Ontario Moose Biology

Moose are huge. By midautumn, a spring calf will weigh 400 pounds (180 kg) – more than the biggest whitetailed buck. An adult cow, which is generally smaller than a bull, can weigh as much as 800 pounds (363 kg). An Ontario bull in its prime can be as much as 1,400 pounds (636 kg), with antlers close to five feet (1.5 m) across. Yet even a huge bull with an awesome rack can slip silently through the woods, leaving only tracks.

Cow moose commonly breed for the first time at 2 1/2 years of age. The cow usually has a single calf or twins, which remain with her for a full year. Moose can live for more than 20 years, but are in their prime at 6 to 9 years of age. Ontario moose are classified as “Canada moose” for scoring recognition purposes by all scoring organizations. The current Foundation for the Recognition of Ontario Wildlife (FROW) record measures out at 219 7/8 points. This moose was taken north of Kenora with a modern firearm in 1989.