You know how you use a paper plate to estimate the kill zone of a whitetail deer?
Can someone tell me the approximate dimesions of a moose's kill zone?
Thanks,
Bona
Take a look at the animal shot placement pics thread above in pow wow, It's near the top!! I would say that if you can keep it in the paperplate for deer you good to go!!!
I was thinking the same thing about the paper plate.
I looked at the pics in the above thread. Although very informative I wanted to know if there were actual deminsions.
I did another search and found what I was looking for. The numbers I found were on the New Hampshire fish and wildlife site.
18" wide x 16" high.
I talked to someone at Ironbound Outfitters in New Foundland. They recommend (on thier website )shooting a bow atleast 55# and accurate out to 45 yds.
I told them that I could do the 55# bow but the best I could probably do (with lots of practice) is 30 yds. They said that that was not a problem, they get lots of shots that close or closer. Thier website says the kill zone is 19% but that doesn't tell be much. Thus my original question.
Bona
Bona,
I think you will be just fine if you stick with the paper plate sized kill zone!
However, The MOST important thing to remember is that Moose are a BIG animal!!!!! Range estimation can REALLY be a big problem... The average size Moose is about the size of a Holstien,except about 6 feet tall at the top of his back. I would suggest if you have a farmer around that won't mind you wandering around in his pasture, get out there amongst the cows and practice judging how far away from you they are. It doesn't make up for the height,but it will give you an idea of the body size.
GOOD LUCK!!!!! May the Great Spirit guide your arrow!!!
Bona,
I wouldn't dwell as much on size of the kill zone as I would size of the animal.
Have a friend that went Elk hunting about 25 years ago for the first time with a bow. He actually lost 15 arrows before connecting with his first Bull! He wasn't able to judge distance due to the difference in size between Whitetails and Elk. He has since learned to use objects around the animal to help him judge distance.(such as trees, bushes, etc.)
If you can kill a Whitetail you'll have no problem killing a Moose, just keep the size in perspective. If you can, practice shooting at a 3d Moose. It's amazing how many folks miss the Moose at 3d shoots because they just don't realize how much bigger they are than a Whitetail.
Lots of arrows fall short of the target. Just standing next to a 3d Moose is a real eye opener!
I never thought about misjudging distance because of thier size. Good advice here! Do you tend to shoot under them because they are so big that they seem closer than you think they are?
Bona
You've got It!
Try to get next to a 3d Moose or even a full mount. Then you'll understand why misjudging distance will be your biggest concern.
If you can improvise a practice target (even if it's cardboard) with the broadside measurements of a moose body, including height you will be far ahead of the game when the moment arrives.
Good Luck if your hunt is approaching! And be sure to post PICS.
Hi Bona. . I would advise. . don't worry about changing expectations in terms of kill zones. Hit them the same way you hit a deer. . the zone will be bigger, but if you can hit what you are aiming at (especially paper plate size) you can hit and kill the moose. Keep striving for the smallest possible zone and you will be given lots of leeway when that big guy walks by.
If you have a Cabelas or similar store near by, go stand and sit in front of a full mount and just suck it all in, their size, their shape. Use your imagination and make the shot.
ChuckC
I stood beside some full body mounts and some 3D moose targets but don't have many chances to shoot at them. Cloverdale has some moose in thier course.
I have a big black horse that I can practice ranging on but I will try to get a life size target made up. I do have a bison target that might help some.
I don't have plans yet to do a moose hunt. I'm going to try and work something out in the next couple of years. I'm serious about doing this but have others to consider also.
Thanks for all your help.
Bona
good information guys. The skunk 3d tends to be easier from 30 yards than does the moose 3d. Their kill zone is considerably bigger than most other animals but their size sure does cause one to shoot short. I have improved at judging the distance on a moose; and I shoot from many different distances and angles. Fun stuff. Andrew
In masters of the bare bow 1 or 2 Darrel Quidort had a nice excerpt about how he prepped for his moose hunt, he built a life size target. Cheap, thin, plywood, or even cardboard, use your imagination. Hit'em 1/3 of the way up and just behind his elbow.
You should be able to put em in a 15" dia. circle at any range within your comfort zone, and just feel confident with that. With a 18" High X 16" Wide diameter "effective kill zone" you will have moose burgers for quite a while even with a 15" group! :campfire:
Moose burgers, turnip greens and black eyed peas...yum, yum! Oops! Sorry, had a flash back from when I had to watch "Hee Haw" as a kid!
>>>---Bona--->
From a moose hunter's perspective... those whitetail deer sure are delicate little things, aren't they! Heck, we have a tendency to shoot over those critters because they seem so far away! LOL
In all seriousness though, moose usually do seem closer then they really are to people who are not used to seeing them.
Don't rush your shot since you should have a little more time then with a whitetail, being they are not as "coiled spring" high strung as a nervous mature buck. If you are in a situation that allows it, peek at other objects near the moose to allow your subconscious to adjust to the true distance.
The task will be coaxing or finding one out of the thick bush or tangled jungle swamps they call home and then getting the wind to your advantage long enough to get it or you within your effective range for a broadside shot clear of obstacles.
Try using your thumb held at arm's length as a range finder. Figure out how many inches your thumb covers at known distances.
