Why do moose lose their antlers?

For anyone interested in learning why Moose lose their antlers every year, this is the article for you.  Instead of trying to explain it and since this is the time of year when they lose their antlers I decided to just post the link, this is very interesting stuff. Enjoy!

http://www.ehow.com/info_8413506_causes-moose-lose-its-antlers.html

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
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Wildlife Watching in NH

If you have been interested in watching wildlife or have a trip planned to come to the beautiful state of NH to view all we have to offer then click the link below to get some tips and also to make sure you are prepared for what NH can throw at you at any given time.

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Outdoor_Recreation/wildlife_watching.htm

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
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Thank a Land Owner

All of us outdoorsman and woman who spend time in the outdoors hunting or fishing, camping or hiking maybe taking for granted the fact that we are doing so on someones property. Most of us at one point or another have done so on property owned by someone else. Without access to this property life in the outdoors would be much different. So, I am and I hope all you will take the time to thank a landowner for allowing us to do what we love, for allowing us to fulfill our passion for the outdoors!

Thank you!


http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Newsroom/News_2011/news_2011_Q4/landowner_thanks_120211.html

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
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NH Moose lottery

Here are a few facts about the NH Moose Lottery, check them out!

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Moose_hunt/moose_lottery_stats.pdf

2011 NH Moose Hunt - A Success!

After several months of scouting in WMU I1, the hunt was finally here! Warm temperatures and windy conditions and an abundance of food sources made this years hunt a hard one, at least in this unit. The moose seemed to be away from the cuts, at least the cuts we were hunting, there were a few taken in cuts but for the most part the moose had other ideas on where to get their fill. The rut was long past due by at least a week or 2 which made calling seem useless. It was a matter of finding moose outside their typical feeding areas. As the week went on we felt we were getting closer and closer to the moose, finding fresher and fresher sign as we went along. on Friday we decided to go into this small piece of woods with lots of  7-8 year old beech growth, this area was wide open and perfect for a shot if we saw what we were looking for. Once into this piece we immediately started seeing fresh sign, tracks that were just hours old, lots of rutting sign from the previous couple weeks and lots of snipped beech browse. We decided to leave the area but not after making a mock scrape, kinda like deer do but much bigger in size and unloaded a bomb inside the scrape. We went back to this spot several hours later around 3:30 pm to take a sit and watch what might come through, before we got to our sit location we noticed movement down by the river about 60-70 yards away, we noticed it was a cow and her calf and then a young bull, the rest is history! Seeing 4 moose total during the hunt.

I want to thank my clients this year for having faith in me and sticking with me even when it did not seem like it was going to happen. John Wieloch Sr and John Wieloch Jr were 2 of the nicest people I have ever met and truly had a passion for the hunt and the animals we were after.
I do wish however John Sr. could have joined us in the field, instead he was sidelined with a bad knee, this kept him from getting into the woods with us but he did keep an eye on our vehicles for us and made friends and conversation with many people who passed by and stopped to talk to him.

Took us 6.5 hours to remove the moose from the woods, once we did, we were immediately off to the store for ice where we were joined by another couple who needed to check in their moose as well, so they followed us to New Hampton where the moose was checked in, a tooth was removed for aging purposes and it was weighed and recorded into the books by NH Fish and Game. The moose was estimated to be 3.5 years old weighing 730 lbs, then the CO mentioned because the weight exceeded that of classification for a 3.5 year old that the data from the tooth might come back in Feb. saying he was 4.5 years old. Either way, a very nice moose and a great hunt.


I want to send out special thanks to the following for making this hunt an enjoyable one.

Jay English( AKA, Hurricane) and Bob Caley,
For joining me for a couple days worth of hunting while my primary clients went home for a couple days to take care of some things there and also for letting us use their Chainsaw winch to get the moose out. Very nice people and so glad I got to meet the 2 of them! Thank you very much!

Jeff Mitchell and his friend Mike(not sure of last name),
For helping me try to gain access to some posted property from a friend of his(with no luck) but thanks for trying and also showing me some areas to scout during the preseason. Thanks it was very much appreciated!

Steve Clorite of  Jericho Gateway Family Campground,
For helping with the removal of the moose, he was a huge help in getting this animal to the main trail. Thank you very much!

