Hello all and Merry Christmas

I hope someone can give me some advise.

I live in Connecticut and until recently, the last thing that you would expect to encounter in the Connecticut woods was a moose. Well.all that has changed and even though I have not personally met up with one, there have been several folks who have.

OK ... Here I am with a Winchester 94 357 Mag trapper and a hand gun of the same caliber. Would I want to cut and run, hold my ground or shoot. I understand these critters can be pretty large. And I wouldn't want to upset it since I don't know their habits.

Don't get me wrong...The chances of my coming upon one are slim. However, I'd like to know just in case.

Any personal experience or advice is appreciated.

Thanks

Bob,
I'd certainly cut and run first if that was an option. I've never been chased by one, but two years ago in early spring I had a cow lay her ears back at me and the wife, and hackles up (on the moose, not the wife) (and dogs - key here!) from about 50 yards, and we cut and ran, and the cow likely had a calf in the brush and happily didn't chase. Luckily the dogs did come with us as well, despite seeing the moose.

You will increase the likelihood of a chase 100-fold if you have dogs with you....dog runs up to the moose, moose gives chase, and guess where the dog runs back to?!! Several people in my area get chased every year, and 99% of the time a dog is involved as well. Nobody has yet been stomped. Several here in town have had unpleasant chases by bulls during the rut.

My neighbor (with wife and dogs) was in the backcountry several years ago and came upon a cow with a calf, and that cow chased them for over a mile, making a terrible screeching noise the whole way. He now packs a 357 whenever he goes out now. F&G said they typically will not chase for that long, but they said the wolves had the moose on edge and a dog is just as much concern as a wolf I'm sure.

There is a widely circulated internet video - I think it's from Anchorage (alyeska338?) - in which a man came out of a store and was run down by an angry cow. I heard that the man died from the stomping.

357 is better than nothing, and I recall that one poster here dropped one with a 22 mag to the brain.

Wow!!! That's what I was affraid of. The Moose are a novelty in this part of the country and it worries me that some folks will try to approach them. (the Bambie syndrome)

I will definately take your advice and cut and run if possible.

I don't have dogs but I do understand exactly what you mean about them complicating the situation. Funny, I used to travel up north hoping to see a moose and never did. Now that they are filtering into our area due to habitat encroachment, I hope that I never do.

We ran into some Elk a few years ago on a ski trip to the Canadian Rockies. They were not happy to see us. It's funny how Walt Disney made all of these wild creatures seem almost human, warm and fuzzy. Well...I saw a few cars with holes in them courtesy of the Elk. Can't help but feel sorry for a family who go on vacation and confront one of these animals and try to take a photo with it.

"Yes Virginia, where I'm from, people are that stupid!!!"

Bob,
I'd certainly cut and run first if that was an option. I've never been chased by one, but two years ago in early spring I had a cow lay her ears back at me and the wife, and hackles up (on the moose, not the wife) (and dogs - key here!) from about 50 yards, and we cut and ran, and the cow likely had a calf in the brush and happily didn't chase. Luckily the dogs did come with us as well, despite seeing the moose.

You will increase the likelihood of a chase 100-fold if you have dogs with you....dog runs up to the moose, moose gives chase, and guess where the dog runs back to?!! Several people in my area get chased every year, and 99% of the time a dog is involved as well. Nobody has yet been stomped. Several here in town have had unpleasant chases by bulls during the rut.

My neighbor (with wife and dogs) was in the backcountry several years ago and came upon a cow with a calf, and that cow chased them for over a mile, making a terrible screeching noise the whole way. He now packs a 357 whenever he goes out now. F&G said they typically will not chase for that long, but they said the wolves had the moose on edge and a dog is just as much concern as a wolf I'm sure.

There is a widely circulated internet video - I think it's from Anchorage (alyeska338?) - in which a man came out of a store and was run down by an angry cow. I heard that the man died from the stomping.

357 is better than nothing, and I recall that one poster here dropped one with a 22 mag to the brain.

Bob, We have lots of moose in NH, just a couple of hundred miles north of you. Just wait a few years, they seem to be spreading south, you'll have lots more.
I was chased by a big bull moose a few years back while bow hunting a hollow near a swamp. Thank god for stone walls. I wouldn't mess w/ one w/ a .357. After my chase I started to Carry heavier shafts and broad heads, with my deer arrows, I bought a 7mm rem mag, and bottom 2 bullets are big game heavy for rifle season. JP

Thanks for the good news about the moose herd spreading south.

Maybe I'll look into a S&W 500 side arm. If that doesn't stop it...Just shoot me!!!

Just kidding!!!

Thanks for the input and I'm glad you survived your encounter. They're big critters aren't they?

I'm with the others as my dad shot a huge moose in the Yukon and it took a few good hits from a 300 Win Mag to put it down. It was I'm sure much larger than the type near you but they are big and a 357 is better than nothing. But cut and run if you can.

