Moose... Gun or Bow?

[Yooper]

I'm headed to Alaska next year to hunt moose with my cousin. He likes to bow hunt for big bull moose and knows good spots. But with the limited time I'll have, should I use a bow or just try and shoot one with a gun? :confused:

[Coug]

That's a tough call. I guess it just depends on if you really want to get a moose with your bow or just get a moose. Either way it will be an incredible hunt in beautiful country.
With the time and money that gets wrapped up in a trip like that (even if you have a good connection) it might be a good idea to go with the rifle the first time. With a rifle, things just seem to be a bit simpler - less to go wrong. If you want to go back with your bow another time, you'll have a better idea of what to expect as far as the demands of the hunt.
Another option is to bring both a rifle and a bow and hunt with the bow for the first half of the trip and then switch to the rifle if you haven't gotten one. Of course, that just adds to the mass of gear you'll already be bringing.
If you really want to bowhunt for the big buggers then do it and make it your goal to get one with the old stick and string. Whether you score or not you'll most likely have some exciting times to remember for the rest of your life. Heck, there are no guarantees with the rifle either.
I bow rifle and muzzloader hunt and know how hard it can be to put the bow away. It's just too much fun.

Coug

[chinook]

Sounds like fun either way. Question I'd ask myself is; did he stick one last year? The year before? If not, try your favorite rifle. Moose can be downright dangerous, even moreso than the bears. Like Clint would say; Do you feel lucky?

[Quebec outfitter]

have taken moose with both gun and bow at ranges of 40 feet up to 40 yards, and some further ones with gun only, and can tell you that the feeling you get with a bow is what makes your hair stand up in the back of your neck for years after the kill, but as far as a first time moose hunt i would use the rifle first and then work on one with the bow.

www.poirieroutfitters.com some moose pics and info

[beeell]

Hey Yoop, Just one question. What would Fred Bear, Ted Nugent, and Tom Miranda do?

[379 Peterbilt]

If it were me, i would kill the first moose with a gun. Get the first kill outta the way, THEN worry about doing it with a bow.

You want to put all the odds in your favor for the first moose hunt you do. I say this because will kick yourselk in the nads if you put all your stock into a bow hunt only to find yourself with a bull at say 100 yards out, and never closer. You'll wish ya had the rifle.

I myself would much rather have a 50-50 chance of killing w/rifle, than a 25% chance of killing w/bow.

Just my opinion tho. YMMV

Good luck....

[rooster52]

I have taken 2 moose with a rifle and I would not been able to take either one with a bow.A moose with a bow would be a great trophy,but if you really want a moose take your rifle and leave the bow at home and also shoot the first legal bull you see,on my hunts moose were hard to find,sometimes they do come easy but that was not my case.