CO Heidi Murphy of NH F & G,
For being very professional and helpful, helping me out along the way, answering any and all questions I may have had, coming out to say hello while we were dragging the moose out, checking our gut pile and making sure everything was in order(even though she didn't help us drag) haha. Thank you very much Heidi!

NH Bull Moose

Sept. 30 was another great day in the Land Of the Moose! Wind was definately our worst enemy today, but not before we had our encounter fix for the day. Again today, we saw several moose including a cow and her little bull calf which gave me some nice video footage(to be added later), and a pretty nice bull with his mind on 1 thing and 1 thing only, getting that cow! Thanks MooseMan Nature Photos and his wife for inviting me along. Oh the rut is on and in full swing in the North Country!

This time of year is so special to me, and it's so much fun to share it with friends. To be in the woods calling to these animals and having them answer you as if having a conversation with them, is 1 of the best feelings. Today, we had some of the most vocal moose I have ever heard and I think MooseMan will say the same thing. It was incredible calling and listening to them call back, both cows and bulls. They just had lots to say and we were more then happy to listen. If you have never heard moose be vocal then this is something you need to experience.

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
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Big NH Bull Moose

Today I went north to Berlin with a couple good friends of mine, Rick Libbey of Mooseman Nature Photo's and Steve Clorite of Jericho Gateway Family Campground to call moose. The rut is getting closer to being in full swing so we wanted to try our luck. The reason I say try our luck is because today was NOT the best of conditions to try to get moose to respond to calls, the forecast for northern NH was for temps in the high 70's to low 80's and humid. This is very hot for moose that are now wearing their winter jackets.

That being said, we didn't let it slow us down! Getting up and headed out the door at 3:30 am and getting to our location and set up by 6:00 am and a muggy 64 degrees, we were about to go through our first series of cow calls. By 6:05 am the first series of cow calls left my mouth, within seconds, we had our first bull response, or what we thought was a bull response. Sounding like grunts but too soft and distant to be sure and after looking at each other wondering, I let out another set of cow calls. This time there was no mistaking or questioning the sound we heard,! After glassing the area where we thought the grunts had come from, we spotted the bull some 200-250 yards away! He was a dandy, 4.5 maybe a 5.5 year old bull staring us down!

We had called this bull out of his bed, grunting like crazy but unwilling to move more then a few feet at a time. After  about 20 minutes of trying to get him to move we decided it was time to go to him, so we started to back track and circle around a rise between ourselves and him and make our way towards our bull, with great success we closed to within 60 yards!

While watching this bull we were wondering why this bull had not moved more then 10 feet in our direction after multiple calling attempts. When all of a sudden we saw movement off to the bulls right, just on the edge of a tree line there were 2 more moose, a cow and this years calf. now we know why this fella would not budge, he had himself a date!

here is a picture of the bull from this morning! I will be posting more pics of him soon but for now here he is.

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
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Body of Plymouth Man Recovered

Body of Plymouth Man Recovered

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

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N.H. Youth Waterfowl Hunt Weekend - September 24-25, 2011

N.H. Youth Waterfowl Hunt Weekend - September 24-25, 2011

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
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"Ghost Moose," September Goose Hunting, Brood Stock Salmon – All in the Latest Issue of N.H. Wildlife Journal Magazine

"Ghost Moose," September Goose Hunting, Brood Stock Salmon – All in the Latest Issue of N.H. Wildlife Journal Magazine

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
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www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

