I hope to video my Moose Hunt as much as possible. Accordingly, I performed some internet research for a video camera that was affordable and had a zoom lens. My research led me to a new Cannon Vixia HF R800 HD video camera. It is very small and easy to hold takes professional quality video if on a tripod. But I needed a case, SanDisk cards, a tripod etc., all sorts of stuff as a kit and for $250 or so I got one.
I have a Nikon SLR and Video D5500 already and like it for close work. I am a month away from my trip so I must practice setting up my video gear and testing it. And make sure I have plenty of GigaBits and charged batteries. My Kit came with free Corel Software to download which includes PaintShop® Pro and VideoStudio® SE.
That chewed up most of a day to get and load. Now to learn them is a much longer story. You must be computer savvy to some degree.
Of course if you have $2000 for a starter pro video camera or more then go for it. Below is a great site that got me going!! Maybe it can help you as well.
Today the use of mechanical broadheads is more widely accepted among many Compound Bow Hunters and work well as evidenced by the article. Many years back the mechanical broadheads sometimes failed to open or open all the way and consumed energy needed for penetration.
Mechanical designs are better today, however still consume energy to open and must be inspected as they age in your tackle box.
Traditional longbow and recurve hunters still like fixed blade cut-on-contact because it replicates what our early ancestors hunted with. And that includes making your own razor sharp arrowhead ( even stone arrowheads) and hunting with it where legal.
That said; Here in New Hampshire a bow must have a minimum of 40 lbs draw weight whether it is a compound or a stick bow. It takes a bit more energy to puncture the hide and open the mechanical broadhead then does a cut on contact broadhead. If that is true, and I believe it is, then when shooting a lower draw weight, I would be apt to shoot cut-on-contact traditional broadheads so that all the energy is used for penetration.
If all of us were shooting compound bows of a draw weight to guarantee the opening of a mechanical head then it makes no difference as long as the cutting width of the blades are within the limits set by your state. In New Hampshire the rules are no narrower than 7/8 inch or wider than 1 1/2 inches; See below.
I was shooting in an archery league indoors with a recurve recently. I am a deer hunter. To many arrows and my shoulder gets sore but with spaced practice my shoulder is fine as evidenced here in my back yard with a broadhead. I stopped shooting in the club league and space my practice before my shoulder gets sore. You should space your practice too and not overdo it if you are an older hunter. Leave the volume shooting for the younger crowd.
Here is a fresh recurve shot with broadhead taken today with a 2018 XX75 Easton shaft August 7, 2019.
I have called in several bull moose over the years. But the best way to call in a bull moose is to understand the reason for the vocalization and associated behavior. The cow calls the bull in to be bred when she is in estrous. Her vocalization is higher pitched and with some vibrato. Using a cone shaped device allows you to project your call further. Calls can be heard by other moose from long distances due to their excellent hearing. How far? Perhaps over a mile or two on a quiet day, maybe more.
By making a cow call you are signaling to the bull that the time is now. Come and find me!
Now the bull has a deeper vocal and ends with a grunt sound. He is projecting his male voice to the cow and to other bulls that he is coming . This is a great video below for even veteran moose hunters.
By vocalizing the cow first then later a bull call the would-be bull detects another bull near a cow ready for mating. He comes to fight for his right to mate often swinging his antlers side to side to show off their size.
Scraping antlers or a dry shoulder blade, paddle or plastic bottle on a tree coupled with thrashing and breaking large branches says; If you come here I will fight! This in combination with vocalization and some cow estrus and bull urine are a sure bet to draw in a bull Moose if there is one nearby. Beware of your scent. If your bull catches your scent then it may be game over and he is out-a-there. Some guides bring a towel soaked in bull urine to mask your human scent.
On my NH Moose hunt, several years back, I called in a large handsome bull with smaller antlers.
I began with some cow estrus scent spray downwind. Then vocalizes a bull and then a tending grunt like a whitetail and thrashed trees with a stick and broke the largest branches I could find. The large bull came straight to me and my hunting friend. At 80 yards we whacked him with my 375 Ruger and a shot from my partners 308 Winchester. He went down fighting all the way to stay up. A round in the spine put him down for good.
My October hunt in Newfoundland with the same friend should be interesting as we get to hunt the prime rut. I am after a larger antlered Moose and delicious meat to take home. I will be guided one on one in the deep wilds of Newfoundland where there are hundreds of lakes and ponds to grow big bulls. I Hope!
Another video that is worth seeing is this one below.
As a former Bowhunting Educator for NHFG, August is a great time to sharpen your bow shooting skills. Three D archery is a great way to prep for bowhunting. See Granite State Archery for the 3D schedule. If you haven’t begun sharpening your archery shooting skills for hunting, now is the time. Bowhunter Education classes should be available from NH Fish and Game. You have just over a month to tune up as it were for early season whitetails.
I usually do not hit the woods with bow till October. Primary to preparation for hunting is to get your arms in shape and regularly shoot your bow. And working on your tree stand climbing skills for safety. Be sure that you use and know how to use your tree harness correctly so that you do not become a statistic. This is perhaps where most accidents occur, falling out of your tree stand.
I am not going to touch on arrow spine (stiffness) but with a heavier broadhead than your 100 or 125 grain field points you may need a stiffer hunting arrow, so be aware. There are 200 grain and heavier broadheads out there. I am shooting 2018 xx75 Easton aluminum shafts with a 45lb recurve. This shaft can handle my 100g Muzzy broadheads and even two blade head like the Zwickey’s with a helical feather fletch. Most compound bow hunters are mixed when it comes to broadheads. Some love the mechanical heads, some love the cut on contact traditional heads. You must choose wisely. Heavier draw weight bows can drive the mechanical heads to open more easily than lighter bows. I am a cut on contact hunter and like fixed blade styles. I took 100 grain 4 blade Muzzy heads to Africa and on an elk hunt as well as deer. I love the trocar tip because it in perfect alignment with the shaft and cuts on contact. Bad to the Bone, they say! With a 72 pound compound I had pass thru’s on every hit.
This little 6 point came in to a fawn bleat here in New Hampshire a few years back. I love to hunt with both rifle and bow. Just remember August is for Archery!
