A Canadian Moose Hunt - 2025
The following is a series of day to day journal entries from a Canadian moose hunt I did in the fall of 2025 in Quebec with Lac-Brule Outfitters. It was a 13-day, unguided, outfitted hunt in which we were assigned a 10-square mile territory that only we could hunt. We had two moose tags between the four of us, and found great success while having an amazing time. This is unedited and roughly worded, and will be a very picture heavy blog!
Moose Camp
Sept 27 - Day 1
We left the cabin at 6:30 am. Walked to two lakes to set up. I missed my path in the dark and ended up walking much further than needed. A lot of fog on the lake making it hard to see. Loons were a welcome addition to the scene. At 9:00, Dad and I headed to the lake closest to camp. We immediately knew it would be one of our favorites.
We headed back to camp to cook breakfast so that we could lighten our packs for the rest of the day. Hiked North along the territory boundary looking for sign.There wasn’t much at all. The second half of the day was miserable. The woods were ungodly thick, challenging every step. It was obvious moose lived here but we couldn’t understand how. We slowly made it back to camp. We arrived at camp an hour before dark, jumped on the 4-wheeler and took it near the close lake we found earlier. No luck.
The brush was nearly impenetrable. A perfect example of woods without the whitetail deer to browse it down.
Sept 28 - Day 2
Woke up at 4:15, left camp at 5:30. I sat at lower lake, Dad went to upper lakes. After making breakfast(Heather’s Choice Sockeye Salmon Chowder), I headed to the upper lake to meet up with Dad. We paddled the aluminum boat against the wind to the far shore. Here we scouted a saddle for sign. Again the woods were ungodly thick. With the absence of the whitetail deer to browse the new growth down, it makes me wonder if the woods of PA wouldn’t look the same without the deer. We found some fresh sign but nothing promising. It seems that moose only like areas with moss under their feet this time of year.
We paddled back across the lake exhausted. We soaked our feet in the cold lake and took a short nap. I headed back down to the lower lake for an evening sit. This lower lake has really become my favorite. Tons of tracks as well as a beautiful backdrop of fall colors. Forgot to mention flushing a large male ruffed grouse earlier. Scared the shit out of me just like at home.
Paddling to the other side of the big lake.
A few notes on gear so far
10x binoculars are a little too much for the dense forests here, 8x would be much better. Because of the depth of the forest, I found myself rotating the focus know on my Maven binos counter clockwise 1/8 turn or so each time I put them in my chest pack. When pulling them out to look at something, my pointer finger automatically rotates the focus knob clockwise until I find focus. Having binos that adjust focus easily while looking through them is critical as you’ll find yourself constantly scanning the woods like that.
My G33/40 rifle has been a joy to carry so far even though it is getting more “character” each day. A synthetic stock would be better suited for this but that lacks soul. All openings I’ve set up in so far were covered by my maximum point blank range sighting of the 270 with Barnes 130-grain TTSX.The 2.5-8x36mm Leupold scope has been perfect for the mix of open lakes and dense forest. I haven’t had it turned above 6x yet. Lastly, the Brownells Latigo sling is perfect for this brush, cinching it up tight as you go through thick areas so that it doesn’t get caught on the brush.
Day 2 cont…
Heard some very loud stick breaking across the lake. There are only a few things it could be; a stick falling, black bear, wolves, or a moose. I have heard it more than once now so I am sure it was an animal, and the loudness of it makes me believe it is a moose.
The lower lake on the morning of Day 3, full of action.
Sept 29 - Day 3
Got to the same stand that I was at last night as early as I could. As soon as it was just light enough to see the opposite bank, I let out a series of cow calls. Shortly thereafter a cow answered me to my right, very far away. Then another cow in front of me sounded off very close. Shortly after that a bull answered in the same direction, right where I heard the sticks breaking the last night. Then I heard another bull from the direction of the upper lake. I think there are 2 cows and 2 bulls. This is the first time I am hearing moose communicate and it is exhilarating. It is somewhat loud yet faint at the same time. If you aren’t completely still you won’t hear it. Even the slightest movement of a jacket will drown out the sound of a distant moose. Unless you are listening specifically for it, you won’t hear it.
Another bull sounded off to my right followed by a cow. Then, a very deep guttoral sound from the edge of the lake. I feel like I should be able to see him but can’t. Dad went up the trail and heard a cow as well but thought it was me calling.
Everything quieted down around 10:00. After an hour or so of not hearing anything, I figured it was safe to make lunch, beef stroganoff. A male wood duck landed at the lake and started feeding. I need to run back to camp to grab my charger for my Inreach. I think this evening will be full of action.
