Elk hunting next to salt licks are important features. Moose hunting methods How does moose hunting go?
In our forests Prongs is the largest animal. Hunting for him is interesting, profitable, and sometimes dangerous. At all times in Russia, the Elk was considered a good prey for any hunter, he could provide the whole family with meat for the winter. Today, this approach to the production of this beast fades into the background. The main criterion for hunting this beautiful and strong animal is sports passion and excellent hunting trophies in the form of horns and interesting photographs from a collective hunt.
elk, elk, biology
Elk or Elk belongs to the deer family, a detachment of artiodactyls. Alces alces is the only species of the Elk genus, but there are several subspecies subdivided by geographic location. The separation of the American moose and the Eurasian moose has no basis, because. the differences between these two subspecies are only in the size of the animal - the Alaskan elk is somewhat larger. Elk lives throughout the forest zone of the Northern Hemisphere and, oddly enough, in New Zealand. Its habitat extends to the forest-tundra and goes to the forest-steppe. This is a very ancient species of artiodactyls, archaeologists find drawings of ancient hunters hunting for Prongs on the walls of Neolithic caves. As already noted, the Elk is the largest representative of the fauna in our forests. The growth at the withers of a male can reach more than two meters, and the record range of elk horns is 180 cm. The weight of the horns can be more than 20 kg. The weight of a large male reaches 600 kg, females are slightly smaller. A young calf of the year can reach a weight of 100 kg by autumn.
Knowing how to hunt a moose will help to understand its lifestyle and habitats. The main criterion in the behavior of this animal is that the elk is one of the strongest in the forest. Therefore, he has practically no enemies, even a small herd feels calm. The statement that the elk are slow and clumsy is not true. The running speed of an elk can be compared with a racehorse, its maneuverability in forest conditions is excellent, and the force of hitting the hoof of the front leg is enough to break the trunk of an aspen 10 cm. but also against natural enemies. Elk is one of the most protected animals in our forests.
Moose rut begins in September, a little later than red deer. In autumn, moose like to visit salt licks to replenish mineral reserves in their body.
Moose hunting methods
Traditionally, all methods of hunting for an elk for a hunter-sportsman remain the same as a taiga inhabitant hunts for an elk for centuries. The entire palette of permitted means and all the knowledge of the habits of this large ungulate is used. Such hunts can be divided into:
- salt lick hunting;
- hunting during the rut;
- paddock hunting;
- hunting from the approach;
- hunting with animal dogs.
The hunting period, according to the current Hunting Rules on the territory of the Russian Federation, begins with hunting for an elk during the rut from September 1 for a month, and ends on January 15, taking into account the production of underyearlings from January 1, when hunting for other gender and age groups is closed.
Salt lick hunting
Elk hunting in autumn on salt licks is somewhat easier compared to summer. Before winter, ungulates begin to actively visit such places again in order to replenish the mineral balance in the body before winter feeding. The grass is already starting to lay down, the midge is weakening. The arrangement of salt licks is a very painstaking task, the choice of a place for salting, as well as a storehouse or ambush, requires knowledge of local conditions. Air flows are also taken into account. different time days, and the presence of natural enemies of ungulates, and the need for such feeding. After all, an accompanying goal, and sometimes the main thing, in the creation of a salt lick is the feeding of ungulates. According to hunting science, the density of solonetzes is optimal 2-3/1000 ha.
Elk is a very sensitive animal, both in hearing and in smell, but vision does not play a big role in the life of taiga animals. The motionless figure of the hunter, especially if he is in camouflage, the elk may not notice at a distance of 50 meters. Skradok can also be arranged on the ground. The main condition for the success of the sit-in is silence and the absence of third-party odors that can betray a person. But it is better to arrange an ambush at a height of 3-4 meters. This arrangement allows you to make a sure shot even in conditions of poor visibility. The solonetz itself is performed by the usual method for all ungulates. A platform with an area of 3 x 3 meters is trampled down, salt is diluted in water and the earth in the center of the platform is watered with a solution. The salt consumption rate of 3 kg per salt lick is sufficient, but when arranging long-term sites, it is better to increase it to 5 kg, and pour the brine into a small depression made with a pointed stick. Stacking lick salt in wood decks is not always available for various reasons, but is the best option for such a biotech.
The beast comes to the salt lick, usually at sunset. Unlike other ungulates, the moose approaches the place at a trot, it is not difficult to hear its approach. Just before entering the site, he listens for 10-15 minutes, then leaves. After briefly looking around, the animal begins to lick the salt, at which time you can safely aim at the kill site and fire a shot.
Hunting for "wabu" (for a roar)
Moose roar hunting is one of the most exciting and sporting, but it is not the main one in the production of this animal. Rather, such a hunt is in addition to the approach or surge hunt, to find a trophy male before it starts. However, there are many adherents of "waba". The voice of the male elk resembles a rude lowing, it is not as beautiful as the inviting cry of the deer. In early September, the elk begins to collect a harem of 2-3 females. It is to them that he gives a signal. All other males, having heard this voice, try to challenge the territory and the right to possess females. There are clashes, although real fights are not frequent. Usually the matter is decided by mutual examination and demonstration of force.
