Moose Hunting Trip Part 3

It rained all night and to really say it was pouring. It was close to 6 AM and still raining.

I told myself a good breakfast and a good coffee is what I needed. That morning was bacon and eggs and let me tell you with a smell like that my buddy was up in two minutes.

An hour later I was outside just looking around and thinking what shall we do. It was still raining a little and it was calm, a bit of fog on the lake. It looks like it’s going to clear up I told Reno. He replied I think so, maybe this afternoon? I asked him what do you want to do? What ever you want. I said there seems to be a cow around and that we are sure of.

It was 7:45 AM we got aboard my chestnut canoe and had decided to paddle the lake. Giving a few soft calls once in awhile, the bull grunt. We had packed a lunch and also our fishing rods were in the canoe.

First call about half an hour later, we listened for about 15 minutes and no sound. One thing the echo was great. We continued paddling at a very slow pace. Looking at everything that looked like a moose. Gave another call, the grunt 3 times in a row. Listened for about 10 minutes and the continued. Looked at Reno and he shook his head no nothing.

It was noon and we stopped on a little point. A sandy beach, there were tracks and looked pretty fresh. I said that’s this morning and it’s a bull and a heavy one at that. I said we will hunt from here there’s no wind and raining a little.

We pulled the canoe out of the water. Got our lunch and thermos. Had our lunch and I’ll wait for a while before giving the cow call. We sat there and listened. Not a sound to be heard.

Reno moved up to hide in the small bushes. I was in the water about 5 feet from shore. Just waiting and listening. At around 1:30 PM I started breaking those dry twigs. I listened for a couple of minutes and started to do the Moose walk and looked at my buddy at the same time, he was waving at me and pointing on the other side of the lake.

I looked and saw or heard nothing. I walked out of the water towards Reno. I said what? He said there’s a bull that answered on the other side. The bull grunt he said. I waited and waited. I said are you sure, yes it did it at least 3 times when you were walking the moose walk in the water. Across the lake was about ½ a mile.

An hour went by and nothing to be heard. I decided it was time for the cow in heat call. That’s loud, long and pulled out call. I did it once, twice, third ….and about the sixth time

We saw the big bull come straight out of the bush’ straight into the lake and was swimming straight for the call. This was a none stop, he was coming straight for us and grunting.

Reno didn’t move nor did I. It was about 200 feet from shore and about 500 from us. I looked at Reno and made a sign to him to get his rifle ready. It was coming out of the water and stopped with its head up in the air. Trying to smell us. I looked at Reno and said yes. Bank, the moose buckled up walked a few feet and fell.

This was all to fast, our hunt was done. The work started and let me tell this is fun. As we both take a great pride in the preparation of the meat. No hair and has to be clean. Plus the longer we leave it at the same place without moving it to tender the meat. We gutted it and rolled it over on to its knees

I said to Reno, what now? As always, we will go and move the camp over here. That’s

What we did.

For supper that night yes it was liver, bacon and onions and mashed potatoes. Our usual red wine, with of course our shot of cognac. This was great and always the second best part of a big game hunting trip. The first is getting the moose.

We spent 3 more days there, did not see the cow, we did some fishing, catch and release.

We did an excellent job on the moose meat. We relaxed and talked a lot of our other moose hunts. This was another great hunting trip. Oh yes the antlers measured 58 inches. A big and healthy moose.

Moose Hunting Trip Part 2

I was up at 5am and still pretty dark out. The night had been very quiet nothing to be heard except Reno's snoring once in a while. I got myself an orange juice and peanut butter sandwich. I was quiet in all the movements I made. Oh yes I still did not tell my buddy about what happened in the bush yesterday. Maybe I'll tell him later on.

I pulled the chestnut canoe to the shoreline with the less noice possible. It still was pretty dark.

I decided to wait until I could see a little better accross the lake. The lake was about 1 and half miles long and half a mile wide. A small lake with a two creeks flowing in. I wanted to get over to the creek on the otherside. I listened for a good half hour. Nothing to be heard. Got into the canoe and slowly paddle accross. All was silent not even a bird chirpping. Once on the other side, I paddled up to the little point about 500 feet away from the creek. I said to myself this is a nice place. I pulled the canoe up a little farther and completly out of the water. Oh I forgot to tell you my buddy is still sleeping.


It was 6:30 am and quiet. I cracked a few dry twiggs. Listened a couple of minutes, walked into the water, lifting my feet very high. Walked like a moose would walk in the water. Listened a couple of minutes. No answer waited a few seconds and gave a soft low call of the cow. Did it again a few seconds later. Listened and gave the same call twice. Listened for a couple of minutes
then gave the bull call the grunt sound twice in a row. I knew there was a cow around, this is why I gave the grunt sound.

