Moose stand as the undisputed giants of North American forests, towering over other wildlife with their massive frames and impressive antlers.
These magnificent creatures can reach astonishing sizes, with some specimens breaking records that leave even experienced hunters in awe.
1. Alaska-Yukon Giant
Standing taller than a basketball hoop, the legendary Alaska-Yukon bull taken by hunter John Crouse in 1994 remains the gold standard for North American moose. Weighing approximately 1,800 pounds with antlers spanning nearly 80 inches, this behemoth required multiple men just to field dress.
Local Athabascan guides claimed they’d never seen anything comparable in decades of wilderness experience. The massive bull’s shoulder height measured over 7.5 feet from hoof to withers.
2. Newfoundland Monster
Local fisherman Mike Sullivan couldn’t believe his eyes when this colossal bull emerged from the fog near Gander Lake in 1998. The massive Newfoundland moose carried antlers with 23 points and a remarkable 76-inch spread, earning it immediate legendary status among Canadian hunters.
Field-dressed at 1,580 pounds, biologists estimated its live weight exceeded 1,900 pounds. The moose’s neck circumference alone measured an astounding 48 inches – wider than many men’s waistlines!
3. Colorado Colossus
Rocky Mountain moose typically don’t match their northern cousins for size, making this 2005 Colorado specimen truly exceptional. Hunter Frank Rodriguez tracked this mountain monarch for three days before making a clean harvest in Colorado’s North Park region.
Biologists confirmed the bull was approximately 12 years old – ancient for a wild moose. Its antlers, though not record-breaking in spread at 65 inches, displayed remarkable mass and palmation, with each side weighing over 35 pounds after drying.
4. Maine’s Eastern Champion
Maine guide John Whitcomb encountered this eastern giant while leading a September hunt near Moosehead Lake in 2009. Despite eastern moose typically being smaller than western subspecies, this bull defied expectations with its 1,330-pound field-dressed weight.
Wildlife officials estimated its live weight at approximately 1,600 pounds. The moose’s antlers, while not exceptionally wide at 62 inches, featured unusually thick beams and 18 well-defined points, making it the largest documented in Maine’s history.
5. Kenai Peninsula Patriarch
Alaskan hunting guide Peter Johnson photographed this remarkable specimen in 2001 before his client harvested it on the Kenai Peninsula. The ancient bull’s antlers measured a staggering 82 inches across – among the widest ever documented for the species.
Age testing revealed the moose was nearly 15 years old, explaining its exceptional development. Most impressive was the bull’s body mass, with researchers estimating its live weight at over 1,750 pounds based on careful measurements and comparison with known specimens.
6. Wyoming Basin Behemoth
Wildlife photographer Maria Sanchez captured stunning images of this exceptional bull near Jackson Hole in 2013. Though never harvested, wildlife biologists used photogrammetry techniques to estimate its shoulder height at approximately 7.3 feet and weight around 1,600 pounds.
The moose’s distinctive antlers featured unusual triple brow tines and a spread estimated at 73 inches. Local guides reported seeing this same bull for seven consecutive seasons, watching it grow to record proportions before it disappeared after the harsh winter of 2014.
7. British Columbia Record-Breaker
First Nations guide Thomas Eagle helped hunter Michael Davidson track this extraordinary bull in northern British Columbia in 1999. The massive moose field-dressed at 1,697 pounds, with biologists calculating its live weight at approximately 2,050 pounds – potentially the heaviest reliably documented North American specimen.
Its antlers, while impressive at 71 inches, weren’t record-breaking in spread. However, their exceptional mass and unusual configuration with 28 countable points made this bull a true once-in-a-lifetime trophy that remains the provincial record.
8. Minnesota Boundary Waters Giant
Conservation officer Sarah Johnson documented this remarkable bull during winter aerial surveys near the Boundary Waters in 2018. Using specialized measuring techniques, biologists estimated its shoulder height at 7.2 feet and weight around 1,550 pounds – exceptional for the region.
The bull’s massive 70-inch antlers showed unusual symmetry and perfect palmation. Genetic testing from shed antlers recovered the following spring suggested this moose carried genes from both eastern and western subspecies, potentially explaining its extraordinary size in a region not known for record specimens.
9. Yukon River Valley Titan
Indigenous hunter Robert Sam encountered this extraordinary bull near the Yukon River in 2007. The massive moose dressed out at 1,630 pounds, with biologists estimating its live weight at approximately 1,950 pounds – among the heaviest ever recorded.
Most remarkable were its antlers, measuring 79 inches across with exceptional mass throughout. Wildlife officials noted the bull’s unusual body proportions, with an extraordinarily deep chest and neck circumference measuring 52 inches – suggesting it may have been a genetic anomaly even among trophy-class moose.
10. Montana Mountain King
Veteran guide Frank Williams stumbled upon this remarkable bull while scouting Montana’s Cabinet Mountains in 2011. Though never harvested, wildlife biologists used trail camera footage and recovered shed antlers to estimate its exceptional proportions.
The bull’s shoulder height exceeded 7 feet, with weight estimated around 1,500 pounds. Its distinctive antlers featured unusual triple brow tines and a remarkable 74-inch spread. Local hunters reported seeing this same moose for five consecutive seasons before it disappeared, likely falling prey to wolves or old age.
11. Quebec’s Northern Goliath
French-Canadian trapper Jean Tremblay encountered this exceptional bull near James Bay in 2003. Despite eastern moose typically running smaller than western subspecies, this specimen defied expectations with its estimated 1,850-pound live weight and 7.2-foot shoulder height.
Wildlife officials documented the bull’s remarkable antlers at 68 inches wide with unusual web-like palmation. Genetic testing suggested this individual might represent a hybrid between eastern and Alaska-Yukon subspecies, explaining its extraordinary size for the region and unique antler configuration.
12. Idaho Panhandle Leviathan
Wildlife researcher Dr. Elizabeth Chen documented this exceptional bull during population studies in northern Idaho’s Selkirk Mountains in 2015. Using calibrated photography and laser rangefinders, she estimated its shoulder height at 7.4 feet and weight around 1,580 pounds.
The moose’s antlers spanned approximately 76 inches with remarkable mass throughout. Most unusual was the bull’s body proportions, featuring an exceptionally long leg-to-body ratio compared to typical specimens. Trail cameras documented this same moose for three consecutive years before it disappeared from the study area.
13. Northwest Territories Champion
Dene hunter Michael Nadli harvested this extraordinary bull near Great Slave Lake in 1996. The massive moose field-dressed at 1,710 pounds, with wildlife officials estimating its live weight at approximately 2,000 pounds – challenging the continental record.
Its antlers measured 77 inches across with exceptional mass throughout. Age analysis revealed the bull was approximately 13 years old – nearly maximum longevity for the species. The moose’s winter coat was unusually thick and dark, with guard hairs measuring over 8 inches on its shoulders.
14. New Brunswick Maritime Giant
Hunting guide William Thompson encountered this exceptional eastern bull in New Brunswick’s northern wilderness in 2010. Despite eastern moose typically being smaller than western subspecies, this specimen weighed an estimated 1,650 pounds on the hoof – extraordinary for the region.
The bull’s antlers spanned 64 inches with unusual density throughout. Wildlife officials noted its exceptional body condition, with fat reserves measuring nearly twice the regional average. Genetic testing suggested this individual carried rare genetic markers associated with accelerated growth and delayed maturity.