Wildlife Watching in the Granite State

Every day is a good day for viewing wildlife, whether it is in your own back yard, a neighborhood park or a new place you are exploring. This is especially true in New Hampshire, for it's possible to see a moose in your front yard in Concord or listen for a Bicknell's thrush in the rugged terrain of Dixville Notch. From Mount Washington -- where the worst weather in the world has been recorded -- to the 17 miles of ocean coastline dwarfed by the two hundred mile coastline of the Great Bay estuary, there is a diversity in the New Hampshire landscape rivalled in few places. More than 450 species of fish, mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles as well as countless insects and marine animals are part of our wildlife heritage.
New Hampshire is more than eighty percent forested, which offers some challenges for viewing wildlife. It is easy for animals to remain secretive and only allow you a glimpse as they turn and blend into their surroundings. Increasing your knowledge about what animals live where and at what season of the year they are most visible will help you have successful viewing experiences. Listen in April and May for the choruses of spring peepers and wood frogs as they sing from wetlands trying to attract a mate. Early June is a good time to see bear grazing on the ski slopes of Cannon Mountain. Osprey are sure to be spotted in July and August along the Androscoggin River. A crisp, clear day in late September on Mt. Kearsarge affords views of hundreds of broad-winged hawks as they migrate south. Winter is a great time to search for bald eagles along the lower Merrimack River in Manchester or to read the stories of winter survival by looking for tracks in the snow.
New Hampshire is home to some of the oldest conservation organizations in the United States and the first National Forest. Our tradition of land stewardship in the 20th century has allowed many special places to remain. Public land and wildlife management agencies, private organizations and businesses are working in partnership to ensure healthy wildlife populations for the future. Their work is supported by people like yourself, who have an appreciation and understanding of the natural systems and diversity of wildlife surrounding us. So whether you experience the excitement of watching a peregrine falcon diving from a building in downtown Manchester... marvel at the sound of coyotes howling on a moonlit night... or feel awe at the sight of the morning mist rising from a bog, know you are partaking of the essence of this place called New Hampshire.

Tools and Techniques for Wildlife Viewing
There is nothing quite as exciting as seeing animals in the wild. The fact that you can never be sure of what you will see helps making watching wildlife a rewarding experience. Watching wildlife can be a goal in itself or it can be a nice addition to a fishing or hiking expedition or any outing. There a number of things that you can do that will greatly increase you chances of seeing wildlife.

Binoculars are one of the most helpful tools a wildlife watcher can have. Binocular selection can be complicated, so learn all you can before you buy. The best all-purpose binoculars are those with power and dimensions of 7 x 35. This size binoculars gather a lot of light, allowing you to use them in the morning and evening. Finding what you are looking at can be made easier if you first locate the object with the naked eye. Then without moving your eyes bring the binoculars to your eyes and focus.
Clothing: Wear lots of layers so you can adjust to changing weather. The color of your clothes may affect what animals you see. Birds can see color well, so go with drab, earthy colors to help avoid detection.
Field Guides: Use field guides, checklists and other resources to identify wildlife and learn about habits and habitats. These reference materials can open up a world of information to enrich your experience.
Go out when wildlife is active: Plan your visit around peak viewing seasons or times of activity. There are several activity peaks in New Hampshire. The first is during April and June, when large numbers of migratory birds return and animals are busy raising their young. A second peak occurs in September and October as migratory birds begin to head south and mammals prepare for winter. The time of day also plays an important part in whether you will see animals or not. In general, wildlife is more active in the first and last hours of daylight.
Be patient, learn to be still and silent: You can improve your chances of seeing wildlife by slowing down. Take a few steps, stop, listen and look. Sharpen your senses by paying attention to sounds and smells. Look for changes in shape and movement all around you. Avoid making noise by not stepping on brittle sticks and leaves or talking out loud. If possible, walk into the wind. If you arrive at a wildlife viewing site expecting to see a lot of wildlife right away, you will probably be disappointed. You need to allow yourself time. In some cases, sitting motionless next to a tree or bush will allow you to blend into your surroundings and in turn the wildlife in the area will go about their daily routines.
Use a blind: You'll increase your chances of having a successful viewing experience if you can conceal yourself. This can be done by simply standing behind a tree or bush instead of out in the open. Cars, boats and canoes make excellent viewing blinds. Animals who are used to seeing these things may not feel threatened or disturbed unless you try to get out.
Prepare for your outing: Learn everything you can about a wildlife viewing site before you visit, and check for warnings about road conditions and weather. If it is a site you are hiking into, make sure you know where you are going and have water, proper footgear and clothes. During the spring and the summer, expect insects. Bring along repellents and wear protective clothing. A hat with a brim and good sunglasses can protect your eyes from the sun while use of a sun block will protect your skin.

Viewing Ethics and Responsibilities
Most people who spend any time outdoors care a great deal about wildlife and wildlife habitat. Unfortunately, even the innocent act of observing wildlife can have a great impact on the animal if it is not done properly. Observing a few guidelines will help us put the needs and safety of wildlife first, to conserve wildlife and habitats and respect the rights of others.

