Here is pic one of my co-workers sent me. Her husband bagged a moose in the BWCAW this last weekend.

Portaging in the gear and packing out a moose definitely gets my respect. Moose hunting is a once in a lifetime experience in Minnesota.

Congrats.

Looks like he needs a little more eye relief on his scope ;)

nice moose and that eye is classic. any idea what area he was is?

doc? you ARE the witty quip God!

Say that 3 times fast

Gabbro

Nice moose...our group put in for it this year.

Nice Bull! Good job! My party of four received a permit back in '87 and took a nice cow moose just outside the BW off the Gunflint. Mmmmm.... we enjoyed steaks and various sausages for almost a year!

I'd much rather see a moose on all four legs than dead in the weeds.
I know some people don't agree with that statement.

I used to hunt but not anymore. I don't like killin' stuff. I usually don't eat stuff someone else killed either. But I suppose I'd rather have someone procure their own meet instead of factory farming. OK, I better stop. I don't want to start something. Crap, I already did. Sorry.

Tom

Nice shot....now the WORK begins.
I saw two guys skinning a bull that was hanging from a crane around Tofte, on Hwy 61 last Friday morning. Mrs Plums didn't like seeing that.

If the moose population is in such dire straits in Northern Minnesota, why are they still allowing a moose hunt?

Also, in a wilderness area where, by law, I can leave no trace (I can't even cut down a small tree for a fire); why in the hell are you allowed to kill a moose and drag it out?

If I posted a picture of me standing next to an sawed-off old-growth white pine, I'd get all sorts of crap from everyone on this board about how I violated wilderness ethics and am a horrible person, and possibly get arrested for a violation of the wilderness area. But you can post up this picture, on a board dedicated to the preservation and respect for our wilderness area, and everyone congratulates you? I'm sorry, but that's a double standard that needs to be fixed. That, or allow me to go up there and cull the last remaining herd of white pines.

/end rant

PS - I have nothing against hunting, just not in the BWCA if it's truly considered a wilderness area.

Well Scrubb--I'll try to answer your questions.

Moose are considered a renewable resource in Minnesota. The population is managed to keep it at a sustainable level. The DNR only allows a few permits per year and once you get a permit/license you are never allowed to get one again. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Moose herd is managed by Biologists and it has been determined that the hunting currently allowed has absolutely no affect on the moose population. The moose population is not in "dire straights." The Moose population levels declining you keep reading about are for the most part in the Northwestern part of the state not in the Northeast where the BWCAW is found.

The Moose harvested are also used for research by Biologists to study. You are required to provide biological Moose samples (I am not sure which organs/parts) to the DNR as part of the hunting license requirement. So Hunting Moose is also used by the DNR Biologists to provide valuable research data about the health of the Population.

Hunting, trapping, and fishing are allowed in a wilderness area. People also hunt deer, bear, and grouse in the BWCAW. I guess I fail to see how cutting down a stand of trees that will take 50 years to replace is the same as harvesting a moose that can be replaced by a calf the following spring? Different resources are managed differently based on the science of sustainability.

Leave no trace? Please go to Gabbro Lake and try to find where this Moose was harvested? I doubt you will find any signs. this guy practiced Leave No Trace. So once again your analogy is quite flawed. I suspect your complaint has less to do with leave no trace and more about you feel hunting is wrong. You are entitled to your opinion, but I whole heartedly disagree. Unfortunately for you Science and the law currently agree with me :)

Sorry you don't like it. My intention was not to get anybody mad. My intention was to celebrate someone harvesting a Moose in a wilderness area. I think that is admirable in this day in age where Hunters use ATVs and trucks. This guy had to hike and canoe into the area and then portage paddle out 1,000 pounds. I think that is in the spirit of the wilderness.

T

here ya go Scrubb....

NICE tree! :)

Scrubb and woodcanoe raise the same issues that first came to my mind when I saw this picture. White pines? Moose? Fish? Blueberries?
For some reason we value megafauna and megaflora more.

A successful moose hunt in the BW definitely must be earned. It's on my bucket list. Congratulations to your friend's husband, timatkn.

