Moose hunting is a tradition with deep roots in Sweden, steeped in history and woven into the country’s heritage. It’s a time when hunters come together, united in pursuit of the same goal, in a way only moose hunters can truly appreciate. We interviewed three of our own dedicated hunters to gain insight into their experiences and adventures.
The idea and foundation of Stalon silencers are deeply rooted in the forests of northern Sweden. Founder Daniel Axelsson has been hunting moose for over 30 years, always on the same land where he grew up. It’s an area spanning an impressive 20,000 hectares. Daniel values mobility and endurance, often covering miles during a hunting day. A pair of quality boots lasts him a maximum of two seasons. Over his years as a hunter, Daniel has shot moose both at close range and from distances up to 300 meters.
For Daniel, hunting is about more than just taking down the prey. It’s a battle against the elements—sometimes deep snow, other times the heat of late summer. By late autumn, his hunting days begin and end in darkness. He often starts the morning with wet boots without time to dry. With around 30 hunting days each fall, he hasn’t missed a single season since he started at 18. Over the years, he has optimized his weapon choices, and today he uses a .338 RCM caliber rifle.
- I want a magnum rifle for long distances, but at the same time, I need a smooth, manageable gun,” Daniel explains. “I might be standing in a small opening in the forest, so the reaction of the game needs to be clear. I need to know where the shot hit so I don’t fire a second shot just to be sure. You can’t take chances when shooting in tight spots. The large 300-kilogram moose carcasses often don't react much to smaller calibers.
His rifle is also equipped with a Stalon XE108 silencer. Daniel values simplicity and reliability, and his experiences have taught him to keep his gear simple to avoid issues.
- As a dog handler, it's often the small gaps in the vegetation that need to be utilized for a successful shot. I want the moose to react clearly to the shot. If there’s no reaction, the bullet may have hit a branch, and you might have missed the target. This requires a second shot. A second shot in tight situations rarely goes well. The advantage of a silencer is that at longer distances, you can also hear the bullet’s impact when it hits the moose.
Choosing just one memory from a lifetime of incredible moments is a challenge. But Daniel recalls a time when the hunting team had a guest, a man in his 60s. They were going to hunt on the mountain one day in early September. This man was assigned the stand just ahead of Daniel’s - a ten-kilometer walk. With a kilometer to go, the sole of the man’s boot came off. Ten minutes after the dogs were released, Daniel shot a moose, and the hunt was called off for the day because the dog wouldn’t leave the downed game. The poor man was not in great condition the next day.
Another time, Daniel shot a moose from just five meters away - not a small one either. He was alone with a monster in the clearing. Now that’s what we call a hunting experience.
Filip began his hunting career in 2008 and has since hunted both in mountain-adjacent areas and forest landscapes—he’s actually part of two different hunting teams. He often has a long walk to his stand, perhaps because he’s the younger generation and can handle a bit more hiking. He hunts moose about 17-18 days each fall, which is as much as the "average moose hunter" does. As a stand hunter and herding caller, he has developed a sense of being in the right place at the right time.
Filip hunts with an old Husqvarna 8x57 from 1953, a piece of craftsmanship he has modified to suit his needs. He inherited it from an older gentleman in the hunting team. He prefers the reliable 8x57 caliber and the kind recoil of the Husqvarna, and despite its age, it still works perfectly in the hunt. Perhaps old things do last better than modern ones?
The Husqvarna is equipped with a Stalon X108 silencer. Filip explains:
- I don’t need an XE because the recoil is kind as it is. I save weight by using the X, and I could shorten the barrel more to make it even more manageable. The X108 provides the necessary sound reduction and is more than enough for the 8x57.
Since Filip both calls and walks a fair amount, he doesn’t want a heavy iron rod to carry around. A long rifle often becomes cumbersome, Filip says.
Filip shares a special moment when he called a moose in close. It was during the estrus season. He had scouted a mire he wanted to approach. He made his way through a dense spruce plantation, a forest ridge, and then the bog lay before him. He settled at the edge and made a few herding calls. Within seconds, he heard cracking in the forest ahead. A bull moose with seven points ambled out of the forest and stopped just 25 meters away. As Filip wondered what to do next, a cow appeared and stood beside the bull. While she watched him, Filip raised his rifle. One more call was all it took to turn the bull around, presenting the perfect shot. The moose fell with the shot. As Filip approached the moose, the cow remained and watched. Eventually, he reached the moose, and she was still there, so Filip told her it was time to go. She calmly walked away.
Emil has been hunting small game since 2008-2009 but started moose hunting in 2015. After beginning his moose hunting career near the mountains, he recently switched to hunting in denser lowland forests. The new area means shorter shooting distances and requires more precision. The stands are also located near bogs with longer shooting ranges, but suddenly, there are neighbors much closer by - something that rarely happens in mountain-adjacent hunting areas.
Emil uses a Browning bolt-action rifle in .308 caliber with a short 47 cm barrel, making it smooth and easy to handle in the denser forests. He previously hunted with a .30-06 but switched to get a shorter barrel and access to more modern ammunition. Despite having more firearms, he prefers to use the rifle he knows best. Emil uses his .308 for almost all hunting, and it works just as well for moose as it does for birds.
His rifle is equipped with an XE108 silencer. Emil explains that he could easily manage with the X108, but he doesn’t notice the extra weight and length.
- I want a fast rifle with a total setup that makes it easy to pack into a holster backpack. What I seek with the XE108 is maximum recoil reduction, and I want to be able to shoot at longer distances. There’s probably no significant difference from the X108, but if I can get that little extra for 34 grams more, I don’t mind.
One of Emil’s most memorable experiences was when he called a moose down from the high mountains. He initially thought it was the dog handler responding to his call, but instead, a fine moose appeared, first visible as a tiny speck in the distance. The moose slowly made its way down a ravine and finally stopped 150 meters away, right between two spruces. Emil managed to bring the moose down, and while it wasn’t the biggest he had shot, the experience was incredibly powerful.
Regardless of experience, these three moose hunters share a passion for hunting and a deep respect for nature. Their stories remind us that moose hunting is more than just a pastime - it’s a tradition that binds generations together and creates memories for a lifetime.
