Moose in BWCA

Close Encounter of the Moose Kind
This was near the top of the Stairway Portage on Duncan Lake, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeast Minnesota.
I also took still photos and one was used on the cover of the Boundary Waters Journal, Spring 2006. My daughter is in the front seat of our canoe.
This moose was feeding in the shallows as we approached from the far end of the lake. We slowly drifted around the moose to the shoreline, and the moose seemed just as interested in us as we were in him. We sat there and watched each other for probably 10 minutes. Obviously he was not alarmed by us as he put his head underwater several times to find a snack. When he was done eating he walked up into the woods.
It was an awesome experience!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• moose
• BWCA
• canoe
• Boundary
• Waters

[ChicagoCubs1060]

where was this filmed??? please?

[brianblow]

North end of Duncan Lake

[kipawalake]

Wicked video where was that???

[brianblow]

North end of Duncan Lake in Minnesota BWCA.

[brianblow]

North end of Duncan Lake

[Lakerloon]

I have to admit that when I got this issue of the BWJ and saw the picture on the cover, I was a bit befuddled. It seemed to almost promote getting this close to one of these animals as being "okay" which is a very dangerous thing to do. Without judging you or labelling you as simply ignorant of the dangers I have to ask: How was it that you ended up being this close to this Bull? Did you somehow get stuck between it and the shore? Or was it done intentionally?

[brianblow]

Fair question. This is ~30 min after the moose first saw us. We drifted downwind along the left shore in the video, and directly behind us is the outflow and Stairway Portage. We pulled up along a downed tree maybe 60' away from him and the moose actually approached toward us as he continued feeding. I figured as long as he was comfortable putting his head underwater, he wasn't intimidated.  We sat there ~5 min after the video until he slowly walked up into the woods. It was awesome!

[Jschloot]

Great video...but waaaaayyy too close, especially in a canoe...

[56thFG]

That had to be an experience of a life time.

[bobhedstrom]

These folks are very lucky the moose was hungry, otherwise it may have charged their canoe and overturned it; they do it to cars-ram them and turn them over. Many people are killed every year from moose incidents, mostly in cars; I think they are best admired from a distance where you can see its environment too and not scare anybody. I've run into Moose in the BWCA and I just kept on walking; I will run a bear outta my camp, without a gun, however.

[Neartothebrokenheart]

Wow, just look how close you are to that moose! Incredible!

[jacobhavlik]

I'm leaving for the bwca in a week. This will be my 5th trip. If you feel comfartable with the animal what's the deal we have had encounters like this a few times. You just don't want to be perceived as a threat. Great video. Remember this is a spirtual journey for some people you two seem to be doing just fine.

[evi3lynni3]

Nice vid but I once had a bull moose in the Tetons stand his ground against me in my SUV, I would have soiled myself in a canoe! :)

[denversnowboarder]

@Jschloot the moose came to them

[01richwood]

I'm going there foe the 1st time in 2 weeks. Hope to capture on film some wide animals doing some crazy tings.

[jimbohler]

You have got to experience something that I have always wanted to experience. Just seeing a Bull Moose up close, but in my opinion maybe too close. And to see him in his natural habitat. Feeding under water must have made you two giddy with excitment! I am jealous to say the least.

[Frizzetto4]

Fantastico!!!!!!!!!

[7466309change]

was your lucy day.He didn,t care about you.

[sorwis]

Lol t the mooses' first stare when he raises his head above the water. You're also ridiculously close to it.