How to Call a Moose
Master Maine Guide Greg Drummond, of Highland Plantation, demonstrates the arcane art of attracting a moose. Don't try this at home!
By Photographs by Peggy McKenna; Corbis
Paddle WhackingHave you ever wondered why the state of Maine holds its annual moose hunt in early fall? The answer is romance. "The cows come into heat around the full moon in September," explains Greg Drummond. And the bulls, in turn, become as sex-crazed as Austin Powers. Having scraped the velvet off their antlers, they go rampaging through the woods looking for love. A wooden canoe paddle, whacked against a tree, does a passable imitation of a randy moose alerting cows and rival bulls to the impressive size of his rack.
Coffee Call
This technique uses a strip of rawhide threaded through the bottom of a coffee can -- Maxwell House Original Blend, in this photo -- to simulate a full-throated bull bellow. ("The trick," says Drummond, "is to keep the rawhide wet.") A bull that hears another male nearby will come charging in to drive the lothario away from the local cows. "They grunt in time with their steps," says Drummond. "It's unmistakable. Once you've heard it, you know what's coming."
Antler Scrape
Scraping or smacking an antler against a tree is a time-honored technique among moose hunters. "The sound of the antler -- how heavy the bone is -- will tell the moose if he has a worthy adversary," explains Drummond. For the past five years the Master Guide has also been conducting moose-calling weekends for Maine Audubon and other non-hunting groups that hope to see the big animals up close. "A moose seems almost like a holdover from the dinosaur days," he says. "It's the biggest thing you're ever going to see in the woods."
Birchbark Serenade
"This is a cow bellow, alerting bulls that the cow is ready," says Drummond. The foot-long horn serves as a megaphone for a loud wail, followed by grunting little love whispers that drive the boys crazy. Attracting a bull to a group of people is a challenge ("a group puts out an aura of scent"), but Drummond has had excellent luck luring moose within camera range. To register for one of his popular field trips -- scheduled from September 16 to 18 and September 23 to 25 -- call Claybrook Mountain Lodge at 207-628-4681 or visit www.claybrookmountainlodge.com