I don't hunt and have no desire to, but I have a hard time begrudging anyone who does....many hunters are avid conservationists, and so in that respect we are kindred spirits.

I'm green with envy. Congrats.

Hey Ktoivola, is that what they mean when I hear about bow hunting? And, did you mount that trophy on your wall?

Nice moose! Congrats! And...nice tree! Congrats!

Actually, I cant take credit for that trophy....the forest service bagged it at our campsite...I just posed for the photo op.

Blueberries and other edibles don't really count, as you are not killing the plant, just harvesting berries. If you could grab a steak off that moose without killing it, go ahead.

Fishing is a trouble spot, although I do not fish in the BWCA. Good point there.

Who determines what a 'sustainable' level is? I thought nature did that, not some guy at the DNR office. If there are too many moose up there, they'll starve, get diseases, or get eaten by wolves. Humans don't need to have a spreadsheet to determine that 1,952 moose is ideal. Usually, when humans become involved, we mess things up royally.

JLK makes a good point that we value mega-flora/fauna much more than smaller flora/fauna, and that is valid. However, generally speaking, the larger the organism, the rarer that organism is. There are millions of fish, bugs, blueberries, etc. There are only a handful of the old-growth pines, bears, and moose. I prefer to let them be, and increase my chances of interacting with these creatures.

I do think hunting is part of our culture, and have no issues with it, per se. However, as a culture, we have evolved to the point where we no longer need to harvest wild animals for food. While I understand the need to keep deer populations under control in an urban enviornment, I do not understand the desire to go out and kill an animal like a moose in a place such as the BWCA. It would be like traveling to the Louvre in order to set the Mona Lisa on fire.

I hope this isn't taken as an attack on anyone. I enjoy the discussion, and Timatkin has brought up very valid points.

Somehow I just knew that this thread would end up in this direction.
(Sad really.)
I don't hunt much anymore, but I don't begrudge anyone from doing so.

I also knew that this thread would go this way, I could have been the first one to comment but I wanted to check back and see. First of all nice moose, I wish I was along on the hunt. It is truly a hunt of a lifetime. The moose population is MANAGED by the DNR, just like all game and fish. 250 permits for the fall season were available. There is more Deer now in Minnesota that when when we first started to live here? Why, because we have managed the population. If you don't believe me about this, talk to an old timer who lived in northern Minnesota. I have and they never saw the deer population like it is now. They are everywhere. Lets talk about the Turkey population in Minnesota. They were never here and now we have a Spring and Fall hunt. Why because we manage them. In certain hunting zones the Deer population goes up and down and the DNR adjusts the harvest accordingly. If the Moose numbers drop they will adjust the numbers also or close the zone. I love to see a Moose when I am in the BWCA, like anyone. I also like to hunt big and small game and fish. Most hunters and fishermen that I know also love nature and wildlife. This culture has said that it is wrong to hunt and fish now that we can get our chicken/turkey/beef/fish from the local store. Sorry but I will still hunt/fish until I can not walk anymore.

I'm a former hunter, but I sure wish there were more moose in BWCA, not less. I have yet to see one.

now white tail deer on the other hand, we need a LOT less of those.

Nice moose. Legally taken and proudly displayed.

Congratulations to your friend

You took the words out of my mouth timatkn.

Nice Moose!

Congratulations. I would love to get the opportunity to be involved on a moose hunt in the BWCA.

Thanks for sharing!!!

It must have been an adventure of a life time. I'm jealous.

Nice moose...earned the hard way without ATV, Trailcams or Tripod stands. Also, if we truly cared about "mother earth", wild game is the way to go. The carbon footprint of a pound of venison is a fraction compared to a pound of corn/soybean fed pork, beef or chicken. I would suspect that even a vast area such as the BW still has a limited carrying capacity for large herbivores....they must be managed. I leave that management up to the DNR.
I think it's great that he got to enjoy his legal, wilderness experience.

