I get asked at this time of year the question , "Where can we go to see a moose?" And I say, "Well, they are wild animals so as with any wild animal they are unpredictable" but I do have some ideas where you might spot one. [caption id="attachment_3828" align="alignnone" width="640"] A photo taken in Landaff, NH from Chrissy Smith's car![/caption] In our family we affectionately refer to them as swamp donkeys.  Which yes, the name is funny.  However, they are wild animals, they are large and can be very dangerous, especially this time of year.  In Fall, they are in the moose rutting-season, meaning they are in mating season and extremely territorial. So that being said, when you do see one don't try and get closer to get a picture. You should keep your distance – perhaps in your car.  Do not flash your lights at them.  Do not honk your horn.  They will move when they are ready. I've heard a story of a very large bull moose blocking a logging road and a maintenance man in a brand new truck came upon the moose.  He tried to move forward thinking the moose would move. Nope, sure didn't. So he tried flashing his lights… well that got the moose's attention. So he tried honking his horn. Well that really got Bullwinkle's attention.  Long story short, the moose totaled the brand new truck and it has to be towed out. Really…don't honk, don't flash lights. Be patient and enjoy this majestic creature. I had my own personal experience with a moose. About 12 years ago, it was a rainy April morning and my oldest son was about 4 and my youngest not quite 2. We were having breakfast. When I walked by the front door, there was a moose walking by. I lived in St. Johnsbury, VT at the time in a well populated neighborhood about a mile from Main Street. So this moose sighting in my neighborhood was a first for sure. We had deer in our yard on many occasions but never a moose. I called one of the neighbors and was talking to him and yes he had seen it. Well my oldest son and I were standing in the front picture window watching this yearling moose just walk down the road. Then my Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Shelby, started not quite barking. More of a huff sound. Well the moose heard her, stopped dead in his tracks and turned around. The next think I knew it had it ears back and started running back at our home. Now in hind sight I probably should have moved away from the window with my toddler. But the moose kept coming. I thought for sure that he could see me standing in the window.  But I think there must have been a glare and my dog just kept huffing. I'm telling my neighbor "Umm, the moose is charging the house…" To which he responded, "He sure is."  I'm not really sure what I expected him to do about it, but hey there was a moose charging my house! I don't know whose eyes were bigger, mine, the moose, my son or my dog's.  But thankfully the moose turned about 10 feet away from the picture window.  I can assure you that is the closest I have ever been to a moose and it was too close!  We may call them swamp donkey's and all but they really are wild animals and very unpredictable.  I was very lucky that the moose didn't come crashing in the window with my youngest in a high chair, a toddler and my dog.  That would have been a fantastic home insurance claim! My uncle told me of a time he had come across a moose and her baby trotting down the road.  He had followed them for a ways.  She actually kicked the baby into the ditch and kept running to try and distract him from the baby.  Mothers can be very protective and are known to charge as well.  Keeping your distance really is important for your safety and theirs.

Best Moose-Spotting Locations in New Hampshire

So where can you see a moose? The best time of day to see a moose is dawn and dusk. They tend to be moving around. They particularly like swampy areas also known as wallows. I have seen them many times in Franconia Notch going south near the Lafayette Campground.  There is also another area on Route 116 heading towards Whitefield from Littleton near the Alder Brook Sportsmen's Association Range. (I know, ironic for a moose to hang out near a gun range). In Franconia, there are a few places they like to hang out including near the town transfer station as Steve Horan from our Franconia office witnessed this spring! Of course if you head north to the Pittsburg and Milan area on Route 3 it's called Moose Alley. (with good reason) There is a large population of moose. But the side roads are also good places to see them. Take a nice leisurely drive to take in the foliage. Just remember, when you see something neat to photograph, please pull off the road to a safe spot. [caption id="attachment_3831" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Another agent, Steve Horan, snapped this at Franconia Transfer Station[/caption] To read more from the State of New Hampshire Fish and Game department about looking for moose, this is a great article: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/outdoor-recreation/spot-moose.html Enjoy your travels! And please share your moose photos with us on our Facebook page…we'd love to see them!