It is on this that the hunter should play, imitating the voice of a young male. Suhaty during the rut is an example of a dangerous beast that, feeling its strength, can attack a too annoying opponent. A hunter can also be an object.
But the night of battle subsides. Early in the morning at dawn, the elk begins to bellow, comb the bark on the trees with its horns, marking the territory, and crackle with windbreak without hiding. At this time, he is attentive, but not cautious. Any movement he may mistake for the appearance of a rival, but the wrong smell or unnatural sound can scare him away. The danger for the hunter may lie in the enraged beast, which came out on the enemy, when caution gives way to the spirit of competition. Hunting for an elk during the rut with its danger adds to the sharpness of sensations, gives sports excitement, and the won trophy becomes even more valuable. In September, it is harvested for roar the largest number prize trophies, because the strongest opponents enter the fight. Learning how to lure a elk is easy enough.
Stalking hunting
Moose move in small families, the oldest male, two or three females and young animals. Usually it is 5-6 heads. The sensitivity of the beast all the time, except for the mating season, is high.
It is necessary to hide the moose family carefully, only against the wind. Clothing should not have extraneous odors, preferably if it is camouflage or camouflage.
The sight of the elk is not very sharp, if the hunter is motionless even in the open, the animals may not notice him. It is best to wrap the animal at feeding. Animals defend in dense thickets, and it is unlikely that it will be possible to approach them silently. On vacation, moose are convenient to take on a surge.
Paddock hunting
Well, if a few days before the start of such a hunt, reconnaissance surveys of the grounds are carried out. Thus, places for elk sludge, their fattening will be established, as well as trails full of elk will be established. In two or three days, the animals will not move significantly, and it will not be difficult to find them. Usually, a disturbed family tries to go to an open place where it has freedom of maneuver. Experience tells them that it is easy to hide in the swamp, or along the floodplain of the river. In the taiga zone, hunters should use forest clearings to wait for the approach of a racing animal. The elk is not shy, leaves at a low speed, lingers in open places to look around. All of this should be taken advantage of. The team of beaters must start the noise no earlier than the shooters take their places on the numbers. The rut must begin intensively with rattles and ringing, otherwise a strong beast may try to break through the beaters in the direction it needs. This can be avoided in two ways - to choose the right direction of the rut and produce the rut intensively to frighten the beast. A frightened beast will seek to leave more often, along paths, along a river bank.
Hunting with dogs
Hunting for elk in autumn along the black trail, before the start of the fishing period, is very effective with dogs. The best animal huskies in this business. A pair of well-trained dogs can confidently hold the beast and let the hunter come up for a shot. The chance to find an elk in the grounds at any time and in any area also increases. Usually elk is not afraid of dogs and even tries to attack them. For inexperienced dogs, this can end badly. If the object of the hunt is the uterus, then she may try to detain the dogs and let the young go away. Young growth under the dog is not worth it, in this case it is necessary to recall the dogs if they are not used for corralling. Chasing a departing strong beast along a black path is a thankless task, you can waste the whole day, and even go far from the chosen hunting area.
With any method of hunting, it must be borne in mind that the elk will instinctively act as it would act when meeting with a natural enemy. A strong male can attack the enemy. When leaving, the elk goes out into the open space, where it has freedom of maneuver. With unequal forces, on the contrary, the moose tries to leave in the most inconvenient places for the pursuer.
Weapons and ammunition
The choice of weapon is entirely up to the hunter. Only small-caliber weapons fall under the restriction of the rules. Rifled carbines with a caliber of 7.62 and 9.0 mm, smooth-bore weapons with specially equipped bullet cartridges will become good choice. It is better to use expansive bullets, arrows, as they are light and do not give the desired effect at a long distance. It should be remembered that according to hunting ethics, as well as according to the current rules, the hunter is obliged to get a wounded animal. In such cases, it is even allowed to pursue a wounded animal on foreign lands and outside the area allocated for hunting.
The elk is very tough on the wound. In hunting stories, there are a lot of cases when the beast got up and left even after a mortal wound for several kilometers. There was a similar case with the author. The killer place for a shot is always the area of the shoulder blades, here it is most likely to immobilize the animal with a hit in the spine, break the scapular joint or pierce the heart. The second in terms of slaughter is the large head of the elk. On a calm beast, you can easily make a sure shot in the forehead or temple. It is strongly not recommended to shoot at the body, there is a risk of piercing the internal organs. With such a wound, the beast will easily go out of reach, and after detection, the meat will inevitably be spoiled. A large carcass retains heat for a long time, and the intestines can turn sour even at 30˚ frost in the snow.
