Gear & Tips For The Moose Hunt
By
Alex Gouthro - Bowhunter/Guide

Northern Ontario Bowhunter Services

1. Remember to bring along a hunting license from your state or province. You will need to produce this when purchasing your Ontario Moose licenses.

2. You are required by law in Ontario to encase your bow when travelling with it during legal night time (half hour after sunset to half hour before sunrise). A light unlined cloth case of any kind will serve this purpose.

3. Ontario law prohibits the use of barbed or serrated broadheads for hunting.

4. Ontario law requires that your bow must have a minimum draw weight of 49# (at 28" draw or below 28")to be used for hunting moose or bear.
 

Clothing is a personal thing, but your moose hunt from the middle of September to the end of the first week in October can bring with it a variety of weather -- warm or cool days (40 to 75F. or 5 to 24C.)& cool or cold nights (28 to 40F. or -2 to 5C.) A cool or cold morning can turn warm by 10:00 a.m. A warm day can become chilly or cold by 6:30 - 7:00 in the evening. A cold front can bring temporary cold rain or snow. A warm front can make it almost hot during the day. These fronts can bring with them higher winds. Having said this, it would be highly unusual to have a full week of bad weather at this time of year. The weather is generally quite acceptable.

Loose fitting layered clothing (starting with two-piece thermal underwear) to meet changes in weather is definitely the way to go. This implies that you will have a good day pack that will allow you to store the articles of clothing that you take off when it gets warmer, or to access clothing as it gets colder. With the new materials out today it is possible to bring an outfit together that meets these needs that is still lightweight. I try to wear camo layered clothing so that when I take something off I’m still in camo. In Ontario it is not required to wear red when hunting in the archery season.

Pay particular attention to your feet and footwear. I hunt in knee-high LaCrosse rubber boots that are big enough to hold at least two pairs of heavy socks when I need them. I use the wick-a-way socks so that my feet stay relatively dry in the field. However, the moisture collects in these boots and they must be dried out on a daily basis. Goretex-type boots might be an alternative if you can find a reasonably high fitting pair. I also have a pair of normal rubber-bottomed, leather-topped boots for those days when I walk in the woods scouting for moose sign. I have a pair of rubber 'Duckies' that I use as slippers around camp. Their rubber construction allows one to go outside to meet the calls of nature without having to tie up laces, etc.

My rain gear consists of a light Gortex rain suit (complete with hood) that fits over regular hunting clothing on cooler days, but can also be worn alone on warmer days. I also have a heavier lined Browning Hydro Fleece outfit which gives complete protection against rain & cold. I have used this outfit for many years and it keeps me perfectly dry and comfortable. However, while waterproof, this outfit can become quite heavy to wear when wet. You may prefer a waterproof saddle cloth outfit instead.

With regard to headgear I take along two types -- a lighter cotton military-type hat with a wide brim (camo). This suits me for warmer days and keeps light rain from running down my neck. I also have a heavier type (Gortex) with earflaps for colder days. To compliment the hats I also bring along at least a couple of neck 'tubes' (the sort that skiers wear).

Moose are heavy animals and once the animal is down it will pay to have the items listed below to help move and/or tie the animal in field dressing activities. One of each per hunting party is all that is necessary.

Light-Weight 'Come-A-Long' Winch -- Great for moving an animal either on the ground or if it is hung up on the bottom in shallow water.

100 Feet of 3/8" Nylon Rope -- For use with or without the winch.

Hip or Waist Waders.   For use to get at a moose that has died in deeper water.
 

Life Jacket.  These hunts are conducted from lakes and require boat travel. Bring along your favorite life jacket.

Your Favourite Skinning Knife and Meat Saw.  I use a knife with a gut hook and a Whyoming Saw (take down). You'll need only one saw per hunt party but extra knives always come in handy. Also, some parts of moose hide are a 1/4 inch thick -- have a good knife sharpener along.

A 10 X 10 Sheet Of Plastic. This will be used to lay meat down on in the field-dressing/cutting process - very useful in helping keep the meat free from dirt, etc.

Pepper & Cheese Cloth. We coat all exposed meat with black pepper and then cover it with cheese cloth before hanging the meat. This keeps any parasites, flies, etc. from getting at the meat. My hunting partners and I usually completely skin the quarters before hanging and thus will use about 1 pound of pepper on an adult moose. Remember that you are hunting at a time when you can get very warm weather; this is why we completely skin the quarters -- to get the meat cooled down quickly. The cheese cloth also helps keep the meat clean while hanging and in transport.
 

