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Alaskan Survivalist
06-24-2010, 07:38 PM
I've mentioned many times I admire those that come to Alaska with little or nothing to carve out a life for themselves in the wilderness. Putting up meat for the winter is big part of surviving that first winter and this little trick may help. In the picture below are two Moose calls. On the left is a Moose Magnet made locally here in Wasilla and cost about 40 dollars. The maker also has some good videos on its use as well. It's a great product but I assume you have better things to spend your money on and the one on the right is homemade and made from old shoestrings and a number 10 can. I had always made them before from old coffee cans but could not find one and while not as thin worked just as well.

http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg346/akmofo/IMG_1238.jpg

All you do is drill a hole in center of the bottom of can, tie a knot in the end of the string, thread it through hole in can so it can't pull through. I like to use large flat shoe strings and others use leather but just about any string will work. To use, wet string and pull between finger and thumb pinched tightly together. Short pulls make grunts and long pulls for cow calls. The further away from can you pull string the deeper the call. It's loud, sound carries well and can be directed just like the store bought calls. You can fill it with water and pour into a lake to simulate cows urinating. The only advantage the Moose magnet has is using it to increase your hearing by sticking it to your ear or raking trees but you can always use a stick or old antlers for that. The big advantage it has is simulating moose call better than I can with my voice. Well that and the cost. Give it try this fall.

Camp10
06-24-2010, 07:48 PM
Yup. They work very well. I couldnt find my veteran made from a Maxwell House can and a 12" piece of leather lace to show it but it has brought a few moose to dinner for me. Many of the guys will wrap it in duct tape to quiet the "tin" sound down.

Alaskan Survivalist
06-24-2010, 07:53 PM
If I have problems with tin sound it usually comes from the bottom an I just hold it against my jacket. I guess duck tape would work too.

Camp10
06-24-2010, 08:00 PM
If I have problems with tin sound it usually comes from the bottom an I just hold it against my jacket. I guess duck tape would work too.

That's what I did also. I have also heard of putting leaves in it. I'll be sitting a few years out though. Maine has a lottery system for the hunt and I was picked last year. The hunt before that was 2003 and my son in 2008. I can usually attach myself to a hunt every few years though..the benefit of owning a camp sitting on 300 acres in awesome moose country!:)

Alaskan Survivalist
06-24-2010, 08:10 PM
That's what I did also. I have also heard of putting leaves in it. I'll be sitting a few years out though. Maine has a lottery system for the hunt and I was picked last year. The hunt before that was 2003 and my son in 2008. I can usually attach myself to a hunt every few years though..the benefit of owning a camp sitting on 300 acres in awesome moose country!:)

We have lotteries for some areas but you can always go somewhere else in Alaska.