Elk hunting is not an easy task. Judge for yourself: you need to be able to track down an animal, drive it to exhaustion, make an aimed shot at a running animal - few are capable of this. Nevertheless, such a hunt leaves an indelible impression, energizes and excites everyone who took part in it.
When is the best time to hunt?
An occupation like moose hunting, can be attributed to the autumn-winter period. There are three main time periods into which Russian legislation divides this species activities:
- shooting of adult males - from 1 to 30 September;
- shooting of all sex and age groups - from October 1 to December 31;
- hunting for young animals up to a year old - from January 1 to January 15.
In Ukraine, the timing of hunting is more vague, but does not differ much from this classification - the beginning of the season falls on August. Males of any age can be shot until January, while hunting for females and young is only allowed from September to December.
Such measures were not taken by chance - in the middle of autumn, the elks have a mating season, after which the females bear offspring for seven to eight months.
However, autumn and the beginning of winter are the golden time for hunters: at this time, the hunting season also opens for ducks, almost all ungulates, bears, foxes, wild boars and hares.
What weapon to choose?
One of the main requirements for weapons when hunting for an elk is planned is aimed shooting at a distance of more than three hundred meters. The fact is that it is very difficult to get close to the animal - the sense of smell and hearing are well developed in the elk. An excellent choice is to use rifles.
The main rule, without which your hunt is doomed to failure: the weapon that you take with you must be “familiar” to you. Learn its features, get used to its position on the shoulder and in the hands, take aim - you may need a little time for this before hunting.
Many professionals opt for semi-automatic models that can fire several shots in a row - so there are more chances to hit the beast on the spot in a shorter time. These include a fitting, for example.
There is no unanimous opinion among hunters about specific models - it can be both smooth-bore and rifled weapons. One thing is clear - it must be powerful, designed for a large animal.
How to shoot correctly?
Successful moose hunting depends not only on the weapon and the chosen time - your ability to shoot accurately also plays a big role. Do not be afraid to damage the skin of the animal a little - otherwise you simply will not be able to get into the vital organs, which are the most vulnerable places of the animal.
The photo shows that it is best to aim at the brain or heart - if they fail, the animal dies almost instantly. On the run, unfortunately, this is not easy to do, so the second successful option is considered to be hitting the spine.
Success depends not only on the place you aim at, but also on the angle of the elk's body in relation to the hunter. The more evenly the animal is standing towards you, the higher the chances of hitting exactly the organ that you are aiming at.
These "watches" of the hunter, on which the possibility of a lethal shot is calculated, depending on the position of the beast, will help you determine the approximate percentage of success.
Hunting in large groups
Moose hunting varies depending on the period you choose and weather conditions - in autumn and winter, the animal behaves completely differently. For example, in severe frosts on fluffy snow, an elk cannot move for a long time - the beast is simply exhausted. This is a good opportunity to try group hunting.
Paddock hunting
Classic type winter hunting. Participants are divided into two teams - beaters and shooters, after which the captain places them on both sides of the alleged place where the animal is located. During this period, the only food for the elk is bushes sticking out from under the snow, which can be found on the banks of reservoirs or small hollows.
The arrows must be in a straight line to the side of each other in order to avoid falling into the radius of the shot. When the captain gives a sign, the beaters begin to make noise - at first quietly, only talking, gradually increasing the volume - and drive the elk to the hunters. Until the signal sign, no one should make noise, talk and even smoke - all this can frighten away the moose.
Driven hunting sometimes causes disputes over who gets the trophy. Among the shooters there is an unspoken rule - respect is expressed to the hunter, from whose bullet the animal died. This does not include minor minor injuries, disrespectful shots by one hunter when the animal was in the line of another shooter, as well as shots that end the torment of an animal mortally wounded by a previous participant.
Hunt stealth
Approach or stealth hunting is similar to driven hunting, with the difference that the shooters themselves approach the game without beaters. You can do this only in windy weather - in a calm it is almost impossible to get close to the animals. Orientation is simple - the wind should blow in your face. So your smell will not reach the animals.
Walk very quietly and carefully, so that when an animal appears, you have time to raise your gun and aim accurately. The main principle of catching skrad is to track the beast in its wake.
Thus, you can hunt both in autumn and winter.
Snowmobile hunting
Since tracking an animal is often very long, people have found a way to shorten this process - to use snowmobiles. Moreover, this way you have the opportunity to catch up with the elk - the animal is able to reach speeds of about 65 km / h.
The team of hunters is divided into 2 people per snowmobile - you need to ride devices at a distance from each other and at minimum speed so as not to frighten away the moose. As soon as you see the animal, switch the speed to maximum.
The main thing is to take the animal to a more open space, because it is impossible to drive through the forest on snowmobiles. The moose will not be able to maintain speed for a long time - as soon as it slows down, shoot.
Hunting in small groups
If you are not a supporter of noisy hunting companies and prefer to do what you love alone or with a couple of faithful comrades, you may like moose hunting in one of the following ways.