I left the blind for 45 minutes and returned with my old 3-color desert woobie to tie up as a sunshade for the afternoon. The sun was unbearable yesterday afternoon. I’m sweating like crazy and sitting barefoot with my pant legs rolled up, reading the book “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen. This is not the type of moose hunting I wanted to do(sitting in a stand all day), but it seems like the most effective way to do it. Still hunting is much too noisy, and just like whitetails, their bedding areas are perfectly selected. Thick as can be and in areas where the wind is never consistent, always swirling. While I’d love to go back to the cabin and nap before an evening hunt, there is a chance they come out mid day to cool off in the lake.
The evening hunt was uneventful. I hears some calls far off towards Beau, but that was it.
The big lake that we would filter water at
Sept 30 - Day 4
Nothing to be found. A quiet morning at the lake. I took a short walk around it and went into the woods on the far side, but didn’t see any fresh sign. Ate brunch in the stand at 9:00 am, which may end up being my favorite meal of the trip, Beef-Broth Ramen. It was perfect as it was the coldest morning we have had yet.
Took a small walk up the hill. Not much I can do with the North wind that we have. Any movement other than this will mess with my Dad and Beau’s setups. On the walk I spotted one ruffed grouse, male, along the trail. I sat and watched him for about 15 minutes.
In this part of Quebec, there are 3 species of partridge legal to kill under a small game license. Ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, and willow ptarmigan. I’ve killed ruffies before and one spruce grouse in Montana while packing out Mason’s elk in 2022. I haven’t killed a willow ptarmigan yet and hope to see one. Although this terrain doesn’t really look like what they’d be in. I’ve killed whitetailed ptarmigan at 12,000 ft with Sage(my dog) before, but this is a different species. Supposedly excellent table fare from what I hear.
Evening was uneventful
A cow and two calves at daybreak on Day 5.
Oct 1 - Day 5
I arrived at the farthest lake at daybreak. A cow and two calves were at the salt block across the lake. I watched them for a bit and listened as a bull sounded off to the northwest. I made a play and tried to get close but did not luck out. I was so close but could not put my eyes on him. Multiple times I had the safety off thinking he was going to come into a small lane in the thick spruce that I was looking down.
I came back to the stand to eat, Mountain House breakfast skillet and a cup of coffee, my favorite. This was my first cup of coffee made out in the bush this trip. It was excellent. A group of otters entered the lake at the outlet and hunted in front of me for awhile. The only thing that could make this day better is a bull on the ground. I am leaving my pack at the stand and will try to locate that bull.
I wasn’t able to locate the bull. The wind was too swirly, I headed back to the stand to wait it out. While trying to locate that bull, I got turned around twice in the same spot. There is a little rise in the thick timber that makes you lose all sense of direction. The first time I realized it and got my compass out. I reoriented myself and tried again. Did literally the same exact thing again, making a circle southwest instead of North. I kept my compass out and was able to finally get back on track.
The evening at the creek stand was uneventful. That stand is too loud to sit at.
Daybreak on Day 6, moments before Beau would kill his bull at the lake above me.
Oct 2 - Day 6
Went to a stand below where Beau has been sitting. It was a nice spot but the last three steps into the stand were sketchy. Within ten minutes of being up there, I heard Beau shoot twice. Immediately after the shots a pack of wolves started howling. My first time hearing wolves to my knowledge. Beau downed a nice bull, so I immediately climbed down the stand to go help him.
Beau’s Moose
It was a beautiful Canadian moose measuring 37-inches wide. It died in the middle of a lake crossing and was a challenge to get out. They somewhat float though. So with a little bit of muscle we were able to get it close enough to shore to use paracord pulleys. They worked fantastic and allowed us to get him on dry ground for processing. Multiple canoe shuttles followed by 4-wheeler shuttles and we had it packed away without having to carry any meat in our packs. Back at camp that night we ate moose meat and had a few beers.
Arriving at Beau’s moose in the middle of the lake crossing
Shuttling meat up and down the lake
Oct 3 - Day 7
Started out at the lower lake blind, heard one bull call. Dad is having all of the action up at the lake that I saw the cow and calves at. They are on the other side of the lake but haven’t showed themselves. I tried to find a stand marked on the map without luck. It was too overgrown. I ran out of water and had to make a trip to the big lake. My water filter pump broke after over 10 years of service, a new filter should fix the problem. Luckily, I always carry iodine tablets as a backup. Evening was uneventful.
The final leg of Beau’s moose packout
Oct 4 - Day 8
Started out at the furthest lake. May have heard a bull far off but it was quiet otherwise. We hiked down below the lake and found the most sign we have yet. We think the hot cow has been bred so the bull moved on and continued his search.
