Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Ontario moose rut

Well, I am going to Ontario to hunt moose this fall. I still have some choice in dates. A question: When is the peak of the rut in North Ontario? I gather last week September, 1st of October?

Thanks for any help.

I am surprised nobody has input. Never mind then.

The rut is usually considered to be about the third week in Sept. For years this is the week we chose to hunt in Ontario. A lot depends on the weather, however. If it is warm there likely will not be too much activity.
I have also hunted in mid-October and still had bulls responding well to the call. You might want to look into the average or normal weather conditions found in the area where you plan to hunt and adjust your choice based on that.

Jim

I am wondering just how far North JRK is asking about?

Usually, by the time rifle season opens in our area(WMU 5 & 8), the peak of the rut is past. That's not to say the bulls won't still respond, I've also called them in 2nd & 3rd week of October too.

How do you call bull moose Paul?

Thanks for the input. I am hunting north of Hearst, so fairly far north. I have looked online, most discussion isn't very specific as far as area. I have heard from some that if it is warm, that most activity might occur at night. I can go after Sept 18, was thinking (current schedule) maybe more like 10 days later to be more likely to be past warm weather while still in rut.

Hands, mouth & nose !!

Bawling cow calls & mixed with grunts once the intended party seems committed !

Hearst is well east of me, so no real help sorry.

Our rifle season opens beginning of October, so, here, I'd say last 10 days of September would be good (as stated, not rifle season here, so only bow hunters get the peak rut).

How did you learn to call moose Paul?

I keep a log book on my boat. I have 3 good calling spots for moose in close proximity to some good trout fishing spots. I fish a lot towards the end of the season. Speck season closes on 15th of Sapt and lakers close on the 31st.

According to my records, I called moose out on Sept 20th, 11different years. Earliest I called one out was Aug 26th and latest was Nov 6th.

In my experience they are easiest to fool from Sapt 20th to Sept 25 and they can put on some pretty impressive displays at that time. Earlier and later they wil still come to the call but they tend to sneak in without all the grunting and head wobbling.

Richard,

Buddy from Thunder Bay, taught me.

It's definitely a rush, when you get one coming, particularly if you're in the thick stuff.

When you hear that first big "crack", back in there, but can't see anything, heart rate hits a million !

KK, yep for sure, although the smaller, less dominant bulls will still come in grunting & love drunk, later in the season.

Somewhat on the same topic, how is the moose population now?

Not sure !

I stopped hunting them 2-3 years ago, when all the "population forced" changes occurred.

If the population was as bad as they said, my belief is the hunt should have been cancelled.

Adult tags for WMU's 8 & 5 were drastically cut. Area 8 went from 500 tags to 10 & then 5. Area 5 tags from 900 to less than 100.

Politically they can not afford to do that. Ontario sells 110,000 calf tags, which you must purchase, to be entered into the draw or an adult tag. 110,000 tags @ $50 = $5,500,00.00 !

Seems I saw an article recently, that said the aerial surveys had been cancelled or interrupted due to "bad weather".

Rant over !

Thanks for the information Paul, and as it goes on the "fire", that ain't much of a rant at all.

Lisense money always went into the general fund--the MNR doesn't see any of it and never did.

The MNR submits a budget proposal for what aerial surveys will cost and even if approved by the Ministry of Finance it is one of the first things to get cut in the name austerity.

It seems to me that the tags were cut in every WMU with the possible exception of Cow Tags for 21A. Since the decline in logging activities the access to 21A has been severely restricted.

I used to have several parties rent a cabin from me and I would say over the 1st 3 weeks of the season that amounted to 30 or 40 hunters. Last year I had one party of 3--that's it.

Biggest detriment to killing moose in this area is that late opener--it's really hard to find a moose in this country in November. I own a moose processing shop and used to do over a hundred every year--my best year was 1990 when I did 163.

I had a heart attack last year and while I have recovered I'm still getting old and feeble. Don't hunt as hard as I used to. I didn't kill one last year and I can't remember when that last happened. I only cut up 4--turned a few down on doctors orders but still not that many.

kkahmann, That number of moose sounds like a lot of meat.
How do, did you cut them? I mean as to steaks, roast, ground, and other cuts?

My father and all my uncles were beef boners and meat cutters--I started cutting meat when I was 8 years old.

I've got a meat saw and grinder, wrapping table and sausage stuffer set in my shop. Trained a lot of young fellers over the years--most of 'em smart enough to stay away from here in the fall of the year.

2 different ways I process moose--Regular and Native

Regular way is the same as you would process a beef.
Bone the rounds an slice round steak, slice loins into T-bones slice the rib to steak or roll and tie into prime rib roast, slice the chuck into steak or bone roll and tie into blade roast, roll and tie shoulders into cross rib roast, grind trimming into sausage or hamburger.