I dont hunt, have never hunted, or have any intention of hunting. That being said, the gentleman legally shot and legally transported a moose from the boundary waters, and since it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for him im glad he got to realize his dream. If he would have done something illegal i would be the first to have a complaint, and since the dnr feels moose populations are at an acceptable level, than he did nothing wrong.Ive been going to the bwca for well over twenty years, and i see just as many moose now as i did the first time i went in. For those that have never seen a moose i will say this. I hope you get the opportunity to see a moose at least once in your lifetime.So let me help out, if you go up the gunflint in june and get up at 5 am and go down clearwater road, you will see a moose 5 out of seven days. I have seen moose over 150 times at least, and i truly believe the population hasnt changed much the last 20 years. If however you think they should ban moose hunting all together, then i feel you should contact the dnr and express your opinion. I would rather have people get replicas than keep trophy fish, but thats just how i feel, thats my opinion, and im not going to denegrate any one that keeps a trophy fish, but if i felt that strongly that they shouldnt then i would fight that battle with the dnr not on this website.

moose plums - yes, it is too bad that the thread takes this kind of fork. Always does. Nice moose and yes, I would like a few of those steaks! My cousins ex-wife got two moose hunts in. Some time ago, you could re-apply after 'x' number of years after you got a tag. The DNR changed it to once-in-a-lifetime draw. She and her party applied again and eventually got another tag. She arrowed a 60 incher on Rice Lake. I saw the photo. Took her and her party 13 hours to pack everything out.
Less than a week until SD pheasant.

Gary

Truth be told, the moose population in Northeast MN is not dropping but a moose study does show recent a lower birth rate and increased stress during warmer winters and summers. However, The past winter and summer were not warmer than normal but colder than normal. Here's a link to the moose study.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish_wildlife/wildlife/mac/index.html

I would like to editorialize by saying the DNR does a horrible job of managing our forests and wildlife. I am not prepared to say that I like or dislike what the DNR does. I'm only stating that to say a Government bureaucracy can overpower and manage nature is purely ridiculous.

The reason our deer population has exploded is directly related to timer harvesting. Deer thrive in young forests. Northern MN has changed from a predominately coniferous mature forest to a fragmented forests of Aspen. This statement is not an editorial but fact.
The DNR cannot reasonably manage a deer population that thrives in such an environment.

Finally, like it or not, hunting is permitted in the BWCA purely for political reasons. Political interests trump all reason where money is involved. I'm not sayting this for or against moose hunting.

I was waiting for this thread to go in this direction and frankly, it doesn't bother me. I didn't see any petty personal jabs so far and I enjoy reading all the opinions. As for hunting, I don't currently partake in it, but am not against it in any way, shape, or form. In fact, if I were ever to move up north I would certainly hunt deer as I LOVE venison and could eat it all year long and we seem to have a surplus of deer right now.

That being said, I would not partake in a moose hunt as I feel personally that we could use a few more moose. Now, I don't have any scientific data to back that up, that is just how I feel.

Stated above, "The Moose herd is managed by Biologists and it has been determined that the hunting currently allowed has absolutely no affect on the moose population. The moose population is not in "dire Straights". Well, it did decrease the population by one animal that will not be viewed by anybody else during their canoe trip next summer. Most people seem to think that spotting a bull moose from a canoe is the "holy grail" of any trip up north. So one hunter has deprived the rest of us from viewing this particular moose, thusly decreasing our chances of spotting a moose at all by one animal.

As far as the the moose hunt being legal, lots of things are legal that don't make sense and I won't even bother to list off some of our fool hardy nonsensical laws.

As for the DNR, I think we all know that they do not always know what is right either and they do have a financial stake in the moose hunt as well.

Once again, this is not anti hunting sentiment, I would just prefer to air on the side of conservation. Unfortunately, conservation too often seems to follow resource depletion rather than precede it.

Thanks, gbusk

The moose hunt wont and cant hurt the moose population beacuse you can only take bulls, and one moose can and will knock up more than one cow.
moose hunts have a low success rate. My friend shot one last week as well. Congrats!