Comfort While Hunting:  If you are not in a tree stand it is likely that you will be spending a good deal of time in a ground blind. Make sure that you have a seat of some sort for comfort and to keep your bottom dry. I have used a Game Tracker (now Eastman Outdoors) seat that attaches at any level you want to a tree (we usually try to set up calling ground blinds around a site that has a tree to use). Where this is impossible I use a thermal seat that is placed directly on the ground. There are many models to choose from.

As an alternative I often use a packsack that is combined with a metal frame to make into a seat. In each case, these seats provide a level of comfort you would not otherwise have and helps to keep one drier and warmer. Many of my clients are now using the knapsack/seat combinations - they are very useful when getting into and out of the boats as well - and boats are the main form of transportation. The combo seats work great and can be set up quickly anywhere. If you go for one of these chairs make sure that it is quiet -- try it out in the store before you buy it.

During the last three years we have sometimes used commercial ground blinds - the types that are like take-down tents.  They are great during poor weather conditions as they keep you completely  dry and comfortable.  Try them out before using them on a hunt -- Make sure that you can comfortably draw your bow while sitting or kneeling in the blind, and make sure that the windows are at a comfortable level for shooting with a bow.

Comfort In The Camp:  Our moose hunting camps are very well equipped and comfortable. In terms of bedding you need bring only your sleeping bag (beds & pillows are supplied). If you are hunting Get Lost Lake (tent camp)you will need to bring your own pillow. You may want to bring along a pair of slippers to wear inside the cabins -- you'll find the cabins exceptionally clean and we encourage hunters to keep them that way. Otherwise everything else is supplied to cook, eat, stay warm, etc. You do need to bring your own toilet articles & towels along.

Safety:  We recommend that each hunting party bring along its own first aid kit that includes anything special that any of the members of the hunting party needs. This kit should include such items as headache pills & throat lozenges.

You may assume that, it you have hired a guide, that the guide will have a First Aid Kit with him -- You will only have to bring along anything special (personal medications, etc.) you may need.
 

Learn How To Call Moose:  The most exciting way to hunt moose is to call them in during the rut.  If you haven't yet learned to call moose you would do yourself a favour by purchasing the Gouthro's Moose Madness Series on Moose Hunting & Calling.  This is by far the most comprehensive video package ever produced on the subject, consisting of four DVDs containing over six hours of action-packed instruction.  This DVD series will get you ready for any moose hunt.

To see the content of the Gouthro's Moose Madness Series go directly to the web site at http://www.gouthrosmoosemadness.com  or click on the home page link to this same web site at the bottom of this page.

Tree Stand Items:  If you are bringing along a tree stand, don't forget your safety belt, haul line, tree steps, etc. We do not supply treestands or their accessories.

Binoculars:  A set of binoculars are useful for searching lake shorelines for moose that may have come to the call; I consider them essential.

Keeping in touch -- Two-way Radio & GPS:  Being able to communicate in the field with your hunting partner is a big bonus with the two-way radios available today.  And a GPS unit, which allows one to get an exact position, at any time, is a huge bonus.  Both are exceptionally useful to have on any hunt, giving one much more freedom to wander in the bush and also to safely navigate routes that have hazards while still maintaining contact with hunting partners. 

 With the GPS, by using waypoints one can put together routes to follow both on land and water.  By taking position readings every so often one can always determine bearings and distances back to camp or some other waypoint selected.  To save battery power while on land I use my compass to follow bearings to the waypoints.

But the Cadillac of these units has to be the Garmin 520-530 Series, which combines the two-way communication with the GPS function in one unit two-way communication with global positioning, allowing the users to see on a map screen exactly where the hunter buddy has been calling from.  This gives the hunting buddy's position along with the direction to him plus the distance he/she is from you.  Think of the safety issues here!  You fall and break a leg.  You call your buddy and he knows your exact location, along with the direction to go to you along with his exact distance from you.  Wow!  That,s progress.......

Fishing Gear:  If you plan to fisth on your moose hunt (and you should) you will want to have jigs and/or lures that are good for Pickerel (Walleye), Great Northerns (Pike), and some Lake Trout lures as well.

Hope this all helps -- Have a great Hunt! -- Alex Gouthro