CANADA: BC - WESTERN CANADA MOOSE HUNT (COMBO)

The outfitting season for Moose hunting in BC, Canada commences in late August and runs until mid Oct. However, the peak rut is mid-Sept until early-Oct. Primetime for Mountain Goats is the whole season until snow makes the alpine treacherous or impassable.

- Mountain Goat: Best combined with Moose during mid-season hunts (Sept.).
- Rocky Mountain Elk: Best combined with Mountain Goats in the first half of the season.
- Black Bears: Best combined with Mountain Goats in the first half of the season.
- Wolf: Low success rates, but no extra cost. Available throughout the entire outfitting season.
- Fishing: Excellent in the early half of the season, but still good till the end of the season.

These BC Moose hunts are 10 full days, professionally 1x1 guided. Each morning, the wrangler assembles the horses while the guide makes breakfast and packs lunches. Depart camp early, arriving at a strategic glassing and calling spot for the first part of the morning. Move to various other key glassing and calling locations throughout the day, day after day, if that’s what’s needed. Relocate camp to new areas as required to ensure time is being focused in the most productive areas. Once a bull is down, the meat, cape and antlers are field-prepped and loaded on the horses and either returned to spike or base camp. If deciding to continue hunting, the focus can shift to other species such as Elk, Mountain Goat, Black Bears, Wolves or fishing, a welcomed complement to this specific Moose hunt in Canada.

Most clients bring proven, personal rifles from home. Entering Canada as non-residents with firearms for the purposes of hunting is relatively quick and simple. Moose living in these Mountain conditions offer typical shot ranges of around 150-350 yards. Recommended calibers should be roughly .30 caliber and flat shooting, especially if planning to combine with Mountain Goat, Elk or Wolves. 7mm and .300 would likely be the most popular. Quality rifle rentals/ammo can also be rented for international clients at a price of $500 for the duration of the hunt.

Archery hunting is catered to and is more feasible for Moose, which can be called in, versus Mountain Goat. But everything is possible in the hands of an experienced and practiced archery hunter with a capable guide. Typical shooting ranges would be 30-50 yards or slightly further.

The Northern BC region of the central Rockies is largely subalpine with steep green mossy or rocky slopes above vast conifer forests. Meandering ridge tops separate various large basins carved out by several prominent local rivers. The timberline rises to roughly 6000 feet and the Moose are below it, usually spotted in the timber or along lake and wetland edges. White Spruce, Aspen and Balsam forests prevail, and the low country is laced with Alder thickets. This wilderness is also home to Grizzly Bears, Pine Martens, Porcupines, Lynx, Beaver, Chipmunks, Bald and Gold Eagles, Ravens, and Grey Jays.

In this land of extremes, the weather is no different. Early season is generally warm, while late season can expect snow. Precipitation is not generally prevalent but quality rain gear is always encouraged while Moose hunting in Canada. Early season can be buggy in the low country, while late season can see strong winds in the high country. Temperatures should generally be above the freezing mark, but late season or higher elevations will see the mercury fall. Hunters are encouraged to come prepared for anything, as all weather types can be experienced over the course of these 10-day BC Moose hunts.

Accommodations will vary and can depend on the specific hunting areas. Hunters initially arrive at the main lodge, with several lakeside log cabins that include a main building with common areas, kitchen, and dining areas. There is also a shower, bathhouse, and sleeping cabins. The lodge is complete with Wi-Fi and phone service. While Moose hunting, established camp locations, a rustic trapper cabin, or nice wall tents are used. Most have outhouses, single-frame beds with sleeping pads, lanterns, propane cooking stoves, chairs, and picnic tables. Portions of these BC Moose hunts also occur from spike camps which are simple but effective. Nice dome-style tents, with lanterns and stoves position hunters exactly where they need to be at dawn each morning.

While out on the land, the guides cook over campfires or Coleman stoves. Meals are filling but an effort is made to pack light. Typical breakfasts consist of hash browns, eggs, bacon, coffee, juice, toast, and porridge with berries. Plan on packing a lunch made up of sandwiches, trail mix, protein bars, some fruit, and juice crystals. Dinner time brings items like Hamburger Helper, beans, smokies and sausages, Mountain House, pork chops, or wild game steaks with instant rice, potatoes, or sidekicks. While transitioning through the main lodge, enjoy hearty wholesome home-cooked meals!

Destination City: Hunters are asked to arrive in either Prince George or Fort St. John BC, and usually overnight in a hotel. Greet outfitter staff in the lobby early the next morning, and depart for an approx. 2-hour charter flight directly to the main lodge airstrip.

Travel Suggestions: The destination cities are most easily reached from several major western Canadian airports, especially Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton, with best airline options being Westjet or Air Canada.

Following a successful moose hunt in British Columbia, trophies are meticulously prepared and labeled. Hides are hung on meat racks in the shade and frozen once back at base camp, along with the deboned meat. Clients may choose to fly home with antlers and some meat or arrange for shipping. After the hunting season, the outfitter delivers all trophies to his preferred taxidermy partner in Northern BC, who can either complete the final work or prepare the crate and export documents and deliver the trophies to an expeditor. The average turnaround time ranges from 8 to 10 months or more. The meat can either be donated to the outfitter or taken to a local butcher for specialized meat products, which can then be packaged and shipped separately from the trophies.

• BC Mountain Goat Hunt
• BC Elk Hunt
• Manitoba Western Moose Hunt
• Yukon Moose Hunt
• BC Shiras Moose Hunt