Shiras Moose
Subspecies of Moose · Alces alces
Rocky Mountain region of the United States: Idaho (the largest U.S. population), Wyoming (including Grand Teton and Yellowstone), Montana, Utah, Colorado, and Washington. Small populations exist in Oregon and South Dakota. Northern range extends into southern Alberta and British Columbia.
Overview
The Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi) is the dwarf of the North American moose world — still an enormous animal by any objective measure, but significantly smaller than its northern relatives. Named for George Shiras III, the pioneering wildlife photographer who brought the subspecies to public attention through his landmark National Geographic photographic work in the early 20th century, Shiras moose inhabit a dramatically different environment than their boreal counterparts: the high mountain valleys, willow-choked riparian corridors, and alpine lakes of the Rocky Mountain West. Shiras moose represent a fascinating ecological adaptation to montane conditions. Where Canada and Alaska-Yukon moose thrive in the flat boreal landscape, Shiras moose have evolved to navigate steep terrain, deep snow, and the distinctive plant communities of the Rocky Mountain riparian zone. Their stronghold habitats — the willow flats along Snake River tributaries in Idaho, the high meadows and beaver pond complexes of Wyoming's Wind River Range, and the riparian corridors of Montana's Cabinet Mountains and Swan Range — feature dense willow thickets (particularly Booth's willow, Salix boothii; planeleaf willow, Salix planifolia; and wolf willow, Elaeagnus commutata), alder (Alnus incana, Alnus sinuata), and aquatic sedge communities fronting cold, clear mountain lakes. In Wyoming's Jackson Hole and adjacent Bridger-Teton National Forest, Shiras moose have become something of a conservation icon — iconic dark silhouettes wading the Snake River or standing hip-deep in the willow flats below the Teton Range provide some of the most photographed wildlife imagery in the American West. But these highly visible, road-habituated animals represent only a fraction of the subspecies' population; significant numbers of Shiras moose inhabit roadless wilderness areas in the Selway-Bitterroot, Frank Church-River of No Return, and Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness complexes where hunting pressure is minimal and bulls can age to full maturity. Shiras moose face significant conservation pressures in the southernmost portions of their range. Colorado's small moose population — introduced in the 1970s and 1980s from Wyoming stock — has expanded to approximately 2,500–3,000 animals but occupies range at the thermal edge of the subspecies' tolerance. Utah's population, centered in the Uinta Mountains and Cache Valley area, runs approximately 3,000 animals. Both states issue extremely limited tags (Colorado: 200–300 annually; Utah: fewer than 100 annually) under strict management designed to maintain bulls of exceptional age structure. The antlers of Shiras moose are proportionally smaller than northern subspecies but maintain the characteristic moose palmation. Mature Shiras bulls carry spreads of 40–55 inches, with palm widths of 25–35 inches — exceptional animals approaching record book minimums of 155 B&C. The Pope and Young minimum for Shiras moose (archery) is 115 points, and several Wyoming and Idaho units produce enough mature bulls to make this threshold attainable for skilled bowhunters.
Identifying Features
Smallest North American moose subspecies; bulls average 900–1,100 pounds — significantly smaller than Canada or Alaska-Yukon bulls; antler spread typically 38–55 inches on mature animals; coloration similar to Canada moose (dark brown to blackish); inhabits mountain valley riparian habitat rather than boreal forest.
Hunting This Subspecies
Shiras moose hunting combines the dramatic mountain scenery of the Rocky West with one of the continent's most unique quarry. Idaho offers the most consistent opportunity — the state issues approximately 2,500–3,500 tags annually depending on population objectives, with units in the Selway, Salmon, and Clearwater drainages producing quality hunting. Wyoming draws are more competitive, particularly for coveted units in the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forest areas. Montana's limited moose tags (issued by weighted lottery through the state's preference point system) provide high-quality hunting in northern and western Montana. The mountain terrain where Shiras moose live creates both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, the steep, rugged terrain channels moose movement into predictable corridors — drainages with water, willow flats in valley bottoms, and the benches and lake basins at elevation. Hunters can anticipate where moose will be with reasonable confidence if they understand the terrain. On the other hand, packing out a 900-pound bull from a remote mountain drainage is significantly harder than dealing with a flat boreal terrain moose — multiple horses or a large pack team is the practical solution in many Idaho and Wyoming units. Calling Shiras moose is effective but requires patience. These animals are generally less responsive than their larger northern relatives — perhaps reflecting lower population densities and thus fewer social cues driving competitive behavior. Soft cow calls (quieter than you'd use for Canada moose) at pond edges in the first 30 minutes of morning light are the most reliable technique. Bull grunts work on fired-up rutting bulls but should not be used aggressively until you've confirmed a bull is present and interested. Shiras moose are perhaps the most available elk-sized game animal for western hunters without premium draw odds — Idaho's general moose zones offer tags available over the counter or through a short-wait draw, making Shiras moose the most accessible "bucket list" North American mega-fauna hunt for the average western hunter.