what do you do?

[trax]

I'm seeing a body found in the forest with one hand reaching for some dorky dart and great big moose hoof prints all over it's abdomen and face. I only hope the old bull doesn't step on his face so they can use dental records for identification. What are you going to do about the fact that 1500 pounds moving at 40 mph doesn't just come to a dead standstill? Or the fact that your little injection darts probably won't pierce the hide of a moose or a bear?

I have a friend who was charged by a polar bear. He started shooting when the bear was still a good distance off, maybe 100 yards or so. He put 8 shots from a .30-30 into that bear's chest and it kept coming. It dropped about 15 yards from him, he told me his hands were shaking too badly to get the rifle re-loaded, (he kept dropping bullets in the mud) and this is a guy who grew up hunting and trapping and was around 50 years old at the time, not the kind of guy who panics.

I sincerely hope that future questions will be responded to with some basis in reality. (By the way, I don't think moose or bears speak any human languages, maybe try singing them a lullabye and they'll nod off ) Now, see? That was humor, not reality

[Fog_Harbor]

I like the pepper spray idea, it seems you could use it on anything that would charge. once you hit them with it they can't see so you could just walk away if they don't madly run off.

It works especially well on bears because their sense of smell is something like 20,000 times more sensitive than a dogs.

There is a spray made just for bears, but riot spray works too, that's what I carry in bear country when I'm with others. When I'm alone, i just make a lot of noise during the day.

[zadig39]

Hey Strider, didn't mean to hammer on u so hard about that post. I see on your bio that u are only 13 yrs old. There is alot of wisdom to be found on this site. U would do well benefit from the experiance of others here, I definately have.

[albanian-american]

my suggestion is , don't keep dogs around as they will be attacked immediately,which could save your life if you have a dog because the moose would turn its attention to the dog, mooses don't like wolves and a dog looks like a wolf, they will not hesitate to attack the dog,the best thing is to talk gently to them if u don't have a dog and back away slowly, try to climb a tree if u can , if it starts charging at u , u better climb a tree or hide behind something that the moose cannot get u in

[Sarge47]

Hey Strider, didn't mean to hammer on u so hard about that post. I see on your bio that u a only 13 yrs old. There is alot of wisdom to be found on this site. U would do well benefit from the experiance of others here, I definately have.

The clue was in the name: "Strider", which is King Eragon's other name from "Lord of the Rings." At least he didn't call himself "Gollum".

[Strider]

Hey Sarge, you are right about the name, somewhat. It's what I use for pretty much everything, sorta like an alias, I guess. But (sorry if I'm picky, but I'm a really big fan of JRR Tolkiens works) actually Strider was just what the men in Bree knew him as, his true name being Aragorn. Furthermore, he was the heir to King Elendil, aka King Elessar. Yeah, I know you're thinking what a geek... lol.

[Strider]

And zadwig, no offense taken. My methods might seem insane to most ppl, but it has helped in the past.

[SOE digital]

Hey Strider, didn't mean to hammer on u so hard about that post. I see on your bio that u are only 13 yrs old.

So what about his age. It's the perfect age for him to pull his head in and stop being a little wannabe.

Oh and strider, no one gives a **** about LOTR here okay? The books were great, so were the films, but you're on the wrong forum. Neck up.

My methods might seem insane to most ppl, but it has helped in the past

Hmmm. yes. All those mega battles to the death you've have in your vast 13 years of life.

[Sarge47]

Hey Sarge, you are right about the name, somewhat. It's what I use for pretty much everything, sorta like an alias, I guess. But (sorry if I'm picky, but I'm a really big fan of JRR Tolkiens works) actually Strider was just what the men in Bree knew him as, his true name being Aragorn. Furthermore, he was the heir to King Elendil, aka King Elessar. Yeah, I know you're thinking what a geek... lol.

Actually, I've been a Tolkien fan for yar's and yars! My whole family loved the films and we have all of them in extended versions on DVD. Besides, don't ask me about my choice of screen name either as you won't get a straight answer.

[spiritman]

my suggestion is , don't keep dogs around as they will be attacked immediately,which could save your life if you have a dog because the moose would turn its attention to the dog, mooses don't like wolves and a dog looks like a wolf, they will not hesitate to attack the dog,the best thing is to talk gently to them if u don't have a dog and back away slowly, try to climb a tree if u can , if it starts charging at u , u better climb a tree or hide behind something that the moose cannot get u in

I've heard of mixed reactions by the moose, I've seen video of an Australian Shepherd get chased by a moose, but when the moose saw the owners it panicked and ran off. but on the other hand I have heard of a dog scaring one off by itself.

[zadig39]

Strider, I took my screen name from a book also. Voltaire ain't exactly Tolkien but good reading anyhow. SOE does have a point, this is a fun but serious forum on real survival skills. No darts,throwing knives or other mall ninja gear will help you in real life.

