Moose licenses

[swampcollie]

Does anyone know when notifications are sent out as to whether your were drawn for a license or not?

[tealitup]

Have you been applying for 100 years Good luck. Try the DNR HSOforum and they should say.

[Crow Hunter]

The dnr HSOforum says that the lottery results will be available in mid-July. I figure by the time my buddy and I get drawn (if ever) we will probably be too old to do it.

[Fish to Win]

Put my name in for the first time last year in Zone 80 and luck would have it I was drawn and shot a 49' bull moose in Finland, MN. I owe it to Luck and a little more luck. It was awesome and if anyone gets a licenses in that area you will have a blast.

Good luck--

[tealitup]

The chances of that are like 1,000,000,000,000 to .000001

Congradulations on the hunt and success. Good job

[Crow Hunter]

Fish to Win, congratulations on your success, you did everything right. You are not the first person to draw a liscense on their first try. For those of us who have applied year after year without drawing, it would be nice if the DNR enacted a point system so your odds go up after each unsuccessful application. Their system of a special drawing for 20% of the liscenses after applying unsuccessfully for ten years is an inadequate system, in my view. There are many hunters that will never get to experience a moose hunt in their lives with this system. Maybe they feel that not enough people will apply if there is no chance of drawing for a few years, which makes some sense.. Just my .02.

[Fish to Win]

I know a lot of hunters who apply in the BWCA area because the applications for that area are low due to the pain in the (Contact US Regarding This Word) to hunt and remove the 1200 lbs animal from the site- thus increasing their chance to get drawn.

Every time I look at my trophy mount in my living room I still cannot believe that I was 1 of the 3 picked for that zone. I just picked it because my father-in-law has a cabin in Finland. But again it is an experience that I will never forget and I agree that the DNR should look a little closer at their selection process as I've heard of hunters who have applied for 15-16 years and never been drawn??? Not fair!!!

[WalleyeWeasel]

The lottery results are available at the DNR HSOforum

[Jackpine Rob]

Mrs. Jackpine and I drew our tag!!!!

[Fish to Win]

Congrats Jackpine-

How long have you been waiting and what area is your tag in? Have fun and good luck!!!!!

[Jackpine Rob]

I have applied many times since the mid-70's, but didn't put in my name a few years when the kids were small and I was busy with other things. Would have figured that I would have gotten drawn and not had time to do the thing right.

I'm in a zone NW of Ely.

[rooster30]

I also got my tag first time we put in We are in the bwca area 20 going to be tough but well worth it.

[nuts]

You guys are going to have a blast! I know we did.

[rooster30]

Nice bull! from what I understand the Moose is the easy part the work starts after you shoot him. we are planning on going up to Alice lake. any tips you would have would be greatly appreciated

[Jackpine Rob]

There is a portage at the north end of Alice that leads towards Cacabic. Low ground, swampy. Shoot your moose on the Cacabic end of that portage.

[rooster30]

Thanks for the tip. hope it is that easy. do you have a idea of how long it will take us to get up to Alice lake?

[Jackpine Rob]

Uh, take a peek at the map and think long and hard before acting on the tip.....

Actually, there are quite a few mooses up in that area - Hudson and Insula have provided numerous sightings over the years, including a few very substantial Bullwinkles. I wish you fellows "good luck".

As for time from the landing to Alice, it really depends on your experience and how heavy you're packed. In all likelihood you are looking at a day's travel to get there, and you'll know you've done something. I am assuming reasonably proficient paddlers, 2 trips per portage (at least for some members of the group), and not much screwing around.

[rooster30]

Thanks, Jackpine for the info. you are right we need to look things over a little better. as of right now we are plannning on staying back there the whole 16 days so we are not going to be in to big of a rush. I think our first thought was the further in we get the better our chance would be, but it is sounding like that may not be true.

[Jackpine Rob]

Get some good maps of the entire area - both Fisher and McKenzie are OK - although neither are perfect. I would get both.

If you can swing it, I would suggest getting out a couple of times prior to season and checking things out a bit. Travel light and quick, bring the fishing poles for a little recreation, and familiarize yourself with the areas you plan to hunt.

Remember, if you drop one of those big hummers you are going to have to pack it out over all the portages you took on the way in! They will cover all of that in the orientation class - but start giving some thought to it now.

[rooster30]

Do you know where I could get a "good" map of the area? I would like to get up there before the hunt but not sure if we can. 6 weeks just is not enough time it seems. Lots to do and lots to learn in a short time.

[Jackpine Rob]

Gander Mountain and REI both have BWCA Maps. You can also order them online - try one of the Ely outfitters such as Red Rock Wilderness Store. The two popular lines are McKenzie (white background) and the Fischer (greenish background). Your zone will require several different maps. I suggest you get a colored highliter (like you use in school) and mark your zone on the maps - so you're not wondering. I do that type of thing anytime I'm hunting a new area - load up on maps, mark in all the info I can using some sort of color coding, and then I can save time when trying to concentrate on hunting.

Ran into a couple of guys 3 or 4 years ago who got set up, found some mooses to chase, and then sitting around camp the night before season opened they looked at the zone map and realized that they were out of their zone! Bummer.

As far as trips up there, a couple of weekends would work out just fine. Getting an overnight permit may be a pain, but you can sure give it a whirl! It will get the paddling muscles a little workout ahead of time.