These moose aren't stupid, but they are noticeably less wary than the animals adapted to life on the edge of civilization. The deeper a hunter goes into Bush Alaska, the less wary the moose tend to be. It has a lot more to do with levels of human activity than with moose numbers. Urban areas, said Griese and wildlife biologist Ted Spraker of Soldotna, now make for some of the most productive moose habitat. Development brings cleared subdivisions that grow back with tasty willow or get developed and planted with even tastier mountain ash.
Roads make it possible for the animals to move easily between feeding areas in winters of deep snow.
And humans displace bears and wolves. But even in these areas of high moose density, hunters may note how rarely they see legal bulls. It's not because they're not there. It's because of their survival instincts. They aren't habituated enough to wander around showing off their big antlers in broad daylight, though they will get reckless during the rut in late September and October.