Moose Outfitter Ontario

[Explorer]

I have been looking and doing a little research for a good Archery Moose hunt with a better then 50% success rate in Ontario. Is this a possibility and does anyone have any recommendations. Looking to hunt Moose in Canada driving out of Northern Illinois. Any do's and don'ts would be appreciated also.

[lacywbosu]

I have hunted moose in four different provinces. I believe Ontario still has a two hunters with license for one moose requirement. Sometimes that is for bull only and you can get a cow or calf also. Did not know if you knew this and spouse or friend must buy a license. Some of the outfitters have guides with licenses that can be used with your license.
Another option I have used, successfully I might add, is to go to a native american reservation and hook up with a reservation guide. The reservation sets alot of their own rules. Biggest one being you can buy one license for one bull moose.
Good Luck

[lacywbosu]

forgot the proof, see pic

[Explorer]

Thanks for the info Lacy.... I was not aware of that rule. Guess I need to look for a different place to hunt moose. I want each one of us to have a chance at a decent Bull. Any other suggestions other then the reservation. Which province to you suggest.

[Explorer]

I just got a reply back from an Ontario Outfitter. He explained to me that we would each get a Bull permit and of course each of us could Arrow a moose. Not sure where you got your info. Could you please explain.

[Blue Lk]

I have hunted moose in four different provinces. I believe Ontario still has a two hunters with license for one moose requirement.
Good Luck
This 2 tag rule was in place years ago,not so now.

[lacywbosu]

Sorry Explorer about the wrong tag info on Ontario. It has been awhile since I checked on Ont. I hunted Quebec last fall and it has not changed, two for one still. As to which province to hunt, being able to drive and bring home your meat is a real plus. Flying is neat but expensive and a hassle to deal with the meat, cape, and antlers. I have hunted Alberta, NWT, Sask, and Quebec. My next venture will be Newfoundland. The chances are pretty good there compared to the rest of the provinces and the price is very good. I will drive with the wife helping and make the whole trip a vacation.
Good Luck

[Explorer]

Lacy Thanks for the reply. Who are some of the outfitters you are looking at in Newfoundland. Would not mind checking in to that myself.

[lacywbosu]

Explorer, I have a friend that has been to Tuckamore three times and is 3 for 3 and very happy with the whole deal there. There are quite a few outfitters up there. tuckamorelodge.com, cariboupond.nf.ca, effordshunting.nf.ca just to name some I have looked at.

[REG]

My brother and I went to Northeastern Ontario back in 2001. We had a great guide. He can make or break the trip. It's the same as any hunting trip - ask the outfitter for a number of references including guys who didn't take a moose. If they give the operation a passing grade, you know you're in the right place.

And if you're driving, the best advice we got was to take a chest freezer with us. I got a nice bull on opening day but we stayed another 9-10 days trying to get one for my brother. My bull got flown out in 8 pieces the day after I got him and when we got back, the chest freezer was in the back of the van, full of cut and wrapped meat - all frozen solid and ready to go. Just unplug the extension cord and go. We stopped for the night in Michigan and asked if there were plug-ins available and the owner assured us it wasn't going to get that cold that night (last half of September). We explained that we just wanted to plug our freezer in - he thought that was pretty slick (and it was).

[Explorer]

Congrats to you on getting your Moose. Can you tell me the name of the outfitter you used. Was that a Bow or Rifle hunt. Did your brother end up getting his Moose. Just how big of a chest freezer did you guys take with you. Was there anything else that you took with you that you were glad you had or anything that while you were there you wished you would have brought with you. Thanks for the reply and your suggestions.

[REG]

Remember it was 10 yrs ago but we went with Polar Bear Outfitters - I believe it was Cochrane, Ont. Billy flew us into one of his remote fishing cabins and did a great job of stocking the fridge and cabin along with a fly over every couple of days. If we needed him to land, we just had to put a flag up on the dock. The cabin was less than fancy but it was dry and had a wood stove that kept us warm. We probably had enough food to last 3 weeks - even after the bear broke into our cabin and raided the pantry!

Our guide was Lloyd Quirt and he was a great guide. Only drawbacks were that he chain smoked but he could tell hunting stories as long as you could stay awake.

It was a gun hunt and I anticipated close quarters and short shots. So I almost went with the 45-70 but decided on the 300WM at the last minute and it was good that I did. Lloyd called in our bull but he showed up on the other side of the bay we were sitting next to. I would have given anything for a laser range finder at that moment as Lloyd and I disagreed on the distance. He was sure that he was at least 500 yrds and I thought he was a long ways away but closer than that. I had to wait for him to turn as he was facing us for quite a while - and when he did turn, I shot over him. But the sound of the shot made him stop and I got him with the second shot - in fact, he didn't make it out of the water. If you get a choice, don't shoot the moose in the water! That's another story.

A good moose guide will have a couple of "come alongs" (hand winches), and lots of sharp knives. Ours also had a big chain saw and a small one - the small one with veg oil in it to use for butchering. That little chain saw was a lifesaver and probably the best idea of the whole trip.

My brother never did get a moose, but he had a calf tag and we thought it a little tougher to fill the cow and calf tags since they don't respond to calling like the bulls do.

Our freezer was just a regular sized chest freezer - not the huge size - but that moose basically filled it and that was all boned and wrapped meat. We would not have had room for even a second small moose. We split the meat - of which there had to be at least 400-500 lbs - he was a big old moose - 48" spread on the antlers.

Take a handheld gps, range finder, good binos, good waterproof hip boots along with thigh high rubber boots, good camo rain gear, warm sleeping bag, etc, etc. It was a blast but the real work starts when the moose is down. If you can, make sure you're in shape. And have fun where ever you end up!