Winter Moose 2006

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Moose (Alces alces) are plentiful in Alaska in remote areas as well as urban areas. They are the largest member of the deer family. Males can weigh between 1200 to 1600 pounds, while adult females can weigh between 800 and 1300 pounds. Alaska, the Yukon, and Northwest Territories produce moose with the largest antlers. Moose calves are born from mid-May to early June. Cows may have up to three calves. A cow moose will defend her moose vigorously. In fact, I've heard a cow moose with a calf is far worse than a grizzly bear with a cub.  Every year the bull moose will loose their antlers anywhere from mid winter to early spring. A very large moose antler can weigh thirty pounds or more.
We see most bulls in the fall and winter. Cows & calves are seen year round. Typically bulls will hang out in bachelor groups throughout the winter and spring until mating season. During the rut, it isn't uncommon to see a mature bull moose with a harem of cows. We've seen a bull with as many six cows. During the rut the bulls often will fight to show dominance. We have seen two large bull moose saunter toward each other from a couple hundred yards and then go head to head in an all out fight. The power behind a bull moose is amazing.
Aaron and I spend most of our winter going out on drives looking for the moose in and around Anchorage. Enjoy a few of the pictures we've collected over the years!

September 2006

This year most of our pictures will be compliments of our friend Ryan in Anchorage.  Aaron and I  temporarily moved out of state, but will return in the summer next year.  I'm lucky enough to have a friend who enjoys the outdoors as much as Aaron and I, and who will let me use his pictures!  Before we left in September we did take some unique photos though....

We found this bull after a drive from the cabin.  We sat in the midst of these moose for about thirty minutes.  At one time we were about 10 yards from both bulls.  They were definitely rutting.  This old bull displayed a unique rack no doubt, and had a gathering of cows with him.  He made sure the smaller bull knew he was boss a couple times.  A truly awesome thing to witness.

October 2006

Ryan started his scouting season out right this year.  He's hitting the ground looking for the big bulls, and boy did he find them.  This is the best time of year to see bull moose.  The rut is over, and they group up again, just resting before the long winter.

This bull is a dandy with a nice split on his first tine above the brows on the left side, and a nice drop tine off the back of the same paddle.  What I wouldn't do to find those sheds....

These pictures are truly amazing... especially considering the size of the bulls.  Ryan was blessed to see these dandy bull moose.  He is inflicting a slow form of torture on Aaron and I as we currently are not in Alaska.  We are temporarily in Montana, and these pictures are driving me crazy.

Here is the "King" of this gang of moose.  WOW.   A pretty impressive rack; great points and lots of them, and a fairly long paddle. 

Another bull just laying around.