I like to hunt, but admit I'm not very good at it. I think legally shooting a moose in the wild is the epitome of northern wilderness. I have much more respect for the hunter that paddles and portages into the wilds to hunt than the more common modern version of the person who drives their 4 wheeler to their heated, elevated hunting blind to shoot deer over a pile of sugar beets.

Congratulations to the hunter. I really admire him.

heres some controversy! i dont hunt but most everyone i fish with does. before my trip last week i would say i was against moose hunting in the bwca and for the most part i would be for outlawing it. but, i ran into a party of 8 on the trail who had bagged 2 moose with 2 permits and what a bunch of nice guys by the way. they packed out 500 lbs of meat 2 days earlier from henson to poplar and still helped us carry our gear to allow us a single portage. they then refused our help and it allowed us some time for great conversation. we discovered that there are some hefty fees involved in moose hunting which is applied to conservation funds. also the moose population is more effected by putting out fires than hunting. (moose dont care for old growth but thrive in burn down.) here is a pic of thier monster rack. i was torn between pity and admiration. but my respect for thier efforts prevailed over all. KTOIVOLA I BET THAT SUCKER LOOKS NICE ON YOUR WALL!

Among us who frequent this board, and in a broader scope, those who spend time in the BWCA, there will be a wide spectrum of what constitutes acceptable interactions with the wilderness.
The wilderness, in most places, including the BWCA, is not a place 'untrammeled by man'. Those were the words used in the Wilderness Act to define such places. For better or worse, mankind, like other organisms in an ecosystem, influences and alters, even in those places we wish to think of as wild.

It's good to see relatively respectful discussion of opinions here.
It's also good to have places like the BWCA, maybe not untrammelled, for there, as Thoreau said, is man's salvation. I think most of us can agree to that.

For those who say the DNR or other government bureaucracies are horribly mismanaged is improper. Take a look at what happened to the old growth forests with little government interference in the late 1800s. Look at northern Wisconsin today, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National forest, and the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest, all of them managed by government bureaucracies. Are people better off today because of these resources or how they were 100 years ago after the lumber companies cleared out? I do not agree with everything our government does but to say the DNR does a horrible job of managing our resources is an overstatement.

I am not a hunter, but I am not against it as long as the animal is used as food. I can catch, filet, and cook a fish, but there's just something about land animals that I just don't have the stones for hunting. Animals being killed just for pelts leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and I am very against animals killed as trophies.
I always tend to look at things like this from, for a lack of a better term, an evolutionary perspective. The meat obtained from a moose in the BWCA is closer to how our ancestors did it 100's and even 1,000's of years ago (just with different weapons). I would guess that the natives who used to live in the area hunted moose for food and probably used it for other needs. We've gotten to a point where we don't HAVE to hunt, but that may not be such a good thing. The meat from the moose in the picture is healthier than meat from any farm raised cow, chicken, pig, etc..., even the organic, free-range, small-scale farm kind.
The government has to regulate it because the human population is too large. We could easily kill off all moose, deer, fish, etc... because there are so many of us. Back to our ancestors, there were not as many of them. So, they were able to live more in harmony and balance with nature. The DNR just tries to preserve that natural harmony. Now, do they do a good job at it? I don't know. That's a different discussion.
Observing moose in the wild is awesome. I saw one in the Quetico on, I think, Slate. It got in the water on one side and swam all the way across to the other side, got out, and disappeared into the woods. Also, saw 2 standing on the shore on Bell. Definitely, something I want to see again.

All this talk about management and mis-management takes me back to a time when Bald Eagles were on the brink of extinction in the lower 48. I didn't see my first eagle till I was 25 years old, and I grew up hiking, fishing, and spending much of my time in the outdoors. Today, I see eagles flying over farm fields in Southern MN, a place where I never would have expected to see them, ever.
I do not believe that the DNR, and wildlife biologists do everything right either, but I can't imagine where we'd be without them.

