Bowhunting moose
Moose are the heaviest game a bowhunter will ever draw on in North America. An Alaskan Yukon bull hits 1,200 to 1,600 lb, Shiras and Canada moose 800 to 1,000 lb. Rib bones, scapula, and a 4 to 6 in hide-plus-hair mat mean penetration is the entire game. Every experienced moose guide raises the KE recommendation past the Pope and Young 55 ft-lb floor.
Kinetic energy threshold
Pope and Young lists 55 ft-lb for moose. Every Alaska outfitter and most Canadian guides push 70 ft-lb or higher. A 70 lb bow shooting a 650 gr arrow at 265 fps delivers 101 ft-lb at the bow, 70 to 75 ft-lb at 30 yd. Under-arrowed hunters lose moose to fat pockets and hide mat that halt low-KE arrows short of the vitals.
Broadhead recommendation
Fixed cut-on-contact single-bevel is the default. Cutthroat 250 gr, Iron Will S125 or S150, and Grizzly Stik Samurai are the three names in every moose camp. Cut diameter 1 to 1-1/8 in is preferred over wider heads because narrower profiles drive further through the far shoulder. Mechanicals are not used on moose.
Shot placement
Quartering-away is the standard shot. Aim at the far shoulder for through-both-lungs geometry. Broadside works if the range is under 30 yd. Frontal shots on rutting bulls are used by experienced hunters but require center-mass Y precision. Moose take longer to die than any other big game; wait 45 minutes minimum before starting the blood trail.
Arrow build
600 to 800 gr total, 20% FOC or higher for Ashby-school builds. Easton FMJ 300 spine with 250 gr up front (steel adapter + heavy broadhead) hits 700 gr at 22% FOC on a 30 in draw. Grizzly Stik Momentum and Black Eagle Vintage are the moose-specific shafts most-recommended on Rokslide. Straightness .001 to .003, weight tolerance +/- 1 gr.
What bowhunters actually say
Moose eat arrows. Every hunter who has been in bush camp has watched an under-built arrow stop in the hide. Build for 70 ft-lb minimum.
Rokslide Moose Hunt Report, Alaska Yukon, 2023
Single-bevel and 20 percent FOC and a 700 gr arrow. That is the moose recipe. Do not argue with the hide.
Archery Talk Moose thread, veteran outfitter
I have watched a 550 gr FMJ stop under the offside hide on a 900 lb Shiras bull. Build heavier than you think.
Bowsite Moose forum contributor
Check your state F&W dept for local rules. This is research summary, not legal advice.