Native way is to bone entire moose into muscle groups and chunck into 3 or 4lb pieces---wrap and freeze and mark as fast fry. That's done so you can slice it thinly for many native dishes--makes it easier to do when meat is partly thawed out. Trim is cut-up into stew and hamburger or sausage.
Slice the ribs and brisket with bone left in for making barley soup and cut the marrow bones in 2 inch chunks.

Thank you, kkahmann, I have never thought about two ways to cut the moose.
Both sound good to me.

Off topic, but care to talk about the Native dishes using the thin slices, what goes with the moose meat?

That's funny! ..... I worked as a commercial meat cutter for 24yrs learning back in the day when beef came on a hook not in a box. I don't cut meat for pay but do still do it for friends (for free). While I not longer cut meat, I too stay clear of those who do moose in the fall. It's a lot of hard work.

Our family has a moose camp on the Kenogami River east of Longlac.

Richard--it's usually a stir-fry type thing with whatever veggies are at hand eaten over rice or boiled potatoes.

Chunks of fast fry are often just chucked into the crock pot whole with potatoes added half-hour before serving. Also pan roast chunks of fast fry in oven.

My favourite breakfast is moose meat and porridge. Fast fry is sliced thin along with sliced onion and browned in Lard in cast iron fry pan. Do not overlook it, once it is brown add a couple of cups of water to the pan drippings then ladle it over oatmeal sprinkled with brown sugar.

I think it is a local thing and sounds a little weird what with the onions and brown sugar but it is delicious with a splash of Franks red hot sauce.

The Liberal government has added so much extra debt since they have been in office that they will do anything to pull in dollars. I have contacted the Ministry a number of times asking why they don't change their system to allow a minimal payment in order to go in the draw with the purchase of a license after you are drawn. They refuse to even discuss the matter.

We fly in from Nakina and from my observations I estimate at least half of the hunters using fly in services are retirees and in their late years. We decided last fall would be the end of our group hunt. Partly this is due to age ( two of us are 80 or older) but just with frustration at the way the hunt is managed. My expectation is that as the older hunters retire there will not be a full supply of young people to replace us. I expect the moose hunts will die out over the next 10 or 15 years. I'm glad I will not be around to see it.

Jim

Thanks for the input, perhaps I will go on @ 9/25. Hoping my elk packing/quartering/butchering experience will come into play on this trip and be useful enough, maybe I better try to shoot a little one...

If you want to hunt moose the peak of the rut is a good time.

If you want to eat moose, it is the worst possible time.

The rut stench is carried in the blood- hormones and adrenaline - so it is throughout the meat. Not just on the hide as some believe. Eskimo friends tell me hanging it at 35-40 degrees for 10 days will moderate it, but I rather doubt it. Haven't had the opportunity to do so. And won't.

The peak of the rut should be the first two or 3 weeks of October, but starts in late September - the last 5 days or so. According to "Ecology and Management of North American Moose" (Smithsonian Press $80 - you might find a copy in a library to read), the rut has the same timing throughout NA for moose, unlike deer. Best time to call is just pre-rut- Sept 15-30. The bulls are roaming around testing themselves against other bulls and sniffing up the cows. Once the breeding starts, not so much. But they will come to various calls once they start shedding velvet, around Sept 1. Big bulls earlier than smaller ones. Early season start with rubbing/brush sounds, and progress into various vocals as the season advances.

Personally, based on 40 years of moose hunting, and 20 some bulls, I will never again shoot a bull moose after Sept 20 or before November 10. Well, maybe the 7th.... . The one I got on Nov 1 was out of rut, but the rut wasn't quite out of him.....

You might get lucky - I'd say 50-50 chance, on getting highly palatable meat between Sept 20-25. After that until at least Nov 10, your chances for good meat go way down.

I've shot bulls on Sept 29 and Nov. 1, and my advise is DON'T DO THAT- or any date in between if you want to eat the meat. Antlers are good anytime.... but a terrible waste of a wonderful animal if the meat isn't good. Second/third week of September is best bet for both.

Good luck.

las

I have been hoping that there would be a "yep" to your post. I have on my bucket list a return moose hunt in Newfoundland for my 80th birthday.
It's not that I'm questioning your knowledge but I'd like to have it confirmed. To get he outfitter with whom I want to hunt and the dates I'll need to schedule nearly two years ahead. That's next fall.

Fascinating, fun thread.

Jim

Hunting in Canada? its not worth the stress when i think of it sometimes.

When I asked Brother Keith about moose yesterday, He said, "What moose".

Around the Dryden, Ontario area the moose are scarce.

i knew that you didnt want to work on our bigger ones here lol ....

Just as easy to cut up a big one as a small one. Same number of bones to deal with.