I remember an article in the BW Journal a couple of years ago that discussed the moose population and hunt. It said that preserving the tradition of hunting moose in the BWCA was one of the factors in setting the permit levels for this hunt. So, the permits are not entirely about preserving the moose population. Yes, the moose population can probably handle this level of hunting because it takes only bulls and yes, they get some data from the hunt. But, from that article I got the impression that the moose population does not need the hunt to stay healthy. This seems to be different than deer hunts where it is needed to keep deer from overpopulating and starvation. I'd rather they got the tradition factor out of the equation. I suspect if they did that then there would be no hunt in the BWCA. Like many things in the BWCA (such as our recent discussion about motors), the management plan is a complicated set of compromises between various interests.

I'm a hunter that hunts and has a deep respect for the animals I harvest. That being said I wish people would exercise the same fervor to a cause other than rhetoric in their ability to volunteer to help causes as cleaning up , restocking, and trail mgmt. I live in southern Illinois and help plan cleanup projects and trail mgmt. in the Shawnee National Forest. In 4 years of doing this it is the same people over and over again whom volunteer their services,the majority of volunteers are over 40. You can not help the environment by running ones yapper or holding up a sigh you have to get off your ass and do something. We have a college full of kids whom will jump at the chance to holler about a cause and stage a protest. This year for the Devils Kitchen Lake Canoe cleanup we had exactly zero college volunteers and SIU donated their rental canoes for the cause. Ducks Unlimited, The Wild Turkey Federation and Quails Unlimited all sent volunteers. So before one starts being critical of others look and ask yourself what have I done this year. I'd bet money less than 10% of the people whom partake within BWCA.com volunteer more than once a year. Its about action not relaxation

Moose Plums,

I agree. The first time I went to the BWCA (1978) the ranger where we picked up our permit said there were two creatures that lived in the BWCA that we would probably never see, bald eagles and timber wolves. They were there but very rare. Now we see bald eagles every day, I have not seen a wolf yet but have heard them twice. The management may not be perfect but with all the competing interests I think they do a pretty good job.

A big Congrats on the moose. I'm guessing that tree was a bitch to portage out.

Well put Cowdoc.

"we have evolved to the point where we no longer need to harvest wild animals for food"

Remove the word "wild" from the above comment and it sounds like something that could have been overheard in a speech made at a PETA rally or vegan conference. Scary. How far has society really evolved if it's unacceptable to harvest a wild animal for food, but it's fine to have someone else do the killing and butchering for us? Seems more than a little hypocritical. Hunting and fishing bring about many of the same feelings and experiences for me as a trip to the wilderness. Solitude, quiet, enjoying a beautiful sunrise/sunset, observing nature...all part of the hunting experience.

Hello everybody my name is Ryan and I am the evil moose killer. :)

I am not interested in entering an ethical debate on hunting but I would like to share a few things I’ve learned over the last year regarding moose hunting in Minnesota.

-Moose Population, Decline: In order to legally take a moose in Minnesota you must be selected in the lottery. In order to have your license validated you must take a class put on through the DNR. This class is about 50% rules and regs, 50% general discussion about the species. This was a very well ran class put on by the DNR that included presentations by the Forest Service and by one of the three veterinarians employed by the DNR. Some of the interesting facts I would like to share:
-The moose population is on a very slight decline: reason unknown. At one time there were basically two populations of moose managed in Minnesota, east and west. In the 90’s the western population plummeted and before the DNR reacted it was all but gone. The feeling I received with talking with both DNR officers and the veterinarian is that this was something they are not proud of and feel party responsible for (because they did not react quickly enough). They are seriously committed to insuring Minnesota will have viable population for years to come.
They are not happy with the picture being painted in the media regarding the moose population. Again, the population is declining but it is not as dismal as one would believe if they relied on the media.
Current moose hunting program has zero impact on long term moose population growth or decline. As previously pointed out it is bull only hunting with a very limited number of permits handed out. If one bull is taken others happily fill in. Because of this comparing heard management practices currently utilized for deer to moose is probably not accurate. Harvesting moose is not a tool the DNR currently uses to manage the population but controlling hunting is.
So then why have a moose hunt at all? Well here’s what I’ve learned along with a bit of my opinion. I don’t believe it’s for financial gains. 225 permits are given at $310 per is $69,750… DNR is just covering its costs. Already mentioned my opinion on population management… I believe the reason is to give Minnesota resident hunters a opportunity to continue a tradition. I believe someone already eloquently posted this view so I will not try to reiterate it.
Why is the moose population declining? This is a question that nobody has been able to answer but many are trying. Moose die for a number of reasons all of which are fairly easy to recognize. Old age, ticks, brain worm, and liver flukes just to name a few. All these are easy enough to identify on an expired moose. But there are a small number of animals that show no sign of any of these, appear perfectly healthy, yet have passed. These deaths are what has the DNR perplexed. This is why they ask that anyone who comes across a moose carcass to take pictures, note its location, and notify them as soon as possible. The DNR has also implemented an optional program where they request that hunters who are successful take lung, liver, blood, feces, hair, and tooth samples. They give you a kit in a little cooler with all the necessary equipment. They are very proud to say that they received +80% returns every year. Other states that have similar programs for other species report around 30%. I must say after the last year’s experiences I have much more respect for the DNR and their efforts to insure a sustainable population is conserved for future generations.

