CANADA: NEWFOUNDLAND - EASTERN CANADIAN MOOSE HUNT

Hunts are offered during both the early archery-only season (late Aug. -early Sept.) as well as during the rifle season (early Sept. – mid Nov.). With the high Eastern Moose population density and competitive breeding, the Moose rut in Newfoundland is long and aggressive. Prime Moose rut spans from early-Sept. to mid-Oct., with limited prime late season hunts in mid-Nov.

-Black Bears: Can be added to most Moose hunts by trophy fee basis + licensing and tag.
-Caribou: Can be booked as a priority species or as a Moose combo. Tags are limited.

Standard Newfoundland Moose hunts are 6 full days. Most camp locations can access at least a portion of their hunting area by boat – but generally hunters do a decent amount of walking. Be ready to reach a strategic vantage point for dawn each day. Once on a small peak, visibility is often good for a long distance, and it’s not uncommon to start spotting Moose, Bears, or Caribou quite quickly. Actively spot and stalk Moose using calling tactics with your guide. Cover some terrain by boat, or run the ridges glassing as much country as possible. During the rut, calling can coax a bull to begin heading your direction. The landscape is scenic, mostly open, but challenging to maneuver at times. Ribbon fens, brook crossings, muskeg, boulder fields or dense patches of stunted spruce trees riddle the land. Pack a bagged lunch most mornings to stay out in the field all day. Glass while you chew and never stop hunting while the sun is in the sky. Shots are normally inside of 300 yards and depending where he falls, extract him by boat or call in the chopper!

Most clients bring their own firearms for moose hunting in Newfoundland, but some rifles can be rented, if preferred. Rentals must be reserved in advance. Shooting distance can range from 75 to 350 yards in typical cases. Popular calibers are anything in the .270 - .30 caliber plus range. Muzzleloaders are also welcomed.

Archery gear is welcomed by anyone wishing to increase the challenge level of the hunt. Compound, traditional, or crossbow archery is all legal and acceptable on any Newfoundland Moose hunt.

Newfoundland can be rugged. It’s a patchwork of small lakes and mountains in all directions. The land comes complete with expansive low-lying sphagnum bogs, muskegs, and fens. River valleys are belted with alders, birch, or poplar, while higher up the rocky soil gives way to a more conifer dominated forest mainly comprised of black spruce or tamarack. Boulder fields or “rock gardens” work the ankles but the rocky ridges provide the best trekking once you’ve crested their summit. Autumn conditions can be wet and windy, but fall colors are in their full seasonal glory as the Moose rut peaks!

Newfoundland can be a wet landscape, reaffirmed by the North Atlantic’s classic fall weather. Mornings are often calm, dewy, or frosty with low lying fog that burns off shortly after the sun crests. Rain can come and go, same with short bouts of high wind. Meanwhile, other days can be warm and sunny. Snow or temperatures dipping below the freezing mark are generally uncommon until the late season in November. The animals are used to it, so hunters must ensure they come prepared for the elements while Moose hunting in Newfoundland.

With over 40 fly-in camp locations, there are many lodging options. Generally, camps range from rustic cabins, to more luxurious lodges. All have generator electricity, most have a cook and cell phone reception. Many also have full bathrooms, whereas others have outhouses. Sometimes hunters have their own rooms, other times they share a room with another hunter. Screened-in meat shacks, docks and motor boats, wood sheds, and porches round out most camps. On the trophy Moose hunts, accommodations are often a little more spartan. Here, use wall tents on elevated wooden floors, outhouses, generators, propane stoves, cots, and coolers. Still very comfortable as far as tent camps go. At times, cabins are used for trophy hunts as well.

Hunters do not go hungry while Moose hunting in Newfoundland and often get a chance to enjoy some local favorites. Camps are often stocked with fresh codfish, hams, salted pork, beef and moose steaks, and, occasionally, fresh mussels or lobsters. These are served with roasted root veggies, buns, rice, and salad. Homemade desserts are also served. Breakfasts are classic with blueberry pancakes, waffles, toast, coffee, juice, muffins, eggs, bacon, and sausages. Pack a lunch with an array of items. Various sandwiches, granola bars, juice boxes, cookies, candy, pudding, tinned meat or fish, as well as dinner leftovers. Meals are always included in the cost of these Newfoundland moose hunt packages.

Destination City: Hunters are usually asked to arrive to either Deer Lake, Gander or St. Johns Newfoundland. The remote hunting areas are spread out over vast areas accessible only by aircraft, with seaplane bases a 1-3 hour drive from either of the destination cities.

Travel Suggestions: St. Johns is easy to reach from various major eastern US airports. Connections to the other destination cities such as Gander or Deer Lake can be reached most directly with flights connecting via St. Johns, Montreal, or Halifax, or directly from certain US airports.

A percentage of Eastern Moose hunters drive to Newfoundland, and return home with their meat and trophies directly. For those leaving meat and trophies with the outfitter - capes are carefully skinned, trimmed, labeled, and frozen. Similar for skulls or skull plates. After the season the outfitter delivers all trophies to a capable taxidermist in Newfoundland who can do the complete work, or prep, certify, crate, and deliver trophies to a local shipping agent or expeditor to be shipped. Turnaround time ranges from 4-8 months.

Meat is deboned and frozen, and can also be left with the outfitter to be shipped later. Options for detailed or specialized butchery, or products like sausages, ground meat, or jerky can also be done, and later shipped.

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