Pre-Hunt Info: Archery Moose

You will receive a pre-hunt information package via email in the late spring / early summer.  It will contain your outstanding balance and other useful information pertaining to your upcoming hunt.

It is important to practice shooting your bow, to be ready for the moment of truth.  While practicing, it is a good idea to shoot with the same gear you will be wearing during your hunt and shoot in many different positions, to simulate hunting situations.  It can be surprising how this can impact your shooting, and we want you to be prepared.  We will ask you at the beginning of your hunt what your effective range is, so we can set you in shooting scenarios to increase your success.  Be prepared to let us know what maximum yardage you can hit a 6” circle with nearly every shot.  Be sure to check out our shot placement diagram in the Hunting Links and Resources section.

Being in good physical condition is an asset on this hunt.  The better shape you are in, the more hunting scenarios you may find yourself in.  Get in as good of shape as you can before your hunt.  This being said, this is not an overly physically demanding hunt.  We are adaptable to accommodate all levels of physical ability, but you should at very least be able to walk in uneven terrain for a few miles each day.

If you are driving up for your hunt, we will be in contact with you in the summer months to coordinate your travel plans so you can arrive in time for the pick-up day and its events.

You must have a means to transport any meat you wish to take home.  Most clients driving up bring 2-3 large coolers with them.  On average, a bull Moose will yield around 250-350 lbs of boneless meat.  A real large bull could have as much as 500 lbs of boneless meat.  Clients flying home normally take some of the prime cuts, which are frozen, in the same baggage they came with or an extra container (e.g. cooler) which they will have to purchase at a local store.  We will split the processing costs of any meat that you don’t take home, as there is no such thing as too much Moose meat in one’s freezer!

If you are flying into Edmonton for your hunt, you will be staying at our affiliate hotel.  It is located a short distance from the airport and there are free shuttles to take you there.  A room will be reserved in your name.  Unless you have made special arrangements with us in advance, you will be booked with another hunter from the same camp (to reduce costs).

On pick-up day, we will meet you at a pre-determined location sometime mid-morning.  The details will be communicated well in advance of your departure from home.

On the way to camp, we’ll stop at a grocery and liquor store so you can pick up any special snacks, candies, sodas, or liquor (light social drinking in the evenings at camp is permitted).  In the event you will be arriving directly at the camp, you will have to stop somewhere along the way for such items. Lunch will be provided before we get to camp, sometime just before noon.

Once we arrive at the camp, we will unload your gear and get it situated in your wall tent.  You will have time to grab your bow and fling some arrows to be sure everything travelled well.

Once everyone has made sure their bows are shooting properly, we will hand out licenses and walk you through an orientation which will help you to be ready for the start of your hunt that evening.

On hunt days, breakfast will be ready when you wake up around 5am.  You can head over to the cook tent to have breakfast and grab your lunch for the day.  You’ll leave the camp at a pre-determined time and head to your location with your guide.

A typical hunt day consists of 2 separate hunts, 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening.

The morning hunt usually starts around sunrise and ends around noon.  At this time of day, the wind is usually blowing pretty good and it will be warm.  As a result, we usually head back to camp to see if anyone needs help to get a bull out or just relax until it is time to head out again.  The days are very long on this hunt and we recommend getting some rest in between the hunts when possible.

The evening hunt will start once the wind starts to lay down and conditions are good for calling.  Departure from camp is usually between 4 and 5 pm.  We’ll hunt until the end of legal light, then head back to camp.

When you arrive back at camp, you will have time to relax and share the day’s events prior to supper.  This is normally done sitting around the campfire but can be done in the cook tent if the conditions don’t allow.  After supper, it’s usually a race to see who can get to bed first…a direct result of the long days!

When a Moose hits the ground, the top priority for the guide team becomes getting it out of the woods and to the butcher ASAP.  We will coordinate a plan to extract the Moose as a team and get the remaining hunters out for the next hunt in time.  One of the guides and the lucky hunter will travel to our affiliate butcher to drop the Moose quarters off for processing.  The hunter will provide specific instructions on how the Moose is to be processed.  Payment will be handled between yourself and the butcher via credit card, at the time of pick up.

If you are successful in harvesting a Moose, we will prepare your trophy in the field. For example, if you want a shoulder mount, we will cape it for you and either salt the cape or take it to the butcher so it can be frozen. If you want the antlers and skull plate, we will do this for you.  If you want a European mount, you will have ample time at camp to clean the skull. We will provide you with the necessary paperwork to bring your trophy/meat back into the States.

The morning after the hunt ends, clients depart shortly after breakfast and the guide team starts the tear down of camp. 

For clients driving home, you will depart from the camp and can start the journey home or to the butcher to pick up and pay for your meat.

For clients flying home, a guide will take you to the hotel or your rental vehicle.  Any stops at the butcher will be coordinated depending on the logistics.

It is important to understand that any Moose harvested late in the hunt (the last 2 or 3 days) may cause a delay in your departure date, as the butcher normally requires 2-3 days to process and freeze the meat.  Please plan for this accordingly in your travel plans.

If you are flying home, upon checking into the hotel let the front desk know when you need a shuttle ride to the airport.  It is recommended that you arrive at the airport a minimum of 2 ½ hrs before your flight, as it can be busy with other hunters departing.  If you have a container/s with meat, the hotel has a large freezer that you can store it in overnight.  Let the front desk know when you are checking in and they will give you tags for labelling it.

Be sure to have your hunting license (and US Import/Export form if you harvested an animal and are taking it home) on your person when clearing customs back into the US.