Enjoy wildlife from a distance: The goal of successful wildlife watching is to see animals without interrupting their normal behavior. Wildlife send clear signals you are too close when they stop feeding and raise their head sharply, move away, change direction of travel or appear nervous or aggressive. These disturbances may result in an animal abandoning its young, injuring itself as it tries to escape, quit feeding at a time of critical energy need or displaying aggressive behavior toward you.
Don't feed the animals. While it may seem exciting at the time to have an animal eat out your hand, there are potential serious consequences. Some animals that become accustomed to handouts may lose their natural fear of humans. This may cause them to become aggressive with visitors who refuse to feed them. This situation may lead to human injury, which in turn usually means the death of the animal involved. Human food does not meet the living requirements for many animal and may seriously harm them. Animals who have become accustomed to handouts may be faced with starvation once that food source is no longer available.
Never chase or harass animals. In some cases, valuable energy resources needed for survival are used when animals are chased. Your wildlife viewing experience will be more successful if you leave your pets at home.
Don't pick up orphaned or sick animals. Wild animals rarely abandon their young. In most cases the adults are nearby, wating for visitors to leave before they return. If an animal appears to be sick or injured, behaves oddly or appears to be tame, leave it alone. There are a number of wildlife diseases including rabies that can affect humans. Click here for Fish and Game's Wildlife FAQs, which answer some common questions about human/wildlife interaction.
Honor the rights of private landowners. Always ask permission before entering private property. Leave no trace that you have been there.
Respect the rights of other recreationists at a site. Be considerate when approaching wildlife that is already being viewed. A loud noise or quick movement may spoil the experience for everyone. Remember -- you share the woods with many other recreationists including hikers, snowmobilers, mountain bikers and hunters. Most public lands are open to hunting and fishing. Click here for hunting season information.

Photo Tips

1. For general wildlife photography use medium-speed films such as ASA (ISO) 100 (Fujichrome or Ektachrome) or ASA (ISO) 64 Kodachrome. For print film, use ASA (ISO) 100 or 200.
2. Slower-speed film is better for landscape/scenic shots. Use films such as Kodachrome 25, Velvia Fujichrome ASA (ISO)50, or Ektachrome 50HC. Kodak's Ektar ASA (ISO) 25 print film is great for enlargements.
3. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to photograph.
4. A wide-angle lens (20-28 mm) can capture your scenic shots. Use the greatest depth of field possible.
5. A telephoto (200-400 mm) lens is best for close-ups of wildlife. Make sure you give enough space to the animal you are photographing so they will be more natural.
6. For sharp pictures, use a tripod. Consider using a tripod and shutter cable release for shooting in early morning or late evening light.
7. Do not leave your film and camera in a closed vehicle during hot weather.

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
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Certain North Country Roads Closed to Hunters during Wind Turbine Construction

LANCASTER, N.H. – Hunters and other outdoor recreationists who frequent the North Country should note that several roads near the construction site of the wind turbine project in the Towns of Dummer, Millsfield, Odell, Dixville and Erving’s Location are currently closed and will remain closed this fall because of safety concerns related to the large number of employees and specialized equipment on site during the construction.
Construction is currently underway on a renewable energy project being built by Brookfield Renewable Power.  More than 300 employees are on site and construction will be active seven days a week until the project is completed, which is expected to be in early December 2011.  A total of 33 wind turbines are being installed, a majority of them on the ridgeline in the western section of the Town of Millsfield. The remaining wind turbines will be located near Dixville Peak in the Town of Dixville.
The area that is closed to "non-essential" vehicles and people -- is known locally as Dummer Pond Road; it begins on the west side of Route 16 in the southern part of Dummer and goes northward to Erving’s Location.  To the north, a second smaller closure involves the West Branch of Clear Stream off Route 26 near the Millsfield/Dixville town line.  All other logging roads in the general area are open, similar to past years.
The following breakdown clarifies which roads are closed and which roads are open during the 2011 hunting seasons:

• The entire length of Dummer Pond Road is closed.  This area also includes the upper sections of Phillips Brook to the west and side roads to the east that connect with Newell Brook.
• The lower 6 miles of Phillips Brook Road, accessed by Paris Road in Stark, are open to sportsmen and vehicular traffic up to the newly installed gate.
• Newell Brook Road is open to sportsmen and vehicular traffic.  Roads branching off Newell Brook Road to the west have gates prohibiting access to Dummer Pond Road.
• Millsfield Pond Road and Signal Mt. Road off of Route 26 are open to sportsmen and vehicular traffic, allowing access into the majority of the Town of Millsfield.
• To the north, the West Branch of Clear Stream is closed from Route 26 near the Log Haven Restaurant.

