Archery Shiras Moose?

[HuskyMusky]

What are your thoughts on the odds of being successful hunting a shiras out west with a bow vs. a rifle?

ie., is bow something like 10% but a rifle would be 90% ??

any thoughts?

 

[JimP]

If you can draw a tag your chances are quite high.

I know of several hunters who used bows on them once they drew the tag. I really isn't that hard to get withing bow range of a bull moose. Especially one that had dozen of tourist taking picture of it all summer long.

 

[Slugz]

Depends where you are hunting them in my opinion. 10 foot high oak brush would be very hard. Middle of the rut chasing cows near the lakes might be easier. High mountain lake way off the trail any weapon.


My son was on all fours crawling through oak brush/plum thickets to get to me this year to help with the packout.



There is a pretty big misconception that the shiras is easy to get to and a easy hunt. That is public land. Private patterned animals Im sure its very easy.
Last two moose the family harvested there was no tourists around

 

[Maxhunter]

You'd better hurry because once the wolves in CO get established they are going to decimate the moose herds big time. Like stated hunting them with a bow isn't that difficult.

 

[mallardsx2]

With the low densities of moose I would be toting a rifle and using it if it were necessary just because of how hard the tag is to draw....

 

[BAKPAKR]

I have shot four Shiras bulls. Although the first was with a recurve, the rest were with rifles as my schedule on those hunts was limited. All were within 50 yards. If you have time to put in, I think moose are fairly good animals to go after with a bow.

 

[Slugz]

I have shot four Shiras bulls. Although the first was with a recurve, the rest were with rifles as my schedule on those hunts was limited. All were within 50 yards. If you have time to put in, I think moose are fairly good animals to go after with a bow.

Dang. All draw?

 

[BAKPAKR]

Dang. All draw?

Yes, all draw — Idaho in 1991, Montana in 1999, leftover (exception to once in a lifetime) Idaho in 2008, and Wyoming in 2018. I used to live in Idaho so I was not subject to the NR cap. I have also drawn tags in New Hampshire and Maine, but those are different moose.

 

[DanPickar]

Yes, all draw — Idaho in 1991, Montana in 1999, leftover (exception to once in a lifetime) Idaho in 2008, and Wyoming in 2018. I used to live in Idaho so I was not subject to the NR cap. I have also drawn tags in New Hampshire and Maine, but those are different moose.

Wow that is crazy. Lucky man!

 

[Hilltop]

I personally think they a fairly easy to hunt with a bow, even on public land. I could have shot a dozen different bulls in a week last fall while archery hunting elk on National Forest. I would put the percentages at 75% archery 99% rifle in any area with decent moose density and a week to hunt. I plan to hunt with a bow when/if I draw.

 

[BKC]

In Colorado you can start with a bow or muzzleloader for 9 days, then have to have a bow for the next 11 days and then you get to use your rifle for 2 weeks after that. I would think you could get it done fairly easy before the rifle season even starts

 

[BAKPAKR]

Wow that is crazy. Lucky man!

I was very lucky. I had a four year stretch that started with a sheep tag, followed by a moose tag in each of the next three years. My luck changed after that, and I hit a tag drought.