Hi Guys,

I'm starting '09 hunt planning and want to start homework on doing my first moosehunt too.Problem is I don't have a clue where to start - I've done internet searches on AK and BC hunts, but with guide fees = 8k - 14k these kinds of hunts are clearly out of reach! Any DIY moose hunters out there with tips on how a newbie gets started moose hunting?What books, online materials, specific state F&W sites to read, etcdo yourecommend?

thanks!
phil

PS: I know I'm still years away from drawing in WA state - I've only got 4 loser (moose) points thus far and we're a once in a lifetime moose harvest state ...

phil, you might want to consider putting in for New Hampshire and Maine out east-- as far as DIY, keeping a low budget and providing high success-- (draw odds are not great however). Most of the areas in ME are over 80% success-- We also just got back fromhunting in NW WY-- and saw quite a few moose while hunting deer, elk--not sure about the draw odds though--good luck.

You best chance at harvesting a decent bull moose without breaking the bank is either apply in every western and northeastern state for the next 20 years and hope you get drawn, or cross the border into eastern canada. Several places have somewhat reasonable outfitting costs and you could probably have a moose on the ground forunder $5k. That's a long way to go though from Washington though,and I'm not sure how much it would cost in time and money for you to travel across the continent to shoot a moose.

Thank you maritime363 and npaden! Coincidently huntingnet.com just emailed me and it hadsome moose hunting BC info included - up around Prince George which is only875mi from me. They have a meat moose hunt special in 2009 for $3700 that I'm considering.

thanks again,
phil

I would recommend Alaska. Even with the cost of flying you couldDIY for a big bull and still spend less than an outfitted "meat" hunt in BC. The beauty of Alaska lies in the fact that if you went for moose, didn't see any, but stumbled upon a caribou, you could kill the caribou with the moose tag.Check it out and let me know if you have any questions.

Don't think so. $3700 for a meat hunt is a lot cheaper than doing a diy hunt up here. Flying has gotten to be be very expensive in AK, both commercial and bush flying. When you figure flight from lower 48, and all the flying here, with food and gear and shipping all that stuff too it adds up to more than the price of the BC hunt. A lot less hassle too.

Let me know if you have any questions about Alaska too. I've been a licensed hunting guide here since 1990. As much as I hate to say it, go to BC and have a good time.

Have to disagree with you, FarNorth. It's been done. I'll be up that way again next August and I'll bet dollars to donuts I do it for less than $3,700.

Okay RaghornHS, I have the donuts.
If you don't mind me asking, what GMU are you talking about?
Are you using an air taxi service?

I'll be in 16A with a buddy from Wasilla...no air taxi for this dude!!!

Yeah, okay, you're hunting an area that accessible by road and have a buddy who lives near the area you're hunting.
A different scenario than most who want to come up here and hunt moose.
Add in flying, gear transportation, etc., you're looking at a lot more $$.