Well, there is a glimpse of the West and moose and the advantages of the different states. I hope you found this helpful and if you want to talk to me personally and be paired with “the right guy” in the right condition to go hunting this season. Call anytime. I am happy to help you. And just for a good shot, we reached out to a handful of our Western-based onX ambassadors to get their opinions on their favorite moose hunting states. Elk were abundant in the prairies and scrubland of Minnesota before colonization. But habitat loss and subsistence hunting caused the last native moose to disappear around 1900. Early attempts to reoccupy moose did not work, but in 1935 a small herd in Itasca State Park, near the small town of Grygla, seemed to be holding firm. Proceeds from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation draw and $7 from each application will go to moose management and research in Wisconsin. In the first three hunting seasons, applicants raised more than $400,000 to fund the health and growth of the Wisconsin elk herd.
This funding is used to improve moose habitat, which benefits the elk herd and many other wildlife that the Northwoods inhabit. Funding also supports ongoing moose research and monitoring. Prior to colonization, moose roamed much of the state, including the prairies and savannahs of the southern and western foothills of Wisconsin. By the 1880s, habitat loss and overhunting had wiped out all moose. It wasn`t until 1995 that the horns resonated in Badger State, when 25 moose were captured in Michigan and introduced into the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest near Clam Lake in northwestern Wisconsin. Some of the best local information you can get comes from government wildlife biologists. A call to the state fishing and hunting authority puts you in touch with the biologist responsible for managing the elk herd you will be hunting. It`s your job to ask them the right questions.
They won`t tell you an exact place to hunt, but they will give you general and valuable information, such as the drains moose guard at certain times of the year. From 2001 to 2008, a total of more than 200 moose were released into the 670,000-hectare restoration area of Scott, Morgan, Anderson, Campbell and Claiborne counties. Tennessee is working to keep moose in this area to prevent animals from entering farmland and looting crops. After 140 years without moose hunting, a raffle was held in 2009 and Tennessee experienced its first modern hunting season. Under current legal status, receiving an elk hunting permit is a one-time event. You cannot apply through the state application process, nor can you win the RMEF prize draw. There are nine states east of the Mississippi River or adjacent that have moose. Each state has reduced moose numbers to such an extent that limited hunting is allowed. Labels are difficult to draw and you`ll need to reside in most states to apply, though you might expect that to change as herds grow. Moose hunting regulations will be available in August. Elk can be hunted with a bow, crossbow, muzzle magazine, medium firearm or centre rifle. If the weapon is legal for deer hunting, it is legal for moose hunting.
A few years ago, legislation was passed allowing the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to issue an elk hunting license during each of the first five moose hunting seasons to financially support moose management in Wisconsin. RMEF has been a major supporter of moose reintroduction to Wisconsin. They have invested nearly $10 million in moose reintroduction, management and research, as well as outdoor education, land conservation, habitat enhancement and more. RMEF has been at the forefront of Eastern Moose restoration and has worked with local and state wildlife authorities to bring moose back into the landscape. There`s still a lot of work to be done, but several states already have enough moose to warrant a hunting season. Many moose hunters have targeted Colorado for moose hunting, and for good reason. With more than a quarter of a million moose in the state (the largest in the United States), Colorado is often considered the best state to hunt in September or October. There is currently no obligation to wear Blaze Orange or Blaze Pink. However, it is strongly recommended to warn at least one clearly visible garment (vest, hat, etc.).
Meanwhile, in addition to tribal and non-tribal moose hunting, other types of hunting are also practiced, so safety should be a high priority. Historical records suggest that the last native moose from the East in Kentucky was shot in 1847. Through the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission and RMEF, a resettlement program began in 1997. More than 1,500 moose from Utah, New Mexico and Arizona followed in the following years. The key to Kentucky`s success was bringing the new moose to the rugged east of the state, where the animals would not have agricultural crops to plunder. Kentucky held its first modern moose hunt in 2001. The first question that any budding moose hunter must answer is where to go. There are plenty of states to choose from that offer excellent moose hunting.
Some states aggressively manage their moose herds for trophy bulls, but hunting opportunities for non-residents are severely limited. Other states manage their moose herds in a way that provides ample hunting opportunities on public lands and over-the-counter moose stamps. In the middle of this spectrum are states where labels are not sold over-the-counter, but they do offer workable labels and large bulls. Here are the top four options for hunters interested in their first do-it-yourself moose hunt. As is often the case, Ojibwe tribes are expected to have different rules than those required of statehunters. The rules for the moose hunt are being established and will be available on the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission [EXIT DNR] website as soon as they are completed. Another advantage for non-resident hunters is that Wyoming has a non-resident preference point system, where 75% of the permits available in each hunting area and license type are dedicated to the draw of preference points. This is useful if you`re coming from an outside state and want to target one of the hardest tags to shoot.
“Arizona has world-class moose hunting, but it`s obviously a limited and highly sought-after resource. In my opinion, AZ is a must, as 50% of their non-resident labels are completely random. I always swing for fences when it comes to asking for a moose medal in this state. The number of moose is good and the quality is excellent. I`ve hunted Arizona three times and hopefully do a fourth. – Dan Staton, Elk Form Like deer, the Ojibwe tribe`s hunting season begins the day after Labour Day and lasts until the first Sunday following the first Saturday in January. This fall, that means they will be allowed to start hunting on September 8, 2020 and continue until January 3, 2021. Note that state-designated wilderness areas are off-limits to non-Wyoming DIY hunters. Non-residents operated by licensed outfitters may hunt in wilderness areas.
Despite this limitation, there are still many excellent hunting activities on public lands. Non-residents must apply for their moose medal by the end of January of each year. There`s a lot to love about moose hunting in Wyoming. First, there are moose, about 110,000. Second, a non-resident brand of bull moose costs less than $600 (with a cow/calf tag at half price). Third, many fighter units have a 100% success rate here. This puts Wyoming at the top of the moose hunting list. After all, my home state is Idaho, where there are still over-the-counter labels and a lot of public land. The problem is that the forest is covered with people hunting deer and moose. Honestly, the Idaho Fish and Game has to change its plan if it defects. However, there are still good remote areas. Outfitters can access and attach it in some way.
Hard-to-draw units are available to look for labels purchased from the equipment supplier that are always cost-effective. This can give you a chance to hunt big bulls. Today, this herd has about 450 animals and covers 315,000 hectares, of which 85,000 are public. These public acres include National Park Service lands (Buffalo National River), areas of national forest, and the following Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) areas where collaboration with RMEF continues to improve habitat: Gene Rush DMA (www.agfc.com/en/zone-map/701/), Bearcat Hollow DMA (www.agfc.com/en/zone-map/655/) and Sonny Varnell Richland Valley Elk Conservation Area. which was added to Gene Rush in 2007. Season: The first Missouri moose season begins in the fall of 2020. The season lasts nine days in mid-October (archery) and nine days in mid-December (firearms).