Hunting with dogs
The dog's sense of smell was created by nature specifically to track down prey, chasing it over long distances, even if the track that the dog is navigating is several days old. Moose hunting with a husky in winter is a great way to spend time for those who do not like to spend a lot of time looking for an animal.
At first, the released likes do not closely surround the animal, but follow it, silently narrowing the environment. When the ring around the moose is closed, the dogs frighten the animal by raising a loud bark, which performs two functions at once - intimidating the animal and a landmark for the hunter.
Roar hunting
At the beginning of autumn, moose begin the rut period, which can last until early November due to good weather. This time is the best for roar hunting. A roar or groan is a lingering sound that individuals make to attract the attention of partners.
Despite the love of traditional driven hunting, many novice hunters are more likely to get their trophy at this time.
First, look for the moose current by its characteristic features: trampled glades, traces of horns on the bark, broken shrubs, bald spots on the ground. As a rule, moose choose one place for a long time, so the current that you found this year will surely help you get prey next year.
Start playing the beast - for this, use decoys that imitate the sound of a female or male. Electronic calls are prohibited in some CIS countries, so it’s better to stock up on improvised means or learn how to imitate sounds yourself.
It is better to beat the sound of the male - the animal will feel the spirit of rivalry and may appear in front of you in all its glory. You don't even need to be careful - the sound of breaking branches under your feet will only increase the feeling of the presence of another animal.
However, remember to go against the wind.
You can find out how moose hunting is carried out in practice by watching the following video tutorial.
Take it, tell your friends!
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Moose hunting is a rather complicated matter, despite the overall dimensions of the animal. That is why it is best to do it on salt licks when the animal is distracted by eating minerals- salt.
When is the best time to hunt moose, what do you need for this?
Salt licks are special structures created by man to feed animals and lure. These designs are various forms of feeders, in which the most common salt is located. The fact is that during the winter period, the elk loses the supply of minerals it needs and replenishes it in early spring by eating. That is why it is best to hunt moose immediately after winter, since at this time he is very active in salt licks. These animals usually sleep from early morning until afternoon. Therefore, it is worth expecting them near the salt only in the afternoon and the rest of the time until dusk falls. It is best to use a special storehouse to track down an elk. How to build it and the salt lick itself can be viewed on a video on the Internet. The storehouse should be located at a sufficient distance from the location of the salt licks. Since the elk has a very good sense of smell, the hunter needs to be careful and it is advisable not to drink alcohol and tobacco a few days before the hunt. Such a smell can scare away the animal. So that distance does not become a hindrance, you should use an optical sight with a gun. Compromise solutions price / quality are:
- Leupold;
- Schmidt & Bender.
It is very convenient to use special night vision devices that allow you to distinguish animals in the dark. But such devices are quite expensive and require state registration. Their use in hunting is not always possible.
What is the best weapon to use and how camera traps can help?
Before you start hunting, you must first prepare well - to scout the area near the salt lick. This is best done with the help of special camera traps. They are photovideo recorders equipped with an infrared motion sensor. It is activated when a warm-blooded animal appears in the coverage area - an elk or another.
Such devices will help prepare for the hunt, track the habits of animals present in a certain area - the time of their appearance, and more. The captured video can later be used as a trophy. These devices save a lot of time and effort. There is no need to spend a long time in an ambush, tracking down an elk, studying its habits.
Viewing the video recorded on flash memory will allow you to get all the necessary information while sitting at your computer. In such devices, SD cards are most often used. The most reliable and popular camera traps today are:
- "Owl";
- "Falcon";
- "Acorn";
- Falcon.
There are many different modifications. Some are even capable of sending MMC messages with video and other data. This will allow a hunter located near the salt lick to receive an alert about the presence of an elk or other animal. This significantly increases the chances of a successful outcome of the hunt. It is necessary to take the choice of a gun as seriously as possible when the target is an elk. Since this animal has some features: a very thick skin, endurance and high speed of movement. Even an experienced hunter is not always able to lay down such an animal the first time. Therefore, when hunting for him from a storehouse, it is best to select a barrel that is not only powerful, but also allows you to make two shots in a row. The optimal solutions are the following types weapons:
- repeating rifles (Mauzer 98, CZ 550, Johannsen);
- fitting (MP-221 Artemis, MP-251).
It is very important to choose the right cartridges. It is necessary that they have sufficient penetrating power (to reach vital organs), but at the same time do not damage the barrel of the weapon itself.
Where and how should salt licks be made for moose?
Salt lick is not so difficult to make, it is much more difficult to find a suitable place for it. Consideration should be given to the need for the presence of a storehouse nearby. You will also need to install a camera trap (for video shooting). First of all, you need to pay attention to the following important points:
- direction of air flow;
- availability of places to hide;
- review.
Elk is a very cautious and shy animal. Therefore, the direction of air flow should be taken into account, since an extraneous smell can scare away the beast. It is advisable to choose a place for the salt lick so that the storehouse is downwind from it - so the smell of a person does not reach the beast.
