Hunting
Guided moose hunts in Québec and Canada
Moose hunting is a fall tradition in Québec and much of Canada. With a guide, you hunt good territory, learn to call, and know what to do with several hundred kilos of animal once it is down.
How a guided moose hunt works
Most guided moose hunts take place in the fall, around the rut, when bulls respond to calls. A typical day starts before dawn at a stand, a lookout over a clearing or on the shore of a lake, and the guide calls to bring a moose within range.
Calling is an art: cow calls, bull grunts, raking brush with a shoulder blade and splashing water to imitate a moose walking in a lake. A guide who calls well every fall is often the difference between seeing moose and only hearing them.
Many camps are reached by gravel road, float plane or boat, and some hunts are done by canoe, drifting quietly along rivers and lake shores. Ask which style each guide offers.
Why a guide matters for moose
Moose live in huge, unfamiliar territory. A guide knows where the animals feed, where they cross and where they can be recovered once shot. That last point is important: a moose that falls in a swamp or far from a trail is a lot of work.
Moose licences, tags and draws work differently in each province and can depend on zone and year. Some provinces limit or require outfitters for non-residents. Check the official regulations and ask your guide what applies.
Meat care and what is usually included
A moose provides a large amount of meat, and it needs to be cooled quickly. Good outfitters plan for this: quartering, hanging, game bags, and a way to get the quarters out of the bush and to a butcher.
Offers vary, but often include:
- Lodging in a camp or pourvoirie, with or without meals
- Access to a private or exclusive territory
- Boats, canoes or ATVs to reach hunting spots
- Calling and guiding, often one guide per one or two hunters
- Help with field dressing, quartering and transporting meat
Choosing your moose guide
Ask how many hunters use the territory, how the hunting is organised (stands, calling, canoe) and how meat is handled and stored. Ask what happens if the weather turns, and whether the price changes if you do or do not take an animal.
Bring layered wool or synthetic clothing, rain gear, good waterproof boots, and a rifle you have practised with at realistic distances.
Finding a moose hunt with GuideHunter
Open GuideHunter, filter for hunting and choose moose. The map shows each guide's offer with the region, what is included and a price per person from, or on request. You see roughly how far each one is from you and can contact the guide directly after a short optional video.
Frequently asked questions
When is moose season in Québec?
Moose hunting in Québec happens in the fall, with dates that vary by zone, weapon type and year. Always check the current official hunting regulations for your zone, and ask your outfitter, who plans the hunt around those dates.
Do I need a guide to hunt moose as a non-resident?
It depends on the province. Some provinces require non-residents to hunt big game such as moose with a licensed outfitter or guide, and licence rules differ too. Check the official regulations of the province you plan to visit and confirm with the outfitter.
What happens to the meat after a guided moose hunt?
Most outfitters help with field dressing, quartering and hanging the meat, and many can point you to a local butcher. How you bring meat home depends on where you live, so ask the guide early and plan coolers and transport ahead of time.