[trax]

Enough already about the moose please, I don't mean to brag but I've probably hunted more moose than most of the people posting here have ever seen, and I'm not trying to denigrate anyone's advice that is worthwhile, but the basic advice has been given. I don't take hunting lightly either people, anyone who's out hunting an animal whose habits/ways they don't know, shouldn't be out there. For the most part if you bump into a moose in the wild, it will probably stand and stare at you and then walk slowly away. I had a moose watching me split firewood in a camp one time and didn't realize he was there until he made some noise walking away, and I was out there to shoot a moose! My most embarrassing hunting story, there you go. If a bull is horny, he's in a bad mood. If he charges, follow the advice about getting out of his field of vision. They aren't rocket scientists, trust me on that. Do not, under any circumstances try to face him down or confront him, you'll die it's that simple. If you can stand far enough back to get some shots at him and drop him, good for you, but don't count on it. I've seen .303 and .308 bullets deflect off of antlers. Seen it, people, no bs.

Again, in my personal experience only, the only bear I've heard of "charging" was the polar bear I mentioned in a previous post. Bear attacks that I'm aware of happened up very close and the bear slapped the crap out of some poor soul, often fatally. If you have a knife, go ahead and use it, but your chances of success are pretty slim. I saw film footage many many years ago of a griz killing a bull moose with one slap, broke his neck. The reason I took that shot at ultraviperman about bears and their passports is because they are all big and tough. If you know bears are around and you're out hiking, make some noise and they'll go out of their way to avoid you. If you leave food scents dangling around for them....serves you right.

Strider, my young friend, there's good advice from some seasoned wilderness veterans here, in fact, to me the thing that makes this site so good is the number of different situations the people here have covered in their lives, different geographies etc. So...pay attention, I've been doing this stuff for over 40 years,and I'm still willing to learn from other's expertise, so please take this for what it is, not criticism nor insult, but hopefully friendly advice.

and I guess that was my little rant about moose and bears, lol

[ryaninmichigan]

but don't count on it. I've seen .303 and .308 bullets deflect off of antlers. Seen it, people, no bs.

Shooting at the antlers is not going to kill him. Much to high

Also people should be careful about the advice they give and the advice they apply. There are two different strategies for fending off bears Brown bears likely to attack over territory. If you play dead you may live. Black bear are different, if attacked by one you better fight back or you will be dinner for sure.

[trax]

People have said they'd stand their ground and shoot at a charging moose. They charge with their heads down, all you're gonna see is antlers, good luck coming up with a better shot in those circumstances.

[ryaninmichigan]

People have said they'd stand their ground and shoot at a charging moose. They charge with their heads down, all you're gonna see is antlers, good luck coming up with a better shot in those circumstances.

I would kill the moose, I have no doubts. Having no doubts and the ablity to keep cool and think fast is what is is all about. me and my weapon are the most dangeous thing in the woods..........

[trax]

I would kill the moose, I have no doubts. Having no doubts and the ablity to keep cool and think fast is what is is all about. me and my weapon are the most dangeous thing in the woods..........

I have no doubt that you and your weapon are the most dangerous thing in the woods too, ryan, absolutely no doubt. I truly hope you never see the day when a moose charges you. Best wishes.

[wareagle69]

okay people.

its easy to speculate how you think you would act in any given situation.
gun fighters back in the day could empty a six shot revolver and not hit the person standing 10 feet in front of him, in somalia my squad mate and i threw rocks at each other from across the road all the while taking direct small arms fire( we both found it humourus) point beind is that every one handles stress and adreneline differently. a full grown bull moose charging at you during the rut is extremely dangerous good luck outrunning him better drop you weapon and double time it up a tree, when a moose is not in the rut they are a very docile creature, i just released one of my orphaned moose about a month ago, he has been in an isolation pen (100 acres) for about the last 9 months so he is not used to humans when i opened the door he casually strolled by me went down to the lake and drank for a while. people fear what they do not understand or the lies they have been brainwashed to believe i spend countless hours in the bush can't seem to find a bear anywhere except where people leave their thrash around then call me to get rid of a nusiance bear. anyhow best of luck killing a full grown charging moose in the bush,with what thermite or c-4 cause a shot gun aint doing the job

[trax]

I would kill the moose, I have no doubts. Having no doubts and the ablity to keep cool and think fast is what is is all about. me and my weapon are the most dangeous thing in the woods..........

I never considered the woods dangerous before

[Sarge47]

I would kill the moose, I have no doubts. Having no doubts and the ablity to keep cool and think fast is what is is all about. me and my weapon are the most dangeous thing in the woods..........

Well that's a comforting thought, remind to stay out of your neck of the woods during hunting season.

[trax]

Sarge, buddy this is for you...

I don't know if you're familiar with a movie called "The Seven Per Cent Solution" It's a Sherlock Holmes movie about the part of the story of ol' Sherlock being a drug addict. There's a scene in the movie where he's traveling through Switzerland by train and he's in this huge bout of depression and he says to Watson

"What if all the great minds of the world were travelling on the same train and an avalanche wiped out the train, killing them all?"

Watson responds, "I'm sure other great minds would be born, Holmes."

and Holmes says, "Ah, Watson, in a world full of avalanches, you are my one fixed point."

Well Sarge, I'm starting to think that in a world full of avalanches, you may be one of the true "fixed points" Thanks for that posting.