Are there really moose around here?

[trfour]

Oh Ya, and get over it. Moose tracks have been here since years. Now, after the last Ice Age, I caught Fll on radar doing over 50.
Our comforter level to keep us warm at the time was down filled.

Today, 2010? I will tell you this, he is no mosquito, although an eye on China...

Way past time to wake up! Folks! And he is more in tuned here with what we would hope is on the way!

If we should lose the battle, argue you're point to the very last, but also remember that our chance in life comes to each and everyone of us through looking out for one and all.

I don't know about y'all, and please forgive me for my rant, 'The death And Destruction Devastation in Haiti doe's not set very well with me'.

Knowing that none of us got here alone, pitch in, it very well could make a difference.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by trfour

Oh Ya, and get over it. Moose tracks have been here since years. Now, after the last Ice Age, I caught Fll on radar doing over 50.
Our comforter level to keep us warm at the time was down filled.

Today, 2010? I will tell you this, he is no mosquito, although an eye on China...

Way past time to wake up! Folks! And he is more in tuned here with what we would hope is on the way!

If we should lose the battle, argue you're point to the very last, but also remember that our chance in life comes to each and everyone of us through looking out for one and all.

I don't know about y'all, and please forgive me for my rant, 'The death And Destruction Devastation in Haiti doe's not set very well with me'.

Knowing that none of us got here alone, pitch in, it very well could make a difference.

This has to be the most confusing post I have ever read...on any forum!

[DRH]

A friend and I saw a half-grown moose on Woodlands Rd. in West Alton early last summer. When we saw it we stopped to watch and it walked within about 25 feet of us, not showing any fear. It then walked into the swamp next to the road. Neither of us had a camera or cell phone at the time to snap a picture.

[Tiger Lilly]

I know what you mean! I have spent every summer of my life, except one, in NH for at least a little while and I have yet to see a moose! Very frustrating. However, on the hike to Mt. Shaw, I saw the biggest pile of poops I have ever seen in my life!! Truly impressive!! So I know they are around!

[fatlazyless]

Moose pretty much seem to have no fear of a car, except loud noise like a honking car horn which will usually get one to run along if it was blocking the road.

There's a springtime mud hole right next to the WV ski area road where they always always go to lick the salty mud in April. You can get as close as you want by approaching down the hill on a quiet bicycle. When the big moose hears a bicycle click, it will get startled just like a deer and jump up fast and give you a hard look-see.

[SIKSUKR]

The scariest thing you will ever see is moose run in front of you at night. Those pants were thrown right in the garbage. Nuff said.

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

The scariest thing you will ever see is moose run in front of you at night.Those pants were thrown right in the garbage.Nuff said.

So true, definately not the preferred method of finding a moose. Having one come running out of a thicket while you are calling to them is not that great either, no car for protection.

FLL, the salt rich mud holes you speak of actually maintain that saltyness all year. That is why it is illegal to harvest a moose anywhere near a paved road. But they are good locals to see a moose while driving in your vehicle.

Just don't spend all your time looking into the woods as you drive along, you may end up in the woods if you are driving and if a passenger you will get sick (I think we all learned that one as a kid ).

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by chipj29

This has to be the most confusing post I have ever read...on any forum!

No kidding?????

I will not go into details as not everyone shares my views on this, but after 21 years of trying my father finally recieved the honor of having a 2009 moose permit in NH. This was truly the hunt of a lifetime for him, even after an Elk hunt in Colorado we did in 2008, we have always lived here so it has always been something viewed at a distance. Anyway, we learned quite a bit about moose this last year and we saw two bulls, three cows and one calf in the week prior to the season as well as the first three days. I will share some of what we learned, but I will tell you that once you are aware of this information if you go out into the woods looking for this sign, you will not believe the opportunities to see moose you will be granted.

Moose actually do not wander around without any real purpose, but they do cover a lot of ground. Moose in NH have a home range of 25 square miles, the bulls will expand on this starting in September as they start looking for a date to the foliage tour in October. Moose live primarily in deciduous forests, but will travel through the conifers to feeding and bedding areas. You want to find relatively isolated areas of these trees that are within close proximity to a water source, they will also spend a lot of time in log cuttings that are ten years old and newer. The saplings are the perfect height for eating the buds and tips of the branches (main moose diet). They also travel in groups during the fall, small bulls will band together and larger bulls that have found a date will stick by her side, the cow will almost always enter first so if it is September or later and you see a cow, hold tight you may be rewarded with her boyfriend as well. Be patient while traveling through areas of dense sign, very slow quite movement, with an open eye. Do not get into the habit of keeping your head down, you will miss a lot in the woods this way. Moose actually do have really good eye sight (I was spotted by a group of three that I saw at the same time at a distance of well over 300 yards) their hearing is even better, so be quite be patient and you will see something. Also as you walk through the woods you may come across an area that the trees are rubbed up. Keep an eye out because when you see one you will see more. Deer do this as well, but a deer will not typically rub a tree that is larger than 3" in diameter, moose will go much larger than that and the rubs will be higher than 3' off the ground, deer are typically 1'-4' off the ground.