The hike was hot and exhausting. We went to the big lake to purify water and nap. Taking your boots off and soaking your feet in the ice cold water is hard to beat. Venison casserole for dinner, was the best tasting meal yet. Sitting the big lake stand today watching the crossing behind it. Called what I believe to be a young bull in. Dad was in the creek stand 200 yards away calling as well. The went and winded him just out of sight.
Looking for Grouse with the Savage Model 24
Oct 5 - Day 9
Went back to the big lake stand to make another attempt at that bull. May have heard him on the other side of the trail. It got into the 80s so we elected to spend mid-day at camp. I took the Savage Model 24 for a ride on the four wheeler. Beau had brought a grouse home for lunch and we needed one more for a complete meal. Within 10 minutes I was back at camp with a grouse.
A group of four were on the trail, so I got off the four wheeler, loaded the top barrel with a 22 and shot the head off of the biggest one. Ruffed grouse are so plentiful here it is unreal. I would like to spend a day just doing that. When I got back to camp I stepped on the wings as close to the body as possible, slowly and steadily pulling on the legs. This pulls the grouse breasts out and makes for extremely easy cleaning.
In the evening we made a play at the young bull we thought I heard this morning. No luck.
My rifle laying in the bed of the bull I was after on Day 10
Oct 6 - Day 10
Beau and I canoed into the island he had hunted last week. We didn’t stay there long as Dad was at the far lake getting a ton of action. So we backed out after breakfast, lightened our packs at camp, and headed in. Dad was at the same place I had seen the cow and two calves. When we got there it was very hot, so we napped knowing they weren’t going anywhere. The bull was bellowing all day. That and the “hoot” of spruce grouse made for a pleasant distraction from the heat. Spruce grouse make a faint “hoot hoot” noise that sounds like someone is blowing into a glass bottle.
We made our plan for the evening and set off light, leaving our packs at the stand. It was super noisy to walk so we spread out 20 yards apart single file. We snuck within 200 yards of where we thought they were bedded. Just then they sounded off and we moved closer.
They were in a bottom and we were on the ridge above them with the wind in our favor. I left Dad and Beau behind as we got inside 150 yards. I was moving slowly and quietly, getting really close. I could hear them but couldn't see them in the thick undergrowth. The wind started to get squirrely and they quieted down. I am not sure if they winded me or just moved onto their evening feed. I had to be within 50 yards of them at one point.
Back at camp I cooked up moose heart tacos from Beau’s moose and they were phenomenal.
Inside the blind on rainy day 11
Oct 7 - Day 11
Pouring rain when we woke up. Dad and I went to two blinds we hadn’t been to yet that were better suited for the weather. A 30 minute four wheeler ride soaked us good but at least it’d be dry where we were going. At 11:30, I heard the same bull with cow as I did last night. They were ENE of my position. Additionally, there were a ton of large sticks breaking right across the lake from me. As I called they got closer and closer over the next few hours. I think it was a bull trying to catch my wind. To do that he’d have to cross by the beaver dam 100 yards to my right. He never did. My heart and adrenaline were racing multiple times. I thought it was going to happen.
Before all of that action I enjoyed a nice cup of coffee and breakfast skillet while reading Jack O’Connor’s book “The Hunting Rifle.” Spicy Sausage Pasta is on the menu for lunch. Dad saw a moose swim across the lake he was watching but the fog was too thick to identify it. Evening uneventful.
My Dad’s Bull taken on Day 12
Oct 8 - Day 12
Set up at the far lake. Within half an hour of daylight Dad’s 06 sounded off at the lake below. Three shots took down a young bull in the lake who came into the call. I hurried back to camp to get supplies for the packout. We had the bull packed out on the canoe by 3 pm. Retreated to camp to celebrate. Cooking the tongue and drinking beer.
We used the canoe to get the bull to shore for processing
Oct 9 - Day 13
Today was a day to mostly relax and get things around for the trip back. We cooked tenderloin and drank coffee. It was a good trip and we will be back next year!
Arriving at the four wheeler with the last load of meat.
Celebratory drinks after getting my dad’s bull to camp
Cooking Moose tongue
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase—at no additional cost to you. This has no impact on what I write about or the opinions I share, as everything here is based on real use and time in the field. I only include links when I believe they genuinely add value or help the reader, and I won’t recommend or link to anything I wouldn’t use myself.
Written by: Kurt Martonik
Kurt is a Gunsmith, Reloader, Hunter, and Outdoorsman. He grew up in Elk County, Pennsylvania, where he became obsessed with the world of firearms. Following high school, Kurt enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Boom Operator, where he eventually rose to the position of Instructor. After his military service, he attended the Colorado School of Trades(CST) in Lakewood, CO for gunsmithing. Following graduation, he accepted a job at C. Sharps Arms in Montana, where he worked as a full time stockmaker and gunsmith. He now owns and operates Highland Custom LLC. See full bio here.
