Introduction
The Moose is the largest animal of the deer species in the game. A bull with massive antlers is always an exceptional trophy in your collection. Their roaming speed is high. It is relatively easy to follow them crouching compared to some other deer, and they are not very scary. You can quickly find many Moose when starting at the Trapper's Rest Lodge on Redfeather Falls and going up the west side of the reserve. This is also a good place for Whitetails so be wary of these and make sure you do not spook them and flush the moose you are after.
Spawning
Moose bulls and cows can spawn and travel alone, but you can also find groups. Especially in the Hemmeldal reserve bulls can be accompanied by one or two cows.
Clothing
There is camouflage clothing available that provides various advantages specifically against all deer species.
Sense Reduction Values (1 = some; 6 = excellent)
| Camo | Visual | Scent | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boone & Crockett | 5 / 6 | 2 / 6 | 1 / 6 |
| Doc Monsignor | 3 / 6 | 2 / 6 | 3 / 6 |
| Army Outfit | 5 / 6 | 2 / 6 | 1 / 6 |
| Trapper Outfit | 3 / 6 | 4 / 6 | 1 / 6 |
| Outback Outfit | 1 / 6 | 1 / 6 | 1 / 6 |
You will quickly see a big difference when using any of these outfits with the deer species when you have approached them with a regular outfit before. When in prone, the animals will almost step on you before they notice the danger and run. These clothes have the same effect on any map, environment and vegetation, as opposed to certain camouflage clothes which only unfold their advantages when in certain areas such as forests, but provide zero camouflage otherwise.
Scent Eliminator and Wind Indicator
This species has a sense of smell and will detect players around them. Especially when upwind, you will see close-by animals stick their nose into the wind, then run away. The Scent Eliminator works against all animals with a sense of smell. Apply it when you want to get close to the animal of your choice. Also, make sure to pay attention to the wind direction by observing objects tossed around or by using Wind Indicator. Use it and follow the smoke with your eyes to see in which direction it is blown. As a general rule of thumb, the wind will blow towards the North-East on all maps. If you are not sure about the wind conditions, apply the Scent Eliminator just in case. It doesn't hurt to use it once too often if you want to be on the safe side and not regularly spook animals by your smell.
Searching
The weight to score relation is not very strong. You can find bulls with large antlers that aren't that heavy, and vice versa, very heavy bulls that score very low. The maximum weight is 620kg. If you find tracks from a heavy bull don't miss out on following it. The moose is not very scary. You can easily catch up and check it out. Just look out for other bulls and cows when luring them.
Luring
Use the Moose Caller to lure the Moose. This caller has the same luring effect for both males and females. In addition it also provokes vocal responses. Use this caller regularly and listen out for any activity. Responses can be from males and females. Note that the caller has a rather short luring effect on the moose. Call the animals in short frequencies. They can lose interest quickly otherwise, abort their strolling towards you, and walk away. You cannot over-call. You may also use Moose Scent Spray which lasts a lot longer and lets you safely move into a hiding place or stand.
Field Judging
The Moose antlers can get massive. The difference from the smallest antlers to the biggest ones is immense. Field judging moose is relatively easy. If you ever spot a Moose antlers that could serve as tractor wheels, make sure to stop what you are doing and go after it.
Aggression
This species is one of those that can attack you. This happens if you shoot at it or when you got really close to it. The animal will start an aggression animation and look fiercely at you. It can also makes growls that you wouldn't normally hear. If you see the animal doing this you have a chance to run away or get ready for a shot. Sometimes the animal will abort the attack and flee. It can also happen that an animal will start fleeing but then stop and turn around for an attack. If you are very close to a species capable of attacking, have a firearm ready for your defense, or back out. You can also be completely blindsided by an animal that you did not realize it was there. When attacked, you will be hurt and will need to either heal yourself with a First Aid Kit or fast travel to a tent or lodge.
Shooting the animal
The shot must be well prepared. Search a good place where you can stay undetected. Avoid hasty shots. A good spotting skill will support you picking the right animal if there are severals. Wait until the animal of your choice has come close enough for a good shot, or until you can safely hit a vital from the side. It is not always possible to set up an ambush, or to move away on time. Stay alert for other animals (e.g. from a group) that might have come very close to your lure, and make sure to go for a shot before one of these could spook and flush everything around them.
The large Moose is a great target for bow hunters. Badly shot arrows however might not hurt the animal enough and you could end up having to track the shot animal for a long while. Also after a bad shot, the Moose might attack you. You will not be able to react fast enough with a bow, so plan your first shot well and only shoot at the animal when it stands still.
From behind, a Moose is very hard to take down even from close. A good way though is shooting the backside of the head with a rifle. The head is a bit above the shoulders and sticks out just enough for you to aim at. The Moose has a lot of head movement and a good shot placement takes patience. If you hit though, the bullet will easily penetrate the skull and reach the brain for a clean take-down.
If the animal flees
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off. Spooked Moose are easier to find than many other deer species.
Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.
| Lodge | Reserve | Walking direction |
|---|---|---|
| Trapper's Rest | Redfeather Falls | Northwest or East |
| Koppartorp | Hemmeldal | West or East |
| Afterland | Whiterime Ridge | North |
Video Guide
|