In very deep snow years, the moose tend to congregate on the trails because the walking is easy. The savvy mushers really keep alert and do anything to avoid a confrontation. If you can see a dangerous situation developing, for example, one might snowshoe around the moose. All too often, however, the encounter happens too fast for this precaution to work. It is up to the individual musher to take care of the team.
Some mushers take the responsibility seriously and pack a pistol.
Some mushers, remaining unnamed of course, even consciously follow other teams out of checkpoints so that the front running teams can act like the point control and take the hit from the moose if one is out there to make war. Therefore, we made the rule to accommodate the shirkers of responsibility. If a moose or buffalo goes on the attack mode and needs to be shot, the following mushers must wait until the moose is properly handled. Most mushers would help. In answer to your question, it hasn t happened for the last ten years to my knowledge, probably as a result of increased snowmachine activity and normal to light snow years.