Winter 2008

October 6-21, 2018 Southern Shore Moose Hunting: (57 Photos)

1. Once again Moose Hunting Season is right around the corner here on the Avalon Peninsula and everyone is pretty stoked about getting back out in the woods. Matthew French and George Andrews both have licenses, I will be travelling with them to our new favourite hunting location (first hunted last year) for the opening day hunt. Bassan and Coldwell also have licenses and we'll be travelling to Trepassey later in the season in search of two more animals to harvest.

2. Like all decent hunters Matthew, Mark and I made pre-season runs to our hunting area to look for sign of Moose on the marshes and cutovers. We were not disappointed and looked forward to opening day.

6. The night before opening day we finished maintenance on French's Argo and loaded it aboard their new larger enclosed trailer to be ready for an early departure the following morning.

8. Since there was going to be a big crew on deck opening day, I opted to take Project Foreman to free up a seat in the Argo. This was also convenient for quick mid day scouting to other areas nearby.

9. A productive day usually starts with an early rise!

10. On Saturday morning just as it got light we spotted two animals on the marsh below our vantage point. When it was bright enough and legal to shoot George fired at the beautiful big cow and it jumped back into the woods. The bull was also long gone after the report from George's Rifle.

11. After waiting about 10 minutes I slung my backpack over my shoulders and headed to the marsh to track the potentially wounded animal. Not seeing any sign of a successful harvest I entered the woods and heard the Cow cracking branches ahead of me. The animal then crossed the lower bog where George was waiting and made a successful harvest.

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13. Mark, Harry and I quickly set about cleaning up the animal and getting it separated into halves. Tags were attached and the animal loaded into Mark's Argo for the short ride to Harry's waiting pickup.

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17. Harry, George and Andrew headed back to town to get the animal hung, skinned and cooled at Harry's place in Portugal Cove while Mark, Matthew and I returned to hunting, hoping fill Matthew's tags as well.

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24. Midday we broke out our lunch gear and had an awesome cook up on top of the hill near where I harvested an animal last season.

25. On the menu was marinated moose, onions, mushrooms and seasoning I had pre-cut and bagged the previous evening. I started the feast on my MSR gas stove, and finished it on the wood burning Kelly Kettle Hobo stove after the kettle boiled.

26. Meanwhile Mark fired up his MSR multi-fuel stove and fried up bologna and beans to accompany my Moose concoction.

27. After an early rise and very busy morning a hot lunch was a welcome treat, especially under beautiful sunny skies.

28. After lunch we continued to hunt a number of our favourite honey holes without success.

29. As day turned to night we loaded up and headed for home, stopping at the Clover Farm supermarket in Cape Broyle for one of the BEST store made sub sandwiches you can buy.

30. Sunday I had previous commitments at the Rod and Gun Club and that evening Sandra served up a truly epic Thanksgiving Diner with all the trimmings. It was absolutely amazing!

31. Monday morning Mark, Matthew and I arrived to our hunting area early. I hopped out of the Argo at the beginning of the pole line while Mark and Matthew drove further in the road. Unfortunately while driving in the path into the pole line the noise of the Argo spooked two beautiful animals leaving Matthew no time to take a shot. We tried calling and driving the woods but the animals were long gone.

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33. Matthew insisted that Mark's yoga pose be included in the story!

34. Matthew had a previous commitment Monday evening so we loaded up and headed back to town around 2pm.

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38. Meanwhile on Monday Troy and his little fella Duncan were in Aquaforte scouting out Moose hunting areas. While walking up a narrow path Troy made a couple Bull grunts and the woods came alive! Approximately 30' away this monster Bull came out curiously looking for a fight (or a mate!). Detecting no threat he continued on his way back in the woods.

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40. The following weekend we were only able to hunt Saturday evening as Matthew had family commitments, then work commitments on Sunday. The boys went one way and I decided to Scout the other direction to see what animals were on the move since heavy rains Friday night. Mark and Matthew managed to call out a nice Bull Moose right to the pole line, but the wise old bugger would show nothing other than his nose, never presenting any type of safe reasonable shot.

41. The next weekend we hit the road early once again and headed back down the shore. Going in the road we split up similar to a couple weeks ago but this time the boys would walk in the path to the pole line. This time there were no moose visible on the marsh at daybreak, however I heard one moving around in a cutover about 50 yards away. I went into the woods to drive the animal out but the wise old bugger zigzagged and went in circles before finally going MIA.

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44. Mid morning we moved to a vantage point in another area where I harvested my Moose last year. Matthew and I walked in while Mark went back to retrieve the Argo. After 20-30 minutes glassing the area we spotted a monster bull moose walk out of the woods (red circle above). We estimated it to be about 600 yards away, Matthew didn't feel confident to make such a long shot and risk merely wounding the animal.

45. When Mark arrived he argued that he could have made the shot, and just before we left to grab lunch supplies from the truck he sighted in Matthew's rifle on the large dead tree across the marsh right next to where the Moose walked out.

46. Mark dropped off Matthew and I at another dandy honey hole to check out while he ran back to the truck to grab my Action Packer full of lunch supplies. We scouted the area but didn't see any recent sign of animals on the move.

47. When Mark got back I started cooking lunch boiling my Kelly Kettle while starting my now famous Moose concoction on my MSR superfly gas stove. Meanwhile Mark and Matthew got a fire going to dry out our clothes made damp by the very wet woods that morning.

48. With the kettle boiled and coffee poured, I transferred my pan to the Hobo stove attachment for my Kelly Kettle. I measured the necessary amount of water needed for my rice concoction and set it to boil in my new Sea to Summit 1.4L colapsabile X-pot purchased on my recent trip to Edmonton. This pot is awesome, its light weight, very compact for travel and works on any gas stove (not recommended for open flame).

49. Lunch consisted of my fried Moose, onion, fresh mushroom seasoned with my own list of gear, and white minute rice seasoned with a pack of onion soup mix. It was another pretty quick and awesome hot meal in the woods.

50. Like any good steward of the outdoors we left no garbage behind at all and made sure our campfire was out before getting back to hunting.

51. That afternoon we decided to head back up the hill where we saw the monster bull Moose mid morning. Mark would stay on the vantage point while Matthew and I would head in an ATV trail which would loop all the way out to the farthest marsh and back again.

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53. Matthew checking out a track from this mornings monster bull sighting!

54. On our way back we stopped to check out the tree Mark fired at earlier that morning, and I'll be dammed but the bugger managed to hit it. We marked both points on GPS and it measured 507m or approximately 554 yards! Bullet drop for Matthews 7mm Hornady Ammo was listed at 34.5" which was about right.

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57. On our way back to the truck Mark wanted to give the Argo a good run in the pond. Weather conditions were ideal, Matthew chickened out while Mark and I cruised up the pond at a steady 3.5 to 3.8kp/h. Stay tuned for the next instalment of Moose hunt 2018!

Cheers, MIKE