Moose in Kamchatka

Moose moved onto the upper mainland of the Kamchatka Peninsula over thousands of years. The severe climate conditions, deep snow, shortage of the food stock on the passes did not let the moose naturally move deep down the peninsula. In 1978 specialists of the Regional Hunting Department carried out a project transporting 45 young moose to the center of Kamchatka. These moose were brought from the Chukotsky region, home to the largest moose on the planet. Kamchatka now regularly is responsible for the largest trophy moose shot around the world each season. With a milder climate, less snow, and an abundance of food moose quickly bred and settled along the valley of the Kamchatka River and many other regions. The population for the past 20 years has risen to 2900 animals.
Before 1990 the hunting in the Penzhinsky Region, northern Kamchatka, was mostly for meat, which was taken by the local people in fall thru winter. Trappers used moose meat for the baits in their traps.
In the central part of the peninsula hunting began fairly recently; it is limited and under control of the Kamchatka Hunting Department and scientists. Annual legal harvest does not exceed 150 animals, last year just 100 moose were harvested with 25 of them being trophy bulls.
The mature bull will weight approximately 1400 pounds (650 kg ). The average antlers’ spread is 63 inches (160 cm). Every year our clients take record class moose, and a few of them exceed 74-75 inches (190 cm) in spread and over 100 pounds (45 kg) in weight.
Areas
Kamchatka peninsula, North of Kamchatka – Penzhina River, Central Kamchatka – Milkovo, Atlasovo and Esso areas.
Route
One option is to fly to Kamchatka direct from Anchorage, Alaska by local Russian Airlines. There are no regular flights all year around but usually during summer-season charter flights once a week are available. Depart Anchorage in the morning on Monday with arrival in Petropavlovsk in the morning on Tuesday. Depart Petropavlovsk late afternoon on Monday, arrival in Anchorage on Monday in the morning.
Another option is travelling via Moscow with Aeroflot. Flight from Moscow to Kamchatka is 8,5-hour non-stop flight. It is a daily flight. In Moscow/ Petropavlovsk you will be met by our crew and assisted through customs.
Then you will be transferred to the hunting area – see schedule below for different areas.

Hunting season
Northern Kamchatka:          September 10 to October 10 – rutting time
Central Kamchatka:           September 25 to October 15 – rutting time
                                     Late November to late December – on skidoo

Climate
September/October: During daylight hours the temperature is from 41 to 50 ¢ªF (5 to 10 ¢ªC) and during nighttime from 23 to 32 ¢ªF (-5 to 0 ¢ªC). The possibility of rain and snow is high.
November/ December: 5 to 14 ¢ªF (-10 to -15 ¢ªC) during daytime, -4 to 5 ¢ªF (-15 to -20 ¢ªC) during nighttime.

Camp & Accommodation
The camps in the North Kamchatka are tents and in the Central Kamchatka are cabins. Camps are equipped with portable cots, stoves, generating sets. Expect a separate tent as a kitchen. Every camp has an interpreter and a cook, who can offer you home style meals. Hot water is always available for washing and shaving.

Hunting
Hunts in September/October are done on foot, spotting and stalking, low profile jet boats on the river (North), calling and observing feeding areas.
In November/December the area is covered with snow. The hunter and the guide will travel great distance by skidoo looking for tracks of a large moose bull. Your guide drives a skidoo while you sit in the sledge behind it. It is very important to wear a very warm hunting outfit. Once the fresh tracks are cut, hunter will follow a moose on foot, snow shoes or skis.

Schedule North Kamchatka

Schedule Central Kamchatka