Moose Attacks a Snowmobiler

pappy19 · February 28, 2014, 04:39:31 PM

This is an interesting video from a snowmobiler with a helmet cam that ran into a cow moose on a snomobile trail. When I worked for the Forest Service in Island Park, Idaho, next to Yellowstone NP, we would run into moose on the trail all the time. Never had one attack us but we also tried to go off trail to avoid them. They love the packed snomobile trails as they don't sink, so they want to protect their territory. Anyway, you'll see what happens.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=27e_1393617162

DeepCreek · February 28, 2014, 05:03:47 PM

I will refrain from commenting on whether or not he should have shot the moose or done something else. :-\

But I will say that mooseburger is some of the best eating there is. Yum. ;D

terry f · February 28, 2014, 06:01:31 PM

Some people shouldn't have guns or snowmobiles, no common sense.

Chuck White · February 28, 2014, 06:10:47 PM

Many people have been killed by moose, sometimes the the moose provokes the confrontation, sometime the human does!

I do believe that when the moose virtually climbed onto the snowmobile, then went away, he would return with a vengence!

I also think the situation would have turned around if the guy had taken his coat or something similar and waved it at the moose, the moose would have taken it as a larger critter than itself!

Moose don't have to many natural enemies!

pappy19 · February 28, 2014, 07:03:22 PM

Moose populations in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana have declined dramatically since the introduction of the wolf. Moose are very easy prey for a wolf compared to a buffalo or elk which takes alot of wrk to run them down. Moose tend to run up creeks until they are chased out into the deep snow, then it's over.

Shotgun · February 28, 2014, 07:14:16 PM

Quote from: terry f on February 28, 2014, 06:01:31 PM
Some people shouldn't have guns or snowmobiles, no common sense.

How would you have handled it, terry?

terry f · February 28, 2014, 09:13:42 PM

On a snowmobile that can do 50 plus MPH, avoided it in the first and second place, in other words, used common sense. I think if he didn't have the gun, he would have avoided it.

pappy19 · February 28, 2014, 09:42:45 PM

Quote from: terry f on February 28, 2014, 09:13:42 PM
On a snowmobile that can do 50 plus MPH, avoided it in the first and second place, in other words, used common sense. I think if he didn't have the gun, he would have avoided it.

Exactly.

doctorb · February 28, 2014, 10:02:42 PM

All in all not too pretty.

Don't approach wildlife that can hurt you. Deer, Moose have difficult times in winter with deep snow, and will be reluctant to leave a location that makes their lives a little easier. I am sure the driver felt he had to do what he did, but a little prudence early in the situation might have prevented the need to kill the moose. He wouldn't have driven up to a grizzly (I know they're hibernating in winter, it's just a comparison). He underestimated the moose's reaction. I hope that the video serves to help other outdoorsmen avoid a scenario like that. I see the self-defense aspect of the video, but I view the actions of the driver as provoking the animal, heightening the likelihood of an altercation.

WDH · February 28, 2014, 10:49:35 PM

Sad. I wished that I had not watched it.

Jeff · February 28, 2014, 11:03:57 PM

Quote from: WDH on February 28, 2014, 10:49:35 PM
Sad. I wished that I had not watched it.

ditto

POSTON WIDEHEAD · February 28, 2014, 11:13:16 PM

The guy could have at least cleaned his kill for food.....but just to shoot, kill and drive off? :

justallan1 · March 01, 2014, 08:18:51 AM

I think he unintentionally provoked the moose to defend itself. If for whatever reason he couldn't leave the trail, he surely could have stayed back and it would have gotten out of the way. I'd say bad thinking on his part.
I run across wild game quite often on my job and every time the animal wants to be elsewhere, although I was once attacked by a pine cone. :D

Allan

Chuck White · March 01, 2014, 08:21:04 AM

Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on February 28, 2014, 11:13:16 PM
The guy could have at least cleaned his kill for food.....but just to shoot, kill and drive off? :

I'm sure the incident was reported to authorities!

DeepCreek · March 01, 2014, 09:06:17 AM

Quote from: Chuck White on March 01, 2014, 08:21:04 AM
Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on February 28, 2014, 11:13:16 PM
The guy could have at least cleaned his kill for food.....but just to shoot, kill and drive off? :

I'm sure the incident was reported to authorities!

If it wasn't, they sure know about it now.

Texas Ranger · March 01, 2014, 09:10:04 AM

I could not see it, said private. Guess I was lucky.

DeepCreek · March 01, 2014, 10:03:08 AM

Quote from: Texas Ranger on March 01, 2014, 09:10:04 AM
I could not see it, said private. Guess I was lucky.

Apparently the snowmobiler is feeling some heat from posting video of the incident to youtube and has (belatedly) marked it private. Oh, well. :

pappy19 · March 01, 2014, 10:34:17 AM

On another site regarding this video, the Wyoming Game & Fish is wanting any information on the perp so they can arrest him. I expect someone will tell.

Paul_H · March 01, 2014, 11:09:33 AM

Quote from: terry f on February 28, 2014, 09:13:42 PM
On a snowmobile that can do 50 plus MPH, avoided it in the first and second place, in other words, used common sense. I think if he didn't have the gun, he would have avoided it.

A single track with another sled right behind,trees with wells on either side.Running 50mph at a moose wouldn't help much. He was hit once with hooves the size of frying pans connected to a half ton of muscle and then tried to warn it off.
I'd have done the same thing.

pine · March 01, 2014, 11:19:53 AM

Video seems to be no longer available.
Moose can be very territorial and when meeting them you need to be very wary. Avoidance is a good idea.
Up much further north where moose encounters are more common folks know and respect them but still every so often accidents occur. I hope the authorities investigate the incident carefully.

Wick · March 01, 2014, 11:40:54 AM

Does a snowmobile have reverse? If so I would have backed away. Never ridden one. There has to be a way to go around as well, even if you had to make a different trail. He did try to scare it away, though...tough situation. I think I would have tried harder to avoid it, but after being attacked it would be on.

http://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/articles/3711-video-moose-attacks-man-while-snowmobiling#sthash.lQzOI3o2.dpbs

Here is another link for those interested.

Paul_H · March 01, 2014, 11:57:15 AM

Avoidance is key but not always possible.There is nowhere to hide on a sled.

Chuck White · March 01, 2014, 12:07:51 PM

Quote from: Paul_H on March 01, 2014, 11:57:15 AM
Avoidance is key but not always possible.There is nowhere to hide on a sled.

I agree!

I also feel that if he had taken his snowmobile off-trail that he would have bogged down and gotten stuck.

At that time he would have been at the mercy of the moose, so I feel he was justified in shooting!

Not nice to watch, but I think he was lucky he had the helmet cam on. Doesn't leave any doubt as to what happened!

Wick · March 01, 2014, 12:21:49 PM

I've never driven a snowmobile, so wasn't sure. Is there a snow depth limit for them? I was thinking a big 4 wheeler on tracks, maybe not as much manuverability. So what do they do, make the trail when there is little snow on the ground? :-\
What about reverse?

terry f · March 01, 2014, 01:10:23 PM

Most new snowmobiles have reverse, and could easily gone off trail around the moose. If he bogged down ten feet off the trail, I doubt the moose would have went to the deep snow to get him. The moose was just trying to survive the winter, hate to see it inconvenience the rider like that. I was surprised that the moose went down as fast as it did, and I hope he went back and put it out of its misery.