Half an hour later I gave the same bull grunt twice. I stood still and listened. Did not hear a thing. It was close to 10am. I said to myself it was to close to me yesterday and it`s probably far away today. I'll wait another hour. I noticed that my buddy was up and sitting in front of the tent. A little wind from the east was picking up and that could mean bad weather.

At noon I decided to head back to camp, the wind had picked up a little more and there was waves on the lake. As I paddled back I decided to stop at the hump where we thought there was a moose standing yesterday. Checked it out and no moose tracks at all, it was what we all call
a stump moose.

At camp asked Reno if he heard anything. No, nothing at all but I saw some nice splashes and I think thier speckles. We'll give it a try this afternoon. Right now I'm starved. Reno said are we going to do some cooking and I said yes, you are. My pleasure, he said and Reno is a great cook.

After having a a t-bone steak, mushrooms and mashed patatoes and french bread, a good bottle of red wine. Yes we hit the sack for a one hour nap. When I woke up I could hear the wind. On the lake the waves were at least a foot high.

I asked Reno where were those fish jumping this morning? Just on the otherside of our stump moose. Lets get the fish tackle and rods ready. Did you bring any worms. Yes there in the cooler.

We paddle to the spot and Reno said right here. I had a small hook, one inch of worm, no lure or sinker just the hook and the line. I casted with the wind, my cast was about 30 feet total. Pulled out more line and I left it to sink to the bottom. As it was sinking and not quite to the bottom. I
saw my line pulling out straight, I gave a little more lose and then yanked it. I got it and if it's a
speckle trout it's a beauty. Something big and what a fight. Yes what fight and Reno we did not bring a net to pull them out. I forgot he said and I got one also. His rod was bent a good 90* and
a fight also. We'll take our time and no moose calling if the wind stay's like this. Back to those speckles, mine was in the canoe and what a speckle it was Reno was still working to get his abord. It was a good 10 minute fight. Finally abord and both close to the same size. They were red and the belly was red the bottom jaw was starting to curve up,(they had started to spond) this is why I was fishing deep on the bottom.
At a glance they weighted close to six pounds. Two like that is good for a couple of meals. We'll do a little catch and release. We did that for a couple of hours. Four or five each and it was time to head back to camp. They were all between 4 to 6 pounders.

Well for supper was speckle trout, french bread and white wine. Exactly what we had bud just to add our shot or glass of cognac before all that.

It will be back to moose hunting tomorrow morning and early at that. It was starting to rain.

I'll get back to you next week with part 3. We still have 5 days to go.

Moose Hunting Trip

It was Sept. 1981 my buddy Reno and I decided to go out moose hunting in Northern Quebec,

30 miles west of the Daniel Johnson dam, (hydro quebec). The Manicougan Reservoir, Manic 5.

Friday morning the first week-end of September. It was also the last week-end for trout fishing.

At Lake Louise that morning Reno the pilot yes another Reno were waiting for us. We tied the 16 foot chestnut canoe on to the float of the PA18 Supercub. All the baggage on board, Reno and I and up we were for a place called Cross Lake.

As we approched the lake I could see fresh tracks on the sandy beach. Landed and pulled up to that beach. I was the first one off and first thing was to look at those tracks. Yes fresh , this morning I said. It's a cow, nice big cow. It was 11am and a lot of time ahead of us to do some hunting today.

Reno the pilot was up and away, just had time to wave good bye. All the baggage was on the nice sandy beach and Reno was checking the place to put up camp. He said right here and I replied, good.

Once the tent up and everything inside, I said Reno, we will be quiet for a good half hour, no noice at all. He said okay. About half an hour later, not a sound was to be heard. I pulled out very slowly, from my packsack my two dried hardwood sticks. These are 2 feet long and 2 inches in diameter. I gave them to Reno and whispered, kock them together two to three times every 15 minutes, hit them hard together. I left for the bushes behind the tent. I also told him don't stop until I either shoot or I'm back here. It was 3:30pm, just the right time to get her interested.

I walked 100 yards and stopped and listen for a few minutes. I heard nothing. I walked about another 100 yards and heard my buddy hitting the sticks together. I stopped and listened. I continued for another 100 yards. Listened and nothing. I was about 500 yards from camp. I could see on my right side and in front of me for about 1o0 yards. But on the left, the bush was thick. I could see about 15 feet, without moving. I'll stay here and listen.

It was close to 4pm and very quiet, I could hear my friend hitting the sticks together about every 15 minutes. I listened and listened. Then I heard somthing like a rubbing sound on the spruce branches, it was close and on my left. I said to myself it has to be the cow. No cracking sounds. Then again, the rubbing on the branches and it was very close. I could hear it breathing and another brushing sound. It was very very close, and it was starting to get dark, I had to go to the toilet and fast. I could hear it breathing, it was close, I could not hold on any longer, my gut was going to bust, down went my pants, in that sitting position, I saw it, the big dark just about black colored cow, beautiful cow take off. She was only 20 feet away from me. That is really close.

