For those not familiar with moose behavior, the shedding of antlers is typically a gradual process. It happens just once a year after mating season, and most often, a moose loses one antler at a time.
That’s why it’s incredibly rare for a bull moose to drop both antlers simultaneously—and even rarer for someone to capture the moment on film.
Shed hunter (yes, that’s a real term) and outdoorsman Derek Burgoyne describes his footage of this phenomenon as a “one-in-a-million” shot.
According to The Guardian, Burgoyne was flying his drone over a remote forest in Canada when he spotted three moose in a clearing. As his drone followed one of the bulls, the animal began making the telltale wobbling motion that signals its antlers are about to fall.
Burgoyne kept his camera trained on the moose—but even he couldn’t have anticipated what happened next.
It’s hard to say what’s more captivating: witnessing such a rare moment in nature or seeing Burgoyne’s genuine excitement as it unfolds.
“I shook a little bit. It was an adrenaline rush for sure,” he told CBC News, noting that he has found hundreds of shed antlers over the years.
While antler hunting has grown into a popular and even profitable hobby in recent years, Burgoyne says his passion comes from a deeper place.
“I enjoy being in the woods. It’s great exercise, and it’s fun tracking moose through the winter and searching for their sheds in the spring. Each one you find feels like the first—it never gets old,” he told The Guardian.
So, Derek Burgoyne, thank you for doing what you love. Thanks to your passion, the rest of us get to experience this extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Here’s to more good moose news!
