Moose Calling: When to Call, How to Call, and When to Stop

The Art of Calling Moose

Calling moose is one of the most thrilling hunting techniques there is — and one of the most misused. Done wrong, a call can spook a bull from over a kilometer away. Done right, it can bring a moose to 20 meters in a few minutes.

When to Start Calling

Calling is only effective during the active rut — generally September 12 to 30 in Zone 5, with variations from zone to zone. Before that window, a cow call can make bulls wary instead of catching their attention.

The Three Types of Calls

The Cow Moan

This is the basic call. Long, descending, plaintive. Use it 2-3 times, then wait 20 minutes. A traveling moose can take a long time to close the distance — patience is essential.

The Bull Grunt

Triggers dominance instincts. Effective when a bull that's out of shooting range won't come in. Use it with caution — a dominant bull may decide to leave rather than take on a rival.

Raking

Hit a tree with a branch or a stick. It mimics a bull thrashing a tree. Extremely effective when combined with PURINE — the combination of scent and sound is irresistible. See ProXpédition attractants