MN Moose Hunt

[USDA3]

Being from Minnesota, moose hunting opportunities (for now) are limited to once in a lifetime. My father, brother, and I were drawn for this years fall moose hunt. With it being a once in a lifetime hunt I would like to gather as much info as possible from anyone who has any tips from previous experience. It seems very little literature is out there compared to other big game because of its limited opportunity, anyone have some good resources? We will be going up a few times scouting before the OCT 1-15 season arrives and would like to know what to look for during these scouting trips. Have the moose moved away from eating aquatic plants in the marshes, and eating twigs in the brush? I know it can still be fairly green at the beginging of Oct and sometimes still quite hot. Calling techniques, stalking techniques, etc.. anything will help. We will be in a zone with fairly good access (not BWCAW)and have the ability to be mobile. Thanks for the help, couldn't be more excited!

[monstermoose78]

Well I would get up there as much as possible. What zone is it in then? I would start by finding some clear cuts because then you can see them big ol buggers coming. We have been doing well in 1-3 foot tall aspens. The best clear cuts are near water. Calling is how we have been getting moose my family all applies for tags and have been drawn the last 3 years straight. Good luck

[USDA3]

I will be in Zone 28 which is NW of Two Harbors, the west boundary is the Cloquet River, and East is Hwy 2. We will definatly be up there at least three or four times before the season. It is probably the most accessable zone in the state being the furthest zone south, but I wouldn't mind getting out of the truck! Sounds like that's a popular method! During the season, are the bulls usually in full rut, give or take a few days? I am sure it varies in the bulls reaction to calling and how they respond, but what have you witnessed?

[monstermoose78]

We had bulls come crashing through dump that you would not think a moose with antlers could go threw. Are hunters never had a truely big bull my grandpa was the largest with a 34 1/2 in spread, but while hunters hunt moose we target grouse and fish. We stop and call for moose in areas to see if we get anything to come and we have we had some realy nice bulls come in. Well if the Dunka River road is in your zone i would check that area out realy well it is north and west of highway 2 near where it meets highway 1. I have seen a ton of moose in that area or Skibo road if you can call it a road more like a trail.

[USDA3]

Thanks for the info, athough, we will be further south than that even, Near the towns Brimson, Wales, and Highland. Not too far from Two Harbors. Hopefully we can find some bulls to respond to our calls, I've heard them running away from me while elk hunting in Montana, sound like a train cutting a path through the woods!

[ddp]

First time I have seen the town of Brimson named on any posting We deer hunt up there, last year I saw 2 moose in the area. Most I have seen in a long time. Pre-season scouting I was sitting in the motorhome(hunting shack) eating a little grub and noticed this big brown thing coming down the logging trail. Sure enough, it was a moose. I got out and started following it. It was funny, for every 5 steps I took, he took one and still was out pacing me. Got to within 30 yards and then I ran out of steam

Good luck this year! I am still waiting for my tag to get pulled. My old man, in the good ole days shot many o moose by the cloquet river.