The salt lick itself can be visited not only by moose, but also by other, more dangerous animals - for example, bears. Therefore, it is best to place the storehouse on the trees, putting the boards between individual branches. This will make it possible to avoid contact with dangerous representatives of the local fauna. At the same time, the hunter's bed must be carefully covered, but the salt lick itself must be clearly visible. This is especially important if the gun does not have an optical sight. When hunting, it is best to use a special camouflage robe or other special clothing. Avoid wearing bright, flashy outfits. The salt lick itself for hunting elk can be made in two ways:
- one-time - by preparing a special salt brew and pouring it on the ground;
- reusable - by assembling a special design.
In the first case, it is necessary to pour ordinary table salt into boiling water - 250 g per 1 liter of water. After cooling, you need to pour this liquid on the ground. Such a salt lick requires minimal time to manufacture, but it will last until the first rain - after which the salt will be washed away. A reusable salt lick is a canopy under which there is a container full of salt. You can use both regular, ground, and whole - if available. An important advantage of the latter is that untreated and unground salt is not washed off by rain. Her stones can easily be left without a canopy, just on the ground or in an ordinary basin. Directly opposite the salt lick, it is advisable to install a camera trap to record the video.
Where and when you can hunt moose
The habitat of the moose is very extensive. According to various data obtained from camera traps (by shooting video) and by interviewing foresters, subspecies of this animal can be found almost throughout Russia. Great importance have nearby lakes, rivers and swamps. Since in them animals are saved from heat and parasites. Mostly moose can be found in willow forests and along the banks of steppe water bodies. It is important to remember that hunting this animal is only permissible in certain seasons.
Hunting from the approach (stealth) on the first snow in winter is an exciting activity that requires the hunter to reveal his best qualities.
Whether the hunter will get the elk depends only to a small extent on luck, in fact, success consists of many little things, such as:
- proper selection of equipment and weapons;
- knowledge of the habits of the beast, its habitat, terrain features;
- actions of hunters when tracking down an animal;
- knowledge of slaughter places for moose.
Clothing should be comfortable, do not reap, do not pull, because it depends on whether it will be handy for the hunter to shoot.
Rules for choosing clothes:
- as light as possible;
- natural (synthetics do not allow the body to "breathe", because of this, a person gets tired faster);
- multilayer.
The air cushion between the layers of clothing is additional insulation, and it has long been known that two thin sweaters keep you warmer than one thick one. So, immediately on the body it is desirable to put on a cotton shirt or a vest, then a shirt with a fleece (option - made of fine wool), on top of a thick shirt, for example, flannelette. Then, based on the weather, a thin or thick sweater and outerwear.
The elk does not see well, does not notice stationary objects, therefore, in order to successfully steal, the hunter needs to mimic, merge with the winter forest. A waterproof jacket made of thick gray or brown cloth will help with this. Some prefer white camouflage overalls. But a camouflage coat can easily unmask a hunter by making noise, clinging to a branch or knot. According to the law of meanness, this will happen at the wrong time and frighten away the animal.
On the head - dense knitted hat, or, in severe frost and wind, a hat with earflaps. Also, in cold weather, you should have a woolen scarf with you to protect your face from frostbite. Yes, and breathing through such a woolen "mask" is much easier.
Hunting hands are protected by thin woolen gloves. Some hunters advise wearing woolen mittens with a slot for the index finger over them. On the feet are comfortable warm shoes.
Weapon selection
For hunting, two types of weapons are used - smoothbore and rifled - with an accuracy of 3-6 cm per 100 m.
smoothbore weapon
For any hunter, according to the law, the first weapon will be a 12 or 16 gauge smoothbore gun. The smoothbore comes with one or two reclining (fracture) or non-reclining barrels. The most popular among hunters are double-barreled shotguns. They are reliable, functional (you can shoot twice in a row without reloading the rifle) and relatively inexpensive. Trunks are located horizontally or vertically. It is generally accepted that a vertical double-barreled shotgun gives better visibility and greater accuracy, however, this is a matter of habit, skill and training.
Breaks are loaded by launching a cartridge into the chamber, they do not have a mechanism for sending a cartridge, incl. there is one charge per barrel. But the sleeves are removed from the barrels using an ejector or extractor. A shotgun with an extractor pushes the cartridge case out of the chamber, and the ejector mechanism ejects it. This saves time for reloading, and the rate of fire increases accordingly. However, the ejector mechanism is more complex than the extractor, and the cost of such a gun (as well as the risk of breakage) is higher.
Repeating shotguns (with a non-retractable barrel) are multivariate, but they are all divided into two groups: pump-action and self-loading.
When choosing a weapon for hunting elk from the approach, the following features of smoothbore should be taken into account:
- for a magazine gun, the mechanism is more complicated, which means that the cost is higher;
- the complexity of the mechanism increases the risk of breakage;
- the weight of a magazine shotgun is greater than the "breaks".