"Please be respectful of these temporary closures and respect Brookfield Renewable Power’s concerns as this renewable energy project comes to fruition," said Lt. Douglas Gralenski of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. "In the short term, safety, to both the workers on site and the general population as a whole, mandates this temporary closure.  As soon as construction is complete and the project transitions from construction to production, sportsmen and other members of the public will once again have access to these lands."
Brookfield Renewable Power has a long-term investment in the wind turbine project and anticipates a long, healthy relationship with the communities and citizens of the area. 
“The members and management of the Brookfield and RMT Project Team, including all of the local contractors and construction workers, sincerely appreciate the patience and support of the community, and especially the anticipated cooperation and understanding of the sportsmen and professional guides who are temporarily inconvenienced by this for the 2011 hunting season," said Pip Decker of Brookfield Renewable Power. "Safety of our workers is of paramount importance to us.  We are confident that both sportsmen and guides share the same concerns for these men and women, and do so following in the finest tradition of the outdoor sportsman.  At the completion of the project, all roads and access will be reopened.”

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
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Joint Effort to Protect Landowners

Joint Effort to Protect Landowners

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
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Free Outdoor Adventure Talk September 7 in Concord: Bird Dogs and Training

Free Outdoor Adventure Talk September 7 in Concord: Bird Dogs and Training

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
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www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

New 2011-2012 N.H. Hunting Digest Available

New 2011-2012 N.H. Hunting Digest Available

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
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Free Outdoor Adventure Talk September 14: Calling Whitetails

Free Outdoor Adventure Talk September 14: Calling Whitetails

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

NH Moose

I had a chance to go check and remove my trail camera this morning to move it to what looks to be another good location. I started this morning off at 5:30 am on a nice uphill hike to my camera which is located? Anyway, I arrived at my destinations half way point to notice a cow and her calf feeding on fresh hardwood shoots. I ended up watching these 2 for about a half hour before they slowly wandered into the woods, once out of sight I continued to my camera. Once I got near enough to see my camera I noticed it had been turned upside down, I immediately thought a person found it and was trying to be funny by messing with my camera. I had made my mind up prior to this to move the camera to a new destination. Upon returning to my truck I placed the camera in the truck removed the cf card and inserted it into my viewer, I had 240 pictures of cows and calves, most likely the 2 I watched earlier and a black bear cub that may or may not have helped mama in turning my camera upside. The pics are still not perfect, I rotated them so they are easier to see but still not level.

This bull calf could not seem to get close enough to my camera! 80 plus pictures of this calf moving his head back and 4th.

Notice all the time stamps are located in the bottom of each picture and upside down.

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G. I also Guide whitetail hunts on request.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
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Scouting For Big Bull Moose and Big Bucks!

I have been hard at work scouting these past several weeks, looking high and looking low for some nice respectable animals for the upcoming deer and moose season. With Archery season starting up here in just a couple weeks, archery hunters are out and about setting their stands, marking trails to their stands and some even getting ready to bait their stand sites. It has been no different for me, I have placed several stands and have locations set for ground blinds for those places that wont allow a tree stand. I feel very confident in getting a nice deer for myself and those who wish to hire me. I have several shooters that have been caught on trail cameras, here are a couple of the better deer!

As for moose I have a few good bulls on camera and still have several other areas I have not put cameras as of yet but will do so in the next few weeks if all goes well and as planned. If you are not signed up for my blog as of yet make sure you do so.

If you know someone who has been drawn for this years moose lottery and is struggling to find the time or the moose in their WMU please let them know that I can help in WMU B, C2 and G.

Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and I will find you your Moose"

Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
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Free Outdoor Adventure Talk Aug. 31 in Concord: Hunting Dominant Bucks

Free Outdoor Adventure Talk Aug. 31 in Concord: Hunting Dominant Bucks

Government-mandated animal slaughter ordered!! This needs to be stopped!!!

