Distress Call - What's happening to our moose? OOD Hunting Annual

[redd foxx]

I think also that the number of cows being killed mistakenly as calves, especially yearlings with cows, has a negative impact. They are cows that aren't around any more to give birth to calves

[SongDog]

I have heard of bear following cows that getting ready to calf.


One guy I know had a cow hanging around his backyard for a few days. She looked distressed, when he went out for a better look he could tell she was getting ready to calf, but she was lookin into the bush all the time. There was a large bear sitting about 75 yards away waiting for that calf to drop.


We seen 3 cows last moose hunt, two had calves and we shot both and I shot the dry cow. I hate doing that and we got another cow tag this year. I'm hopin we don't fill it.

[outdoorlife]

Anyone who is seriously interested in learning more about this subject needs to google and read about the decline of the bow valley moose population. Bow valley is in Banff national Park AB and historically had a very stable moose population up unitl the 70's. Being in a national park allows the allocation of substantial resources for research.

Basically, 20-30 years into the studies now, and the result is they have no idea why the moose population continues to decline. They've been able to eliminate the effects of predation, hunting and loss of habitat as major factors. It's a puzzle.

[wolfhunter]

major difference is that hunting is not a factor. In a perfect world, the killing of a calf would cause the mother to go into estris right away. But without the bulls, she will not get caught. Add a lot of crossbow hunter/poachers, the numbers will decline. Some areas have more than enough guide outfitters to control the tags. Like 21b, it has 8 working the area. No chance of a mose tag there.

you also have the gta moving out at alarming rates, Parry Sound is almost part of it, or it seems to be. Displacing not just the moose, but other animals into the territory normillay ocupied by moose.

[Fox]

major difference is that hunting is not a factor. In a perfect world, the killing of a calf would cause the mother to go into estris right away. But without the bulls, she will not get caught. Add a lot of crossbow hunter/poachers, the numbers will decline. Some areas have more than enough guide outfitters to control the tags. Like 21b, it has 8 working the area. No chance of a mose tag there.

you also have the gta moving out at alarming rates, Parry Sound is almost part of it, or it seems to be. Displacing not just the moose, but other animals into the territory normillay ocupied by moose.

Thanks for putting hunters with crossbows and poachers in the same category, on a slippery slope with that one.

[wolfhunter]

the idea that there are a lot more "bow hunters" due to crossbows. A lot of other provinces have banned crossbows for use during a bow season. Some even outright call them poacher tools..... Regardless a lot of weekend warriors use the crossbow without the same skill as a horizontal bow thus increasing the amount of hunters during bow season. Someone also commented that due to wounding, a lot of animals are shot, but run for miles and die somewhere a few miles away, never retrieving their kill. but going out and doing the same again the next day.

[Exo200]

Well … never thought of it that way but I guess I do a lot of poaching now and 20 year's past as I have 3 crossbow's in my fleet ? Pass the popcorn !!!

[cuulguy]

weekend warriors use the crossbow without the same skill as a horizontal bow

What are the skills? I've never heard about these

I do not know if I'm weekend warrior or not and I do not have any bow, vertical or horizontal, skills. But every time I shoot deer with my crossbow it falls on its tracks. The crossbow should be properly sighted and with the right shot placement there should be no losses. The same is true for rifle or bow hunters.

[wolfhunter]

so you agree that there is les skill required to shoot a crossbow over a compound or recurve bow, thus the attraction for those who think they can hunt with very little practice.

[blasted_saber]

so you agree that there is les skill required to shoot a crossbow over a compound or recurve bow, thus the attraction for those who think they can hunt with very little practice.

Well theres less skill involved with a longbow/recurve then a compound, so does that make those who use compounds poachers too?

And with due respect, you CAN use a crossbow with less practice then a horizontal bow. A modern crossbow requires little more practice then a rifle to become effective with if one limits shots to under 30m.