The Hunt: I’ll give a short synopsis of what when into this hunt and why I chose the BWCA.

I chose to experience my once in a lifetime hunt in the BWCA for a couple reasons:
-Fewer people, I don’t like people on the best of days (except you guys, you guys are great). When I am out in nature I prefer to be by myself, with myself. This is probably why quite a few of my trips have been solo and mostly in February.
-Unique set of challenges the BWCA presents. I enjoy pushing myself and my limits.
-There is no more pure way one can hunt such a great animal than away from civilization in a canoe.

I found out that I was successful in the lottery this early this spring. My wife and myself had been applying for about four or five years (minimum of two people per tag). Right away I went to work to improve my odds of taking a bull. Currently my wife is due in December so she was unable to attend the hunt. See how I improved my odds there?
I made three scouting trips to zone 20, one in July, August, and September. Through scouting, starring at maps, and scanning satellite photos I knew the area like the back of my hand and had three hunting areas selected. The other major activity was educating myself on the animal and how to hunt it. There are some great publications out there but if I had to recommend one I would say Kelso’s book on moose hunting is the best. Other preparations centered on being in the BWCA for up to 17 days. I was prepared to be there from the 1st to the 17th if need be (three planned resupplies back to the truck).
We entered on the 1st and hunted Gabbro starting on the 3rd. I was planning on moving the 10th if I was not successful before. I was set up with a full size 3-D cow decoy I built, scent, and a Birch call. On the morning of the 9th this bull presented itself and I was able to take it.
It took most all of Friday to butcher the animal. Eight packs were filled and carried/canoed back to camp. Saturday we tried to get to the EP but winds prevented that. Sunday morning we were able to move out and by Sunday night the meat was at the butcher and the gear was in the truck. One long and back breaking day… Bud I had a smile on for all of it…
Being that this is a once in a lifetime hunt what one learns is easily lost. If anyone is lucky enough to pull a tag or is interested in what it takes to make a hunt like this successful I would be glad to share.

Regards,

Ryan

O’ yah… The little cut on the eye… I’ve handed out a lot of grief to people who get scoped so now it’s my turn. I have a set of scope caps on this rifle and when I’m relaxed and punching paper the release will give me a bit of a tap so I always pull the cap. Never had any issues in live fire scenarios… When I took the shot the morning of the 9th I was in an awkward position trying to get a shot around my decoy while using a tree to steady… The result was a bit of love from the scope…

I think the cut is awsome. All part of the hunt.

Very informative post Ryan. Thanks and congratulations.

I almost went to Gabbro for a day trip on the 4th but went in at South Kawishiwi instead. We probably would have ruined your hunt and scared away your bull by thinking your decoy was real and then canoeing around it taking pictures. ha ha

Thanks for sharing Ryan.

I had no idea that this picture may get negative comments. I am sorry I was so niave. I did ask your wife for permission before posting becuase I followed along the hunt through her with great excitement and thought others would enjoy it as well.

