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It’s soon time for the moose hunt premiere in Sweden - the holy weeks of the hunting year. How did the elk hunt begin, and how far back in time? What does the law say? And is it true that the Swedish elks in the north are bigger than the ones in the south? We will discuss this and much more in this extensive guide. And of course, we’ll give our best recommendations for silencers for the moose hunt.
The first moose hunting was conducted with traps, in a device made of spears and a tensed bow. The spear was triggered at touch. A fence led the path down to the setup, which eventually would lead the moose to trigger the set trap. This hunting method was forbidden in 1864. People also tried pit traps that the elks fell into. Hunting for moose has existed since ancient times, yet changed plenty over the years.
Until the 1200s, there was something called peasantry hunt, which means hunting for house needs. Until the time when laws were founded, hunting was free and didn’t belong to anybody. But when ”the Crown” (Kronan) took over the hunting rights, the hunt for big game was regulated. The right to hunt was a privilege and could be transferred through a charter. The peasantry could hunt for predators such as bears, foxes, and wolves. The hunting right was attributed to the landlord so that every free man could hunt on their own grounds.
From the 1350s, moose hunting with spear was forbidden for the peasantry - except for some counties in Sweden. The discussion about hunt and hunting rights, the king and nobles, have continued over history. During the 1700s, hunting right was modernized, slowly though. Only for the later part of the century, the northern counties got the right to hunt with rifles. The big turning point came over 20 years later when the peasantry got to hunt big game on their own land. The noble hunting privileges disappeared, and ordinary people could hunt animals such as roe deer - that was the king’s animal before.
Since then, moose hunting has been available for everyone. Hunting is connected to land ownership but can be transferred through a hunting lease - about 50% of the Swedish hunters hunt on their own land. Moose hunting includes a shooting team with a leader, whose main task is to organize safe hunting. No one arranges traps with spears - today, moose hunting is a form of spotting and stalking with dogs.
The moose is the largest living cervine animal. Studies show that northern elks are bigger than the southern, which goes far back in history. In the Swedish woods, we actually have two different populations, which probably has its explanation in the inland ice. It can also be the consequence of the intense moose hunt conducted during the 1800- and 1900s. When a population sink that fast, the animals can develop genetic differences.
However, the moose adapt to different environments. Elks living in snowy areas have longer legs and bigger hooves. They reset their metabolism by lowering the body temperature to save energy when winter enters. For example, snow doesn’t melt on their fur, because the hair is isolated and doesn’t release heat. They lose about 25% of their autumn weight. This happens because their bodies take energy from the muscles when the fat depots are empty during winter. The northern elks can be almost 50% bigger than the ones in the south.
Sweden has the world’s tightest moose population per area, estimated at 350.000 animals. Every year, 80.000 elks are shot in the country. This also means that 85% of Swedish hunters hunt moose. The possibilities for a good moose hunt are many.
Hunting for moose is challenging, partly because the elk is intelligent - you can hunt for days before even seeing one. The weather during the fall and hunting season can change actively. The days can be long, quiet, and cautious. Despite this, the moose hunt attracts so many hunters - maybe because it’s a confirmed tradition or because of the community of hunting elk.
When thinking of moose hunting, most hunters are stand shooters. Spot and stalk means you’re placed in a specific spot - a stand - where the elks usually pass. This often happens in a shooting tower or other strategically chosen locations. There are many benefits of being a stand shooter. Most of the time, you have good sight, and you have support for your weapon. The method is best performed in partly or completely open landscapes, where the elk can be localized on distance. From there, you wait for the right moment - without risking to scare it off. During spot and stalk, the hunter can sweep large areas, instead of sneaking with the hope to run into the game.
Usually, most of the time during moose hunting is spent scouting and waiting. In the few seconds when you have position to shoot, the silencer needs to perform its best. Features such as high noise reduction, significantly reduced recoil, and stable shooting are important in these situations. Weight and size don’t matter when you can put the weapon away. You can certainly have a look at the bigger silencer, preferably with 149-fronts that have these mentioned features.
For the stand shooter, we recommend;
Moving hunt means you carefully sneak up on the moose without being discovered. It is performed in hilly areas, dense woods, or fields with lots of places to hide. You slowly sneak against the wind and read the terrain gradually. It's more essential to use your binoculars than sneaking because a tiny misstep can scare off the moose. You stalk to shootable distance when you’ve got a sight on a game. It’s important to move when the animal can’t see you - you can even stop for seconds, waiting to move.
When practicing moving hunt, you want to move smoothly without making too much noise. The equipment has to be small and light to not rip in bushes and thickets. Features such as a short extension, lightweight that’s easy to carry, and a smooth design are vital. You might need to compromise on noise and recoil reduction to the benefit of these features.
For the moving hunter, we recommend;
Hunting moose with dogs is one of the oldest forms of dog hunting. It’s teamwork and is all about a good connection between the dog and the hunter. They are used in several types of hunting and are an incredible asset for the hunter. A dog handler’s job is to coach the dog to track, find and mark the game that’s hunted. While the dog is searching the ground, the hunter moves against the wind. When the dog is in contact with the elk, it should perform calmly. When they are used to each other presence, the dog marks the position by barking. The hunting form is similar to moving hunt, but companied by a trained dog. Jämthund and Norwegian elkhound is the most common hunting dogs for moose.
Just as moving hunt, a dog handler demands light and smooth equipment. You want to move simply through the forest without making unnecessary noise or getting stuck with the weapon. When having a position, you need to make a decision quickly. This is accompanied by a quick and stable weapon. To get the most possible from dog hunting, we recommend:
