BWCA 1,000 miles, no moose Boundary Waters Listening Point - General Discussion
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Sjlubner
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05/06/2019 11:15PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I am looking for advice or tactics on seeing moose in the BWCA. This year we will be paddling in May through LIS North. I know moose numbers are on the decline, however in all my time paddling and hiking I have yet to see one in the Quetico-Superior region. I routinely travel during crepuscular hours (dawn and dusk), often travel less trafficked routes, and travel quietly, either solo or with just one partner. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
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mjmkjun
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05/07/2019 02:26AM  
Go to Jack Lake. (Baker Lake Entry) The thing is, we weren't particularly quiet with paddling or conversation level was not hushed. Plus, it was late morning timeframe on a beautiful sunny day in June. There she was out in the open with her beautiful baby. They didn't retreat into the woods but kept a keen eye on us.
 
05/07/2019 06:46AM  
Hog Creek is prime Moose territory. I'm 2 for 2 with Moose sightings there. Going back in a couple of weeks
 
05/07/2019 07:16AM  

Two years ago....Louse river/Lady Chain loop we saw three cows and five calves and found a huge shed antler.
 
05/07/2019 07:28AM  
Marshy areas are best, but otherwise paddle within 50 yards of the shorelines. Gradual sloping shores versus steep banks. I've seen just as many in the middle of the day as in the twilight periods.
 
05/07/2019 08:09AM  
mjmkjun: "Go to Jack Lake. (Baker Lake Entry) The thing is, we weren't particularly quiet with paddling or conversation level was not hushed. Plus, it was late morning timeframe on a beautiful sunny day in June. There she was out in the open with her beautiful baby. They didn't retreat into the woods but kept a keen eye on us."

If I remember correctly, that cow and calf was within 100 yards of an occupied campsite. Those people probably didn't know it was there.
 
tumblehome
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05/07/2019 08:10AM  
This is an excellent thread.
I used to encounter moose on a pretty regular basis. One time being held up in a river where an adult bull would not let us pass. I would see moose about every other trip. That was in the 90's.

I haven't seen a moose in ten years and 30 trips. Oddly, I was in the middle of the woods last week in the BWCA and found moose plums all over.

True that you would think marshy areas or bogs would be the best place to see them, but I haven't seen them anywhere. I do see lots of signs of them as mentioned and plenty of their tracks. I think the population is far less than the old days but they must be hanging on.

It's just a matter of chance now to see them. If I were to look for them on purpose, I would look on shorelines, shallow waters, slow rivers and away from people.

Tom
 
05/07/2019 08:19AM  
Almost all the moose I've seen have been in the middle of the day, including 3 last June on a Frost River trip. Like AmerilloJim mentioned, most I see are either in swampy areas, on gentle slopping hillsides, or just crossing lakes. Avoid areas with steeper cliffs that could trap them and their calves.

I didn't see a single moose on my first 5 trips back in the 80's and 90's, then on one 9 day June trip saw 23. Someone told me a theory (maybe an outfitter) that there was a short time in the spring when the cows tended to stay put with their calves, then once they were sufficiently mobile would start moving them around quite a bit. A lot of the 23 we saw were cows moving around with calves, and some bulls. Not sure if that's true or not, but I've held on to that theory. Rut of course is another good time, as then the Bulls are moving around and a bit crazy. Had one nearly swim up to my canoe before even seeing me.

Another thought is consider what food is available for them if you go in May. It may or may not be too early for the underwater shoots they seem to eat in this swamps. Maybe the alders or hazel are budding out. If so, stop and see what has been nibbled on then look for more of that. Good luck!
 
05/07/2019 09:39AM  
Second the recommendation for Jack Lake. I've seen moose every time I've been through the Jack/Weird area in recent years. Also Clove Lake.
 
The Great Outdoors
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05/07/2019 10:22AM  
Your chances of seeing moose increases if traveling in the spring before the leaves are on the trees, or the last week of September, and a bit later, when they rut is occurring!!
 
BobDobbs
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05/07/2019 10:27AM  
We have seen moose on every trip EAST of Ely.

We have seen no moose on every trip WEST of Ely.
 
Thwarted
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05/07/2019 10:32AM  
I have not personally seen a moose in the Q in six or so years. A fellow camper saw a beautiful bull on a bay on Jean three years ago. I was still asleep. I have seen many while traveling to the Q. On my first trip to the BWCA in the late 70s the moose were all over the place.
 
treehorn
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05/07/2019 10:35AM  
Nice word! Crepuscular!
 
05/07/2019 01:26PM  
Kelso: "Second the recommendation for Jack Lake. I've seen moose every time I've been through the Jack/Weird area in recent years. Also Clove Lake."


I also saw a momma and her calf on Weird last year.
 
jhb8426
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05/07/2019 01:50PM  
Have only seen one, two years ago at Sawbill in the Alton portage bay. Came out of the woods on the north side, swam across the bay to the south side and disappeared into the woods. He was wading in shoulder deep water for part of the way.
 
05/07/2019 02:10PM  
Saw a Bull and a cow on different days, mid-day, around Brule in early August.

What I always wonder is: how many saw me? Got to think the ratio is huge. For every one seen, there must be many who see or hear the human and give them the slip.
 
05/07/2019 02:16PM  
Never seen a moose in the BWCA and this year is going to be our 6th trip. We did see fresh tracks on a portage once though. It had stormed the night before and these tracks were quite clear with 2 sets, one much smaller than the other. We kept looking over our shoulders in case mama moose was in the area and thought we were getting too close to her baby without us seeing them.
 