I myself will never probably apply for a permit for the reasons Ryan outlined above. It is just takes too much work and time that I am not capable of performing at this point in life. But it sounds like an experience of a lifetime in the true voyaguer spirit.

Congrats again---I am envious of the experience and I hope you let your wife bring a taste into work for all of us to try :)

T

I'm envious I was lucky enough in 1990 to have a similar experience. Good for you its not about the kill its about the hunt KUDOS to you. Enjoy and revel in your experience.

Timatkin, I personally am glad you started this thread. It really hasn't seemed too negative to me and I have learned a few things myself.

Great post Ryan, nice info from first hand experience. I'd still prefer too shoot moose with a camera, but the BWCA belongs to us all.

RD,
Thanks for your post, welcome aboard. I hope you will share more with us.

Congratulations on your successful hunt, it is quite the achievement. I would be envious, until I realize the work getting it out.
Boppa

Mmmmmm.....Moose ribs

Moose ribs certainly sounds better and tastier than moose plums.

Thanks for the trip report Ryan and congrats on your achievement. My cousins ex said it took 3 hours to get to Rice Lake and 13 to get out after they took their bull.

Gary

well since the thread has gone that way...

I'm very pro hunting. It's necessary and very useful, and I have yet to see a single argument against it that seemed to be based on any real or logical foundation.

That said, after reading this thread, I still don't understand why moose hunting is allowed in MN when there is low and/or declining populations. It doesn't seem logical to me that killing hundreds of moose a year is in any way a benefit to the population or the state. The best explanation I've seen is, "We figure it's probably not *that* bad to kill off a few hundred"

This is not a hate post or anti hunter post, the only thing I hate about hunting is the same thing most other hunters I know hate... those ted nugents and unsportsmanlike hunters who give the rest of us a bad name, and this hunter seems very far from that group and has my respect.

For those of you whom think the MN DNR (Government) is not doing their job...

Why do you not try their job? Because like any government administration it is run by people like you and me. We have to make decisions. Like them or not, some guy who still has to mow his lawn made these though decisions. If you want government you will support your local/state DNR, if you do not want government you can have anarchy (which currently might not be a bad option).

It's possible there may be just a bit of gray area between blind support of every decision a government makes, and total anarchy. :)

we had total blind support of government for the past 8 years and it didn't work out so well. that's a bit off topic tho. ;)

"wolves wont kill the strongest male. but a human will." v.k.w you would think allowing hunting effects natures law of "survival of the fittest" maybe thats why the population is declining.

Ryan, I admired your feat before I read your post. Now I have to say that your hunt is a real inspiration. You were lucky in the lottery, but all the rest was your own effort, learning, knowledge and physical endurance. You're a true outdoorsman.

Congratulations again.

I agree, Ryan did his homework well: where, when, how and even some why.

Cool

If you don't want me hunting Moose in the wilderness... JUST WHERE IN THE HELL DO YOU PROPOSE I DO IT!?!?!?

Here's an idea; I won't shoot animals in the wilderness when you refuse to drive your car on paved roads.

Sheeesshhhh...

cowdoc: in my opinion that's how good, responsible hunters behave, and ryan has shown he is both.

Pirate: I wouldn't have wanted you hunting passenger pigeons back in the late 1800s either once it was known the population was in trouble, but hunting of that species wasn't stopped and we know what happened there.

People on this site have no problems going to Canada or even Alaska to paddle just for a change of scenery, I don't understand why it's not a requirement do the same thing in order to potentially save a major species in this area.

Again, I am a huge supporter of hunting and have been for years but I guess I just see a big difference between hunting for population control and the benefit of the species and hunting simply for huntings sake. To me it would be kind of like going to africa and hunting an endangered species there.

This is an interesting thread. The best post is by Ryan, because it gives some first-hand insight into something I have no knowledge of at all. But I think all the posts are interesting, and the only ones I strongly disagree with are those that suggest the thread took a "wrong turn." There's nothing wrong with healthy respectful debate about resource management issues. That's what's in this thread, and it's a good thing. If people were disrespectful I would view it differently.