Nestled in the Pacific Ocean approximately 30 miles from the mainland of Santa Barbara sits a beautiful island where majestic Roosevelt elk and Kaibab mule deer roam free. Ferried across a treacherous channel, these grand species were brought to Santa Rosa Island some 80 years ago, but their days are officially numbered. A complete slaughter of these magnificent animals is scheduled to occur before the midnight tide rises on Dec. 31, 2011. Sharpshooters will be en route to the island soon to comply with a 1996 court settlement and 2007 legislation that reinstated the extermination order.

Please click the link below for the full article and follow the link in the last paragraph to help!

http://nrahuntersrights.org/Article.aspx?id=5323





With every passing day the nights are getting cooler, the leaves are getting ready to fall, the acorns and beechnuts are falling! What does this mean? That hunting season is just around the corner! The annual NH Moose hunt kicks off  in 56 short days! If your still wondering if you should hire a NH Moose Guide or give it a go on your own then you should contact Swamp Donkey Adventures today, book a guide and rest easy. Visit us at

 http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
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2011-2012 N.H. Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Set

2011-2012 N.H. Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Set



With every passing day the nights are getting cooler, the leaves are getting ready to fall, the acorns and beechnuts are falling! What does this mean? That hunting season is just around the corner! The annual NH Moose hunt kicks off  in 56 short days! If your still wondering if you should hire a NH Moose Guide or give it a go on your own then you should contact Swamp Donkey Adventures today, book a guide and rest easy. Visit us at

 http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

Free Outdoor Adventure Talk: Hunting Resident Canada Geese

Free Outdoor Adventure Talk: Hunting Resident Canada Geese


With every passing day the nights are getting cooler, the leaves are getting ready to fall, the acorns and beechnuts are falling! What does this mean? That hunting season is just around the corner! The annual NH Moose hunt kicks off  in 56 short days! If your still wondering if you should hire a NH Moose Guide or give it a go on your own then you should contact Swamp Donkey Adventures today, book a guide and rest easy. Visit us at

 http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

Take Notice!

CONCORD, N.H. -- By unanimous vote at its August 17, 2011, meeting, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission will continue its work with members of the Legislature, other state agencies and interested organizations to strengthen protections in state law for landowners who leave their land open for recreational activities in New Hampshire.
The Commission and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department have been working actively with State Representative Gene Chandler and State Senator Andy Sanborn to review options that would increase protection for landowners while maintaining access. 
"Everyone who walks on a piece of private land in the state should be concerned about the potential loss of access," said Glenn Normandeau Executive Director of the N.H. Fish and Game Department.
For more information about the New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission, visit www.wildnh.com/Inside_FandG/commission.htm.

With every passing day the nights are getting cooler, the leaves are getting ready to fall, the acorns and beechnuts are falling! What does this mean? That hunting season is just around the corner! The annual NH Moose hunt kicks off  in 56 short days! If your still wondering if you should hire a NH Moose Guide or give it a go on your own then you should contact Swamp Donkey Adventures today, book a guide and rest easy. Visit us at

 http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

Visit N.H. Fish and Game at the Fair! Exhibits at Hopkinton and Lancaster

Visit N.H. Fish and Game at the Fair! Exhibits at Hopkinton and Lancaster

NH Guide

Sorry I have not been updating my status or blogging more often, been busy putting out tree stands for deer season and scouting for this years moose hunt. I have found several decent areas for deer stands and a couple good spots from previous years that I cant stay away from. Been finding a few beech trees with lots of nuts that will surely attract the bears and no acorns to speak of.

As for moose this fall is looking to be a great one. Lots of food from new growth and an abundance of cows for those big boys to have some fun with come the rut!

 Registered NH Moose Guide,  Fully Insured! "I can and will find you your Moose"
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Moose Shy??? you be the judge!

Today I went to check a couple cameras and again I noticed that moose do not seem to be camera shy, check out this series of pics!

All 20 pics were taken within .23 seconds, Not shy at all! I had several moose rub up against the camera!

