I was really enjoying my ride yesterday when Bulwinkle decided he was not going to share the road. It is always great to see the wildlife, for a bit until they get out of the way. These are the same animals you never see when you have a tag to shoot one. I normally stop and and have a snack and then ease along and see if the moose has taken a differnt route. I have tryed yelling, reving the sled and getting a little close. Normally I lose and have to turn around. Keep in mind these are 14 foot roads at best so zooming by is normally not an option. And I don't want to harass them as life is tough for them in the winter anyway. Any good ideas?
Moose Tactics
- Thread starter IDA rather b sledding
- Start date
just like while hunting, they'll stand there lookin' at ya until you put one in the chamber and the metal "clink" sets 'em off and running. try tapping metal on metal...seems to freak them right out. prolly something they don't hear much and foreign to them, engine noise doesn't seem to effect them much.
Moose on the trails is a fairly regular occurance for us in AK. They like the trails for the easy walking--they conserve body fat not having to wallow through deep snow.
Moose can get dangerous during the winter. If you try and "push" them out of the way, they may attack.
I stop as soon as I see them or if the terrain allows, swing out and go way around them.
Moose can get dangerous during the winter. If you try and "push" them out of the way, they may attack.
I stop as soon as I see them or if the terrain allows, swing out and go way around them.
Does getting off your sled make any difference? The elk and deer around here don't seem to care to much about you when you are in your car. I'm guessing they don't percieive a car as a predator or threat. As soon as you get out, and they see you have two legs, they are gone in a heart beat. I've seen the same behavior with other roadside wildlife we've seen. Get out to snap pictures of them, and off they go.
I probalby wouldn't want to mess with a moose and would just turn around, but it's a thought.
I probalby wouldn't want to mess with a moose and would just turn around, but it's a thought.
Don't get too close or they might turn around and come at you, happened to a friend of mine, he got off his sled and ran, luckily the moose stopped at his sled, then reared up and kicked the back of his snowmobile. 
I saw probably 25 last year on the trail and they are a real pain in the azz. The best method I have used it to get them running hard and ease right by them. This work good if the snow is deep and they are sinking to their knees. I had one close encounter this spring when the snow was setup like a rock and the moose was not going to let me by, he turned around and came within about 15'. I was a little nervous and did turn around but that was the only one that stood its ground. I have tried waiting for them but they run down the road out of sight and stand their until you push them again. I feel bad for them but I have no intention of turning around everytime I see a moose in the road.
We had a similar experience where a moose came right up to the sled, sniffed at it, turned and kicked it, then walked away as if nothing happened. Try firing off a round from the pistol under your jacket.
don't run moose or any animal here in WA, it is harassment and taken seriously. the animals have little to eat to maintain energy so any exercise they have to put out is fat off their backs, not a big deal in december, but come febuary that could be what killed em.
I don't want to come off as a bunny hugger, but, thems the facts.
I second SSH's comments.
"Running" them is probably illegal in Idaho too.
Just be patient and give them a little space. They'll move.
"Running" them is probably illegal in Idaho too.
Just be patient and give them a little space. They'll move.
Running them is definately illegal. Sometimes your choices are limited , but generally I try and wait them out. I know my area pretty well so I can regroup my ride most of the time and all is well. I have never thought to take a gun snowmobiling. Not sure I will either. Sounds like it's the moose 11 sledders zip. Thats okay, its fun to send pictures of them to my family in the midwest. My sons and I stopped on a trail while we were dirt bike riding last spring near a pond. We were having drinks and snacks when a cow came out of the pond. First thought was this is neat until I realized she may have a calf and not be happy to see us. We bugged right out of there. Thanks for the ideas.
have encountered many moose on the trails before, especially up along the coeur d'alene river near steamboat rock. when they are on the trail, we will follow them from a distance for awhile and if they don't get off the trail we will shut off the sleds and wait 10 or 15 minutes. and continue on, repeat the process until moose stop hogging the trail.
Last spring in I.P. I had a moose come out of the woods and chase me down the trail.I had to ask the rest of the group if it was as close as I thought.They said it was!
Cave
Cave
they can get downright ornery for sure.
this one's stalking my dog....poor bugger almost freezing to death because of no hair left, was trying to live in my quanset. dog didn't like it......
they can get downright ornery for sure.
this one's stalking my dog....poor bugger almost freezing to death because of no hair left, was trying to live in my quanset. dog didn't like it......
We had a guy killed by a moose at the university a few years ago...students had been harrassing him all morning and when the teacher walked out the door the moose reared up and clobbered him...we deal with them alot around here. keep a good distance from them..they can move very very fast when pissed and they will fight...have seen several snowmachines stomped to death(plugs broke off ,pipes crushed, coolant hoses ripped up) from moose...
I remember seeing that video....old asian dude just idled by that cow and calf like they were squirrels. got fubared.
the one in the pic had to finally be shot. wouldn't leave and I was getting tired of driving the kids to the end of the driveway to get on and off the school bus. don't think he would've survived the winter anyways
not by the look of him without a vets aid...we have a bunch of moose in anchorage(even walking around downtown) you get used to them but we stay well away from them as well...had a friend one time that had a big bull living in his yard eating spring grass for a few weeks..his dog would bark at it like crazy till the moose would charge him..he would run into the house thru the doggy door..bull finally got mad enough he kicked the crap out of the door wreaking it(fish and game came out and chased the bull off before my buddy shot him....lol)
lol...and the greenies think we chase animals...I leave moose alone...way alone...but I sure wish there was a way of telling them to step aside on the trail to let me by...I might try the metal thing....hmmmm
Throw some peppered beef jerky and a can of beer off to the side of the trail and pull over and let you by!
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