I don't think the DNR is perfect (what human institution is), but I do tend to credit their conclusion that the moose hunt is not having an adverse impact on the northeast Minnesota population. From what I can tell, the two biggest negative factors are White-tail populations, and warmer temperatures. I personally would like to see a lot fewer White-tail deer up there.

There was a comment above about wolves and starvation controlling the population, so human hunting is not needed. While I doubt human hunting is needed to manage the moose population (unlike deer, bear, and some others), I disagree that taking human hunting out of the mix is more "natural." Human beings and their hunting skills are part of nature too. And letting populations of large mammals grow to starvation levels is not good either for the animals or the ecosystem. So while I'm not a hunter, I think hunting - at sustainable levels - is definitely an important part of keeping nature natural.

I'm definitely pro hunting as long as it is "fair chase" hunting. Unfortunately I have not yet experienced a hunt, (for various reasons) but I would love to have an opportunity like Ryan did. It's nice to read that the moose it more than just a "trophy". Hopefully this season I can get into the woods and put some meat in the freezer.

When I saw that there had been 64 responses to the original post, I knew which way the discussion had gone. Frankly, that is why I read it.
Differences in opinion, backed by data and reasoned argumentation make for interesting reading. When we all think alike, it can get a little boring. Thanks guys and gals.

A regular Daniel Boone!

My brother is bow hunting moose in Ontario next year and he began his homework last Spring. I really admire the commitment, study, strategy and hard work involved with his and Ryan's hunt.

Congratulations on you hunt and hard work ethic. Question-did you see any cows and calfs and was there a lot of moose sign or just occasional tracks. Seems like areas that once had a lot of sign you find only a few tracks this past year ot two. Good hunt and post.

Good point Jeriatric. No name calling or insults, just honest discussion of varying viewpoints. We can be civilized even in the wilderness!

Too bad we just CANT leave this about a guy how had a nice moose hunt and should be congratulated. Let those that have other ideas start their OWN thread about whatever they want to say.
CB

NICE MOOSE, by the way!!!!!

this has been fairly civil. and we all have to admit this, kiporbys OATH thread always rides in the back of our minds. hats off to you buddy!

Also have enjoyed this thread which has had some great posts. Being a hunter, I have to give my congrats to Ryan for his hunt in doing it the right way and not the easiest way. I do not always agree with our Michigan DNR, but thank god we have them as their very existence and history is proof that we can not manage our resources alone. It is unfortunate that politics, budgets, and single interest groups handicap their decisions. One of the reasons I read most of threads here is because of the cross section of views and ideas encountered here and while sometimes they expand onto another topic, that is not a bad thing imo. Again, well done Ryan!

Ryan Congradts on the bull. you earned it! a great story to tell the young ones about.

Kanoes, you are correct about the "oath" IMHO

Very nice Ryan. Congrats! You can be proud of the hard work you put in and your success. "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." Thomas Jefferson.

Remember the oath... remember the oath, remember the oath.

Nice moose. congrats. Enjoy the experience. Do you do any spring gobbler hunting?

I used to be a non-hunter. I used to drink breast milk only. I like hunting and eating meat. remember the oath.....

I like that quote patches.

what a great moose hunt memory. Not every hunt is successful, but the time, energy and just being out in the woods is always worth it.
was wondering what comments would be posted to this thread. adding this link from todays startribune, hopefully the reader comments show up, too.

12 year old and moose of a lifetime

Wow, what a neat experience for her.
Nicollet is close to my hometown so it has special interest.

Congrats to Ryan on that fine animal. Been waiting for my permit and I will be waiting at least another year. I love to see the moose in the wild, however, as a hunter, I would like to have a shot at one. Knowing the situation of the moose herd though, it wouldn't bother me if they shut the season down for a year or five if it helped regain some numbers. There're plenty of deer where I hunt.
This thread was a very good read. Lots of great opinions and information. Sorry, I know my posting is going to put it on top of the threads and it might open up the debate again, I apologize.

Here's the moose head I keep on my wall in my lake home.