors.

Signs 04

It confirms that one of the most exciting things about looking for sign is actually discovering an animal. Given the fact that moose can be very dangerous, I decide it’s my cue to creep away.

Calling

Calling 01

One of the most intriguing aspects of hunting a bull during the autumn mating season, known as ‘the rut,’ is that we can make them come to us. This is generally done by imitating a potential mate, with a cow call, or a competing male, with a bull call. Even though I don’t have a tag, I still want to experience the thrill of drawing such an impressive creature out of the wilderness, so I’ve been bringing my camera to the woods and calling. There are some obvious differences between hunting with a camera and hunting with a weapon, but drawing an animal in close for a photograph is at least as difficult as drawing a moose within rifle range.

Moose 02

Moose 03

Last time out I called in a one-year-old bull, soon joined by a three-year-old. I tried cow calls, at various volumes and intonations, to entice them into the open but they stuck to the periphery. When I switched to bull calls they seemed intrigued yet wandered slowly away. Ten minutes later, the larger of the two showed up in heavy cover directly behind me, grunting. I made a few grunts and actually thrashed the bushes with my monopod. He eventually jumped into the open, looked in my direction, and bolted. But he didn’t go far and I spent another 15 minutes watching him feed and react to my calls. Eventually, I left before my novice calling aroused suspicion.

Moose 04

Although photographs make a pretty thin broth, I did get some interesting shots and was able to spend time in the woods, practicing my skills and interacting with these giants of the Northern Ontario wilderness.

About James Smedley

Professional photographer and writer James Smedley’s contributions—more than 400 pieces and close to 1,000 images—to U.S. and Canadian books, magazines, and newspapers have earned him over 40 national and international awards. In addition to teaching photography workshops, James is the travel editor at Ontario OUT of DOORS magazine. James has fly-fished for brook trout and arctic grayling in far northern rivers and continues to cast for trout, bass, and steelhead near his home in the northern Ontario town of Wawa where he lives with his wife Francine and daughters Islay and Lillian.

 

Visit James at www.jamessmedleyoutdoors.com

Recommended Articles

Remote Shoreline Moose Hunting

A fly-in moose hunting adventure at Winoga Lodge in Sioux Lookout.

5 Reasons to Hunt in Sunset Country

Hunt for deer, moose, black bear, and several small game and waterfowl.

Dog Lake Bears

Dog Lake Resort in Ontario's Sunset Country is truly an angler's and hunter's dream located just an hour north of Thunder Bay.

Combining Great Fishing and Hunting

Andomoozwe Outfitters & Lodge is located in an area known for its great black bear population.

Bird Dog Friendly Lodges

Bring the friend that does the most during bird hunts—your dog.

Ontario's Largest Moose by a Female

A father and daughter's big game hunt in Ontario.

26 Amazing Whitetail Hunting Lodges in Sunset Country

Big game hunters look forward all year to when whitetail deer season opens.

An Unforgettable Northern Hunt

Kevin Beasley visits Pine Portage Lodge for a memorable fall hunt

Buck on the Run

Ogoki Moose

Fly-in Adventure with Mattice Lake Outfitters

A Dryden Buck

Hunting Trophy Bucks in Dryden, Ontario

Traditional Deer Hunt

Hunting at Little River Lodge

Father and Son

Moose Hunting in Northwestern Ontario

Bear Country

Hunting Black Bear at Red Pine Lodge

Goose Hunting

Southern Ontario is Prime Habitat, Offering Prime Hunting

Inside Deer Season

Learn the Four Major Whitetail Cycles

Snow Hunt for Moose

Late Season Hunt for Moose in Ontario

Turkey Tips and Tricks

Turkey Calling and Decoy Placement

Cooking Wild Game: Venison Kofta Kebabs

Get out the grill for this tasty recipe!

Fall Moose Hunting

Try These 6 Tips to Help You Get Your Moose