While trailing, the hunter walks a lot, so most people prefer double-barrel breaks with extractors (the ejector throws out the cartridge case, so it's easy to lose it in the snow).
Rifle
This group includes rifles, carbines and fittings. They have more lethal characteristics compared to a smoothbore.
The fitting, in comparison with other weapons, has a number of advantages, such as a reliable trigger mechanism; virtually trouble-free locking mechanism; compactness and maneuverability; stem strength. However, this is a specific weapon that requires knowledge, responsibility, skill and practice.
Moose hunters often choose combination guns as the most versatile, adapted for hunting. The combination gun can be loaded with two types of different bullets:
- the lower barrel is a semi-shelled bullet, which gives a firing range and high lethality;
- the upper one - with bullets that do not ricochet, for shooting at short distances up to 60 m at bushes and thickets.
Ammunition
For smoothbore shotguns, choose 12 or 16 gauge. There are bullets that allow you to hit the elk from a distance of 80 meters, however, for the most part, the effective destruction distance remains about 50 meters.
For rifled guns, it is also necessary to choose the right cartridge, otherwise even the best and most expensive gun will be useless.
Caliber 9.3 × 62 is considered universal for rifled weapons. It is used with a short shutter, the distinguishing characteristics are moderate recoil and high lethality.
For a distance of 150-180 m, the caliber 9.3x54R is suitable, but it should not be used for short distances, especially less than 30 m.
For a distance of less than 150 m, the 9.3x74R caliber is used in combined weapons and fittings. It has moderate recoil and good slaughter.
For distances above 300 m, they take the caliber 338 Win. However, the hunter must be prepared for the strong recoil that accompanies high power.
How to track down and catch a moose
Moose habits in winter
Moose love forest lands; in winter, if possible, they migrate from deciduous to coniferous forest. The moose in the forest has:
- zhirovki - places of feeding;
- beds are resting places.
In winter, animals spend a lot of time in a small biotope. They feed mainly after sunset, before dawn, and during daylight hours they rest, digesting food. After all, like any ruminant animal, an elk cannot digest food on the go, therefore, after fattening, it goes to the bed. The colder the weather, the less mobile the elk is, the walks of the animal are reduced from 3-5 km to several hundred meters.
The elk fats in well-protected places in order to minimize the possibility of silently sneaking up even to a predator, even to a person. The elk moves between fats and hauls, spending a lot of time at rest. If the terrain is uneven, the animal will prefer to lay down not in the lowland, but closer to the crest of the hill. With his muzzle, he lies down to the trail, looking through the approach well, his ears are alert all the time.
Should know! During winter hunting, the female is already pregnant with one or even two cubs. Therefore, in order for the livestock of elk to be preserved and multiplied, a male should be taken.
Tracking down the elk
Moose footprints in the forest:
- hoof prints, actual footprints (calm or racing);
- ureters;
- excrement;
- feeding marks.
Hoof print (without lateral fingers) about 15 cm, stride length - 70-90 cm, trot - up to 150 cm.
In winter, on the first snow, when the black swamp with many tracks fell asleep, it is easy to find a fresh track and determine the direction of the elk's movement.
The mounds of snow along the edge of the track are called drags, and it is they that determine the direction of movement. You need to go where the drag indicates. From the opposite part of the imprint - dragging. She is more gentle than dragged. Now it is necessary to determine the nature of the trace. If you see furrows between the prints, as if an elk “scratched” his foot in the snow, this is a rutting track. Trapping him is futile.
On loose snow, only a trained eye can distinguish the traces of a male from a female by hoof prints. The ureters will help the novice hunter with this. In females, they are located between the footprints, in the male - in front of them.
The feces of the male are more rounded and stuck together, while those of the female are oblong, similar to acorns. Traces of feeding an elk in winter are broken branches, bark removed from trees at a height of 1.5-2 m.
Moose Approach
So, you found a trail, determined the direction of the animal's movement, and began to trail.
Remember! When trailing, you need to go away from the track, on the leeward side, but clearly along it, do not dodge, do not try to “straighten”, unless the track leads completely into impassable jungle.
Hunting for an elk from the approach is knowledge of the habits of the beast, calculation, foresight of the situation, attentiveness and caution. Stealing a elk is a leisurely process, painstaking and time-consuming, which requires the hunter to give full dedication and a good reaction. Once on the trail, you need to behave quietly and carefully, be ready to instantly fire a shot, because. any outline of bushes, eversion, boulders may turn out to be an elk on a bed.
If in the process of approaching you moved the animal from the prone position, do not rush to catch up, let it calm down. Not feeling the chase, the elk will quickly calm down, begin to feed or lie down to rest again.
If you have found a bed, then you will soon see a moose on a fattening and vice versa, having found a fresh meal, the hunter can be sure that a bed is coming soon.
