Page 2 of 2

Re: New hampshire moose

Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:55 pm
by PLP
That's great.I hope it works out!Keep us posted..I think I am definately going for the northern section..Real good success,and looks like if you will hold off a little you could get a real stud.Seems like to me some of the permittees..do shoot hair..lol..If I wait 10+ years I am going to atleast be conservative a few days unless I see one that makes my heart skip a beat...Looking at the NH website it appears most of these people get so worked up just to get to shoot one,that they end their hunts in minutes or even a half a day.I hope I have a 15 minute success story with a 50"+ bull in the pic.

I think I'll start out with a goal of 60",and every hour I hunt...reduce it by an inch..lol..Last day I'll be proud to shoot a 200# yearling.. lol..I tease..

Would you say most people just road hunt up there?

Re: New hampshire moose

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:56 am
by NH Hunter
I would expect there's a fair share of road hunting up north but maybe not as much as Maine. Partly because of the amount of back roads. I would expect a fair number of people hire guides. I'm not sure why a lot of the moose are small. There are some big moose in NH but it's like a 7X7 bull elk in CO. They're there but they're not behind every tree. I think a lot of people are probably hoping to shoot a big one and maybe spend part of the week looking for it. By mid-week they get concerned they will get blanked and shoot the next one they see. People don't want to be in the 10-20% group that don't succeed. I don't think people want to get way off the beaten path, either. Moose are big and the logistics are pretty daunting. I suspect most guides aren't too happy if their hunters shoot a big bull two miles back in the swamp. Think of how long it could take to get it out. In a lot of ways it's like elk hunting. Don't hunt anywhere you're not willing to pack a big one out of. Otherwise you're just taking your gun for a walk. I've been know to do that in CO sometimes. I ran into a small group of elk one year muzzleloading in GMU 12. I saw the elk and thought long and hard if I would shoot one if it had legal antlers. Fortunately, I didn't see a legal horn. I know how I would've spent that week....packing meat. Most people around NH hunt the clear cuts and logging roads. There's enough moose that you can see a few and it won't (shouldn't) take a week to get it out. There's not a lot of logging where I live in unit M but there are power lines and gas line cuts. That's where I'll start.

Re: New hampshire moose

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 4:24 pm
by PLP
I see your point..

I've always been a DIY guy..I like to find my own game,and do it by myself.I've never been one to tag along,and have som eone walk me to anything..I guide people down here...That said..If I wait 10+ years,and being I don't know the area,and have never moose hunted before..I think I may go with a guide,atleast my back won't be sore..lol..I see one guide is spoken very highly of in the northern section...They cost more,but have 100% opportunity,and 98% success for 11 years..That's awesome,and they have been the downfall of many big bulls..I'm thinking very hard about it..

Re: New hampshire moose

Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 4:19 pm
by NH Hunter
If I was a NR, I would consider a guide. Especially up north. Those are pretty big woods and it would be nice to know your way around. Plus, if you're hunting up there, the odds of getting a good bull are pretty decent. A guide could put you in the right area. A lot of the moose in my unit are shot in the same area. I hope it doesn't get over run by the hunters who have a tag. That's why I need to have a few options.