Moose tracks are easy to tell apart once you know what to look for. A calf track is obviously smaller, but calves will run with their mothers for almost 1 1/2 years before heading out, so these tracks typically come with another set, slightly larger. A cows track will be between 3-4" wide and up to 6" long, pointed toes, very clean looking track, same for a calf. A bull track will start in the same size range and can go up to 6" wide and 10" long (one we came across was wider and longer than a size twelve boot minus the heal of the boot, HUGE) but the toes will be slightly rounder than a cows. Moose have two forward toes and two dew points, when I say rounded I am talking about the absolute tips of the forward toes. Bulls will also be more splayed out than a cow, unless she has seen many moons.

The area that we were in was well away from any main road and secondary road for that matter. When you see a moose grazing up near a roadway they are in fact doing what FLL stated, enjoying the salt rich soils, water and plants. Moose are most active during the hours just prior to sunrise and starting around dusk, they are huge animals that put out quite a bit of heat, they lay low in the swamps under the canopy of the trees during the height of the day to keep from getting to hot.

Since I received this information on where to look for actual moose habitat I have increased my awareness of them by a leap. In 2009 alone I saw, 6 bulls, 15 cows and 10 calves. And yes I keep these records so that I can pass the information along to Fish and Game as apart of the monitoring of the herd in NH. All the areas I saw these animals in was from Unit G and J2, south and directly west of the Lakes Region. Your probability gets higher the further north you go, but get away from the main roads and you will have far better luck than the pavement pounders with their spotlights.

Anyway good luck, hope to see you out in forest.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Originally Posted by jmen24

No kidding?????

I will not go into details as not everyone shares my views on this, but after 21 years of trying my father finally recieved the honor of having a 2009 moose permit in NH. This was truly the hunt of a lifetime for him, even after an Elk hunt in Colorado we did in 2008, we have always lived here so it has always been something viewed at a distance. Anyway, we learned quite a bit about moose this last year and we saw two bulls, three cows and one calf in the week prior to the season as well as the first three days. I will share some of what we learned, but I will tell you that once you are aware of this information if you go out into the woods looking for this sign, you will not believe the opportunities to see moose you will be granted.

Moose actually do not wander around without any real purpose, but they do cover a lot of ground. Moose in NH have a home range of 25 square miles, the bulls will expand on this starting in September as they start looking for a date to the foliage tour in October. Moose live primarily in deciduous forests, but will travel through the conifers to feeding and bedding areas. You want to find relatively isolated areas of these trees that are within close proximity to a water source, they will also spend a lot of time in log cuttings that are ten years old and newer. The saplings are the perfect height for eating the buds and tips of the branches (main moose diet). They also travel in groups during the fall, small bulls will band together and larger bulls that have found a date will stick by her side, the cow will almost always enter first so if it is September or later and you see a cow, hold tight you may be rewarded with her boyfriend as well. Be patient while traveling through areas of dense sign, very slow quite movement, with an open eye. Do not get into the habit of keeping your head down, you will miss a lot in the woods this way. Moose actually do have really good eye sight (I was spotted by a group of three that I saw at the same time at a distance of well over 300 yards) their hearing is even better, so be quite be patient and you will see something. Also as you walk through the woods you may come across an area that the trees are rubbed up. Keep an eye out because when you see one you will see more. Deer do this as well, but a deer will not typically rub a tree that is larger than 3" in diameter, moose will go much larger than that and the rubs will be higher than 3' off the ground, deer are typically 1'-4' off the ground.

Moose tracks are easy to tell apart once you know what to look for. A calf track is obviously smaller, but calves will run with their mothers for almost 1 1/2 years before heading out, so these tracks typically come with another set, slightly larger. A cows track will be between 3-4" wide and up to 6" long, pointed toes, very clean looking track, same for a calf. A bull track will start in the same size range and can go up to 6" wide and 10" long (one we came across was wider and longer than a size twelve boot minus the heal of the boot, HUGE) but the toes will be slightly rounder than a cows. Moose have two forward toes and two dew points, when I say rounded I am talking about the absolute tips of the forward toes. Bulls will also be more splayed out than a cow, unless she has seen many moons.

