Maximizing my moose mojo

[Charles Ek]

#3403

The NH moose lottery is in ten days. In an effort to improve my odds of being drawn, I went afield today to work on my moose mojo. I’m fortunate to live in the middle of some decent habitat for Alces alces, so a stumping foray was easily combined with some scouting and practice at tracking. Despite a light rain, the day brightened considerably when some big hoof prints led to this at the edge of a bog:

I got into the mood for some shooting immediately, and as I prepared to throw a judo point at an appropriately-sized snag, I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a headcam for this shot?” Well, it was of course thus foreordained that (a) I’d make a nice 17 yard shot on the spot I picked on this snag, and (b) the critter turned out to have a tougher hide than I expected from its appearance. The judo bounced off, ruining the prospect of a photo from where I stood. Sigh. You’ll have to take my word for it – there’s a brand new, tiny indentation next to the woodpecker divot in the left center of the bare patch:

On the way home, the neighborhood turkeys jeered at me from the edge of a nearby meadow, having abandoned the green lawn of a front yard down the road now that the spring hunting season has ended …

[Jason Wesbrock]

#20134

Good luck to you in the drawing. I hope you get a tag and fill it with the biggest bull you’ve ever seen.

[Charles Ek]

#20183

Thanks!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#20527

Good luck! Looking forward to the post-hunt report!

[wildschwein]

#20600

Good luck on drawing your permit. What is the Moose population like in your State, and how long does it take to draw a tag?

[Charles Ek]

#20625

Thanks for the encouragement, guys.

The NH moose population has taken a hit recently, which I (and others with more expert knowledge) attribute to the fact that we’re at the southern edge of the range and the winters have been getting warmer. Warmer winters mean more winter ticks on moose.

The recent figures illustrate the point. As you will see, my odds aren’t all that good (even though I’ve accumulated about 5-6 points as I recall):

[wildschwein]

#21683

I am gonna have to look at my world map and locate NH (New Hampshire?). I heard the other day that Minnesota just called off their Moose season.

At any rate good luck with your draw. I’m hoping to win a Calf tag myself, and will find out in July.

[Goraidh]

#21720

Good luck in your lottery. We have ours (Maine’s) on Saturday. Fingers are crossed. Again.

[Bunyan Morris]

#21731

Good luck with the lottery. I’ve been putting in for the NH moose lottery for several years now.

[Charles Ek]

#22149

Thanks for all the good wishes. I’d apply in Maine as well, but the total cost for license, permit application and permit as a nonresident would be $714, which is a bit steep for the budget here.

[Goraidh]

#25102

The Maine moose lottery has come and gone, and once again I was skunked. Sure do hope you get yours in NH.

[Charles Ek]

#25515

Thanks, Jeff. Sorry to hear you weren’t drawn. The more I read about the recent revenue-driven tinkering with the mechanics of the Maine lottery, the more I’m glad I’m on this side of the Piscataqua!

[lyagooshka]

#25716

eidsvolling,

Good luck on the draw. If you happen to have any mojo left, send some my way. I could use it in late September. 😆 Be well.

Alex

😀

[Charles Ek]

#30084

Good news and bad news: My October deer hunting won’t be interrupted by any moose hunting as a result of this morning’s permit lottery.

Sigh. Well, at least this time I know one of the high-ranking alternates, so I guess my luck is improving (at a glacial pace …)

[Goraidh]

#30511

Sorry to hear you didn’t get drawn. AS I’ve been saying for quite a while now, “There’s always next year.”

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