I have been guiding moose in Maine for 5 years and there is one thing I have heard many times. “I didn’t realize how __________ this hunt would.” Each hunter thinks that they have prepared themselves for a Maine moose hunt but so often they find themselves surprised by some aspect of the hunt. With over 50,000 wishful hunters entering the moose lottery each year, less than 3,000 participants are lucky enough to draw a tag. It is a hunt that many people wait over 30 years to draw a tag for. To make the hunt enjoyable and successful with less surprises, consider these four items when planning your hunt.
EXPENSE AND COST
A moose hunt can be an expensive adventure for most people. Whether you hire a guide or do it yourself, you will most likely have to open your wallet to get the job done.
Assuming you have already bought your hunting license and paid for your moose tag, the next item that will take your hard earned dollars is lodging. If you don’t live in your hunting zone, you will need to find a place to rest at night. Do you have a “friend” with a camp? Do you want to spend the week in a tent? No? Than you will have to rent a hotel room(s) or house for you and you hunting party to spend the next week in. These options book up quickly, so don’t procrastinate.
Next, don’t forget that you will need to feed you and your hunting party. You want to keep everyone fueled for getting that trophy bull out of the woods when the time arrives. And, if you decide on a DIY hunt, your truck will need to be fueled as well. Driving miles upon miles of logging roads for 6 days of hunting will burn through a few tanks of gas. Don’t forget those couple of days before the hunt to scout the area too!
If you decide to hire a guide, they are not going to work for free. And they will be expecting a tip of at least 10% of the price of the hunt. Now you need to decide what level of service you want to spend your money on. Are you looking for someone to drive you around and show you the area or are looking for someone who will get you into the woods and put some miles on your boots. Are looking for a guide that will pick you up at a motel in the morning and feed you peanut butter sandwiches for lunch or will you want an outfitter that includes 4-star lodging and meals. Either way, the guide will cost money. But it is a service that will help you make the next few items a little easier to handle.
MENTAL PREPARATION
A moose hunt can seem like a long 6 days. Maybe you are someone who has waited decades to draw a tag, or you are an out-of-stater that knows how hard it is to draw a hunt for this animal. Either way, it can be a lot of self-induced pressure to be successful.
The first day of the hunt, everyone is confident they are going to shoot a 50” bull. By day 2, a 40” bull looks really good. By day 3, hunters begin to stress. If the wind, the weather, the moose haven’t cooperated the first couple days, emotions start to run low. Even though there is still 4 days of hunting left, the worry begins to set in.
A moose hunter needs to be prepared for a 6 day hunt. I have seen hunts come down to the final 5 minutes of the season before the tag is filled. You need to have a positive attitude no matter how difficult it gets. It can be some long, boring frustrating and tiring days, but the end result is such an amazing emotional high, it will all be worth it!
DIFFICULTY OF THE TERRAIN
The woods of Maine are some of the most beautiful country you will see. If you are lucky enough to draw a hunt during peak foliage time, the colors make for a spectacular scene. But a hunter that is planning on doing a lot of walking better be prepared for the terrain the Maine woods will offer. You might not have the mountains and cliffs of the Rocky Mountains, but Maine presents its own unique challenges. The clear cuts are not what they appear, they will have you high-stepping and climbing over downed trees that are up to your waist. The woods will take you through swamps and have you on your knees crawling under alder bushes. And the visibility within the woods will force you to get close and personal with your target.
If you think you are going to come to Maine and drive up to a moose on the side of the road and fill your tag, you are probably mistaken. Yes, it could happen, but the woods of Maine are most likely going to test you physically. If you have bad knees or your boots are not waterproof, you are going to be in for a long week. I have had several clients inform me that they had no idea how hard Maine woods would be to hunt in.
RETRIEVAL OF YOUR TROPHY
A moose is a LARGE animal. There is no easy way to get a moose out of the woods and on to your truck or trailer. Many guides, hunters and locals will give you tips on the best way to get a moose out of the woods but none of these techniques will be simple. Do you want to use wench and let the machine do all of the work? Sounds great, except when the antlers get hung up on every limb and tree between the moose and the road. Maybe a canoe cut in half will help cut through the tangles of the underbrush. Or maybe an ATV to do the work, except they are not allowed on much of the land in moose country unless you are on a marked trail.
But if you have hiked a mile into the woods to find your trophy bull, I believe quartering and packing is probably going to be your best option. It is still not an easy techniques but it is effective for many reasons. First, I have been on hunts when September temperatures have touched 90 degrees. Quartering the animal in heat like that will cool the meat quicker and prevent any waste and spoilage. Second, all the other techniques may get the animal to your truck, but now you need to get 900lbs of deadweight into your truck. You eliminate this problem if the animal is in pieces. And finally, it is just less of a battle to get the moose to the road and to your vehicle.
No matter what your plan is to get the moose out of the woods, remember it will not be easy. It will require equipment, manpower and time. Be careful!