Posted by Jeff Nadler on April 15, 2008 at 11:10 AM
For northern NH like elsewhere, resources state that May and June are best since moose frequently feed on pond and wetland vegetation. July through mid-September is the worse time as moose stay more within the deeper woods. My past experiences in both periods was exactly this.
For photography though, the May-June period has it's trade-offs. One can try to deal with the black flies. But the major negative is the unattractive moose coat, scraggly as it changes to a new one.
What do you consider the best NE moose photo time, if one excludes the autumn mature racks on bulls?
Although I have made several trips to Pittsburgh, Rangley and Baxter State Park I have yet to get that "icon" shot of a majestic bull with a fully developed rack.
I have been to Baxter and Moosehead Lake in July and taken MANY shots with over 50 sightings in a 4 days period but none of them were of a Grade A male at close range. I have also returned to Baxter in the autumn with limited success. Going off road in Pittsburgh near the logging camps can also afford a few sightings if you are patient.
Posted by Garth McElroy on April 15, 2008 at 7:46 PM
Late September. I've been on the logging roads and have seen some massive bulls usually with or near cows wide open. Last year a friend and I were headed fishing and saw three prime bulls within a mile stretch. We had one with three cows that was easily the largest moose I've ever seen around here. The beams on the antlers were practically as thick as my arm. You need to be out early and cover a lot of road. In the spring I barely ever go out without seeing a moose. They looks scragly all summer IMO. They don't call them swamp donkeys for nothing!
I have to agree with Garth. I typically don't see many moose in the summer, but by September, they are in an active, pre rut state that brings them out on logging roads and open swamps again.
If you can find mother and baby shots in June, they are typically still young enough to look almost cute. But you must deal with everything else that you mentioned there...
Discussion
3 repliesFor photography though, the May-June period has it's trade-offs. One can try to deal with the black flies. But the major negative is the unattractive moose coat, scraggly as it changes to a new one.
What do you consider the best NE moose photo time, if one excludes the autumn mature racks on bulls?
I have been to Baxter and Moosehead Lake in July and taken MANY shots with over 50 sightings in a 4 days period but none of them were of a Grade A male at close range. I have also returned to Baxter in the autumn with limited success. Going off road in Pittsburgh near the logging camps can also afford a few sightings if you are patient.
If you can find mother and baby shots in June, they are typically still young enough to look almost cute. But you must deal with everything else that you mentioned there...
Good luck...