05/07/2019 02:21PM  
You definitely see more near the Gunflint, but they are really all over. Like TGO said September is a good time to see them. Especially mid September to mid October during the rut. I’ve had it sound like we’re going to be trampled.... the cows must do a sort of heat thing themselves. I’ve heard them bellering around like a heifer cow in heat. Almost scarier that a snorting bull. I was lucky to see a good number of them throughout the years. From upper Pauness to south fowl lake. When I had Bernie it was fun to watch her. She enjoyed seeing them. Up in wcpp you have to about travel with your eyes closed to not see any... But since mocha isn’t up there feeding them anymore... I’d watch for them to start showing up in a certain small town in southern Minnesota. Haha.
 
Sandman2009
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05/07/2019 02:44PM  
Someone has seen a Moose on 5 of 10 trips. We have seen six cows and 4 calves. Most sightings late May/early June. Most sightings East of Perent Lake.
 
05/07/2019 03:08PM  
nctry: "But since mocha isn’t up there feeding them anymore... I’d watch for them to start showing up in a certain small town in southern Minnesota. Haha."

Well there you have it - mystery of the declining population solved!
 
Zwater
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05/07/2019 03:57PM  
We have seen a few in the Koma, Mallberg area.
One was a giant bull standing in the river in between Koma and Mallberg.
 
MikeinMpls
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05/07/2019 04:07PM  
Enter at Bower Trout and paddle west toward Brule. Saw a ton several years ago.

Mike
 
mjmkjun
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05/07/2019 04:52PM  
LindenTree: "
mjmkjun: "Go to Jack Lake. (Baker Lake Entry) The thing is, we weren't particularly quiet with paddling or conversation level was not hushed. Plus, it was late morning timeframe on a beautiful sunny day in June. There she was out in the open with her beautiful baby. They didn't retreat into the woods but kept a keen eye on us."

If I remember correctly, that cow and calf was within 100 yards of an occupied campsite. Those people probably didn't know it was there."

Yep. Just out of view from that site but so close too. What a treat it was! I figured cow was not spooked cuz of some kind of Native American magic emanating off of you. :-)
 
05/08/2019 01:51AM  
I thought I saw on here (last Fall) that someone posted a DNR (study?) or something that Moose are actually starting to come back a tad? Clearly not what they used to be- but I'am pretty sure I saw something official that said they are rebounding.
 
luft
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05/08/2019 05:36AM  
Horseshoe Lake (from Lizz Lake EP) is a veritable Moose highway.

I had a moose walk right through my camp a few summers back. I grabbed my little 10 foot boat and had it next to the rocks to make a quick getaway if I had to. Glad I did because that moose ambled right through where I had been storing my boat in camp.
 
ThreeRivers
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05/08/2019 07:43AM  
Last August as I was coming out from my solo I was lucky and found a camp site on Nina Moose. At about 4am I heard massive splashes in the shallows just below the camp and a sort of grunting sounds, thought it was a bear but as this thing walked it clearly made large sloshing sounds from its hooves, so nearly certain a Moose..on Nina Moose. The next morning as I loaded up the car at EP16 to head home, just as I pulled out onto the Echo Trail there slowly walking on the road were two young moose, just hanging out. That was until one of the locals came flying down the road at 40mph skidding to a halt, to which the moose decided to move on. The drive said she had seen them on the road in the area often... some how she hadn't hit them yet...
 
Sandman2009
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05/08/2019 07:51AM  
WhiteWolf: "I thought I saw on here (last Fall) that someone posted a DNR (study?) or something that Moose are actually starting to come back a tad? Clearly not what they used to be- but I'am pretty sure I saw something official that said they are rebounding. "



Holding stable , not increasing.
 
05/08/2019 11:34AM  
mjmkjun: "Go to Jack Lake. (Baker Lake Entry) The thing is, we weren't particularly quiet with paddling or conversation level was not hushed. Plus, it was late morning timeframe on a beautiful sunny day in June. There she was out in the open with her beautiful baby. They didn't retreat into the woods but kept a keen eye on us."


+1 - I saw a couple moose on my trip through the area at the same time. I purposely planned the route because I heard it was 'moose-ey' terriotyr. Was not disappointed.
 
Basspro69
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05/09/2019 12:34PM  
If you don’t see one paddling just be up really early and drive the Gunflint trail in may or June and you would be hard pressed not to see one .
 
05/09/2019 12:58PM  
I've seen moose on most lakes in this area. Over the years I've seen moose on Shell, Lynx, Hustler, Oyster and Ramshead. It seems logical to look for them during the evening and early morning, but I've seen them most often during the hours of 3:00 to 5:00 pm. My guess is they're trying to escape the heat and mosquitoes. But I've also had them traipsing through my campsite during the night.
 
analyzer
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05/09/2019 06:41PM  
We usually go thru the gunflint side of things, and see them about every other year. Last year my son and I saw 4. 3 of them on the road on the way out. Coming out of the sag corridor on the dirt road, there was a cow, and calf, and then, another cow in the creek just south of seagul lake outfitters. The day before we exited, we watched a bull moose for 20 minutes. I've heard the seagul lake area has had a fair population of moose in the past. In the 90's we saw moose every year. I think it was probably the same cow. I'm assuming she passed away at some point, so then we didn't see any for several years. Now we're seeing them again.

Hadn't heard wolves until a few years ago, and now we've heard them a few times.
 
analyzer
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05/09/2019 06:45PM  
I'd recommend interior alaska. They're about as common as squirrels or maybe even moreso.
 
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