I hope to video my Moose Hunt as much as possible. Accordingly, I performed some internet research for a video camera that was affordable and had a zoom lens. My research led me to a new Cannon Vixia HF R800 HD video camera. It is very small and easy to hold takes professional quality video if on a tripod. But I needed a case, SanDisk cards, a tripod etc., all sorts of stuff as a kit and for $250 or so I got one.

I have a Nikon SLR and Video D5500 already and like it for close work. I am a month away from my trip so I must practice setting up my video gear and testing it. And make sure I have plenty of GigaBits and charged batteries. My Kit came with free Corel Software to download which includes PaintShop® Pro and VideoStudio® SE.

That chewed up most of a day to get and load. Now to learn them is a much longer story. You must be computer savvy to some degree.

Of course if you have $2000 for a starter pro video camera or more then go for it. Below is a great site that got me going!! Maybe it can help you as well.

https://www.gohunt.com/read/which-camera-is-best-for-filming-your-hunt#gs.xkhq2g

Good Hunting!!

I recently read an article published in QDMA on broadhead choice. Read it here.

https://www.qdma.com/does-broadhead-choice-really-matter/

Today the use of mechanical broadheads is more widely accepted among many Compound Bow Hunters and work well as evidenced by the article. Many years back the mechanical broadheads sometimes failed to open or open all the way and consumed energy needed for penetration.

Mechanical designs are better today, however still consume energy to open and must be inspected as they age in your tackle box.

Traditional longbow and recurve hunters still like fixed blade cut-on-contact because it replicates what our early ancestors hunted with. And that includes making your own razor sharp arrowhead ( even stone arrowheads) and hunting with it where legal.

That said; Here in New Hampshire a bow must have a minimum of 40 lbs draw weight whether it is a compound or a stick bow.  It takes a bit more energy to puncture the hide and open the mechanical broadhead then does a cut on contact broadhead.  If that is true, and I believe it is, then when shooting a lower draw weight, I would be apt to shoot cut-on-contact traditional broadheads so that all the energy is used for penetration.

If all of us were shooting compound bows of a  draw weight to guarantee the opening of a mechanical head then it makes no difference as long as the cutting width of the blades are within the limits set by your state.  In New Hampshire the rules are no narrower than 7/8 inch or wider than 1 1/2 inches; See below.

http://www.eregulations.com/newhampshire/hunting/deer-hunting-regulations/

I still like traditional cut-on-contact heads as they are works of art too.

Good Hunting!

I have called in several bull moose over the years. But the best way to call in a bull moose is to understand the reason for the vocalization and associated behavior. The cow calls the bull in to be bred when she is in estrous. Her vocalization is higher pitched and with some vibrato. Using a cone shaped device allows you to project your call further. Calls can be heard by other moose from long distances due to their excellent hearing. How far?  Perhaps over a mile or two on a quiet day, maybe more.

By making a cow call you are signaling to the bull that the time is now. Come and find me!

Now the bull has a deeper vocal and ends with a grunt sound. He is projecting his male voice to the cow and to other bulls that he is coming . This is a great video below for even veteran moose hunters.

By vocalizing the cow first then later a bull call the would-be bull detects another bull near a cow ready for mating. He comes to fight for his right to mate often swinging his antlers side to side to show off their size.

Scraping antlers or a dry shoulder blade, paddle or plastic bottle on a tree coupled with thrashing and breaking large branches says; If you come here I will fight! This in combination with vocalization and some cow estrus and bull urine are a sure bet to draw in a bull Moose if there is one nearby. Beware of your scent. If your bull catches your scent then it  may be game over and he is out-a-there. Some guides bring a towel soaked in bull urine to mask your human scent.

On my NH Moose hunt, several years back, I called in a large handsome bull with smaller antlers.

I began with some cow estrus scent spray downwind. Then vocalizes a bull and then a tending grunt like a whitetail and thrashed trees with a stick and broke the largest branches I could find.  The large bull came straight to me and my hunting friend. At 80 yards we whacked him with my 375 Ruger and a shot from my partners 308 Winchester. He went down fighting all the way to stay up. A round in the spine put him down for good.

My October hunt in Newfoundland with the same friend should be interesting as we get to hunt the prime rut. I am after a larger antlered Moose and delicious meat to take home. I will be guided one on one in the deep wilds of Newfoundland where there are hundreds of lakes and ponds to grow big bulls. I Hope!

Another video that is worth seeing is this one below.

Good Hunting!

Frankly, a broadside heart lung shot on moose with either Nosler™ AccuBond™ bullet in 260 grain or 300 grain out of my 375 Ruger and its lights out.

ACCUBOND

From their website;

” Through an exclusive bonding process that eliminates voids in the bullet core, AccuBond® couples Nosler’s proven copper-alloy jacket with its special lead-alloy core. The result is a bullet that flies true, penetrates deep and retains its weight, without causing extensive barrel fouling” 

https://shop.nosler.com/nosler-bullets/accubond-nosler-bullet/accubond-375-caliber-300-grain-bullet-50ct.html

left is the 260 grain and 300 grain on right

I have killed a bull moose several years back with the 260 grain AccuBond. The bullet mushroomed perfectly and lost little in weight. I have not tested the 300 grain AccuBond on Game however I expect similar results on shots under 100 yards. So why bother?  The 260 grain has a Sectional Density of .264 and the 300 grain has an SD of .305. The difference is penetration of the 300 grain and will win hands down. So what makes Sectional Density so special? Read this article by Chuck Hawks at https://www.chuckhawks.com/sd.htm

At long range past 200 yards or short range high sectional density provides proven penetration on really big game and can reach the vitals and even provide an exit wound thus leaving a blood trail.

Good Hunting!

The Bog Pod™ Death Grip™ is like having a “bench rest” in the field. This is the carbon fiber model. Yes it is a bit heavy at 7.5 lbs and perhaps little clunky to carry but once it is set up you are in good shape.  It retails for around $280. Not cheap but on a trophy hunt it fits the bill.

But more than that, the Death Grip vise holds my rifle allows me and my hands to be free.  In my case, i expect to use it to hold my 375 Ruger while calling a rut crazed Newfoundland Bull Moose into shooting range from say a half mile away.

The spongy tundra is tough enough to walk in and small European spruce call Tuckamore’s which are small, thick, and knarly. .Accordingly, seeing above and around the tuckamore’s with a tripod or bipod is likely a great help. The feet are rubber and a shaft is threaded through the rubber with a metal point if you need more than the rubber feet to hold the tripod steady.

The tilt and pan can be tightened so that you can hold on target.  I shot three rounds at 150 yards at a 40 inch long brown piece of cardboard with no target bullseye. Similar to the side of a moose, and placed all 3 shots within 6 inches in the lower 1/3rd of the target.

I believe a setup with the Death Grip for Moose is ideal because it can take time for a moose to respond and head your way. Leaving you to call with hands coned over your mouth while the Death Grip holds your rifle at the ready.

Good Hunting!

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