Bona,
Hunted moose in 2009 with Eldon Jandreau, Hunters Point Guide service, ME. All offered above is good advice and I built a life sized target to practice on and get a feel for their size. Killed a very nice bull on the last day with my 54# LB shooting 750 gr. carbons and a Zwickey No Mercy head. However, I had heart ache early in the hunt when I hit a bull in the brisket which was unrecovered (but most likely survived). Was sure it was a heart/low lung shot. Their anatomy is different with vitals HIGH. The hunt was filmed and you can see it on the Hunters point website ( a sponsor here) if you like. Good luck, my moose hunt was the highlight of my hunting experiences. Todd
Todd that is a beauty of a bull!!!
Bona I'm going after moose this fall Hopefully I'll be able get some up close anatomy info to share. Joe
Nice thread. It would be good to visit an area [Maine] and drive around in the afternoon and just observe them. It's fairly easy to get close in canoes too...if you have the time. I've done the same misjudging distance with elk targets so I appreciate the point.
Todd, that video was waaay cool! Thanks for telling us about it. How many yards was the shot? I couldn't hear the video. Our computer stinks.
I've read that a minimum of 650 gr arrow should be used on moose. I've been shooting a 62# bow with a 670 gr. arrow a bit. That should do the trick. It's my trade bow. But it would be cool to shoot one with a bow that I've made. I'm going to work on a bow for myself that's atleast 55#. Bamboo backed or sinew backed osage or sinew backed juniper with cane arrows.
Joe, you HAVE to let us know how it goes on your hunt! Where are you going and what are you shooting?
Bona
TBM had an article about a year ago, or so. The gentleman used a big piece of burlap, cut and tied, spray painted to look pretty close!
I remember that article!
Headed for Maine in Oct. unit 6 with Squapan Mountain.
Shooting a 60# Striker recurve with a 637 grain arrow sporting about 21% foc and a two blade Eclipse BH.
Bona,
Thanks for the props but the credit goes to the guides who pre-scouted and knew the terrain like the backs of their hands. The brisket shot was between 3 - 4 yds.!! I was intent on watching the near leg swing forward before the shot. The big bull was a grand 6 yd. shot!! Like em close but my heart was pounding so hard I was sure they would hear it. I'll try to post a pic of the homemade moose target I made up to prepare. Best regards, Todd
Good luck Joe, we'll be watching for a report.
Todd, I'd like to see that target. My block target has almost perfect dimesions for the kill zone. I want to make the rest of the target around the block target. Kind of like a GlenDale buck target.
Bona
Here's a pic of Todd and his homemade moose target.
images no wider than 640, please
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Arrowworks/moosetarget.jpg[/IMG]
I shot a cow moose in '07 and if you look at Todd's target I hit right where the "elbow" covers the heart area...about where it curves on the target. The arrow shattered the knuckle, took out the heart and both lungs. The moose went 3 strides and went down. If I could hit them there every shot that's where I would aim..just over the top of that knuckle.
Here's me and my moose. If you look closely where the top of the leg is you will see blood. That is where the arrow hit.
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Arrowworks/BillsMoose.jpg)
That is pretty slick. Thanks Bill.
Nice cow moose there too!
I would be happy with a cow.
I've been out back looking at a good spot for my moose target and practicing ranging with my thumb.
Bona
this moose was hit about 1/2 way up the body behind the shoulder, it went about 120 yards both lungs were hit ??
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/134sawney/5.jpg)
this is the decoy I used last year nary a moose laid eyes on it though.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/134sawney/Ontariomoosehunt084-1.jpg)
This is the decoy I am going to use this year (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/134sawney/moose2.jpg)
That is very cool Howler!
Because of the length of the spinous process on the vertebrae, the hump on the back gives kind of a false sense of the middle of the vitals. I would try to aim a tad lower in the chest cavity to hit the larger arteries coming off the heart and lungs. Mike
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff289/MittenM/hero/moose1.jpg)
Herdbull is right 1/3 up or 2/3rd down would get you the perfect shot.
Now you got me going here.... a moose hunt is on my bucket list for sure.... i would stay in the 12-20 yard range with a big critter like that personally.... if it's far enough where you have to think about yardage, it's too far.
The biggest mistake guys make on elk is looking at the whole animal instead of picking a small spot behind the shoulder to focus on. the tip of the shoulder blade usually throws a shadow line or a crease. try to focus on that crease, and wait till he steps forward and opens up the kill zone. if that leg is back you have no shot on an elk...a moose will be no different.
Here's a trick on judging distance....if they are still out of range or boarder line. look at their feet, or the ground right at their feet....Then pick a spot on the ground that is half the distance from the critter and double it.
I use that trick alot. I bet I can get with in 20 yds!
Bona
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/BonaGlass/April2011094.jpg)
This is MY moose target!
I cut out a square in the plywood and put my block target in there. Then I painted it altogether. It's hard to see in the picture which is good, look's a little more natural.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/BonaGlass/April2011093.jpg)
Work to tighten your groups up. Approach each pratice shot as if it were the only shot.
At the IBO Trad Worlds, the last target was a full sized 6 1/2' at the shoulder- moose.
All you could see were a portion of the massive antlers and the kill zone.You could not see the top of his back, nor the belly nor the shoulder. Virtually greater than 80% of the moose was totally obscure. I am not positive that all ot the kill zone was visible. There were no markers such as trees to estimate distance- just brush with a dark down hill shot. The moose appeared to be ~20 yards. I suspected something was up since there was a big group congregated at the last target. Yes! They were there to see who was to be duped next. He was ~32 yards and the vast majority of archers were hitting him low and some in the leg, which was not even visible from the shooting marker.
Did I fall for it? Not tellin!!!