I said to myself oh no, what did I do and what am I going to tell my buddy. I guess things like this do happen at least once in a life time.

I got back to camp, Reno was laying on the beach and making signs to me to be quiet. He pointed accross the Lake and said right there. We had no telescope. I said it looks like a moose standing on a hump. Reno said that's what I see also. It was to dark to shoot and you don`t shoot if your not sure at what your shooting at..

There was a moose around and if we want it we had to put all our luck together. No cooking to-night. We had a lite lunch sandwhiches and a couple of drinks. Time for bed, it was 7pm and see if that cow is still interested, with all that humain odeur and plus, she may be far gone tomorrow...

We are here for one whole week..so I`ll continue this story next week.

Ice Fishing in Northern Quebec & Labrador

Another great ice fishing trip with my wife in Northern Quebec. I t was a beautiful day.

I looked at the thermometer and it was +2 C. No wind. I was 7AM and said Mado it's a great day to go ice fishing. A quick reply okay you want to go fishing.

The lunch was packed, a hot thermos of coffee and one with tea. Started up the snowmobiles, hooked up one sleigh and our way at 8:15 AM.

We headed for Ashtray Lake to one of my special places. It was a one hour drive and the trip was wonderful. Did not see any caribou on our way down. Ashtray Lake is 30KM from the town of Schefferville.

Got the shovel out of the sled and shovelled six spots clear to the ice. A distance of 30 feet from each. I checked the distance from the shore and said we should be in the good spot. Four to six feet of water under the ice would be excellent. Got my ice cutter out and running. the depth were perfect, I had what I wanted 4 to 8 feet was good.

Got my roll of green line 60 pound test, big chromed hooks and bait. My bait were suckers (carp) the best bait that the natives use for winter fishing around here. Also went and got a few big birch branches,at least 1 1/2 inch in diameter. They have to be strong enough, because there are big lakers here and that's what we wanted, the BIG one's.

We had all the lines in and it was 10:45 AM. At exactly 10:50 AM yes five minutes later Mado had a bite on her line (she said her line because it was the first line to move) It was biting on the bait and giving pretty hard jerks. She ran for the line, said don't pull it up yet, wait until it's really hooked on. I tie my line with a loop in it with a half bow. That means that when the fish bites and feels no tension on the line, it swallows the bait while moving with it. Once the loop is pulled to it's complete extension about 5 to 6 feet. The line stops and the hook is in it,s throat. No way your going to lose him unless the line breaks. Mado saw the branch move, she grabbed the line and started pulling, she yelled it's a big one. Beautiful laker at the first look it 's about 15 to 18 pounds I said. She was happy.

We got a second one about 20 minutes later and this one was mine. About 10 to 12 pounds. I did not bring my weight scale. I said we will weigh them once at home. Mado ran for another line that was moving. She stood close and waited. She pulled out and other beauty, maybe 15 pounds. We wanted to have lunch put impossible, the lakers were biting like crazy. Mado pulled out another one. I had another one on my line ran to the line and waited. It was nibbling at the bait. Maybe to small to bite on those big hooks. I waited. Mado yeld I got another one. I was waiting. It was starting to pull the line, I grabbed the line and jerked it. I had it and to my surprise a beautiful speckle trout and not a small one. Mado said I say 5 pounds. I said no around 6 to 7 pounds. We'll see at home.

I said you watch the lines, I'm hungry and want to have lunch, because this is also part of the fishing tip. I picked up a few pieces of dry branches and wood. Lit the fire, got the sandwiches out and toasted them. Mado yelled again I have another one, it was another nice laker. I said to myself if we want to eat, we should pull the lines out and besides that we had enough fish for a few weeks to come. 6 lakers and a speckle trout was more than we expected. Mado said one more I want to catch a speckle trout also. We ate our toasted ham sandwiches. Great coffee for me and tea for Mado. We fished another hour and Mado got another one, but not a speckle it was another big lake trout.

It was 1:30 PM. Pulled the lines out, packed the sled and headed for home. Did not see any caribou on our way back.

I weighed the lakers and the smallest one was 12 pounds, the biggest 22 pounds and that speckle weighed exactly 6 and 3/4 pounds. The biggest speckle trout caught last winter in the region was 14 pounds and the record last summer Manahec was 17 pounds 4ounces. That was a beauty.

Another great fishing trip and I said it in my others stories this place is paradise for fishing.
Not to forget we burnt (tanned) by the sun and wind while driving our snowmobiles. It's a beautiful country.