Moose Tours & Guided Moose hunt location

Well this week, a friend of mine, Rick Libbey and I hiked up to an area where I wanted to set a trail camera. When we got there we found what looks to be a highway for Bear and Moose! I am hoping when I go back in a few weeks to check the camera that we were right. If this area pans out Swamp Donkey Adventures will begin to use this area for Moose Tours and also Guided Moose Hunts this fall.
This is an old logging road leading from 1 big cut to another, these cuts are loaded with ripe raspberries and lots Maple browse for the moose to munch on. The Raspberries were very good in case you were wondering. Of course we had to pick and eat along the way.

I did not get out much this week as there were lots of family issues to take care of this week.

Slow week

Well this week has been a hot one! The extreme hot temperatures brought moose activity to a standstill! I saw 3 moose last week total! I checked my camera on Friday, like I usually do and the results were terrible, with zero pictures! now 2 things could be happening, My camera is located on a well used moose trail leading to and from a well known moose lick area. It is that time of year where moose will start to leave the licks as their sodium levels are now replenished  and they will move onto their summer feeding grounds or 2nd, the extreme heat is just too much and they are sitting out the heat. I believe its a little of both. The heat is now drying up the licks!

So, Sunday my plan is to set 2 cameras out in these summer feeding areas in hopes of getting some great bull moose pics and lots of daytime action.  I just hope by moving my cameras I am not doing so a tad early. We will soon find out if that's the case. I will leave the cameras out for 2-3 weeks before I check them for the first time. This will, I hope acclimate the moose to the cameras and get rid of any scent I may leave in the area.

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers  several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
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www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

Trip North

Today was a sad day, on my way north on route 16 in Errol I stopped to help a NH  F & G Officer load a dead bull moose onto a snowmobile trailer, the bull was only 3.5 years old, never really had a chance to live, poor little guy. I don't know what happened to the driver who hit it. The officer never mentioned anything and I forgot to ask, oops. On the bright side I did see a Cow and her calf, dropped off a bunch of brochures at  several different Lodging places and stores. All in all it was a good day!

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers  several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

3 Moose today!

Today I went back to an area I went to a few days ago, got up early and hiked in to where I wanted to check out in more depth, I found a spot to sit and stayed there for about an hour and decided to go poke around, the area I was in was huge and I ended up putting on several miles before all said and done. What I found was great! There were a series of clear cuts connected to each other by old logging trails, upon making my way through the trails I arrived at the last of the cuts. Now, I was not in these cuts to look for moose or bear or any other wildlife, I was just looking for sign, the wind was at my back and I was just on cruise control, looking at the ground and brush for signs of wildlife in the area, well, I got sign! Upon walking to the crest of the cut I notice a very nice bull trotting towards the wood line, just beyond the bull by another 100 yards or so I saw a cow with a calf also trotting towards the wood line. All 3 moose disappeared into the woods when I realized that they had just caught wind of me! There was moose sign and bear scat everywhere!

I also checked my camera today and had 270 pictures on it. here are just a few

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers  several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

Field Judging the Spread of an Eastern Canadian Bull Moose

When it comes to field judging the size or spread of an Eastern Canadian Bull Moose, it can be difficult with distance variations and plant growth obstructing views! Some areas it is a necessary and critical to do so and do so accurately to make sure you are taking a legal moose. Here in NH its not so critical because a bull is considered antlered when it has one antler at least 6 in length measured from tip of antler to the base of the antler burr at the skull.
I have found that here in NH, the mature bulls(being over 5.5 years of age) have a distance between the eyes(inside corner of left eye to inside corner of right eye) of 8 to 9 inches. so I use 8 inches as my guide to be on the safe side! The bull shown below is an example, 5.5 years old in this pic and will be 7.5 years old come this October(yes he is still alive). He may be closer to the 8.5" or 9" in this pic.I estimate using the 8 inch to be safe rather then estimate large and be disappointed! Take a visual measurement of the bull you are looking at(head on) and multiply that times the rough estimate of 8 inches from the inside corner of the right eye to the furthest point of the right antler, then do the same on the left side. So if that distance is times 2 on each side of the head then you have 8 inches times 5 including the initial eye to eye measurement for a spread of 40 inches(roughly), this should be very close and if you get 3 of those distances of 8 inches on each side then it would be times 7 for a spread of 56 inches(roughly) again this should be pretty close etc... etc...

The bull shown above is a giant today, if you got drawn for a permit in WMU B this year and want to hunt this bull give me a call or send me an email.

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers  several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.

Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide





Hot summer moose!

Today I just want to touch on summer moose for a bit, this time of year when the days get hot and muggy, we as people take refuge in air conditioned cars, homes and work places or in and around water sources such as lakes, beaches and water parks in an effort to cool off from the hot summer sun. We are also able to shed clothing to cool ourselves off.
Moose on the other hand have a very rough time during the hot summer months. Unable to cool themselves by taking off layers of clothing or jump in front of an air conditioner. Moose can cool themselves in a number of ways including the majority of movement taking place at night usually after midnight till daybreak, this is when the air is the coolest. The daylight hours are way too hot to move around and they consume way too much valuable energy in the process which is why you can also find them in water bodies at night soaking up water and consuming plants growing in these waters.
For the most part during these hot days of summer, moose will find mud holes located in shaded damp areas of the forest or on the edges of marshes and roll in them until there body is covered by a thick layer of mud. This mud serves a couple purposes, such as protecting them from bugs and flies and also the mud is cool which helps them maintain a cooler body temp.

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers  several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

Moose/Wildlife Tour

Hello subscribers, today I want to let you know of a new location I found last night, this spot looks to be loaded with sign, The moose as well as Bear are frequenting this location and its only about a half of a mile walk to the location then a short hike up a hill. Anyone wanting to go on a Moose Tracks Tour I think this is the time to book!  I feel very confident that we will see animals!Who's going to be first to go with me to this new location?

See you soon!

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers  several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

NH Moose Guide units B, C1 and G

Were you drawn in NH"s Moose Lottery in June? If so and you have not found a guide yet I still have an opening. We guide WMU's B, C1 and G and will CONSIDER other WMU's as well! So visit our website http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/ for all our contact information and pricing. This is a hunt of a lifetime, don't let your opportunity pass you by! I offer Daily hunts and Remainder hunts as well, see website for more info! Fill your Tag at Swamp Donkey Adventures!

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers  several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

Scouting 2011

I had a pretty productive day scouting today in I1, found some areas with lots of potential for some fall moose. I also checked out a couple areas with the canoe for potential hunting areas 1 looked better then the other and I will be checking it out again when the season grows closer. In a couple weeks I will be heading north to do some scouting in C1 and D1. Have a game plan for those units and have marked several locations on my GPS from last year and will use those areas as a starting point, cant wait to get up there and poke around.

Also want to touch on the deer population for a minute. The last few winters have been very hard on the deer herd here in NH, but, the last several weeks I have seen lots of deer and lots of fawns. This is a very good sign, considering the amount of snow we had last year alone! I have seen several nice bucks already this year and have several nice bucks on camera as well. 

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers  several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

Big Buck

Driving down the road this morning I had a monster buck cross the road about 150 yards away, by the time I got the camera turned on and zoomed in I only got a 3 sec. video clip of him before he walked into the woods. 

After checking the clip I counted 11 points, can't wait till hunting season! He is a monster, bring on September!!

 

Swamp Donkey Adventures offers  several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide

July 1st 2011, Moose Tours!

Today I took the canoe to a pond that I have been to several times this spring, on my way out to an island I saw a moose just beyond the island I was headed to. I snuck my way to the backside of the island past a mother Wood duck and her little ones and proceeded to sneak into position on shore so I could get some video. I watched this cow for about 20 minutes when I hear splashing in the water behind me getting closer and closer, all of a sudden a bull moose steps onto the island. Well, this thing scared the be-jesus out of me and I must have done the same to him because he took off in the same direction he came from. To give you an idea how big this island is, you could probable park 3 vehicles side by side and that's it, there are a couple big pine trees and lots of thick underbrush and other shrubs on this very small piece of ground! Once that excitement was over I looked back to wear the cow was and she was gone as well. A little while later I saw a deer feeding on the other side of the pond.

On my way home I stopped to check my Moose camera and saw that I finally have some pictures of a calf !
So today was a good day indeed! Check out the pictures

 Swamp Donkey Adventures offers  several Guided Hunts and Tours for you to choose from, from a relaxing day on the water to a stealthy in your face Guided Moose hunt.
Visit us at
http://www.swampdonkeyadventures.com/
www.facebook.com/swampdonkeyadventure
www.twitter.com/YourMooseGuide