Attention moose hunters: know the difference
Be sure you can identify the difference between moose calves, yearlings and cows to help protect Ontario’s moose population.

Importance of proper identification

A healthy and sustainable population of moose is important to Ontario.

Most hunters are careful and ensure they properly identify the moose they are harvesting. However, this can be challenging even for skilled hunters. Proper moose identification will help hunters minimize the possibility of harvesting the wrong animal.

Calf moose

Age

  • under the age of one

Facial features

  • small, fine-featured nose
  • short ears
  • almost no bell, which is a beard-like flap of hair-covered skin under the throat
  • short, triangular-shaped face
  • head appears shorter and stouter than an adult moose
Colour photograph of a moose calf’s face close up.
Close up of a calf moose’s face.

Body shape

  • square body shape with a sharply pointed shoulder hump
  • appear to have more leg than body and lack the heavy muscular development typical of adults
  • stand about 1.2 metres (4 feet) high at the shoulder and typically weigh 160 to 180 kilograms (350 to 400 pounds)

Cow moose

Age

  • in its second year is known as a yearling and considered an adult in Ontario
  • an adult female is a cow
  • an adult male is a bull

Facial features

  • long, over-hanging bulbous nose
  • longer, more rectangular-shaped face with prominent ears and bell
Colour photograph of a moose calf standing next to a moose cow.
Calf moose standing next to a cow.

Body shape

  • yearlings and adults are more rectangular-shaped than calves
  • cows stand about 1.8 metres (6 feet) high at the shoulder and weigh between 320 to 545 kilograms (700 to 1,200 pounds)

Know the difference

Illustration shows the features of a calf moose including its height, which is typically 1.2 metres, sharp hump, modest nose and long legs. Illustration shows the features of a cow moose including its height, which is typically 1.8 metres, muscular body, curved hump, long bulbous nose and large bell.

When you see a moose

If you see a single moose without antlers, take time to search for a nearby calf. Yearlings are independent and less likely to follow cows as closely as calf moose.