Moose are the most sought after big game animals to hunt in Alaska. Hunters report harvesting more than 7,000 of Alaska's estimated 175,000 moose every year. Alaskans actually have a fall ritual of Alaska moose hunting. The key to successful Alaska moose hunting is not only knowing only when to hunt them, but where they tend to be. Moose may be found throughout most of the Alaskan terrain except on the Aleutian Islands, but they are most commonly found in South Central and Interior Alaska. Alaska's moose abundance, or density, can range from as low as 1 moose per 30 square miles to as high as 5 or more moose per 1 square mile.

Alaska Moose Hunting Techniques
There are several techniques used for Alaska moose hunting. "Still hunting" is quietly stalking for moose in the forests. Road and trail hunting involves hunting from your four-wheel vehicles down roads or trails. It should be noted, however, that this is not the most successful manner to hunt moose. Moose have great senses of smell, hearing, and sight, and will be able to see AND hear a vehicle approaching.

For the beginning moose hunter, the most important thing to keep in mind is that moose are huge. Mature moose bulls can weigh anywhere from 1,000 to over 1,500 pounds and mature cows weigh nearly half a ton. Even a moose calf is heavy and can weigh over 300 pounds. When selecting an area to hunt in, as well as your transportation, remember that if you are successful, you will have about 400 to 700 pounds of meat and up to 65 pounds of antlers to transport from the site of the kill back home. This is why the 'seasoned' Alaskan moose hunters will say "never kill a moose more than a mile from a vehicle of some sort" for the simple fact that you will have 7 to 9 heavy backpacks of well over 50 pounds of meat to carry and will most likely have to make several round trips by foot between the moose and your vehicle.

Many experienced Alaska hunters enjoy floating silently down rivers and creeks in a raft or a canoe. This allows you to catch the moose eating or drinking by the side of the water as you come around a bend. Rafting and canoeing are not only wonderful ways to hunt, but also to witness the Alaska beauty up close and escape from noises and sights of modern civilization. As with any Alaskan hunting trip, make sure that you bring plenty of warm clothing that you can layer and plenty of ammunition!

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