Hunters consider these sounds crucial during hunting season. These noises can be replicated in order to lure moose. Additionally, hunters tracking moose may find it easier to locate the animals based on the ability to identify sounds they make.
Wildlife scientists and individuals in similar positions also pay close attention to moose sounds. These can help indicate different behavioral patterns or situations that could signify an emergency.
Understanding the noise these animals make can help to identify patterns and certain behaviors. Male (bull moose) and female moose (cow moose) also make different sounds, depending on what’s driving the animals to make these sounds.
If you’re a hunter or if you just consider yourself a wildlife enthusiast, this article is for you. In the following section, we’ll discuss different sounds that moose make.
Most Common Moose Sounds
Through research, scientists have found that moose make a series of different sounds based on different behaviors and emotions. When they come across other groups of moose, they will produce a whining sound. This is their own way of being friendly and greeting their own kind.
What Does a Whining Moose Sound Like?
Whining doesn’t exactly sound like how you would think. When moose make this sound, it comes out as a low tone that’s made without opening their mouths.
Females (cow moose) will make this sound to lure in males (bull moose). Cow moose also make this sound when they are in heat or when their attempts to lure the bull moose fail.
These whines come in two or three parts and make sounds that are similar to the following (these sound like they are spelled):
“ehhh”
“errr”
“errahh”
These sounds normally stretch out for about three seconds. Hunters find it important to be able to imitate these sounds.
Imitating The Moose Sound Called Whining
If you want to imitate these sounds, it is best to do it with a closed mouth. The sounds are produced in a similar fashion to humming. However, the “r” sound is the base of these whines.
Another popular sound is a cow calling out to her babies. Let’s examine this sound more closely.
A Cow Moose Sound: Calling Their Young
A young moose is known as a calf. Many times, cows will use different noises to call out to their calves. The differences in these noises signify different alerts or types of communication with the calves.
There are a number of sounds a cow may make to capture the attention of calves. However, these noises are similar to a low grunt.
A low grunt from a moose sounds like, “errrh.” When a human attempts to make this sound, you will lead with the “r” sound. The noise has almost a nasal sound, which would be produced by doing the following: your tongue should be rolled back to touch the roof of the mouth.
After this motion, you can proceed to start with the “r” base.
The second step would be to cup your hands around your mouth. From the bottom, reach your two index fingers up and plug your nose. Continue to make the “r” sound with the tongue rolled back.
You will notice a difference in the nasal sounds when performing the two different variations. These are the primary tones and pitches of cows when calling to calves.
When you want to finalize the noise and make it a communication grunt, push your diaphragm and lungs quickly to eject the sound. If made correctly, it will have a longer, nasally tone.
When these sounds are made in a soft manner, they are used to call calves. However, when they are done louder, they are used to stop a running bull. It’s rare that these sounds are any longer than one second.
Moose Sounds During the Rut
The rut is another name for the mating season of moose. This season normally takes place at the end of August, and the most prevalent sounds will be those of cows to attract bull moose.
It’s relatively simple to imitate this call. You begin by making the communication call mentioned above but extend the length. The sound is made by controlling the stomach muscles and diaphragm to create the same pitch for about ten seconds.
During the time a cow is in heat, she doesn’t make the same sounds over and over. In fact, different calls are combined that have different lengths and pitches. These calls will also have a different sequence. The sequence is as follows:
· Single calls
· Two parts
· Three parts
· Four parts
These are all made in random arrangements. The following section outlines how you imitate these calls.
· Begin with a two or three-second call
· This is followed by a six to eight-second call
· Follow this with a four to five-second call
· End this with a two-second call and string them all together
A short breath should be taken between each section to make this moose sound.
What Sounds Do Bull Moose Make?
In certain cases, a bull moose will grunt when they are searching for a cow or engaging another bull in battle. Instead of the “errr” sound of the female, this moose sound will have more of an “ooooh” sound.
The “o” in these noises will sound like “open.” A second grunt is heard that combines the “oooh” with a “wah.” The third noise sounds like “errrr-ooohwah.” Finally, a fourth noise is similar to “errr-ahhh.”
Making Bull Sounds
When you want to make these bull sounds, pull the abdominal muscles to force the diaphragm, which forces a sharp noise from the lungs. Hunters will normally use this sound when they want to draw a bull away from a cow, hoping to create the thought of an approaching male moose.
Male moose and female moose will communicate during mating season. Cows will attract the bulls with the nasal-toned bawling sound. Bulls respond with a bellow that sounds similar to a cough.
How Young Moose Sound
Young moose make different sounds, depending on what stage of life they are in. A newborn calf makes a low grunt. Shortly after their birth, they begin to make a wail that sounds very similar to a human. This occurs about a week after they are born.
Angry Moose Sounds
Male moose that are angry or challenging one another will produce deeper, short grunts that last about three seconds. When moose hear this, it means they are preparing to engage in battle These grunts range anywhere from hiccups to coughing. Angry male moose sounds are very similar to an “ugh” sound.
It’s important to note that if you attempt to replicate angry bull sounds, you should be in a safe place where you’re able to retreat. You can very easily irritate these animals, and you can be attacked. Moose are very aggressive animals by nature.
Warning Moose Call
If moose are in situations where they are cornered or can’t locate a calf, they will produce a deep roaring sound. These growls are low, aggressive sounds that sound like “grrrr.”
These sounds are actually very similar to the sound a dog makes when they growl after something gets too close. A low, rumbling growl from a moose means they are warning you to back away.
This warning moose call can be heard for up to a half-mile away. When you hear this sound in the wild, the best course of action is to distance yourself as much as possible.
Moose Calls: Imitating Common Moose Sounds
Hunters, photographers, and other nature enthusiasts use several calls to produce moose sounds. They can grunt, imitate the sound of a cow, or a combination of both. People that hunt moose are normally the most well-versed out of all individuals that call them.
Moose are very different from deer in the way they travel. Deer often move in large numbers, whereas moose normally travel solo. The only time you will notice them is when they are looking for breeding partners during the rut.
Since they are not easily spotted and don’t move in large numbers, it’s important to understand the methods used to lure them. A seasoned hunter will have multiple techniques to attract these animals.
Hunters will produce a sound that is very similar to those that come from a cone-shaped call. You can use birch bark to produce the sounds of a moose also. You can use the following steps to make these sounds using birch bark:
· Find a straight birch tree that’s about six inches around
· Make two horizontal cuts about 18 inches away from each other
· Cut around the diameter of the tree
· Connect these two cuts using a vertical cut
Pull the bark off of the tree and roll it into a cone shape. You can use this cone to produce the sounds of moose.
There are several other ways to attract moose using forms of realism. There are multiple calls available on the market, as well as forms of decoys that help with visual attraction.
Perfecting the calls moose make can take quite a bit of practice. However, when you finally get them right, the accomplishment of luring your first moose is something to be proud of!