Can You Hunt Moose With a Shotgun?
I’ve done a bit of hunting and thought I’d try and take a moose for the first time. I’m most comfortable using a shotgun but I was wondering if I can use it to hunt moose. So, I did some research and put together this helpful article to explain whether you can hunt moose with a shotgun.

So, can you hunt moose with a shotgun? Not Ethically. You can shoot moose with a shotgun, but you want to use a slug rather than birdshot or buckshot because it will do much more damage to the moose. Birdshot or buckshot can work, but large moose will likely only get injured by it and may not die.

You also want to be comfortable with the range requirements of a shotgun. Many people who hunt moose regularly can get into a position very close to the animal by observing the terrain. So, below I will explain more about why you should use a slug, and more information about how to get in range to take a moose.
Why you should use a slug rather than birdshot or buckshot when hunting moose
As you’re probably aware moose grow incredibly large, and when angered will attack and trample anything it perceives as a threat. So, when hunting them you wanna be sure you do enough damage to kill it.

Or atleast down it so you can get a follow up shot. With standard birdshot and buckshot they do a lot of damage.

But, they won’t pass completely through the moose, and will only leave a small indent in their side about 4 inches (10 cm). Which is only enough to injure it enough for it to charge at you or run away completely.

Here’s a video where buckshot birdshot and a slug are shot into thick pieces of meat. Showing the difference in damage between a slug versus birdshot and buckshot.

It shows that a slug does WAY more damage and is a safer option when using a shotgun to hunt moose.
In Alaska the Department of Fish and Game use 12 gauge shotguns to scare moose in populated areas
In Alaska moose will sometimes make their way into populated areas. And will run around causing a nuisance on the roads and extreme cases will charge people. They can be herded away from populated areas, but if they don’t cooperate or endanger lives local law enforcement use 12 gauge shotguns to kill them, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website.
The age of moose you are hunting and the type of ammo you should use.

If you are hunting a moose calf it is possible to drop it with birdshot or buckshot. But, you run the risk of the cow moose coming after you. Which means you’ll need something more powerful to take it out.
Using a pump action shotgun versus semi automatic shotgun
If the shotgun you’re using is pump action it’s extra important to use slugs rather than birdshot of buckshot. They are physically demanding to reload, and in the heat of the moment you can struggle to reload it properly.

So, if you’re using birdshot or buckshot and you don’t down the moose completely you might get stuck not being able to reload while you are running to cover, or climbing up a tree.

So, you want to definitely use a slug with a pump action shotgun. With a semi auto shotgun though it’s safer because you can continuously fire without having to manually reload it. Which means you can get more shots off if a moose charges you.
Does the shorter range of a shotgun make it harder to hunt moose?
The average range that is effective when hunting with a shotgun is 100 yards (91 meters) according to Wikipedia. Which is definitely far enough to hunt moose, and doesn’t present any additional challenges compared to hunting with a bow, or a long range rifle.

A rifle is definitely the safest, because you can be positioned so far away. Canadian Geographic states that moose have bad eyesight but a keen sense of hearing and smell.

Here is a fascinating video of a moose downed with a bow and arrow at only 5 yards (4.5 meters).

What is the best type of slug for hunting moose with a shotgun?
The most common shotgun is a 12 gauge. The gauge is the size of the bullet. Other sizes are 10, 16, 20, and 28 gauge. But, the 12 gauge works well to hunt moose because they are used today in Alaska by law enforcement to kill moose.

There are many different types of slugs that can be used to hunt moose. In general, neither is worse or better. Any shotgun slug that you can find at your local gun shop or online will work well. Just ensure it is a slug, not buckshot or birdshot.

You can search an online store for ‘12 gauge shotgun slug’, or just ‘slug’ and all of the options will work really well to down moose. [I would update this section with a Best Shotgun Shells Article once you have one for this website, where you can do affiliate offers, and maybe a pdf guide for an optin].
Where is the moose kill zone (where to aim when shooting moose with a shotgun)?

You generally want to aim at the chest area. Near the top of the two front legs.

 

As you can see from the image above this will hit the vital organs. Most of the time it won’t instantly kill the moose, and it will run away for about 50 yards (45 meters), before it collapses.

Moose are a very large kind of deer and the good news is the target is a lot bigger. But, moose are much weaker than deer and will drop if your shot only partially hits the kill zone. So, you can be a worse shot when hunting moose. Especially with a shotgun that has a larger impact hole than a rifle or bow.
How close do you need to be to a moose to kill it with a shotgun?
You want to get as close as possible so that you have the easiest shot. According to Colorado State Park, the maximum safe distance for inexperienced hunters is 25 yards (22 meters). Sometimes it can be hard to judge how close you are, but you should observe it carefully to see if it notices you.

The maximum effective range of a shotgun is 100 yards, so that will give you more than enough time, if it decides to bolt. And also, enough distance to climb up a tree, or down it if it decides gets angry and decides to charge you.
In Conclusion
You can definitely hunt moose with a shotgun, but you want to use slugs rather than birdshot or buckshot. Because slugs do much more damage than birdshot or buckshot, and with the huge size moose can grow you\’ll need something more powerful to take them down.

A shotgun has a shorter range than a rifle, but it is more than enough to down a moose. You don’t want to get closer than 25 yards (22 meters) to a moose, so that you don’t disturb it, and it will give you enough room to run or climb a tree if it charges you.

Also, moose are much easier to kill than deer because they have a larger kill zone, and are much weaker than deer when hit.
Sources
Adfg.alaska.gov: Living with Wildlife in Anchorage: A Cooperative Planning Effort
Wikipedia: Shotgun slug
Canadiangeographic.ca: Animal Facts: Moose
Wildlife.state.nh.us: Moose Field Techniques and Game Care