If you have a smoothbore, then the optimal distance for a shot is less than 50 meters, which means that the hunter's caution, dexterity and endurance must be at their best.
Moose slaughter zones
To defeat the beast on the spot, you need to know its kill zone. The elk has this:
- under the scapula (affected organs - heart, lungs);
- neck (the organ of the lesion is the aorta);
- head, spine (affected organs - brain and spinal cord).
If the wounded animal left the hunter, do not immediately chase him. In a fever, the elk, sensing the persecution, the elk will run many kilometers, and the hunter will lose a valuable trophy.
Moose slaughterhouse scheme
While waiting, you should carefully examine the blood trail. It will give an idea of the wound of the beast.
- scarlet bubbling blood - lung injury;
- dark blood, clots - a serious wound;
- blood on both sides of the track - a through wound;
- a blood "path" that quickly breaks off - the wound is minor, low in the muscles of the legs or neck;
- blood with stool particles - intestinal injury.
The height of the bloody branches along the path of the wounded animal will indicate the height of the wound. Also, the trace of the elk will tell about the nature of the injury: how he puts his feet, what steps he takes, how straight and confident he walks.
A wounded elk, not feeling the chase, will quickly lie down on the snow to cool the wound.
To finish off a wounded animal, you need to approach the animal from the back and shoot at the base of the ear.
Important! An agonizing animal is capable of causing severe injuries to the hunter with its hooves. Therefore, approach the wounded animal exclusively from the back.
Hunting from the approach does not endure noise and haste. The main rule of equipment is no synthetics, leather jackets, nothing that can creak and rustle, otherwise the hunter will announce his appearance to the whole forest and will never take the elk.
When choosing a weapon for hunting, consider the weight and applicability (the aiming bar immediately falls on the eye when pointing at the target without additional amendments), know the lethal force of the ammunition.
Attention, caution and patience while trailing, knowledge of the terrain is a guarantee that the hunter will be the first to see the moose, come up to the distance of a lethal shot (at least 50 m for a smooth-bore weapon) and confidently lay down the elk.
July 26, 2013 | Moose hunting in autumn: Features and specifics of elk hunting
Elk
In the days of the Wild West, for fun, cowboys killed hundreds of bison every day. In this article we will talk about his other relative, hunting for which is much more difficult and interesting. The elk, unlike the bison, is a more extraordinary animal, and has very extravagant habits.
Tempting moose hunting
High legs, a short torso, a huge hook-nosed head, an overly elongated lower lip and an “earring” are just a description of the largest deer in the world, the existence of which at the beginning of the 20th century was in doubt. The reason for the steady slaughter of animals lay in the need for elk-skin suede, which since the time of Peter the Great was used to sew camisoles and trousers for the army. The man caught himself in time, abandoned the tradition of supplying natural leggings, and over time, the elk population returned to its usual habitat. What is so tempting lies in the hunt for moose? Everything is explained by the complexity of surveillance and hunting - this beast is extremely cautious, sensitive and suspicious - therefore it is very popular these days. To emerge victorious in a fight with a horned one, the hunter, first of all, requires endurance, constant tension, both mental and physical, knowledge of the habits of animals, excellent possession of weapons and orientation to the terrain.
Subjects of the Swedish Crown
The elk, an intelligent and quick-witted animal, lives today mostly in northern Europe and Asia, as well as in Alaska. The European elk is also represented in Ukraine, however, over the past 15 years, rampant poaching and lack of control have narrowed the population to a few thousand.
At one time, the Swedish army even had a cavalry unit on moose. But it did not last long - until the first battles - the elk (this is about them - “the lip is not a fool”) turned out to be smarter than their horsemen and ran away from the battlefield at the first danger. During World War II, the elk comrades showed themselves from the best side - they signed up for anti-fascists on time and many times helped the Soviet partisans in transporting goods through impenetrable swamps, remaining unnoticed. In peacetime, the elk has only three enemies, but as a selection - a bear, a wolf and a man. The first two, waiting for a lonely young or old moose, do not stand on ceremony - after all, hunger is not an aunt and you want to eat. But even the elk is not a miss - powerful front legs keep wolves at bay, and bears have to guard enemies in a dense forest, where there is no room for maneuvers.
Moose is a recognized vegetarian with gourmet manners. Absorbing up to 30 kilograms of feed per day - wood, shrubs, branches, he does not forget about other delights - Ivan tea and a three-leaf watch. The glutton and mushrooms do not disdain - fly agaric, like boletus, the forest giant simply loves. And besides, the horned one loves to “drink” - fermented apples in an instant intoxicate him.
Where to hunt moose
The permanent habitat of the elk is all kinds of deciduous forests, thickets of willows along the banks of steppe rivers and lakes. If in the summer burnt areas and cutting areas look more attractive, then in winter they need mixed forests with lush artisanal vegetation. The change in climate, and hence the habitat, depends on the time of wintering (October-December) and the beginning of the rut - "marriage games" (August-November). In summer they are more active at night, during the day they rest in the best spas of nature - shallow rivers, swamps and dense bushes. If it is very hot, they do not disdain to plunge into the river and dive, which is very unusual for all other ungulates and horned ones.
