World record moose 2023
By Javier Serna
Assistant Editor
Grand Marais, Minn. — Richie Erickson knew he was looking at something special. But Minnesota state-record special or world-record special?
Erickson was shed hunting for moose antlers with his father, Chris Erickson, in northeastern Minnesota this May when the two decided to search on opposite sides of a stand of trees.
Although the moose antler was partially obscured by a fallen pine tree, the younger Erickson, 22, of Iron, could see a pair of irregular points.
“I knew that they really shouldn’t be where they were,” he said.
Said his father, “He yelled to me that he found a freak.”
Indeed, this moose antler had nine typical points and seven nontypical points. The antlers were panel-judged by the Minnesota Official Measurers at 1335⁄8, making it the top nontypical shed moose antler in the state, as well as a world record for the Western moose subspecies in the North American Shed Hunters Club book.
Carey Ferrell, president of Minnesota Official Measurers, got a call from Chris Erickson the day the antler was found.
“He said, ‘You ain’t gonna believ
These are the stories and pictures of the largest moose currently in the Boone and Crockett Club records, including the world’s record moose.
The Alaska-Yukon moose is the biggest species of deer in the world. The Guinness Book of World Records claims that the biggest moose was found in the late 1800s in Yukon Territory and weighed more than 1,800 pounds. It’s likely that there have been larger moose, but we’ll never know. What we do know is that there are some massive bulls found in the records kept by the Boone and Crockett Club, America’s oldest conservation organization. These are the stories and photos behind the top five biggest free-range moose ever to make it in the record book. All photos courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club.
#1 World Record Moose from Lower Yukon River, Alaska
Score: 266-4/8
Year: 2010
Hunter: Rex Nick
A subsistence hunter, Rex Nick was looking to put away some winter meat when he was hunting the Lower Yukon River in September. Moose populations here were robust, and Nick did not hesitate to shoot this world record at 65 yards with his .300 Win Mag.
He thought the rack looked rather large, so he had it meas
The crisp mountain air carried the scent of pine and the distant call of a bull moose. Deep in the backcountry, in some of Colorado’s most unforgiving terrain, Vince Rafferty was closing in on the hunt of a lifetime—one that would not only test his limits but, unbeknownst to him, would etch his name into the record books. For decades, Vince had pursued enormous game with a compound incline, a dedicated athlete in both the hunting world and beyond. But years of pushing his body to the extreme—as a firefighter, powerlifter, and as a former professional athlete—had taken a toll. A torn bicep tendon, multiple surgeries, and a grave back injury nearly ended his time in the field. Yet, true to his relentless character, Vince refused to let these setbacks define him. Colorado granted him a special crossbow permit, a lifeline that allowed him to continue bowhunting. And so, armed with a Ravin 29X crossbow, he set out on a mission that had eluded him for over 25 years—to harvest a Shiras bull moose in his home state. It would be the hunt of a lifetime.
The Chase for a Colorado Giant Bull Moose
Drawing a Colorado bull moose tag was as unlikely as winning the lottery. In 2023, 399 applicants w
Chart Topping Canada Moose
RECORD BREAKING VELVET CANADA MOOSE TOPS THE CHARTS
By Dylan Ray - September 11, 2023
September 12, 2023 -Pope and Young, America’s leading bowhunting conservation organization, is excited to announce a new world record Velvet Canada Moose. Pope and Young announced thirteen new world records at their 33rd Biennial Convention in April of this year, with this incredible bull topping the charts in the Canada Moose Velvet Category.
Travis Peterson shot this incredible bull in Limestone MTN, ALB on August 25th, 2003. Travis’ score of 168 0/8” was confirmed at the February 2023 Pope and Young Panel Verification in Reno, Nevada.
“My hunt for Canada Moose started in 2002 when I hunted in Alberta with Chad Lenz of Savage Encounters” stated hunter, Travis Peterson. “On that hunt, I glassed this moose and made a stalk to shooting range, but my range finder did not give me a reading, so I passed on the shot. The next year I went back and knew where I wanted to start hunting. On opening night, I was in the same location as the year before. He stepped out about 300 yards above me. I made a similar stalk to the prior year; this time getting a broadside sh
Pope and Young Verifies New World Record Moose
Giant Velvet Canada Moose is Verified as New World Record
By Dylan Ray - January 5, 2024
January 9th, 2024 – We are excited to announce a new World Record Canada Moose in Velvet. We convened a special panel to measure a potential World Record at our Bowhunter Bash in College Station, TX on December 2nd, and this incredible bull has been verified as the new World Record.
Fred Sweisthal shot this incredible bull in Atlin Lake, British Columbia on August 23rd, 2017. Fred’s bull has a verified final score of 181 0/8” topping the charts, and coming in as a new world record.
“When I arrived in British Columbia, Canada for a Stone Sheep hunt my outfitter asked if I would also be interested in hunting a “BIG” Moose”, stated hunter, Fred Sweisthal. “Immediately I said no since I had already taken a Canada Moose for my Super Slam. As I waited for the air taxi to fly me out to camp the thought of a big velvet Moose lingered in the back of my mind. But I needed to concentrate on my stone sheep. As luck would have it later that evening we spotted the bull coming right down the trail we set up on. I must say I was a little shocked