I've only hunted Colorado as a resident and for cow moose. If you want a bull moose then don't go there as it will be 15+ years before you get picked. However, Maine has some great moose hunting. Check out https://twitter.com/JamesPmghunter on Twitter or check out Hunting (schanzsguideservice.com) - both are great guides and reasonable in pricing.
I live in NH and at 67 I would have to be reincarnated and start applying while still in utero to stand a reasonable chance of getting a permit in my next life.
I don't know where you are, but my son and I drove with trailer/boat from Colorado to Alaska for moose plus other. We both went for a total cost of around 2500. We used google earth where to put in; prepare for log jams, therefore bring chainsaw. We hunted moose for a week, and only saw a few, which were below size requirement. We had a blast, and the following year returned and got 2 bears. I think diy if you have the time; very affordable; tags, fuel, food and maybe a hotel during drive there.
I've got a sister in Derry... Wrong end of the state, but I've considered putting in for NH... I'm >only< 55...
I'm only 4350 miles, a mere 74 hr drive from Anchorage... In NC. Given that distance, driving probably wouldn't be my plan if I were hunting AK. I'd probably need to look at a guide, taxi or drop camp sort of arrangement for an AK or Canada hunt. As I travel a lot (when we don't have a global pandemic) for work, getting to major airlines or stays in hotel chains like in bigger hubs/cities (Anchorage, Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Prince George) would likely be points. Past those destinations, is be putting pen to paper to consider air, lodging, baggage/shipping and other costs & logistics. But awesome info on the boat and chainsaw... Not sure it would've entered my mind.
Alaska: Guided/outfitted ...15k-25k. Gets you into some very good areas. With great outfitters. Alaska unguided: 7-10k that's with transporter to fly you in or fly in then float ect. I hear lots of guys say you can do it all in for about 5k with tags, flights and getting the meat home.....I have yet do it even close to 5k. This year's trip was about 8k plus all in for caribou. Pros to Alaska. Excellent trophy potential, easy tags, DIY. Cons: unless you fly in expect resident and nonresident pressure. Logistics can be challenging at times. Western Canada. Northern BC and Yukon 15 to 30K guided and outfitted, big moose, awsome county. You will have to go through an outfitter anywhere in Canada to get tags. Tough logistics, expect two days of travel at least on each end. Southwestern Canada, slightly cheaper. Easier travel 10-15k fully outfitted in good areas, smaller moose, lower densities then Eastern Canada Wester US.. Unless you started 25 years ago collecting points, forget it. Your chance of drawing a tag is less then .01% Central Canada, Ontario....skip this at all costs. Lots of half ass outfitter, party tags and generally poor areas with lots of resident pressure. Eastern US.... Again without a boat load of points the odds of drawing a tag in Maine or NH are almost nonexistent. Newfoundland, 5-8k for a fly in hunt fully guided and outfitted.Lots of moose. No trophy potential to speak of. Easy logistics, either drive to Nova Scotia and take the ferry from North Sydney or fly into Deer lake. Lots of good outfitters, lots of moose. Easy logistics. Very high success rates. Cons, stay away from drive in camps which are cheaper, you will have way more pressure and younger age class of animals. Hope this helps
I have 20 preference points for moose for Utah. My odds are not that great for getting a tag. I am 59 and I hope to get it before I’m 70