Bulls are the most dangerous during rutting season.
Cows with a calf, (like all animals).
They have poor eyesight., so when they stare, it is not a preamble to a charge.
I was photographing them a few weeks ago, they would amble off if I was too close.
I did stay close to the Bronco, figure it could take the brunt of any charge.
But, like any other animal, they can be unpredictable.
I heard of one that hung out in a small town just accross the border in Canada, one day it took a dislike to somone ( a stranger?), and killed him.
There are two groups about 5 miles from my house.
They are supposed to be loners, but these like to hang together.

It is a little known fact here in Alaska moose kill and injure more people than bears do, and I am not including the hundreds of moose/vehicle accidents. A 357 should be fine. If you are 'attacked' by a moose a warning shoot into the ground is often all you will need. But if that don't work a head shot at close range (and it will be close) is the next best. If you have to 'break them down' a fore leg is fine IF you can hit it. I have only had one encounter with a moose, a cow and calf, and when she came after me I fired one shot and she left. I am reluctant to turn my back on ANYTHING THAT CAN KILL ME, what I did was put a tree between she and I and shouted. I thing the shouting pissed her off even more. But a 357 mag muzzel blast from about 15 ft got her attention. ;)

My hunting partner got chased a couple of years ago by a bull in N. Maine (plenty of bear, plenty of moose, few deer...). He likes to put the doe stuff on his boots. A love sick swamp donkey got a surprise not much different than my buddy's. Decision was to hold ground with his brand new Lex Weberneck .280 Rem or cut and run. He chose 'run.' He threw the rifle to the side and took off for the cabin. He made it, but the moose didn't negotiate the last turn in the trail and skid into the side of the cabin.

We're still not sure what his intentions were with my buddy.

We're still not sure what his intentions were with my buddy.

Sounds like love at first sight....or smell. :p

LOL, I would not go out wearing THAT stuff.
Our Moose and Grizzly's are smaller than average, wonder if I could get them on Steroids?
Mabe PETA would donate if I told them the animals would be better able to protect themselves from the mean hunters!

Charlie Z you got ta warn a guy before you do a post like that, my wife wondered what was going on when I guffawed. Probably not funny to him but thanks for sharing.

I wouldn't sweat it much if I were you. I live in CT also but down in Fairfield County & theres none here yet. I'v got a camp in northern NH tho & we see alot of them up there. I'v come across them in the woods both while hunting & just hiking around & have never felt threatened. I'm sure that can change in an instant & would advise caution for sure but doubt that you would have to shoot one. In my experience they dont seem real threatened by people as long as you keep your distance. Theyre intimidating for sure & bigger than a horse often enuff & likely thats why the sight of a 180 lb biped dont worry them much. ;)
That said, they can for sure be dangerous especially a bull in rut or a cow with calves. If it were me I'd be retreating as fast as possible if they even remotely acted aggresive, other than that I usually just sit back & watch them do their thing. Magnificent creatrure IMO that, if you give it the respect it deserves poses little threat.

I'v a friend near Thomaston that has a friend that caught one on a trail cam. Guy thought it was some kinda camel at first. :rolleyes:

You oughtta go up to northern VT, NH or Maine once the weather gets better. You'll likely get some first hand experiences with them. Once we found where they like to hang out it got simple to find & observe them. I keep applying in NH for a permit & maybe before I die they'll draw my name so as I can take one home. :)

Sometimes you don't need to go into the woods, someone shared this with me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/lounrw/Animal%20Photos/pic00142.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/lounrw/Animal%20Photos/pic17222.jpg

I wouldn't sweat it much if I were you. I live in CT also but down in Fairfield County & theres none here yet.

3 year old report: http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/wildlife/special/past/moose02.htm

Now, there's a handsome animal, majestically posed in a, ah, kiddie pool.

I inadvertantly got in between mom and her two kids while looking for cows on our summer range. It was in a kind of swampy area and the silly horse I was on tried to take off thru the muck and mire when momma moose took out after us. Fortunately she didn't try too hard and it was mostly bluff. I had to ride back by there later in the afternoon to get back to the truck and the silly horse about had a coniption fit till we were well past that spot. Almost worse than the time when we ran into a bear on the trail. :eek:

I think I would want something more than a .357 if I was going up against a moose.

3 year old report: http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/wild...ast/moose02.htm


Yeah, I'v read that before. So far tho, to my knowledge anyhow they havent made it down to Fairfield County.

Don't get too worried, they're vegetarians.
Regards,
Woody

Moose are dangerous animals, don't take them lightly...

Every year up here someone is stomped into oblivion or sent to the hospital by moose. A few years ago, a man was killed on the University of Alaska's campus in Anchorage, by a moose.

Just because they don't eat meat, doesn't mean they aren't dangerous at times. Like elephants, hippos, and cape buffalo.