The area that we were in was well away from any main road and secondary road for that matter. When you see a moose grazing up near a roadway they are in fact doing what FLL stated, enjoying the salt rich soils, water and plants. Moose are most active during the hours just prior to sunrise and starting around dusk, they are huge animals that put out quite a bit of heat, they lay low in the swamps under the canopy of the trees during the height of the day to keep from getting to hot.

Since I received this information on where to look for actual moose habitat I have increased my awareness of them by a leap. In 2009 alone I saw, 6 bulls, 15 cows and 10 calves. And yes I keep these records so that I can pass the information along to Fish and Game as apart of the monitoring of the herd in NH. All the areas I saw these animals in was from Unit G and J2, south and directly west of the Lakes Region. Your probability gets higher the further north you go, but get away from the main roads and you will have far better luck than the pavement pounders with their spotlights.

Anyway good luck, hope to see you out in forest.

Thank you very much for the insight on moose!

Check out these interesting threads:

The Moose is Loose! - A rescue story from and about our Forum Member, Misty Blue


This wonderful picture was taken by Bob Andrews of Anchor Marine
Moose Swims at Weirs Beach - Caption Needed

Moose Sighting

White Moose!

Moose Sightings

We had the pleasure of seeing many on our trip years ago to Attean Lake Lodge in Maine. The first morning we were out looking for them, we didn't spot a single one. Once we were told to just sit and watch the waters edge, it paid off. Moose look like a very big rock when they are grazing under water and because you only see their back. I just came to the realization that our getaway to this island retreat at Attean Lake was was the precursor to our becoming Lake Winnipesaukee islanders!


Moose swimming to Three Mile Island.
From the kerem Gallery


Taken on Route 28 south of Alton.
From the Mee-n-Mac Gallery

Click here for more pictures from the PhotoPost Gallery.

[trfour]

Originally Posted by chipj29

This has to be the most confusing post I have ever read...on any forum!

Haven't been myself lately, watching all of the saddening news coming from Haiti.
They really need our support and I was very happy to see the link posted today by Webmaster Don. Let us help in any way that we can.


Terry
__________________

Not The Servers Fault. Keys Up!

¿sɹǝʌɹǝs ʍǝu ǝɥʇ ɥʇıʍ op oʇ ƃuıɥʇʎuɐ ǝʌɐɥ sıɥʇ pןnoɔ ˙ʍou ʇsod ı uǝɥʍ ɯǝןqoɹd ɐ ǝʌɐɥ oʇ ɹɐǝddɐ ı

[fatnoah]

Pepper,

Your Laconia moose story is very similar to mine. Once year my parents and I spent a week in the Colebrook area and spent a bit of time moose-watching, but we didn't see any moose. Back home on Highland Street a week later, we opened the shades in the living room early one weekday morning and there was a moose strolling down the street!

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by trfour

Haven't been myself lately, watching all of the saddening news coming from Haiti.
They really need our support and I was very happy to see the link posted today by Webmaster Don. Let us help in any way that we can.


Terry

It's all good Terry.

[coltgov101]

For those of you that don't know me I spent 40 plus summers in N.H. I remember driving home from a date, it was late, about 1am, I believe I was around Melvin Village area when I saw a huge horse just off the road, I slowed knowing that if I struck it would kill me as well as him. I was amased to see huge antlers that were hidden in the tree branches he was standing under. Thus my first moose and last, as I never saw one again.

[tis]

Ha! Did you read my post, colt? I, too thought the first moose I ever saw was a horse! It was about 30 years ago and I saw his rear end as he was running away into the woods, but WAS HE BIG! I am glad I am not the only one to think it was a horse at first!

[Irrigation Guy]

Love this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNy9jTeolUk

[Gearhead]

Originally Posted by trfour

Oh Ya, and get over it. Moose tracks have been here since years. Now, after the last Ice Age, I caught Fll on radar doing over 50.
Our comforter level to keep us warm at the time was down filled.

Today, 2010? I will tell you this, he is no mosquito, although an eye on China...

Way past time to wake up! Folks! And he is more in tuned here with what we would hope is on the way!

If we should lose the battle, argue you're point to the very last, but also remember that our chance in life comes to each and everyone of us through looking out for one and all.

I don't know about y'all, and please forgive me for my rant, 'The death And Destruction Devastation in Haiti doe's not set very well with me'.

Knowing that none of us got here alone, pitch in, it very well could make a difference.

You know that sleeping medicine that makes people sometimes get up in the middle of the night and bake cookies, etc. When they get up they can't figure out where they came from? Look at the time stamp.

[Lucky1]

I had a moose walk down my driveway. It walked around a bit and then walked into the lake and swam out of sight. I hate to think of it being moose antlers on a mantle somewhere. It was such a majestic sight.