Moose hunting features
In preparation for the most important event of the fall, simple data on the lifestyle of our hero is not enough. Surely, you are a humane and respectable hunter, so you need to understand the determination of the sex and age of the elk, following the credo of Leon the killer - "no women, no children." Indeed, hunting is only interesting when you track down an adult male elk, and not a yearling (calf) or a half-and-half. Age can be determined by various signs - appearance, horns, footprints and other unpleasant tenderness. You can quickly and accurately determine the age by evaluating the horns - in the horns they are placed in the form of knitting needles with one process on each of both horns, and in adults they have more processes with a shovel. In addition, after the rut (November-December), adults lose their horns, while young ones show off their shovels until spring. For those who are fond of trailing, it is worth remembering that the trail of a male moose is slightly shorter and seems wider than that of a female.
Moose hunting methods
When choosing a method of hunting, eyes run into different sides from the variety of options. The most attractive and informative among them are hunting for waba, round-up, from the approach during the rut, stealing, surge, tracking along the trail, with a dog during the rut, along the black trope or fine snow, and others. Each method requires a professional approach and knowledge of the matter, taking into account side circumstances - the time of year and weather conditions.
Wabu hunting. The purpose of such a hunt is to get elk antlers, which are considered the most valuable trophy. By the way, waba hunting is the only way that requires the highest skill, bordering on art, and is effective only during the rut of elk males. From September to October, he wanders in search of a female, while making a peculiar roar, reminiscent of a groan. Wabelers begin to hunt, giving voice; do not forget that the slightest falseness in the voice or the smell will scare away the inexperienced beast. All improvised means are used - a birch bark pipe, a mouthpiece from the palms, accompanying choral singing by tapping a stick on a tree. Having started a "conversation" with the moose, the hunters fan out at the possible place of the animal's approach. It is noteworthy that an elk determines the strength of another by its voice, and if the voices match by the timbre of howling, your horns are yours.
Hunting roundup with hounds, perhaps the most popular among hunters, in which ten or more hunters participate, requiring excellent collective skill. According to the plan, two hunters bypass the alleged locations of the elk in advance. Releasing the hounds where many traces of the beast are visible, the shooters hear the barking and follow the direction of the pursuit. It happens that dogs lead the elk right under the hunter's aimed shot - then it's a matter of accuracy.
Trail hunting possible only in bad weather - wind or snowfall. How worse weather, the better for you, since the sight of a deer is not so hot, however, hearing and smell are developed on highest level. This hunt has a great advantage - at the moment of detecting a moose lying down, you have a few seconds left for aiming and an accurate shot.
When hunting with a dog along the black trope and fine snow, the tone is set by experienced huskies set on an elk. As a rule, only one or two dogs chase the moose by barking, because with a larger number, he gets annoyed and runs away. Trained animal huskies first provoke the animal by barking, forcing it to rush forward at a gallop. Following him, the huskies run silently, waiting until the moose slows down or stops altogether. The hunter immediately recognizes this - the barking becomes even and intermittent, and if the elk moves, the husky will bawl even more angrily and louder.
How to shoot a moose
Knowing that every bullet is deadly for an elk, many hunters shoot it at random. However, this myth is instantly dispelled when the wounded begins to flee from the hunters. Do not even shoot at the head - the bullet is unlikely to pierce the brain, and it will bounce off (just kidding). If you shoot a moose, you should remember about simple rules hitting any part of the body. If the animal is running or standing, it is advisable to aim at the chest in the area of the front leg or at the neck. With a direct hit, the elk falls to the ground, thereby saving him from unnecessary torment. If the animal is moving towards the hunter, you should shoot in the middle of the chest, if it runs away - in the spine. It is better to approach a shot elk from the back, because in agony the animal can crush the hunter with its front legs. Nevertheless, it is better to stun a wounded beast - at the moment of danger, it sweeps away everything in its path.
Elk delicacy - elk lips
Few people know about delicious and nutritious elk dishes, the preparation of which (kebab, roast, stew) is no different from ordinary ones. An exquisite delicacy, lip, is in great demand. It is not easy to prepare this excellent dish; it is very important to salt it and boil it moderately so that it is not hard and not very soft. Then the whole lips are placed in a saucepan, salted, a couple of bay leaves are added, various seasonings to taste and boiled for 2 hours over medium heat. After the lip is slightly cooled and oblong pieces are cut, which are folded into a greased brazier and fried. The table is served without a side dish, right in the brazier, after throwing a spoonful of lingonberries to emphasize the sophistication of goodies. It is unlikely that the lucky one who tasted this dish will not be delighted with spicy elk lips. Alexander Povkh
Previously on Moose Hunting: