Ep.132 Practical Moose Hunting Tactics For The Rut

WEBVTT
00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:43.439
Hunt on this is Hunts on Outfitting Podcast.
00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:46.000
I'm your host and rookie guide, Ken Meyer.
00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:50.079
I love everything hunting, the outdoors, and all things associated with it.
00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:52.799
From stories to how-tos, you'll find it here.
00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:54.960
Welcome to the podcast.
00:00:57.520 --> 00:00:59.039
Hey, alright.
00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:02.560
Thanks for joining me for this week's podcast episode.
00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:07.200
It's been a busy uh week, weekend, everything.
00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:10.879
Uh so it's scam fired up for hunting season.
00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:16.959
That's why we're today on the podcast, we are gonna be talking with Stephen Smith about moose.
00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:26.239
Steven has a vast amount of knowledge just through a lot of experience and being out there, being in moose country, being around these giant, magnificent animals.
00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:31.200
And for a lot of places in North America, moose season is right around the corner.
00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:43.439
I have my friend Caleb on uh from the hoop crew also on this podcast, and we're gonna be talking about moose tips, tricks, we're gonna be talking about some scents and lures which work for us, and that's Pro Expedition.
00:01:43.680 --> 00:02:00.560
Because it works and because it works well, Pro Expedition, check them out, they ship all over North America, whether you're hunting deer, black bear, moose, they have the scents, attractance, mineral licks, helps to set up your sights, everything, and it's gonna work for you.
00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:06.400
I guarantee it, because I can say firsthand that it does it does what it says it does.
00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:11.520
It brings them in, it gets their curiosity, that scent gets out there, the minerals, they can't get enough of them.
00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:15.840
I've the trail cameras, the cell cameras are giving me that proof.
00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:28.719
Also, uh last weekend was the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation banquet for our my chapter that I'm in, and a lot of you that listen to the podcast were out there, and it's so awesome to see you all.
00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:29.840
We had a lot of fun.
00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.479
It was a really great banquet, it's a great success.
00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:55.840
And whether it doesn't matter where you live, if you're in the United States, the North American Wild Turkey Federation, Canada, the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation, it's great to join to support your local chapters because this money that is raised from these goes to helping conservation and it also goes to getting more kids involved in hunting, which is the future, which we need to help get them introduced to us.
00:02:56.080 --> 00:03:05.919
Some of them aren't, and they're you know, this there's programs out there that the uh the CWTF does and the NWTF and helps get kids out there into hunting.
00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:23.360
And also, it's not all about the turkeys, conserve, enhance, protect that is the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation motto, and it's going to uh help get more uh animals uh out in their natural environments and how they're supposed to be.
00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:31.360
And it's gonna help, you know, fund research programs and build uh infrastructure and things like that, not just for turkeys, but for all animals.
00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:37.360
So if you're into hunting or conservation in any way, shape, or form, it's really great to get out there and join these clubs.
00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:45.039
Um also this coming weekend, if you're in the Sussex, New Brunswick area, come on out to the Sussex Sportsman Show.
00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:47.199
I'm gonna be there, my friends are gonna be there.
00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:54.800
Uh GK Calls, one of the fine sponsors of this podcast, is gonna be there with some amazing duck and goose calls, so come check them out.
00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:59.199
And there's gonna be some other custom callmakers there and all sorts of things.
00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:02.960
So we're quite excited to get out there and be chatting up with everybody.
00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:14.240
And um, you know, I just got back, I was in Maine also um what day a couple days ago, and um we had a really great time there.
00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:16.319
We're running bear hounds, just getting ready.
00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:23.600
It's still the spring or the fall training season, and then hunting season starts, uh I think after this Thursday.
00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:31.519
And, you know, it was really hot, it was muggy, it was rough terrain, the bears were a little uh sour to say the least.
00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:36.240
And what kept those dogs going, and I kid you not, Enookshuk dog food.
00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:42.160
Those dogs are fed it, the people that I run with believe in it, and the dogs do so well off of it.
00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:52.160
Anookshuk dog food is there for your really high energy, high demanding dogs that are just going all out all day, every day, they've got that.
00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:52.720
But you know what?
00:04:52.800 --> 00:05:06.560
If you've got a couch potato and you're just looking to get them a little healthier and uh give them something that is gonna help make their teeth nice and shiny and their coat good and nice and sleek and everything, and Ookshuk Dog Food's got it.
00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:13.680
So whether your dog's chasing bear day after day or just playing a little ball with you and laying on the couch all night, and okshuk's gonna be there.
00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:18.160
Um without further ado, let's get talking about moose because moose season is coming up.
00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:20.160
We're excited, and Steven's got a lot to share.
00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:23.279
Oh, hey, just something quick to tell you guys.
00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:40.879
If you are interested in really top quality broadheads at an affordable price for hunters bought made by a hunter, check out Hooligan Archery products and use code HUNTSON2026, all caps, all one word, and you're gonna save yourself ten percent at the checkout.
00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:59.839
Oh, and if you were looking to get a hold of us to maybe come on the podcast or suggest somebody for it, or just reach out to me, you can email me, hunts on outfitting at gmail.com, or you can find us on Facebook, Hunts on Outfitting, or find myself on there, Ken Meyer.
00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:00.800
Feel free to reach out.
00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:02.000
Some of you guys have been.
00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:04.399
It's been great talking with you from all over.
00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:07.680
So, Steven, super happy to have you here.
00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:11.040
Uh, thanks for coming out uh to sit on my seminar at the show.
00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:14.480
When this podcast comes out, this will be long after.
00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:16.399
But uh did you learn anything on Beagles?
00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:17.600
You have a Beagle at home?
00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:19.040
Did you learn a few things on them?
00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:19.759
I did, yeah.
00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:21.120
No, it was a good it was a good show.
00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:21.600
Yeah.
00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:29.759
Um yeah, the show in Moncton, it's uh it's a bit smaller than other ones, but uh you so you came out to the show to get uh your moose antlers scored.
00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:30.240
Correct.
00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:32.160
Uh so how long ago did you shoot that moose?
00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:33.920
How big 2018.
00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:34.879
2018.
00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:38.800
And what did that end up what was the official score today that you got on it?
00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:43.199
It was 175 and 38, I believe.
00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:44.240
That's a big moose, yeah.
00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:45.279
Yeah.
00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:47.120
Um so sitting in with me today, too.
00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:50.959
We've got Caleb Jones, fellow hoop crew member, talking moose.
00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:56.000
Caleb's well, you guys Caleb wasn't gonna come out tonight, and you two ended up talking moose at the show.
00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:58.639
Caleb's like, he's really good to talk to and all that and stuff.
00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:00.560
And I was like, well, why don't you just come out, Caleb?
00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:01.600
We're gonna be talking moose.
00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:02.399
So yeah.
00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:14.160
Um Steven, so uh before we really get going, why don't you kind of let's in you know introduce yourself, let's get to know you a little bit and uh talk moose because you started moose hunting at an early age.
00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:14.959
I do, right?
00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:16.079
Yeah, you got a bit of a story.
00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:16.959
I do, yeah.
00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:19.120
So I'm 46 years old.
00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:23.360
Uh I've been uh hunting since I've been just a small kid.
00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:29.120
Started out uh moose calling when I was about six, called my first bull moose out.
00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:30.879
Uh how it all started, yeah.
00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:32.879
Yeah, well how yeah, how did that start?
00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:37.600
So we stopped at a convenience store, and back then you can rent your VHS tapes.
00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:38.079
Yeah.
00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:47.439
And I was going through the selection there, and I come across this uh one video tape that said Giants of the Yukon and massive bull in the front.
00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:50.639
So I showed my dad and he's like, Yeah, we'll go take a home watch it.
00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:58.160
So and what it was just like an hour and a half of fun-filled like guides calling these massive bulls on a day.
00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:02.480
And at that young of an age, I didn't know that was possible.
00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:04.480
Yeah, it caught my attention.
00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:06.399
And it just it went it.
00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:09.120
I started calling right from that day, and I think I drove my family crazy.
00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:09.600
Yeah.
00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:13.439
Cause you well, you where you live, you you're up in kind of northern New Brunswick, right?
00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:14.399
So that that's moose country.
00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:14.959
Yeah, north.
00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:15.680
Yeah.
00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:18.079
So you guys, not a lot of deer up there.
00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:19.279
I can even hunt them up there.
00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:23.680
Yeah, you can back in the 80s, it was one of the probably one of the best places to hunt deer.
00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:24.000
Oh, yeah.
00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:26.800
And now it's they're slowly coming back.
00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:28.160
Yeah, but you guys got the moose.
00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:31.600
So then so you you watched that and that that's how you started.
00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:35.200
No, did your dad he hunted moose before, I'm assuming, but did he did he call them?
00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:36.639
I mean, was anyone calling them much?
00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:41.120
No, the only one really in the family that would would call would be an uncle of mine, Gary.
00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:41.759
Yeah.
00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:45.919
Uh and that's kind of how him and I got on onto a day.
00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:50.399
Uh actually, dad and my mother and I, we was us, I was six years old.
00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:53.440
We was out getting wood out back of this uh farm.
00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:58.399
And I wasn't much help, but uh I was walking off and after I watched that video, yeah.
00:08:58.480 --> 00:08:59.679
I was just I was calling moose.
00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:01.279
Yeah, and I could hear something down in the woods.
00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:03.200
I was like 200 yards away from dad and mom.
00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:08.480
And I got listening, and I was like, that's a bull, you know, at six years old.
00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:11.039
So I run back to dad and I'm like, I just called out a bull of moose.
00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:14.720
He's like, no, no, he didn't, no, quit, you know, and I'm like, come on, let's go check it out.
00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:16.240
So we go down, nothing's standing there.
00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:17.360
So I get out and I call again.
00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:19.440
Well, this big bull comes walking out, you know.
00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:20.559
He's swaying back and forth.
00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:24.879
Yeah, and dad's like, holy shit, you just called out your you know, your first moose.
00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:25.120
Yeah.
00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:27.440
So from that day on what was that feeling like?
00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:32.960
Well, being at six years old, I mean, that was like the the critical it was.
00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:37.120
So I gotta ask, so you six, you're 46, 40 years later, do you still get the same feeling?
00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:37.679
I do.
00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:38.639
Yes, absolutely.
00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:39.440
I figured you did.
00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:39.679
Yeah.
00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:45.840
Still to this day, if I have a bull coming in that's coming hard, I have to turn myself around and talk myself down.
00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:46.559
Really?
00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:54.000
See, because my heart is just pounding, and I had I really have to talk myself down because it's See the people that don't hunt and don't understand it.
00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:55.279
I mean, how do you explain that to them?
00:09:55.360 --> 00:10:00.720
But you've been doing it for 40 years and you just saying that, I mean, that's what it's all about, is to still get that feeling.
00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:01.679
You know, that's that's awesome.
00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:02.080
That's amazing.
00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:04.240
It's really amazing.
00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:07.919
Yeah, so uh, you know, how did you progress from there?
00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:11.039
And then you spent a little time out of province guiding.
00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:11.919
I did, yes.
00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:13.360
That was my first guiding job.
00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:13.759
Yep.
00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:18.159
I went to northern Alberta, I guided for a company, Northern Wilderness Outfitters at the time.
00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:20.799
Weldon Prosser is actually was from back home.
00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:21.120
Okay.
00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.960
And he had moved out to Alberta.
00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:28.320
So I put my uh my resume on the Alberta Professional Outfits and Society.
00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:29.120
Okay, cool.
00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:29.360
Yeah.
00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:31.840
And so Weldon's like, hey, Steve Smith from Center.
00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.120
Well, I wonder if that's uh because it was an online application center.
00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:36.080
Yeah, okay.
00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:36.720
No, that's cool.
00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:37.120
Yeah.
00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:39.440
So he called me and he's like, Hey, how you doing?
00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:41.440
And we got talking, he's like, Who's your family?
00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:43.440
And so I told him he's like, When can you come?
00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:43.919
Really?
00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:45.039
I didn't know the guy, right?
00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.799
Then he started explaining to me like who he was.
00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:47.279
Yeah.
00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:50.559
So yeah, I went out and I got to Black Bear for three months in Northern Over.
00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:51.120
That's cool.
00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:53.039
I lived in uh I lived in a tent for three months.
00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:54.399
So how old were you?
00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:57.120
I would have been 19, 20 back then.
00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:01.519
So you just put your resume out there and just hope that's that's the first time I left home, yeah.
00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:01.679
Yeah.
00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:03.120
Get on a plane and wow.
00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:06.480
And there's no one there's no Facebook, you know, none of that.
00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:06.720
Yeah.
00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:10.080
No, no, cell phones were just slowed, they had a bag phone.
00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:11.759
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:14.320
I've seen uh pictures of them in movies and stuff like that.
00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:15.120
I know they're real.
00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:16.559
Yeah, you gotta go back to my age, yeah.
00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:18.320
But no, that's when they were first were coming out.
00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:19.919
So that was a big eye opener.
00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:20.879
Yeah, yeah.
00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:22.559
Really had no experience in bear.
00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:24.320
So you you learned quickly.
00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:25.440
I learned quickly, yeah.
00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.720
Five of us guides.
00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:28.720
Uh so yeah, it was a lovely thing.
00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:30.879
So what kind of what kind of a bear hunt were they offering out there?
00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.039
Over bait or yeah, it was overbait, yeah.
00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:39.360
Yeah, and you're allowed uh at the time just one bear, but you could you they bought wolf tags and whatnot.
00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:45.120
But we had uh there's five guides and we run roughly about 20 20 baits per guide.
00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:50.960
So unfortunately when the year I went out, it was after 9-11.
00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:53.840
Uh the year or two after, so there wasn't a lot of people flying in, right?
00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:54.240
Right.
00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:56.480
Uh but we still had close to 100 bear that year.
00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:56.799
Really?
00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:57.600
Like that spring, yeah.
00:11:57.840 --> 00:11:58.000
Wow.
00:11:58.480 --> 00:11:58.720
Yeah.
00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.960
He was one of the biggest in the in the province at the time.
00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:01.440
Yeah.
00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:02.080
Jeez.
00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:05.279
So six years old calling and all that.
00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:07.039
We we skipped ahead a tiny bit.
00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:09.360
I want to talk about in the middle there with the moose calling.
00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:12.960
I'm just guessing all through high school and everything, you just kept refining it.
00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:13.679
I did, yes.
00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:15.759
And uh you're moose hunting.
00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:16.399
Do you go?
00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:25.840
You went you're probably one of those people that whether so when you brunswick it's a lottery system to get your tag, you probably end up going with somebody somewhere for the last 20 20 years for the last twenty-six years.
00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:27.039
Twenty-six years, yeah.
00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:28.559
Yeah, I've gone every year.
00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:29.919
Yep, just helping and stuff.
00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:30.639
How many times have you got to do that?
00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.879
Oh, I've actually guiding guiding, right?
00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:33.039
Yeah.
00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:36.480
Uh I've had my tag three times or twice, sorry, twice.
00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:37.279
That's crazy.
00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:40.080
People don't realize that, like, in 27 years.
00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:41.279
I know that's how it is here.
00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:48.080
It's not a fair lottery because I know people have had it twice in four years, and then that I know it's I have an uncle, I think he's had his name drawed like six times.
00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.440
Like it's phenomenal.
00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:50.559
Yeah, it's nuts.
00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:53.519
But I mean, yeah, no, it it's it's good.
00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:55.279
But so tell us a little bit, yeah.
00:12:55.360 --> 00:13:00.240
I mean, into the guiding and you know, you with your moose hunting 27 years.
00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:06.799
What well it started out actually, uh I was on my first moose hunt with my father, uh, I think I was seven, I think.
00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:09.600
Um so he did get a nice bowl.
00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:18.720
And after that, um I have my I actually never went hunting moose until I was a little bit older, until I got like in the 18, 19.
00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:21.039
And then I was like, I'm gonna start calling moose.
00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:24.159
Like I always called moose, would go out and play around with them, eh?
00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:28.720
But I actually get into the guiding part of it, then that's when it all started at a younger age, eh?
00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:32.399
So uh it was really it's been good.
00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:33.200
Yeah, yeah.
00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:36.879
Well you you guys have gotten massive moose over the years.
00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:38.879
What's the biggest you've guided?
00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:41.440
Uh my widest is a little over 58 inches.
00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.879
I haven't reached that 60-inch mark yet.
00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.080
Oh, yeah, it's big, yeah.
00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:44.879
It's coming.
00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.200
Yeah.
00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:52.399
Uh the biggest, I guess the scorable one would be the one that I've taken with uh with my buddy in 2018.
00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:53.200
Okay, yeah.
00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:55.679
So uh, I mean, this not a load.
00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:01.279
We bounced all through the 50-inch mark and all through the 40s, but yeah the only one in my family that reached a 60 had been my uncle.
00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:01.679
Okay.
00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:02.799
Yeah, Uncle Gary, yeah.
00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.399
That's that's a big moose.
00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:10.799
I mean, uh this is probably a bit of a loaded question, but I mean, tell us some of the stuff that you've learned over the past 27.
00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:19.519
What is what are some little uh unknown facts that the average Joe might not know about moose hunting and how to get those big bulls in and just reading moose language a little bit.
00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:22.240
Everything, you know, every hunt's different, right?
00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:26.240
So it's just because it happened to me this year, next year it's gonna be totally different.
00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:32.240
Like I watched that uh show there with uh Lane's hunt, and he's like, Hey, what do you what do you think about what happened there?
00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:34.240
I'm like, you know, fellow hoop member.
00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:40.320
What I would have done probably wouldn't have happened you know, it might have not uh worked out the same way as how he happened, right?
00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:44.320
I mean, if you get pinned up like they did, he knew he knew they were there, right?
00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:55.360
So in hunting with Bo, you yeah you really gotta What do you find like some of your best calling is?
00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:58.960
Like do you do you like to use like the traditional birch bark callers?
00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.080
I just use my hands.
00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:00.720
Just your hands.
00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:02.159
You've have you tried the birch bark?
00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:06.159
I have ones and uh I I can't I can't I can't get used to it.
00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:06.559
Okay.
00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:10.240
No, I've I I've never used yeah, and what about you, Caleb?
00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:12.559
You guys you've screwed around with the birch bark ones, haven't you?
00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:15.840
Yeah, we've screwed around with the birch bark calls, but hands seem to work better.
00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.639
Yeah, yeah.
00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:18.480
It just and you like to carry something.
00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:20.720
Oh, that's just done like you got enough stuff there.
00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.919
I got a paddle I'm carrying.
00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:26.240
No, I got a bat pack because I got all the you know my my scents and stuff in the batpack.
00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:31.279
And yeah, so it's it's hard lugging that stuff around, and and then most people want it videoed.
00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:36.399
So when you're trying to video hunt, yeah, and it's that's like bow hunting, that's a whole other game, right?
00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:39.360
It's really hard, and a lot of times it just doesn't work out, right?
00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:43.039
Yeah, you don't get the shot or it you it's hard.
00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:43.840
It is, yeah.
00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:47.200
Yeah, well, you talked about scents, so you're also on with uh Pro Expedition.
00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:49.440
Oh, yeah, it's a Canadian company out of Montreal.
00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:50.480
Uh out of Montreal.
00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:52.320
So why don't you tell us a little bit about that?
00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:55.840
Because I know they've been on the store shelves here for a little bit and that's gotten bigger.
00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.840
How how did that come about?
00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:01.120
Uh they had reached out a few years ago.
00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:02.799
I've been with them like six years now.
00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.639
Uh just over Facebook.
00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:11.200
I had posted some uh videos and some photographs of me setting baits out, or I say baits but mineral sites.
00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:14.799
And uh one of the the owner had seen it.
00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:19.120
It's like so he contacted me, he's like, Hey, I see you use my product and how you like it.
00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:26.639
And so, you know, we was talking about what what you know how I like what worked, and and he's like, Do you want to become a pro staff for me?
00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:28.320
I'm like, Yeah, sure, why not?
00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:30.080
So that's you use enough of it.
00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:31.759
Yeah, yeah, I use I use a lot of it.
00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:34.639
Yeah, no, it's it's uh it's very well well-made product.
00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:38.799
Yeah, because uh I think that's how it kind of came across you was on Facebook as well.
00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:51.679
Just you post different sites, but you you keep uh cameras and mineral sites out and all that kind of year-round or try to when I pull them uh late uh late November.
00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:57.200
Sometimes if I can get keep going, I'll I'll run uh I'll run the sites as long as I can as long as the snow doesn't put me out.
00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:57.919
Yeah, yeah.
00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:04.720
So tell me a bit like how you got in getting into that, and then like you you keep you've got some amazing pictures over the years of the moose and stuff.
00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:10.480
A lot of the stuff don't make don't make the the market because I don't like to show a lot of it, right?
00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:15.920
But uh some I I do have to post just because I'm proud of what we've got, right?
00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.039
Yeah in the province.
00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:18.480
There are some big some big bulls.
00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:19.680
There is, yeah.
00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:31.920
Yeah, and you've been able to kind of get an inside scoop a little bit on the have you learned a lot about moose behavior and things like that too, just with the mineral sites that you're running and yeah, I find uh I have a lot of returning bulls.
00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.480
Okay.
00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:33.039
Yeah, yeah.
00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:35.680
Uh I I have pictures when they're you know as they grow, right?
00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:39.519
As long as hunters don't don't take them or you know, the winner kill or whatnot, eh?
00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:41.759
But uh they will return every year.
00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:49.920
A lot, not all of them, but there is a lot that that's um so that's with like the cows bringing the calves in, right?
00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:55.200
Like oh yeah, yeah, that's like when I see people putting like their salt blocks way up high, like five, six feet up the air.
00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.880
I said, bring them down.
00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:58.000
Bring them down to three feet.
00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:58.640
Let the calves have.
00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.559
That's your next generation coming.
00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:03.599
So you're putting you're putting minerals on stumps and stuff like that.
00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:04.400
I do, yes.
00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:04.880
Yeah.
00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:05.440
Okay.
00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:05.920
Yeah.
00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:08.160
Or if I don't have a stump, I just put it on the ground.
00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:08.559
Right.
00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:08.799
Yeah.
00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:09.119
Yeah.
00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.640
I mean, they'll eat the ground, right?
00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:12.559
They're eating the yeah, they're looking for that.
00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:12.880
Yeah.
00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:14.480
Especially this time of year, right?
00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:17.039
Because there's no sodium right over the winter, right?
00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:21.359
So the ponds are still frozen, so they can't get to the ponds to get the lilies to get the sodium, right?
00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:26.079
So they need the sodium, they need the calcium, yeah.
00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:29.440
The phosphorus and magnesium, like they need they need that this time of year.
00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.000
Yeah.
00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:33.039
So how important do you think it is putting out that mineral?
00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:34.079
Like, have you noticed a difference?
00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:36.799
I mean, it's something you gotta stick with, and you have been consistent with it.
00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:41.119
I've been I've been setting minerals for like 10, 12 years now.
00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.799
Um, I think it helps a lot.
00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.400
It's no different than the NASA.
00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:45.440
Multivitamins.
00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:46.720
Multi vitamins, right?
00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:53.599
But it's if you if you set minerals out in the spring and and expect to grow inches on an antler, it's not gonna happen.
00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:54.160
Right.
00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.599
And that's the that's the thing.
00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:58.079
A lot of these companies they try to tell you that.
00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:58.400
Right.
00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:02.480
They do, but it it's it's uh it's not, but it's gonna help.
00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.279
It's gonna help, sorry.
00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.640
Yes, it will help, yes.
00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:08.880
Rather, it it's gonna help with their the the whole body metabolism, right?
00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:20.400
Bone development, you know, like with the with the fetus and with production of milk for the mothers, and it's gonna help all overall, but you gotta look at it as like a five-year process, five, six years.
00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:21.839
I sent you that video, remember?
00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.319
Yes.
00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.680
Uh, that was a good read.
00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.160
Yeah.
00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:28.720
So yeah, but just it it takes time and consistency with putting that stuff out.
00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:29.359
It does, yeah.
00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:29.839
Yeah, yeah.
00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:34.559
And yes, animals, they move on, but the returning animals, they will return.
00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.039
Right.
00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:39.759
And the calves that come to that site, if they survive the winter, they will return too, most of them.
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.240
Yeah.
00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:40.640
Yeah.
00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:49.839
Well, Caleb, you guys when we were out staying at your guys' camp this year, uh running the Beagles, and then you know, you guys had that salt block up, and we looked down the hill there, and there's there's a news in the valley, yeah.
00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.640
Yeah, right in the valley.
00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.880
But he was this is long after hunting season.
00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:54.240
Um, so we had to shoot him quick.
00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.039
No, I'm just kidding.
00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.920
Just kidding.
00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:03.839
Uh, but uh, you know, he was hanging out down there because of that and stuff, and he obviously felt like he needed it that time of year, so he wouldn't have been there licking it.
00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:06.559
So it's especially after after the rut.
00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:08.720
Yeah, I mean they know what they need, right?
00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.119
They know.
00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:10.480
If they don't want it, they're not gonna take it.
00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:10.960
Exactly.
00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:11.200
Yeah.
00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:14.559
Rather, your deer, your moose, if they want the minerals, they're gonna get it.
00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.039
Yeah.
00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:17.440
And if they don't want it, they they won't come to it.
00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:17.920
Right.
00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:18.319
Yeah.
00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:22.480
And I find especially like up to like August, I find the bulls, they're done.
00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:25.039
The cows will still continue with the salt, but the bulls are done.
00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:26.160
They got one thing under mine, right?
00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:28.799
They're they're they're changing, they're they're coming into the rut.
00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:34.559
Um, then after the after the the rut mic hammers, they light up again.
00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:34.880
Yeah.
00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:39.039
The bulls come back, like they're they're hitting the minerals again because they're they're wore out.
00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:44.559
Now, how far do you find, like, if you were to keep track of how far some of these bulls travel during the rut?
00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.880
I mean, do they is it is it just endless you find?
00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:48.240
I don't know a lot about moose.
00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:52.079
I've been fortunate enough to harvest one, but I I don't know a lot about them.
00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:54.160
They travel a long way as they can.
00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.119
Yeah, yeah.
00:20:55.440 --> 00:21:05.759
Like just because you have a beautiful bull on your camera in the first, second week of September, he could be 20 miles, 30 miles away come hunting season.
00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:08.400
Yeah, like they they're they're just coming, they're going, right?
00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:11.119
That big one that we got in at 2018.
00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:12.720
He wasn't the one actually I was going for.
00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.279
Okay.
00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:19.039
No, there was uh a little smaller one there, not much, but yeah, he came in like the day before and took over.
00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:19.599
Really?
00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:19.839
Yeah.
00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.440
So I've got a scenario for you.
00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:26.240
This happened, so this is the year that we got our moose, uh, the night before the season.
00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:35.599
Uh a buddy of mine, him, and another one of my friends were hunting in this spot, and he sent me a picture of this two great big bulls following this cow the night before opening morning.
00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:38.480
And I was like, Holy shit, I'm like, they're gonna be tagged out first thing in the morning.
00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.279
That's crazy.
00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:41.839
They didn't see a single moose that week.
00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:44.319
And I'll I was uh we ended up getting ours.
00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:50.079
We didn't see any before, and then just first when they came out happened to be a really nice bull, but I I couldn't believe it.
00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:54.880
What uh the they just take off in the middle of the night and never to be no they seen again.
00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:58.000
No, they cow up and they'll go back in the woods deep.
00:21:58.079 --> 00:22:00.480
I mean, a lot of hunting pressure will put Them back.
00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:11.119
I find up in the area that we hunt, if last few years there's so many hunters and they're pounding the road the week before, they're just pushing the moose back.
00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.319
Yeah.
00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.279
And they then people stop.
00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.880
They were in a high traffic area.
00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:15.279
Yeah.
00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.880
And then they stop, they start calling.
00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:20.400
Well, you call and call a boy bullout like once or twice, maybe.
00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.279
He gets smart.
00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.480
He's bugging off.
00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.279
He's not coming back.
00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:23.680
Yeah.
00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:28.720
So going into the season, what are uh some good tips and tactics that you start with?
00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:30.960
And how does that look going into the season for you?
00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:33.759
Like are you paying attention to rubs and scrapes a lot?
00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:40.079
Or uh I don't I only visit my sites from spring to fall once a month.
00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:40.720
Okay.
00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:43.200
I don't hit it anymore, less traffic the better.
00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:43.839
Oh, okay.
00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.279
And I never hunt over my sights.
00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:45.839
Never do.
00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:47.119
I never have and never will.
00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:50.240
Uh I hunt two, three hundred yards off my salt licks.
00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:54.000
Because to me, I even though we're hunting, I'm I call it a safe zone.
00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:56.240
Yeah so I want that area.
00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:58.000
Yeah, you want them to feel comfortable.
00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:59.920
That's different than a lot of other people.
00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.240
Yeah.
00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:06.000
I call them the the way we hunt, the way I hunt is we call them to the road.
00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:06.640
Right.
00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:09.200
And very seldom do we go in after them.
00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:12.240
Sometimes we do, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:15.599
But no, I it's a strictly a call where where we are.
00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:15.839
Okay.
00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:17.200
It's tight quarters.
00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:17.680
Yeah.
00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:21.440
Like it's the roads are are narrow and the woods, you know.
00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:24.640
It you're within most of my hunts are under 50 yards.
00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.279
Really?
00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:25.599
Yeah.
00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.400
Yeah, that is.
00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:26.799
Yeah.
00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:28.319
My closest was seven yards.
00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:29.680
What was yours?
00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:31.440
This year killed 600.
00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.960
Yeah, 635.
00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:35.920
Yeah, we don't we don't have cuts like that where we are.
00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:36.960
That's good.
00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.440
Yeah.
00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:39.359
I mean, and you get farther up north.
00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:39.680
Yeah.
00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:42.480
They get some bigger cuts up there, but nothing where we are.
00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:45.119
Are you priming your sights in any way, shape, or form?
00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:49.039
No, I just use uh I use a lot of salt and I use a lot of Pro Expedition.
00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.440
Right.
00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:55.759
And I use uh basically they have one of my favorite uh products they have, it has the urine mixed in it.
00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:57.200
Urine minerals and salt.
00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.480
So I use that year-round.
00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:03.200
It smells just when you walk anywhere near my site, you're gonna smell moose.
00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:05.839
And it's the it's the salt in the urine, is what it is.
00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:11.119
Okay, it's strong, and like I said, I you go once, once every month.
00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:11.599
Yeah.
00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:16.240
And I'll go out the end of August, and that's the last time I go to my site.
00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.519
I don't go back.
00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.400
Really?
00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:21.599
So uh night before opener, what are you doing?
00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.240
Anything special?
00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:24.559
Are you the type of person to go in and prime a bait site?
00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:24.960
Nope.
00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.519
I don't go.
00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:26.079
Nothing.
00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:27.680
You don't go in and call or nothing?
00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:31.359
Nope, because I find not even before the night before.
00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:36.799
No, because I find if you have a single bull in that area and you call and he comes looking, there's nothing there.
00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.160
Yeah, he won't fall for it again.
00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:38.960
He's not gonna fall for it.
00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:39.519
Fool me once.
00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.400
Fool me once, yeah.
00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:40.559
Yeah.
00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.119
Oh, okay.
00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:41.440
Yeah.
00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:43.759
Some people can do that and have great success with it.
00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:44.079
Yeah.
00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:48.319
I now and So don't play what you're saying is guys don't play with them.
00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:51.680
Like, oh, we'll get opening morning, let's, you know, do a few calls, see what Ansi's back.
00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.559
You're saying don't do that.
00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:53.119
I don't do it.
00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.440
Okay.
00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.000
No.
00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.400
Yeah.
00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:58.079
Years ago we used to, and we had some pretty good success doing that.
00:24:58.240 --> 00:25:02.720
But uh when I've got really heavy into it, I said no more.
00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.759
No, that makes sense.
00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:04.000
Yeah.
00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:04.799
I'm not doing it.
00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:11.119
Now, mind you, we will go to a spot that I have no intentions on hunting and we'll see what's there.
00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:12.799
See what's there, call and see what's coming in.
00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:17.039
A few years ago, actually, I had my two cousins, they had their one of them had the license.
00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:21.039
So we're not the night before in an area where I had no intentions on hunting.
00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:25.519
We'd just kind of sitting around there and I let a call out just and I could hear a bull down the brook.
00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.480
He was coming.
00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:32.400
And this is uh, you know, it it wasn't as it would probably be like a 160, like it was a nice bull, it'd be 50 inch.
00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:38.799
I got it, I got it on video, and he comes in within 35 yards and standing there, and they're like, This is where we're coming tomorrow.
00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:39.920
I said, No, we're not.
00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:41.039
They said, Why?
00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:44.240
I said, Because that's a lonely bull, he's looking, he won't be here in the morning.
00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:45.440
I can lay money on it.
00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:49.119
So we went back out to where I would hunt, and we got a 55 inch.
00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.960
They probably thought you were nuts though, didn't they?
00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.599
They did, yeah.
00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.480
They said there's no way.
00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:56.400
He said, if we would be coming here in the morning, I said, Well, you'd be coming here probably looking for nothing.
00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:59.440
Yeah, there's a good chance that he's not that experience comes in.
00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:03.680
Yeah, he was not cowed up and he's looking, he's roaming, you know.
00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:06.160
See, that was anybody else, like yeah, they'd be able to do that.
00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:08.480
You'd be thinking this is where we're coming in the morning.
00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:10.400
No, that's that's the experience part of it.
00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:10.640
Yeah.
00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:14.880
So on the flip side of things, if if there's a bull all cowed up, are you going back there in the morning?
00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.279
Yep.
00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:15.440
Yeah.
00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.079
I will, yeah.
00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.200
If if he's okay.
00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.960
Yeah, if you're cowed up, yeah, I will go back.
00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:20.160
Because they're not gonna go far.
00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:21.119
The cows won't.
00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:21.440
No.
00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.960
No, no, they'll stay.
00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.400
You may have to go in after him.
00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.039
Yeah.
00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:30.240
Because if the if you're calling, you get a bull calling, I find, and you can then you got cows.
00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:32.400
You have to close that distance, I find.
00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:34.319
Let him know that you're interested.
00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:37.519
He's gonna call to you, so call back to him.
00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:39.359
So close the distance.
00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:42.240
And then, you know, he'll edge his way to you.
00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:44.480
And then you know, you may in the middle.
00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:44.799
Yeah.
00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:46.079
So how are you trying to play that?
00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:49.759
Are you calling like you're are you grunting like a bull or are you cow calling on the way in?
00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:52.640
Every situation's different depending on how the bull's reacting to the call.
00:26:53.440 --> 00:27:01.599
Is it hard to so I know with turkeys, if it if it if the tom is henned up, did the odds of taking that tom away from that live hent are so slim.
00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:06.079
So you either have to set up where you think the hen's going or you've got to try to get her pissed off to come in.
00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:06.480
Right.
00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:12.000
Is it are you try have you ever tried to get the cow going to bring her to you, or do they care?
00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:13.759
No, not necessarily at all.
00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:20.880
No, they're basically if they're they're gonna call to the bull to try to keep him there because he's calling what he thinks is a cow calling from me.
00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.960
He's like, hey, come, you know, come to me.
00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:24.240
And I'm saying, well, come to me.
00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:27.119
Well, then you've got two or three, four or five cows, whatever he would have, eh?
00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:28.480
Then they all get going at it.
00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:31.200
Well, he's because there's always small little bulls hanging around.
00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.680
Okay, you've got your big That might be like I'll go.
00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:38.000
You got your big bull, but yeah, there's a good chance you've got some smaller bulls hanging around.
00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:40.640
So if that big bull leaves, he's gonna try to sneak in.
00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:42.079
That younger bull, eh?
00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:46.079
Yeah, and I had this actually this happened a few years ago on a hunt.
00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:51.680
We was actually driving out at like 5 30 in the morning, and I I went down in the hall and I come up and I could see legs on the road.
00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:54.400
So I shut the truck right off and the guys in the truck, like, what are you doing?
00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:57.279
I'm like, there's mook standing like 50 yards up there.
00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.079
They never seen it.
00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:59.279
I said, We're just gonna wait here.
00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:02.480
I don't know what's there, but we're gonna wait until opening morning.
00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:10.400
So yeah, open the morning come, and we get out and I called, and they're only 70 yards away, whatever.
00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:14.640
And he had three cows and the bowl, and and I this I'm gonna send you the video.
00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:19.839
I don't know if I sent it to you or not, but uh buddy of mine had who I was guiding, I just met them there.
00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:21.759
He he had videoed it professionally, but videoed it.
00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:23.279
Okay, editing it to it.
00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.599
Yep.
00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:28.240
So we was there about an hour, but he had to cut it down to like 13 minutes after editing it.
00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:33.599
And uh so it was me versus the cows trying to get the bull.
00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:37.279
So it was quite intenser for like for a little bit, yeah.
00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.079
For a little bit, right?
00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:42.559
And I said we gotta keep going because the cows are pulling him away, right?
00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:47.920
Yeah, so once he knew that I was coming to meet him halfway, that got his attention.
00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:54.559
So, and once he started that real deep, you know, like I knew he he'd commit it then, he was coming.
00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:58.480
So that's when I told the boy said, He's coming, we gotta back up, get to this strip cut he's coming to here.
00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:00.720
And it was just you couldn't have played it out any better, right?
00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:01.759
It was just tech.
00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:02.799
Yeah, it was perfect.
00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:08.640
That was his this guy's first time hunting, and he just turned around and looked at me, he said, That was the most rush I've ever had in my life.
00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:10.319
Like it was pretty phenomenal.
00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:17.119
Even for like to me, that's still like a real highlight of my own like the hook to call a bull off a cow is very hard.
00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.319
Oh, I don't doubt it.
00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:24.880
And I'm not bragging at all, but I I'm pretty happy that it it happened because a lot of times it don't happen that way.
00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:26.160
No, no, no.
00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:29.839
I mean, like to say to get them off of a live cow, especially if they're in heat.
00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.799
You gotta stay on the city.
00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:32.000
Yeah, you're gonna have to go in.
00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:39.200
If that bull has got his head on her on her back end and you know he's flaring his nostrils, licking the air, and he he's not leaving her at all.
00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:41.599
You're gonna and that's when you can actually walk in on him.
00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:45.039
Okay, yeah, because he's not paying attention to anything but that's how I got that big bull.
00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.720
I knew he had five cows with him.
00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:50.319
Yeah, and I walked in and I I was grunting, I was doing he wanted nothing to do with me.
00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.119
Yeah, yeah.
00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:55.440
And I just walked in and and he was almost ready to mount her, is what he was doing.
00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.799
Like, oh yeah, yeah.
00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:00.880
And when I shot that bull, I never seen a cow in my life get so mad.
00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:01.519
Really?
00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:03.359
Yeah, I thought she was gonna actually charge me.
00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.000
That's how I'm mad.
00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:07.440
She's turned around, she's stomped on the ground, her, you know, ears are back, the hairs up.
00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:08.880
That was my one chance this year.
00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:09.839
She was mad.
00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:11.599
Like I was I was a little scared there.
00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.160
Really?
00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.559
Yeah.
00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.200
Huh.
00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:15.279
It was it was intenser for a minute.
00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:15.599
Yeah.
00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.680
Yeah, they're they're dangerous.
00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.240
They can be.
00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:22.880
People I think people underestimate that is that that's probably the most dangerous animal in the North American woods.
00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:24.400
It is, in my opinion, it is.
00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:24.799
Yes.
00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:26.480
I mean, they kick the shit out of a grizzly.
00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:26.720
Yep.
00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.119
Really?
00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:32.000
I'm more scared of a cow with a calf in the springtime than anything in the woods.
00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:32.400
Yeah.
00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:35.920
That's why when I my my lab goes with me, I have a bell for him.
00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:40.880
And he and that's why, because when I'm walking into these sites, right, you don't know what I'm not worried about the bears.
00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.400
I'm worried about the cow with calves.
00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:43.039
Yep.
00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:43.519
Yeah.
00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:44.799
They don't mess around.
00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:45.039
No.
00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:48.640
And they they look at a dog and they think they split things open too bad.
00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:51.440
They look at a dog, they don't know, they don't know it's my pet.
00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.720
No, they look at it as a predator.
00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:53.119
Yes.
00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:54.079
So it's a threat.
00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:54.640
It's a threat.
00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:54.880
Yeah.
00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.480
And they're they're gonna take it out if they can.
00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:56.880
Yeah.
00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:01.759
Um, I've got another scenario for you, kind of what with you guys, Caleb, this past moose season.
00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:04.559
It was so hot that the moose were pretty quiet during the day, right?
00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:06.960
We were having a hard time getting them to respond to calls.
00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:08.160
I think it was due to the heat.
00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:15.119
I found in our area that the week before they were they were very, very active.
00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:19.119
And it turned warm and so what do you what do you do?
00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:22.160
Yeah, I gotta go in the deep in the woods, look for water.
00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:30.400
Yeah, I heard too calling at night can help more because they will respond a little more at night than they will during the day, and that's when you're trying to pinpoint them then.
00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:37.519
I mean moose are more active late evening, early mornings, like like through the all hours of the night into the early morning.
00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:38.640
They're active all night.
00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:39.200
Oh, yeah.
00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:39.599
Really?
00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:40.000
Yeah.
00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:45.039
A lot of times I'll take my hunter and we'll go out in the evening and we'll we'll sleep out at the spot.
00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:45.519
Okay.
00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:48.799
To make sure that I have because I put a lot of time and effort in some of these sites, right?
00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:50.960
And they're just roads that I hunt.
00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.200
Yeah.
00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.480
And I hunt off the roads, right?
00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:55.119
So anybody last year I got beat to my spot, so I turned around.
00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:55.519
Oh yeah.
00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:55.759
Yeah.
00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.960
That was a heartbreaker.
00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:57.279
Yeah.
00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:57.680
Yeah.
00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.079
Yeah.
00:31:58.160 --> 00:32:00.160
No, so we go out, we just roll the windows down, eh?
00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:00.640
And we listen.
00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:00.799
Yeah.
00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:02.000
And the woods come to life.
00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.839
Like you don't I never call.
00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:05.119
I just listen.
00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:08.720
And once it starts, like it's amazing just to listen to them.
00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:09.200
Really?
00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:09.759
Yeah.
00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:14.160
So what's the uh yeah, what's the more of the 27 years guiding and all that?
00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:16.559
What would be like a more memorable hunt?
00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:18.799
They're all memorable, I guess.
00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:19.039
Yeah.
00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:23.039
Um is there any hunt that you think you learned something valuable from?
00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:25.119
Or something that really surprised you?
00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:28.319
Oh, everyone really surprises me.
00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:38.319
Um well, one actually was I got a lot of stories, but this one in particular was with my uh was with my uncle, Uncle Dale, the one that had his license like five or six times.
00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.759
He called me up and said, Hey, you want to go hunt?
00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.319
And I was like, Yeah, sure.
00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:43.759
So we're in zone 10 this year, or that, or not this year, but sorry, the year it happened.
00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:48.480
And my young fella was with us and his wife and their two kids.
00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:54.559
Uh, so we went to this one spot and uh I started calling, and we could hear a bull way off in the distance, but he had cows.
00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:58.559
And I I told him, I said, Dale, I said, I'm pretty certain that bull isn't coming.
00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:02.559
Like he's a long ways off, and I said, where that bull is, it's all marshland.
00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:04.480
I said, I'm not going in after it.
00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.920
We'll be days getting it out.
00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:08.319
So I said, I have another spot.
00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:10.960
He said, Hey, he said, I'm gonna hang out here just in case that comes out.
00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:14.319
I never leave my hunter, but uh this time I said, you know what?
00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.680
I'm gonna go for a little cruise.
00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.960
I have a spot I want to check out.
00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:25.920
What I was gonna do is go around the backside to see if I could get in on that bull from the back side of the road because we're basically on the power line and he was on the other side of the power line in the swamp area, right?
00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:32.319
So I left him on the I had an old uh Honda Fortrax, like very slow, very reliable.
00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:33.680
Good good moose bike, though.
00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:36.160
It is a good moose bike, but 50k ties it up.
00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.759
Yeah, it's not a trail riding bike.
00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:38.400
No, no.
00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:43.119
So I go, I have this spot in my head I'm going, and I want to do a loop.
00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:46.319
The road keeps going, so it goes up over the mountain and back down.
00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:49.759
And I want to go that route, but I said no, I'm gonna continue on.
00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:53.920
But I went past that road and something told me, Stephen, you gotta turn around and go back up that road.
00:33:54.079 --> 00:34:04.480
So I turned around and went back up that road, and I'm just putting along, and I get up top of the hill, and it's cut them both on one on the left-hand side, and I come across and I can smell moose.
00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:05.759
Like that musk key.
00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:09.760
So I shut the wheeler off and I'm like, there's gotta be a wallowing hole here.
00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:12.559
Like it was so strong, like my eyes were almost burning.
00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:13.920
It was really oh yeah.
00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:18.159
So I'm I'm looking, I'm walking over here, and I'm looking, I can't see nothing.
00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:23.599
And I'm walking on the right hand side of the road, and I walk up the a little bit up further, and I had lost the smell.
00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:26.159
So I come back and I can smell it again.
00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.360
So I said, What the heck?
00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:28.719
I'm gonna I'm gonna give a little soft call.
00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:31.760
So I turned around, I just a real soft cow call.
00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:41.360
And right to the as soon as I got the call out right to the right of me, that bull immediately hit like 20 yards, and he starts ripping the shit out of the trees, and my heart like sunk.
00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:44.000
Like I was like, Oh, like it took me by surprise.
00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:48.239
I like being that and I was right there with him, like not knowing he was there.
00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:50.000
So I I get on the wheeler.
00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:52.800
Um, we at the time we had walkie-talkies, but they're junk, hey.
00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:55.280
Like, yeah, it's still a good idea, but yeah.
00:34:55.599 --> 00:35:06.239
So I'm like five miles from from Dale, and I'm trying to get him on the radio way, and and I get halfway there, just then this uh Dale is telling the story after I get to him.
00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:08.880
He's he takes off running, and Julie's like, What's going on?
00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:09.360
What's going on?
00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:11.440
He said Stevie's coming, he said he's gotta have a moose.
00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:15.199
I hear the radio crack and he's like hear my name, so they start driving towards me.
00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:23.519
He gets on with me, and we we get up to the top, and I threw my hat off when I was leaving to kind of get an idea where market right.
00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:26.800
But it was like a hundred yards away, so I wanted to stop the wheeler there, right?
00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:29.760
So we get off and I call and nothing.
00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:35.360
I was like, shoot, you know, maybe I buggered this bull off when I started the wheeler and took off, right?
00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:38.320
So we walked up and I I called again and he was right there.
00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:39.039
He answered back.
00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:39.760
Oh yeah.
00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:45.840
But at that time, that's just when I first was getting into guiding, and I I didn't look my surroundings over.
00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:54.960
If I'd have looked my surroundings over, I'd have known that bull was there because when my uncle had shot that bull, we called him out like 11 yards, and that was like that 58-inch bull.
00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:55.519
Yeah.
00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:59.199
When he came out, he had branches all in his antlers, eh?
00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:03.360
But there was branches on the ground on the road where he came across and they had fallen off.
00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:04.079
Yes, sir.
00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:06.719
And that's what I and that's what I was smelling.
00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:10.159
I was smelling him, but I was smelling the branches because Huh.
00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:13.519
Yeah, I wouldn't think to to notice the branches, I guess, and think awesome.
00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:16.079
Now I really pay attention to the surroundings.
00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:23.440
Like if I had they if I smell, you know, a moose or whatever, I I really get looking around because it was right there in front of me.
00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:24.800
Right under your nose the whole time.
00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:26.480
Yeah, I was walking over top of it.
00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:28.000
That's funny.
00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:29.599
Yeah, it it it really was, yeah.
00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:30.320
Yeah, yeah.
00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:35.440
No, I yeah, that's a good thing to look for, just paying attention to, like you said, your surroundings.
00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:43.360
How many times have you seen like during the heat of the day a moose bedded down or something and not noticing that is a moose, and then what you know, an ear flicker gives it away or something like that.
00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:48.000
But I don't think people realize for the size that they are, they can kind of hide.
00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:49.199
They can really, yes.
00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:53.440
And that in that same area, a few years later, I had a hunter.
00:36:54.000 --> 00:37:01.920
We was in the half-down, it was raining that day, so we were going for a drive, and we get onto the top of that ridge, and we're just cruising along.
00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:02.559
I'm driving.
00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:05.440
The hunter is in the backseat and his buddies in the front.
00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:13.760
And I just happen to come around the corner and we're driving along, and I look, and there is like a 10-point bull lying in the in the ditch.
00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:16.719
Yeah, just relaxing, having a great.
00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:20.000
And I spiked the brakes and said, There's your bull boys.
00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:23.519
Well, the guy in the back, he had it's kind of kind of a sewer side.
00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:24.639
No, they weren't ready at all.
00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:31.920
And they're getting out and they're loading the guns and they're jamming, and doors are opening up, and he get up and like was gone.
00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:32.639
Yeah, yeah.
00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:41.360
But that's the now, my uncle Dale, he had come across two bulls that had been lying down in two years in a row in the same spot, and they got both bulls.
00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:42.159
Really?
00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:43.199
Oh no, I'm not sure.
00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:46.800
So, what do you what do you think it was about that spot though that that they felt comfortable?
00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:48.000
Because I'll tell you something weird.
00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:56.719
So I've I uh on my trail cameras this year were for the deer, uh just outside of my food plot, there's a deer trail there, and there's a certain tree.
00:37:56.800 --> 00:38:05.199
I think I showed you this, Caleb, and I had four or five different bucks all throughout the summer and into the fall just randomly lay there.
00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:08.400
They'd lay there for all night, part of the night, this and that.
00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:12.480
And I was there's I don't know what it is about that spot, but they did a lot.
00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.920
Like I said, four or five different bucks.
00:38:14.239 --> 00:38:17.840
Do you have pictures of them like rubbing her antlers, putting her scent glands on that tree?
00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:19.679
Not a little bit, not a lot.
00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:23.039
Because they do have like they call them like licking trees, yeah.
00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:24.719
No, there wasn't not really.
00:38:24.800 --> 00:38:30.400
They just came in there and just laid down, but it's just that spot they were really fond of it for some reason.
00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:34.639
Maybe they're is it up high enough where they have good surrounding they they can look?
00:38:35.280 --> 00:38:37.440
Not really coming where they're coming from, it's quite thick.
00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:37.760
Right.
00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:42.639
And then going out, it's a little more open, but they're in between two fields, but they just feel like that's boss.
00:38:42.960 --> 00:38:43.679
You think with the moose?
00:38:44.320 --> 00:38:47.440
I just no, I think I think with the moose, I think they just rutted all night long.
00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:50.159
They've been proud, they're tired, they figured that's and they're just laying down.
00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:54.400
I mean, they my uncle, he doesn't Dale, he doesn't call.
00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:55.039
Oh, okay.
00:38:55.280 --> 00:39:03.039
So they were just walking in and like how many times do you walk in on a moose on a like he they've got two big bulls out of this one area, right?
00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:03.360
Yeah.
00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:05.440
And it's it's impressive.
00:39:05.840 --> 00:39:06.400
Yeah, yeah.
00:39:06.719 --> 00:39:09.760
I've never I've never and they always and they always wait till they get up.
00:39:09.840 --> 00:39:13.760
Like they're not, you know, I would never shoot a moose lying down and they always wait it till they get up.
00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:16.320
And but it's it's incredible stuff, really.
00:39:16.719 --> 00:39:20.159
What are your go-tos when you get to a new area and you start calling?
00:39:20.239 --> 00:39:22.960
I mean, what what are you throwing out there for for sounds at them?
00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:29.519
When I first every every every season I go, it's always a just a real first soft cow call.
00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:30.960
Never never hit it hard.
00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:33.199
Because you know, there could be a moose right handy, right?
00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:33.360
Yeah.
00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:38.000
So I always give just some soft cow calls and just let it go and we'll listen and wait.
00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:40.400
I mean, if you get an answer right away, then that's a bonus.
00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:43.280
But I usually wait 10-15 minutes and do it again.
00:39:43.599 --> 00:39:50.079
And over the hour or so, if I'm not getting a response out of the cow call, you know, I'll try some bulls and I'll start raking the bush.
00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:58.000
And you know, because I've had some bulls that won't answer your cow, but as soon as you grab that paddle and you start beating the bush, they come alive, they're they're right there.
00:39:58.400 --> 00:39:58.800
They come in.
00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:00.400
Yeah, they're beating the bush with you.
00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:00.960
Really?
00:40:01.199 --> 00:40:04.000
So it's it's just depending on I guess the scenarios.
00:40:04.320 --> 00:40:07.599
So there it can be a need to beat around the bush when it comes to moose hunting.
00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:08.159
Exactly.
00:40:08.400 --> 00:40:10.960
Um you find that can really that can set them off more than calling.
00:40:11.119 --> 00:40:12.079
It can, yeah, by trying to.
00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:12.400
Really?
00:40:12.559 --> 00:40:12.639
Yeah.
00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:15.360
Depends on how how how worked up they can get, yeah.
00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:15.840
Yeah.
00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:20.320
And then how uh do you pay attention much to moose wallows?
00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:21.599
Like, would you ever hunt them?
00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:27.440
Like, you know, some people say hunt the scrates with deer with moose wallows, uh they think they're coming back or something.
00:40:27.599 --> 00:40:29.280
They'll come back every every few days, yeah.
00:40:29.519 --> 00:40:29.920
Okay, yeah.
00:40:30.239 --> 00:40:32.000
They're like a deer, they'll they do their cycles, right?
00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:32.800
But I never hunt over.
00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:39.440
You would.
00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:40.000
Okay.
00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:40.320
Yeah.
00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:44.079
But just like if he was just there that day, he may not come back for three, four or five days.
00:40:44.239 --> 00:40:44.400
Yeah.
00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:45.119
Well, there's your hunt.
00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:46.559
There's your there's your season here.
00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:46.800
Right.
00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:47.039
Yeah.
00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:50.800
I tell people when you're they say, Oh, I got this this spot I want to go.
00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:52.320
Um, this big bulls.
00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:54.000
What you're driving by bulls.
00:40:54.159 --> 00:40:57.119
Never drive by bulls to go to get a you know what I mean?
00:40:57.199 --> 00:40:58.239
Like Yeah.
00:40:58.480 --> 00:41:01.199
So how long are you giving the areas you're hunting?
00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:03.840
Like we've got what is a five-day season right now?
00:41:04.320 --> 00:41:05.760
How long are you gonna be three?
00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:06.880
Yeah, it used to be three.
00:41:06.960 --> 00:41:07.599
That was a tough hunt.
00:41:07.679 --> 00:41:08.159
I thought that.
00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:10.960
So, how long are you allocating to one specific spot?
00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:14.719
Obviously, you're hunting spots that you know there's moose in, but Are you what?
00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:19.360
Are you are you staying there the whole season or you're gonna sit there for two days?
00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:22.639
I go so how I hunt is we get up in the morning.
00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:30.639
If I don't stay in the area that we're gonna hunt that night, we get up early, like 3 30, we pack a lunch, coffee, we go out, then we sit.
00:41:31.119 --> 00:41:35.920
And by 11 o'clock, if I get no response, 11, 11:30, we're heading back to the camp.
00:41:36.320 --> 00:41:40.079
Go back, get dinner, get rebooted, and then we're heading back.
00:41:40.239 --> 00:41:43.039
I have different areas that I hunt at night, different areas I hunt in the morning.
00:41:43.199 --> 00:41:43.440
Okay.
00:41:43.599 --> 00:41:46.400
What makes a morning hunting area and an evening hunting area?
00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:48.639
That's a good question, Caleb.
00:41:49.199 --> 00:41:52.719
To me, I like all hunting in the morning for me for moose.
00:41:52.800 --> 00:41:58.159
I'd rather hunt moose in the morning than in the evening any day because I find they're more active in the morning.
00:41:58.320 --> 00:41:58.400
Right.
00:41:59.119 --> 00:42:01.440
They've been fired up all night, they're not just getting started.
00:42:01.920 --> 00:42:05.760
And if it's hot during the day, it takes so long for them to get coming back.
00:42:05.840 --> 00:42:12.719
You know, like if it's 75, 80 degrees out, well, they're staying deep in the woods, so chant you're gonna have to go after them.
00:42:12.800 --> 00:42:14.639
I mean, yeah, people get them, obviously they do.
00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:20.159
Whereas the night, chances are it's been cooler, so they're more apt to come in and be responsive to the calls.
00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:20.719
Yeah.
00:42:20.880 --> 00:42:29.360
Speaking about going back to camp, uh, want to keep talking moose, but tell us you you got kind of a unique camp situation, where it is and what it's next to and all that.
00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:33.280
Because tell us a little bit about describe your camp a little bit, because it's it's it's quite good.
00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:35.760
Well, I'll I'll kind of give you a little rundown of the history.
00:42:35.920 --> 00:42:43.119
So back, I'd I I'd say the we have a family camp that's been, I'm gonna say probably 60 years now.
00:42:43.280 --> 00:42:45.760
Uh it was an old CN camp at the time.
00:42:46.079 --> 00:42:47.280
Uh CN Railway.
00:42:47.519 --> 00:42:48.400
Railway, yes.
00:42:48.559 --> 00:42:50.880
Uh so my family came across it.
00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:55.760
No windows, no doors, because CN when they were done building the railroad, that's what what the workers stayed in.
00:42:55.840 --> 00:42:57.199
It must have been really old.
00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:58.159
It's old, yeah.
00:42:58.239 --> 00:42:59.920
You could look out through and see daylight.
00:43:00.079 --> 00:43:02.639
Like you knew you knew the sun was coming, you knew the stars were coming.
00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:03.039
Like it was.
00:43:03.199 --> 00:43:06.159
But if CN had it, like when you guys came across it, how old do you think it was?
00:43:06.400 --> 00:43:09.679
We I think there was writing on the wall, I think, from back to 1913.
00:43:09.840 --> 00:43:11.519
Yes, it was the latest.
00:43:12.159 --> 00:43:13.039
That is crazy.
00:43:13.199 --> 00:43:13.679
That's cool.
00:43:13.760 --> 00:43:13.920
Yeah.
00:43:14.159 --> 00:43:17.599
So my uncle had called CN and said, hey, you know, like we'd like to lease this property.
00:43:17.760 --> 00:43:17.920
Yeah.
00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:19.840
And they're like, we don't even know we got a camp out there.
00:43:19.920 --> 00:43:22.079
So they sent somebody out and Yeah, they wouldn't know probably.
00:43:22.320 --> 00:43:23.920
So he's like, Yeah, we'll lease the property.
00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:25.679
So that's how that kind of started.
00:43:25.760 --> 00:43:29.360
I've been going, which is only three and three miles away from my camp.
00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:29.920
Yeah.
00:43:30.159 --> 00:43:36.639
And the last time was in 2016, I think, is 17, is when I bought my camp.
00:43:36.800 --> 00:43:43.440
Because the last time we was at the camp, my sister had her license, and there was 13 of us in that camp, and it sleeps like seven.
00:43:43.840 --> 00:43:46.239
And I told my dad's sister sleeping outside tonight.
00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:48.320
I told dad, I said, you know, I said, I love this place.
00:43:48.400 --> 00:43:48.960
I grew up here.
00:43:49.039 --> 00:43:49.199
Yeah.
00:43:49.280 --> 00:43:51.199
But I said, This is a bit much for me.
00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:54.960
You know, like we gotta get our own spot, but I want to stay in the general area.
00:43:55.119 --> 00:43:55.440
Yeah.
00:43:55.679 --> 00:43:59.679
And so my friends down the tracks, I called them and say, Hey.
00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:02.719
Is there you know any camps around that are for sale or whatever?
00:44:02.800 --> 00:44:04.239
And they're like, Yeah, there's one right beside us.
00:44:04.320 --> 00:44:04.960
I'm like, Really?
00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:06.719
I've been going there for 46 years.
00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:10.480
And I didn't know this camp was there, but it was down the tracks a little bit further, like 300 yards.
00:44:10.559 --> 00:44:10.639
Yeah.
00:44:10.880 --> 00:44:11.679
Tucked in it on its own.
00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:13.519
It's remote where you guys are at.
00:44:13.679 --> 00:44:16.159
Yeah, we're yeah, we're 22 kilometers in the woods.
00:44:16.239 --> 00:44:17.280
So that's yeah.
00:44:17.360 --> 00:44:19.519
I mean, it's not a long way, but it's long enough.
00:44:19.679 --> 00:44:20.719
It's long enough, yeah.
00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:24.320
So so I called the lady in Moncton that owned the camp.
00:44:24.960 --> 00:44:31.039
Her husband had passed away like years ago due to health conditions, and he was an ex CN workers, how they had the camp.
00:44:31.199 --> 00:44:31.440
Really?
00:44:31.599 --> 00:44:31.760
Yeah.
00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:34.320
So you knew there was that much history of CN in their camps and stuff.
00:44:34.880 --> 00:44:38.159
So at the area that we're at, it was like a little community at the time.
00:44:38.239 --> 00:44:39.599
Like you were going back years ago.
00:44:39.679 --> 00:44:43.360
They had a sawmill down the track from us, like an old that's cool.
00:44:43.519 --> 00:44:46.239
And they they had like uh I think there was a church.
00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:47.920
There was there's a bunch of stuff there, yeah.
00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:49.760
And right across from back there in the woods.
00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:51.440
Yeah, because that was a community.
00:44:51.599 --> 00:44:52.800
They worked at the lumber mill.
00:44:53.599 --> 00:44:54.079
That is cool.
00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:56.000
Yeah, train stationers there.
00:44:56.079 --> 00:44:56.800
Like they had a lot of stuff.
00:44:57.199 --> 00:44:57.599
Fascinating.
00:44:57.679 --> 00:44:57.920
Yeah.
00:44:58.239 --> 00:44:58.400
Really?
00:44:58.800 --> 00:45:03.599
Across from my camp is where the water tower was, is where they stopped the steam engines and fill up the water.
00:45:04.159 --> 00:45:12.320
And the people that own my camp, they would come up from Moncton and get off and stay uh two or three days and then get back on and the train.
00:45:12.400 --> 00:45:12.639
Yeah.
00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:13.119
Really?
00:45:13.199 --> 00:45:16.559
And when it would start like modern day, they were doing it like a few years ago.
00:45:16.800 --> 00:45:18.960
No, they were going back like that.
00:45:19.039 --> 00:45:20.159
Yeah, you wouldn't do you can't do that now.
00:45:20.559 --> 00:45:20.800
No, okay.
00:45:21.679 --> 00:45:21.920
I don't know.
00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:23.119
I don't I don't see trains a lot.
00:45:23.440 --> 00:45:25.119
Yeah, no, but we're going back like the steam engines.
00:45:25.199 --> 00:45:26.960
Like when they were there.
00:45:28.079 --> 00:45:29.280
They would stop to get the water.
00:45:29.360 --> 00:45:32.800
So the the the lady now, she's what do you have for a water source there?
00:45:33.039 --> 00:45:36.960
There a river or uh no, we run like 450 feet of line off the spring.
00:45:37.119 --> 00:45:37.199
Okay.
00:45:38.079 --> 00:45:39.599
So is that what they used to fill the train then?
00:45:39.760 --> 00:45:45.519
No, what they had was like old clay, like uh six-inch uh clay uh like tubes, I guess you'd call them.
00:45:45.840 --> 00:45:49.280
And actually behind my camp, there's a spot where you can turn to open it up.
00:45:49.360 --> 00:45:52.880
It sees now I try to open it because I was like, and that was what would fill from the hill.
00:45:52.960 --> 00:45:53.920
It'd fill the water tower up.
00:45:54.320 --> 00:45:55.519
So the the spring was on the hill.
00:45:55.760 --> 00:45:55.920
Yeah.
00:45:56.639 --> 00:45:57.519
I know that's the crazy thing.
00:45:57.599 --> 00:45:59.679
I didn't there there's so many springs on hills.
00:45:59.760 --> 00:46:01.360
Like what was my buddy saying, Ryan?
00:46:01.519 --> 00:46:03.360
He said, if you want to find water, go to the top of the hill.
00:46:03.440 --> 00:46:03.519
Yeah.
00:46:03.679 --> 00:46:06.719
I mean that's that's where the springs a low area.
00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:08.079
There's a lot of springs on that area.
00:46:08.239 --> 00:46:10.639
If you know where to look, like I've been going there for a long time, right?
00:46:10.719 --> 00:46:12.880
So a lot of it is handed down.
00:46:13.039 --> 00:46:15.840
Like my uncle's and dad would say, Hey, there's a spring here.
00:46:15.920 --> 00:46:17.679
If you want to drink, this is this is good water here.
00:46:17.760 --> 00:46:18.639
We've been drinking it for years.
00:46:18.719 --> 00:46:22.480
So if you're ever out hunting, you were thirsty, as you know, Jardy is a bad thing to get.
00:46:22.559 --> 00:46:23.920
You don't want to just feel beaver feet.
00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:25.920
Yeah, you don't want to get the I I know a guy that's cutting that.
00:46:26.239 --> 00:46:27.119
Yeah, that's not good.
00:46:27.360 --> 00:46:27.679
No.
00:46:27.840 --> 00:46:29.039
Um, so that's so yeah.
00:46:29.119 --> 00:46:30.000
So back in the day, yeah.
00:46:30.079 --> 00:46:36.239
So they come from town, they'd get by train, dropped off, stay at the camp for a few days, hop back on, go back to town.
00:46:36.320 --> 00:46:36.480
Yeah.
00:46:36.639 --> 00:46:37.280
That's very cool.
00:46:37.440 --> 00:46:37.599
Yeah.
00:46:37.760 --> 00:46:42.880
Well, family, I think prior to that, a family lived in that camp that I have.
00:46:42.960 --> 00:46:44.559
There was family of five that lived in it.
00:46:44.800 --> 00:46:47.119
Like we're going back like way back like early.
00:46:47.519 --> 00:46:49.119
Probably worked in like a logging camp.
00:46:49.199 --> 00:46:50.000
Yeah, sort of thing.
00:46:50.239 --> 00:46:51.039
It was logging, yeah.
00:46:51.119 --> 00:46:51.360
Yeah.
00:46:51.519 --> 00:46:56.880
Actually, my grandfather, back then, that's what they used to do was stay in these logging camps, go for the winter and stay all winter.
00:46:56.960 --> 00:46:57.199
Yeah.
00:46:57.440 --> 00:47:02.559
And there was a spot that my dad had taken me where my grandfather actually worked out there and stayed in logging.
00:47:02.719 --> 00:47:05.599
The remnants was still, it's not there now because it's long gone.
00:47:05.679 --> 00:47:09.840
But but yeah, it's we got a lot of history up there in that yeah, I'd say that's fascinating.
00:47:10.159 --> 00:47:20.880
Yeah, my grandfather used to hop on up on a on a transport in the old L, and dad said he would drive or get a ride out and hunt all day, and then they'd get a drive back in.
00:47:21.360 --> 00:47:23.119
Like so are the tracks still active now?
00:47:23.360 --> 00:47:23.679
Yeah, yeah.
00:47:23.760 --> 00:47:25.840
It's the main clean freight line, yeah.
00:47:26.239 --> 00:47:29.920
Steven's Facebook there, you see, I mean, how far is your camp from the tracks?
00:47:30.159 --> 00:47:30.880
30 feet.
00:47:31.039 --> 00:47:32.559
Yeah, yeah, it's right there.
00:47:32.719 --> 00:47:34.800
Yeah, wake you up at night or not me.
00:47:34.960 --> 00:47:37.920
You guys, probably they don't haunt they don't bl they do, yeah.
00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:41.199
I got some buddies that run the buddies that run the rail, so I know they're coming.
00:47:41.360 --> 00:47:49.599
Like last time we was up at like four in the morning, I was laying in bed and I hear I said, Yeah, that's my buddies from Moncton coming, and they really let us know they're coming.
00:47:50.159 --> 00:47:51.039
Yeah, it's awesome.
00:47:51.119 --> 00:47:51.679
Yeah, yeah.
00:47:51.760 --> 00:47:56.400
That's after seeing trains as many as I've seen, I still we still go out and wait to engineers, you know.
00:47:56.719 --> 00:48:02.480
Yeah, you know, it's they probably like it way back there in the woods, so they have people waving that and they probably don't expect it, they probably enjoy it.
00:48:02.559 --> 00:48:04.320
Right, you know, yeah, it's pretty cool, yeah.
00:48:04.960 --> 00:48:06.239
That's uh no, that's neat.
00:48:06.320 --> 00:48:06.960
I didn't know the history.
00:48:07.039 --> 00:48:10.800
I just see the pictures and all that, but I didn't know there's that much history with it.
00:48:11.119 --> 00:48:12.880
I mean, we we we put a lot of work into it.
00:48:13.280 --> 00:48:18.079
Uh when we we took it over, uh Mother Nature had taken over after 10 years.
00:48:18.320 --> 00:48:21.360
Like there were some coons living in it, you know, that the roof was bad.
00:48:21.440 --> 00:48:23.119
Like I was some porcupines.
00:48:23.360 --> 00:48:24.400
Yeah, it's pretty bad.
00:48:24.480 --> 00:48:27.840
And that's and the lady told me, she said, Stephen, she goes, We haven't been there for 10 years, you know.
00:48:27.920 --> 00:48:28.880
My husband got sick.
00:48:29.199 --> 00:48:33.760
When I walked in, it was like he had just walked out of his house and he was coming back.
00:48:33.920 --> 00:48:34.800
That was the plan, eh?
00:48:34.960 --> 00:48:35.760
But he never made it back.
00:48:36.239 --> 00:48:36.400
Right.
00:48:36.800 --> 00:48:41.039
So I I he had an old hunting hat here, like the old uh a flow plaid.
00:48:41.119 --> 00:48:43.199
Yeah, the old wool one, and he had the old hunting knife.
00:48:43.280 --> 00:48:47.039
So I I took it home, I cleaned it, and I hung it up on the wall and I'll just little tribute to him.
00:48:47.199 --> 00:48:48.000
Yeah, yeah, that's nice.
00:48:48.239 --> 00:48:50.000
Well, they actually made the trip back up.
00:48:50.159 --> 00:48:55.280
Uh Phyllis didn't her her daughter and husband to see the change.
00:48:55.440 --> 00:48:59.519
And they said, if we if if my husband would have had it this way, you'd have never bought this camp for me, Stephen.
00:48:59.760 --> 00:48:59.840
Yeah.
00:49:00.079 --> 00:49:03.679
Like they they were in love with it, and they were glad that it went to something that was going to appreciate it.
00:49:04.719 --> 00:49:08.079
Well, it's been restored and it's gonna be appreciated and you know go into the future.
00:49:08.639 --> 00:49:09.599
I get up in the attic here.
00:49:09.679 --> 00:49:12.639
I I go in the attic quite a bit because every time I'm up there I always find something neat.
00:49:12.800 --> 00:49:13.280
Oh, yeah?
00:49:13.440 --> 00:49:16.639
Yeah, so he was an old trapper, so I got tons of traps.
00:49:16.719 --> 00:49:20.719
Yeah, and I was up there last time and I found some old flares from 1960, right?
00:49:21.440 --> 00:49:23.199
So, you know, I had to try them out and they still worked, right?
00:49:23.280 --> 00:49:26.239
Like so every time I go up and get digging around and finding something new, right?
00:49:26.320 --> 00:49:27.679
Dad said, You gotta get down out of there.
00:49:27.760 --> 00:49:30.880
You should do, you know, like you're gonna find something you don't want to here soon.
00:49:31.280 --> 00:49:33.039
Oh, it turns out this guy killed people.
00:49:33.599 --> 00:49:36.960
Yeah, um, wow, that's uh yeah, that's really neat.
00:49:37.039 --> 00:49:40.000
The old traps and stuff be cool and stuff, yeah.
00:49:40.159 --> 00:49:40.480
Wow.
00:49:40.639 --> 00:49:43.360
And the flares, you're I don't know if I would have tried them.
00:49:43.599 --> 00:49:46.239
Oh, you just peel the top off and you just it'd just spark it like you.
00:49:46.480 --> 00:49:47.199
And it'd still go.
00:49:47.360 --> 00:49:47.519
Yeah.
00:49:48.320 --> 00:49:49.840
At least they built the flares well then.
00:49:50.000 --> 00:49:52.400
Yeah, they have it's like 1964 was on the tag.
00:49:52.639 --> 00:49:52.880
Really?
00:49:53.440 --> 00:49:53.599
Yeah.
00:49:53.920 --> 00:49:54.320
Wow.
00:49:54.400 --> 00:49:56.000
So that'd be interesting.
00:49:56.239 --> 00:49:56.960
That's yeah, it's cool.
00:49:57.039 --> 00:49:58.880
So the and then the community out there too.
00:49:59.039 --> 00:49:59.840
They had the community.
00:50:00.159 --> 00:50:02.800
Yeah, and actually the guys uh that have that.
00:50:02.880 --> 00:50:08.800
I've known them all my life because that was the first place that when we got to the camp, the long weekend of May, we was going to the summit.
00:50:08.880 --> 00:50:12.800
Like we had to go see the boys at the summit because they're just they're they're great guys.
00:50:12.960 --> 00:50:13.280
Yeah.
00:50:13.519 --> 00:50:16.719
And so they had taken the camps over, and yeah.
00:50:16.880 --> 00:50:18.639
So they is they're great guys.
00:50:18.800 --> 00:50:19.039
Yeah.
00:50:19.760 --> 00:50:22.159
And some are from Moncton, some are from Massachusetts.
00:50:22.239 --> 00:50:22.880
They're all family.
00:50:22.960 --> 00:50:23.119
Yeah.
00:50:23.280 --> 00:50:26.079
But uh pretty good.
00:50:26.400 --> 00:50:29.519
Yeah, no, that's uh that's really that's really cool.
00:50:29.679 --> 00:50:34.800
Just uh seeing the pictures of it, like again, like I said, I didn't know the whole the whole history that you had there.
00:50:35.119 --> 00:50:35.840
I mean it's still old.
00:50:36.079 --> 00:50:38.719
The camp is still old, but I like it old, I like the rustic look of it.
00:50:39.360 --> 00:50:39.760
Yes, yeah.
00:50:39.920 --> 00:50:40.400
It's comfortable.
00:50:40.559 --> 00:50:42.159
It's a camp, not a house, it is.
00:50:42.239 --> 00:50:42.880
I don't want a house.
00:50:42.960 --> 00:50:45.840
No, I you know, I don't want to when I go up there, I just want to eat.
00:50:46.000 --> 00:50:47.280
Yeah, yeah, I just want to relax.
00:50:47.440 --> 00:50:47.920
Yeah.
00:50:48.159 --> 00:50:52.800
Um, so back a bit to the moose calling there, all the moose hunting and everything.
00:50:52.960 --> 00:50:54.800
Uh what's your biggest advice for people?
00:50:54.880 --> 00:51:03.840
Uh, 'cause I'm sure you've taken a lot of people out, it's their first time, about just staying calm, where to aim, what to expect a little bit, things like that.
00:51:04.079 --> 00:51:04.480
Right.
00:51:04.639 --> 00:51:11.039
Uh if if I don't know you well, we're gonna have you know, we're gonna talk a little bit about gun safety, obviously.
00:51:11.280 --> 00:51:15.599
Yeah, that's um it's good weird because I I want to make sure they know how to operate a gun.
00:51:15.679 --> 00:51:15.920
Yeah.
00:51:16.079 --> 00:51:18.400
Because some people they get a license, they don't know, right?
00:51:18.800 --> 00:51:19.440
Yeah, yeah.
00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:21.280
You know they just get one.
00:51:21.440 --> 00:51:22.400
Oh, my dad gave me this.
00:51:22.559 --> 00:51:22.639
Right.
00:51:23.440 --> 00:51:24.320
No, it's a 22.
00:51:24.400 --> 00:51:25.760
No, it's not, it's a 3006.
00:51:25.920 --> 00:51:27.519
Like, you know, but yeah.
00:51:27.840 --> 00:51:29.360
We laugh about it, but it it happens.
00:51:29.679 --> 00:51:30.639
It happens, it does, yeah.
00:51:30.719 --> 00:51:33.280
And I make sure, you know, like I don't mind having a beer after.
00:51:33.360 --> 00:51:33.679
Yeah.
00:51:33.840 --> 00:51:36.159
I don't we don't drink during the hunt anytime.
00:51:36.239 --> 00:51:37.679
You know, I'm not I'm not into that stuff.
00:51:38.000 --> 00:51:39.199
I take it very serious.
00:51:39.840 --> 00:51:42.480
Uh I make sure they understand where to shoot.
00:51:42.719 --> 00:51:44.320
If I where do you tell them?
00:51:44.559 --> 00:51:46.000
I shoot behind the full shoulder.
00:51:46.159 --> 00:51:46.639
Okay, yeah.
00:51:46.880 --> 00:51:52.000
Uh I don't like if you if you hit it, it's it's fine, but you ruin me if you hit it in the front shoulder.
00:51:52.400 --> 00:51:54.400
I I like to pull back a couple inches behind.
00:51:54.559 --> 00:51:54.880
Yep.
00:51:55.039 --> 00:51:58.639
Umiddle of the body as well.
00:51:59.039 --> 00:51:59.119
Yeah.
00:51:59.280 --> 00:52:00.320
Yeah, middle of the low.
00:52:00.480 --> 00:52:05.280
I don't want to stay high because you're not gonna hit nothing high if you if you go high, you know, all your organs are down lower, right?
00:52:05.760 --> 00:52:07.679
So if they don't know that I draw it out for them.
00:52:08.000 --> 00:52:08.320
Just to make sure.
00:52:08.719 --> 00:52:09.360
Okay, that's nice.
00:52:09.440 --> 00:52:09.679
Yeah.
00:52:09.840 --> 00:52:10.159
Yeah.
00:52:10.400 --> 00:52:13.920
And basically I like to stay in a single line.
00:52:14.239 --> 00:52:20.400
Because if you got sometimes you got this guy, he wants to bring his brother, he wants to bring his brother's friend.
00:52:20.639 --> 00:52:29.840
So you know, you get sometimes four guys, which to me I want one on one or or or the three of us, like, but sometimes it don't work out that way.
00:52:30.320 --> 00:52:35.199
Um, I like a single single line because one silhouette looks like a moose.
00:52:35.599 --> 00:52:37.519
Three or four scattered everywhere.
00:52:37.760 --> 00:52:38.000
Yeah.
00:52:38.239 --> 00:52:40.239
You know, it that don't look normal.
00:52:40.400 --> 00:52:40.800
Right.
00:52:41.039 --> 00:52:43.440
Um I like I use I do use cover scent.
00:52:43.760 --> 00:52:45.760
We usually spray down yet.
00:52:46.000 --> 00:52:48.800
Um I uh we use a lot of it actually.
00:52:49.119 --> 00:52:52.800
What do you you spray with like scent linear or you spray on like smell like moose?
00:52:53.039 --> 00:52:54.559
No, no, no, I don't know.
00:52:54.639 --> 00:52:58.000
I I gotta get my truck after no and go back to camp.
00:52:58.079 --> 00:53:00.320
Yeah, no, we're not gonna have the camp smell like moose here.
00:53:00.559 --> 00:53:03.599
No, no, I just use like a just like a cover scent, like a scent eliminator.
00:53:03.760 --> 00:53:04.480
Okay, yeah.
00:53:04.800 --> 00:53:08.639
And uh and I just tell them, you know, just I'll be right there with you.
00:53:08.880 --> 00:53:10.880
Just let me let me talk you through it.
00:53:10.960 --> 00:53:15.360
So if we get a bull coming in and I I look over and I can tell their body language how they're acting, right?
00:53:15.519 --> 00:53:16.079
Yeah, oh yeah.
00:53:16.239 --> 00:53:22.079
Like so I'll go behind them sometimes and and I'll I'll grab them by the shoulder and I'll just say, you know, hey, it's you know, breathe.
00:53:22.239 --> 00:53:25.119
You you know, this is Martin Up, don't miss this showing.
00:53:25.679 --> 00:53:26.639
That's it, this is fun.
00:53:26.719 --> 00:53:28.239
Like this is like don't get nervous.
00:53:28.320 --> 00:53:30.719
It's hard to tell them not to get nervous when I get nervous too, right?
00:53:31.519 --> 00:53:33.119
You're shaking yourself, don't be nervous.
00:53:33.199 --> 00:53:39.440
Right, yeah, but you know, sometimes if you just go over and just kind of put your hands on their shoulder and just you know just say, hey, just just relax and breathe.
00:53:39.599 --> 00:53:40.480
It's gonna be all right.
00:53:40.559 --> 00:53:41.840
So I stand right there with them.
00:53:41.920 --> 00:53:49.760
I make sure that you know they're when it comes out, because sometimes if I know you a lot of times I try to be behind the hunters to bring the moose to me.
00:53:49.920 --> 00:53:50.079
Yes.
00:53:50.320 --> 00:53:52.960
So you know, sometimes it'll always happen that way.
00:53:53.599 --> 00:54:00.880
And so if we get a bull coming, I I'm right there with them, and when it steps out, if I if I can see him, if I'm standing behind him, the hunter can see him.
00:54:01.360 --> 00:54:06.400
So and if they come out so far and they stop and they they look, and I said, they got us pinned now.
00:54:06.480 --> 00:54:08.159
So he you know, you gotta shoot.
00:54:08.320 --> 00:54:08.719
Yeah.
00:54:08.880 --> 00:54:13.199
So uh what do you what do you like to see guys bring up for rifles?
00:54:13.440 --> 00:54:15.039
I like a 3006 or bigger.
00:54:15.280 --> 00:54:15.599
Okay.
00:54:15.760 --> 00:54:15.920
Yeah.
00:54:16.079 --> 00:54:16.480
Yeah.
00:54:16.639 --> 00:54:16.800
Yeah.
00:54:16.960 --> 00:54:19.360
That's 306 is really your number one.
00:54:19.519 --> 00:54:21.119
It's really your number one rifle.
00:54:21.360 --> 00:54:22.880
Some people argue a 308.
00:54:23.280 --> 00:54:24.880
I'm not a 308 lover.
00:54:25.199 --> 00:54:26.239
Great bush gun.
00:54:26.480 --> 00:54:28.079
Um, I'm just not a fan of them.
00:54:28.239 --> 00:54:29.360
Um, I like the 3006.
00:54:29.519 --> 00:54:30.320
I hunt with a 308.
00:54:30.480 --> 00:54:32.159
Uh uh, sorry, I have a 308.
00:54:32.239 --> 00:54:32.320
Yeah.
00:54:32.480 --> 00:54:33.760
But uh, 300.
00:54:34.000 --> 00:54:34.480
Yeah, yeah.
00:54:34.559 --> 00:54:36.880
I think that's what a lot of guys with news 100 games.
00:54:36.960 --> 00:54:37.679
What do you have, Caleb?
00:54:37.760 --> 00:54:38.480
You've got that, don't you?
00:54:38.719 --> 00:54:38.880
Yeah.
00:54:38.960 --> 00:54:40.079
I use a 300 bike.
00:54:40.320 --> 00:54:43.280
Actually, I bought a new 6.5 PRC back a couple years ago.
00:54:43.440 --> 00:54:43.679
Yeah.
00:54:43.920 --> 00:54:45.840
And I actually carried that when I have a license.
00:54:46.000 --> 00:54:46.320
Oh, yeah.
00:54:46.400 --> 00:54:46.480
Yeah.
00:54:46.639 --> 00:54:48.400
That thing hits like a like it hit hard.
00:54:48.559 --> 00:54:48.719
Yeah.
00:54:48.880 --> 00:54:51.519
A lot of people say, oh, well, it's it's it's too fast, it's not good enough.
00:54:51.599 --> 00:54:56.719
Well, when you're shooting a hundred and forty-seven grain bullet, when you take a 270, you're only shooting like 150 anyway, 160, right?
00:54:56.800 --> 00:54:57.280
Yeah, yeah.
00:54:57.519 --> 00:54:58.719
The energy is what kills.
00:54:59.039 --> 00:55:00.239
You gotta have good energy, right?
00:55:00.400 --> 00:55:00.719
Yeah.
00:55:00.880 --> 00:55:02.000
So well, ours there.
00:55:02.079 --> 00:55:06.239
I mean, we end up I had a 7mm 08, which is considered relatively small.
00:55:11.519 --> 00:55:14.320
Too as a shit luck shot running.
00:55:14.480 --> 00:55:16.559
It was my second shot on him, and that did the trick.
00:55:16.639 --> 00:55:22.559
But I mean, yeah, you want good hard hitting power, but like you're saying, shot placement's more important than anything.
00:55:22.719 --> 00:55:29.840
And the right ammunition, too, because I was shooting that Browning, I think it's BXR rapid expansion stuff, and it I'll tell you, it does expand.
00:55:29.920 --> 00:55:35.440
I mean, it hits hard and does some damage, but that's the big thing too, is the ammunition.
00:55:35.679 --> 00:55:36.079
It is, yeah.
00:55:36.480 --> 00:55:39.519
I use my 6-5, I used the Horner D, I think it's the ELDX.
00:55:40.000 --> 00:55:41.039
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:55:41.280 --> 00:55:50.320
And my last bear I got with it, it dressed out at 327, so you're looking at 400 pounds, and that thing didn't go like 10 feet, like really it just piled that thing up.
00:55:50.559 --> 00:55:50.719
Yeah.
00:55:51.280 --> 00:56:00.239
Well, uh, I mean, talk about you've probably seen it on some hunts when a moose has got the adrenaline pumping through them, how tough they are, and they can just eat lead.
00:56:00.559 --> 00:56:01.679
They can take some shots.
00:56:02.000 --> 00:56:02.239
Yeah.
00:56:02.480 --> 00:56:09.840
Because I mean, I we've seen those videos where the moose just all riled up and they've been shot and like they just maybe flinch, maybe.
00:56:10.159 --> 00:56:10.960
I mean, it's crazy.
00:56:11.199 --> 00:56:14.719
Do you have stories like that where you're just shocked at what the moose could handle?
00:56:15.039 --> 00:56:23.280
In 2018, with the bull that uh Wayne Wilson and I had got when I walked in on it, the first shot I hit a tree.
00:56:23.440 --> 00:56:23.840
Didn't know.
00:56:23.920 --> 00:56:24.960
I said, I missed that bull.
00:56:25.280 --> 00:56:26.480
How do I miss the bull at 30 yards?
00:56:26.559 --> 00:56:27.920
Right, it was kind of a bunch of bushes, eh?
00:56:28.159 --> 00:56:32.719
But after I after it was all said and done, I went back and was standing looking for my shell casings.
00:56:32.880 --> 00:56:34.719
I picked them up and I could see the tree I hit.
00:56:34.800 --> 00:56:43.039
But when he had stepped out in the open, I'd fired with a 300 at 30 yards, and he never flinched because he had his head shoved in her butt.
00:56:43.840 --> 00:56:46.559
She was like, they were ready to to mate, right?
00:56:46.639 --> 00:56:46.960
Yeah.
00:56:47.119 --> 00:56:49.679
And the second shot, I put it in the same spot.
00:56:49.760 --> 00:56:53.199
It was like somebody took a five-gallon pail of blood and threw it behind when I hit it.
00:56:53.440 --> 00:56:57.360
And the buttons just it just it just the it's almost like a rainbow of red.
00:56:57.679 --> 00:56:58.159
Oh, yeah.
00:56:58.400 --> 00:56:59.840
And never flinched him a bit.
00:56:59.920 --> 00:57:02.159
He just kept like nothing was that's crazy.
00:57:02.320 --> 00:57:03.920
So this that's the stories I'm talking about.
00:57:04.400 --> 00:57:06.880
The third shot I took, I hit him in the neck and dropped him.
00:57:06.960 --> 00:57:07.280
Yeah.
00:57:07.519 --> 00:57:09.760
And but I don't know how many more he had to take.
00:57:09.840 --> 00:57:10.960
Like how many can you throw?
00:57:11.119 --> 00:57:12.079
Like wow.
00:57:12.400 --> 00:57:13.920
He was going you hear that.
00:57:14.000 --> 00:57:15.199
I mean, you hear that about these.
00:57:15.840 --> 00:57:18.719
I'm a firm believer if it's on the hoof to keep shooting.
00:57:18.960 --> 00:57:19.199
Yes.
00:57:19.280 --> 00:57:22.719
Yeah, that's what I did on our moose, and I heard that, just keep shooting.
00:57:22.800 --> 00:57:23.119
Yeah.
00:57:23.360 --> 00:57:25.519
Because I mean, our moose, I'm lucky.
00:57:25.599 --> 00:57:28.960
So that I mean, he the first shot I think hit him in the heart, and I hit him.
00:57:29.519 --> 00:57:33.920
That was my uncle, and I think I hit him, I don't know, the lungs, something like that, and then racked another one.
00:57:34.000 --> 00:57:35.039
I was told keep shooting, right?
00:57:35.119 --> 00:57:37.360
So I shot and then hit him behind the ear and that dropped him.
00:57:37.440 --> 00:57:42.159
But if he'd gone another 50 yards, I bet you we would have been at least another hour getting him out.
00:57:42.559 --> 00:57:45.360
Because yeah, I mean, how do you got any tips for that of getting them out?
00:57:45.519 --> 00:57:48.239
Because I mean, they're such a big animal, they're usually in wet areas.
00:57:48.400 --> 00:57:50.079
It's a lot, it's a lot to get through.
00:57:50.480 --> 00:57:54.559
The areas I we hunt, I I I make sure I I scalp that all over.
00:57:54.960 --> 00:58:04.239
I don't want to hunt on the back side of a pond, on the back side of a lake, where you gotta spend three, four hours cutting a trail to it or have a boat to float.
00:58:04.320 --> 00:58:06.800
Like he he's done the Caleb.
00:58:07.280 --> 00:58:08.239
Yeah, he was telling me today.
00:58:08.320 --> 00:58:08.719
Yeah.
00:58:08.880 --> 00:58:14.880
Uh we like to bring them to the road to us or within, you know, 30, 40, 50 yards of the road.
00:58:15.199 --> 00:58:18.800
Because I think a lot of people might not think about that sometimes.
00:58:19.280 --> 00:58:20.159
Oh, it was thought about.
00:58:20.400 --> 00:58:21.920
Like it's a lot of animals to get out.
00:58:22.239 --> 00:58:22.480
It is.
00:58:22.800 --> 00:58:23.280
It's huge.
00:58:23.440 --> 00:58:27.519
And if it's warm and in the last few years our season, it's been warm, right?
00:58:27.840 --> 00:58:28.159
Very warm.
00:58:28.320 --> 00:58:33.199
So if you can't if you can't get that bowl to a butcher within a few hours, don't shoot it.
00:58:33.519 --> 00:58:35.199
That's my that's just my opinion, right?
00:58:35.360 --> 00:58:36.960
We were lucky because we had a cooler back.
00:58:38.000 --> 00:58:39.599
Yeah, you had a portable cooler, so you're good.
00:58:39.760 --> 00:58:40.639
Get the height off it.
00:58:40.719 --> 00:58:42.000
Yeah, you know, get it cooling.
00:58:42.320 --> 00:58:46.960
But just some people don't think of like that the exit plan, I guess you could say, is like that's a support.
00:58:47.199 --> 00:58:47.920
How am I gonna get them out?
00:58:48.159 --> 00:58:51.440
That's the most important part is you know, you gotta try to get them to the road.
00:58:51.599 --> 00:58:52.000
Oh, yeah.
00:58:52.079 --> 00:58:53.920
Yeah, that's we try to bring them to the road, yeah.
00:58:54.000 --> 00:58:54.239
Yeah.
00:58:54.400 --> 00:58:55.440
Or close to it.
00:58:55.760 --> 00:58:57.519
Uh we had got one.
00:58:57.599 --> 00:59:03.599
I wasn't on part of this hunt, I was hunting somewhere else at the time, but my family had got a moose, and my cousin didn't, and it was down.
00:59:03.679 --> 00:59:05.360
Like they spent it was in the night and it was cold.
00:59:05.519 --> 00:59:07.519
It was real frosty night, so that's what saved them.
00:59:07.599 --> 00:59:09.760
But they was like seven hours getting this thing out.
00:59:09.920 --> 00:59:19.920
Like they accomplished, he shot it at like the last illegal time, like, and then they went back to camp and got the boys, and they were all night because they had to cut a trail like three, four hundred yards down the woods down to this pond day.
00:59:20.000 --> 00:59:20.400
Yeah.
00:59:20.639 --> 00:59:26.719
And there was a long time, but the only thing that saved them was it used to be cooler during our moose season, and then you never know this year.
00:59:26.800 --> 00:59:27.679
It could be a cold year.
00:59:27.840 --> 00:59:28.320
Hard to say.
00:59:28.559 --> 00:59:30.559
We haven't had frost in uh quite a few years now.
00:59:30.719 --> 00:59:31.440
Yeah, yeah.
00:59:31.679 --> 00:59:35.840
And I just it it's it does play it plays a lot, it plays a lot of it.
00:59:36.000 --> 00:59:36.960
It does, yes.
00:59:37.199 --> 00:59:37.519
Yeah.
00:59:37.679 --> 00:59:42.400
Do you do you find because of that are the moose rutting later?
00:59:42.880 --> 00:59:44.800
Uh I find they're cowing earlier.
00:59:45.039 --> 00:59:45.360
Earlier.
00:59:45.599 --> 00:59:46.079
The last few years.
00:59:46.639 --> 00:59:46.800
Yeah.
00:59:46.960 --> 00:59:47.280
Huh.
00:59:47.440 --> 00:59:53.599
The last few years I found what do you do any I just think I think the weather, like our warm weather, I don't know.
00:59:53.679 --> 00:59:55.519
It's I can't really explain it.
00:59:55.760 --> 00:59:56.079
Huh.
00:59:56.159 --> 00:59:56.639
It's interesting.
00:59:57.119 --> 01:00:00.239
I have noticed the last few years, though they have been Do you think that's better?
01:00:00.400 --> 01:00:09.679
Them calving earlier so that way if their mom is taken that the calves have a better probability of surviving or the calves have a hard time surviving.
01:00:09.760 --> 01:00:16.320
Like my rule of thumb is when we're hunting, I I tell my hunters right off the start there's no cows being shot with calves, and there's no calves being shot.
01:00:16.400 --> 01:00:18.559
If you have a problem with that, go find somebody else.
01:00:18.719 --> 01:00:19.039
Yeah.
01:00:19.519 --> 01:00:20.719
No, I like that member.
01:00:20.880 --> 01:00:21.280
Yeah.
01:00:21.360 --> 01:00:30.000
Uh when we are talking about we are lucky with our moose, we said we're shooting the first thing we see, unless it's a calf or said a cow calf, the first thing we saw is that big moose.
01:00:30.159 --> 01:00:35.920
But yeah, I mean, I'd rather not get anything at all than I come across the hunter a few years ago.
01:00:36.079 --> 01:00:41.519
They were hauling a cow out, and I can I knew she had a a calf because she heard Tet saying they had the milk in it today.
01:00:41.679 --> 01:00:43.199
And I said, Boys, where's the calf?
01:00:43.360 --> 01:00:44.880
Oh, she never had no calf with her.
01:00:45.119 --> 01:00:46.800
She had twins and they could hear 'em.
01:00:47.119 --> 01:00:53.599
I walked down in the woods and two twins down their blatant and I just walked out and I said, You just like you shot you you killed three moose.
01:00:53.760 --> 01:00:54.079
Yeah.
01:00:54.320 --> 01:00:57.280
Because these calves were born late in the season and they were young.
01:00:57.519 --> 01:01:00.159
So they wouldn't have there's there's no chance they'd have survived.
01:01:00.320 --> 01:01:00.480
Really?
01:01:00.800 --> 01:01:00.880
Yeah.
01:01:01.760 --> 01:01:02.639
There's three moose gone.
01:01:02.719 --> 01:01:02.960
Yeah.
01:01:03.199 --> 01:01:08.320
And then if you know, there's if they're one of them calves would have been a cow, then you know, yeah.
01:01:08.639 --> 01:01:09.440
In a few years, right?
01:01:09.599 --> 01:01:13.679
At twenty-eight months or so like that, I think a cow will start will start reproducing, right?
01:01:13.760 --> 01:01:14.000
Yeah.
01:01:14.159 --> 01:01:17.760
So if she has another twin, or that's a that's a lot of moose.
01:01:18.000 --> 01:01:19.519
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
01:01:19.920 --> 01:01:20.400
Huh.
01:01:20.639 --> 01:01:24.960
Um, yeah, so uh wrap this up a little bit here.
01:01:25.039 --> 01:01:34.719
Uh what's uh do you have a story where it's been just a bit more memorable, like a family member, like one of those hunts with your dad, or when you first called one out that you guys shot?
01:01:35.360 --> 01:01:35.760
Yeah.
01:01:35.920 --> 01:01:37.840
Uh so I'll go back.
01:01:38.079 --> 01:01:42.559
It was actually this was actually the first time I actually called a moose for a hunt.
01:01:42.719 --> 01:01:43.039
Yes.
01:01:43.199 --> 01:01:47.360
My uncle Gary had his license and my uncle Mike was hunting with him.
01:01:47.599 --> 01:01:51.840
So we left the camp, we came up over the ridge, and they were gonna check this one spot out.
01:01:51.920 --> 01:01:54.000
So I said, Well, there's no sense of three of us being there.
01:01:54.079 --> 01:01:55.599
I'm gonna I'm gonna head out back.
01:01:55.760 --> 01:01:57.760
So I was on the old trusty Honda.
01:01:57.840 --> 01:01:58.000
Yeah.
01:01:58.239 --> 01:02:05.119
So I was like two miles away, it was a very cold morning, and we had the walkie-talkies, yeah, and the frost was heavy.
01:02:05.199 --> 01:02:07.039
It's almost like snow, but that's how heavy the frost is.
01:02:07.199 --> 01:02:07.679
Okay, yeah.
01:02:07.840 --> 01:02:12.480
And I come across two cow tracks that were in the frost.
01:02:12.559 --> 01:02:16.480
So I stopped and I got off my call, and immediately the bull to the right had hit.
01:02:16.719 --> 01:02:20.320
So I get on the radio and I it's like, boys, you know, I got a bull coming.
01:02:20.559 --> 01:02:22.639
And I still remember this displaying stay.
01:02:22.719 --> 01:02:24.960
I I could hear the door shutting at two miles away.
01:02:25.039 --> 01:02:27.599
That's how this is how the sound was traveling at one day.
01:02:27.760 --> 01:02:43.760
And he had a dodge at the time, and I could hear like the the hemi the hemi like taking off, and they come around the corner, and like they were throwing rocks, like they didn't know exactly where I was, they knew the area I was hidden, and I was waving my arms and I came around the corner, and they pulled up and they sh they shut the truck off and they could out.
01:02:44.239 --> 01:02:48.000
I called again, and the bull he he immediately answered, so he started coming.
01:02:48.159 --> 01:02:51.119
And then my neighbors at the camp, they were hunting too.
01:02:51.280 --> 01:02:56.719
So they were coming on the wheelers, so I had to go to the back of the truck and I was waving my arms like, hey, no, stop, stop.
01:02:57.039 --> 01:02:59.679
You know, so they stopped and shot the the wheelers off.
01:02:59.760 --> 01:03:03.519
And my uncle Mike he kind of stepped up on the bank there a little bit because the bull had come out.
01:03:03.599 --> 01:03:06.480
We could see the antlers, but you couldn't get the shot.
01:03:06.800 --> 01:03:07.760
Couldn't get the shot day.
01:03:07.920 --> 01:03:11.360
And my uncle turns around and he goes, You know, make another call.
01:03:11.519 --> 01:03:15.440
And I'm thinking, I looked at him and I was like, I'm gonna sound like a little schoolgirl here.
01:03:15.519 --> 01:03:18.480
Like I'm like first time ever I called like for a honey.
01:03:18.800 --> 01:03:19.199
Yeah, yeah.
01:03:19.440 --> 01:03:20.159
And I turned around.
01:03:20.400 --> 01:03:22.480
Oh, I turned around, I just let a little soft call, eh?
01:03:22.639 --> 01:03:26.559
But when I did, he had swung enough and they had shot and got it.
01:03:26.639 --> 01:03:30.320
But they like, well, this guy with the little calling thing's working pretty good.
01:03:30.639 --> 01:03:35.280
Yeah, like I was I was that was the most nervous I ever been in my entire life.
01:03:35.519 --> 01:03:36.239
Yeah, yeah.
01:03:36.559 --> 01:03:37.519
That's very cool.
01:03:37.679 --> 01:03:38.000
Yeah.
01:03:38.159 --> 01:03:39.840
No, that's uh that's awesome.
01:03:39.920 --> 01:03:42.159
I mean, that's the great thing too about moose hunting.
01:03:42.320 --> 01:03:47.760
It's uh it's it's not usually an individual, it's a fa it's it's a family or friend thing.
01:03:47.840 --> 01:03:50.960
Like there's a lot more people with it, the camaraderie with it and all that.
01:03:51.119 --> 01:03:52.400
And uh that's just more people.
01:03:52.800 --> 01:03:54.800
I met a lot of good friends over the years.
01:03:57.360 --> 01:04:02.400
Yeah, and and and I like it the most when people who have never hunted moose before.
01:04:03.199 --> 01:04:05.199
When you turn around, you get that first call.
01:04:05.280 --> 01:04:10.639
They never heard of moose, and you get that first grunt or you get that first cow call, and you turn around, look, you know, they're smiling.
01:04:10.719 --> 01:04:12.079
Yeah, yeah, right there.
01:04:12.159 --> 01:04:13.119
That's that's golden for me.
01:04:13.360 --> 01:04:13.519
Yes.
01:04:14.159 --> 01:04:14.559
Exactly.
01:04:14.719 --> 01:04:15.920
Well, I mean, like deer hunting.
01:04:16.000 --> 01:04:18.239
Deer hunting's a lot more solidarity and stuff.
01:04:18.480 --> 01:04:23.440
People just, you know, no, I'm going by myself, no one come with me, and I'm not taking my spot and this and that, whereas moose.
01:04:23.599 --> 01:04:27.039
Well, I mean, here we have the second gun, so you're gonna do someone else and then calling it.
01:04:27.199 --> 01:04:29.280
It's it's just fun to share that with other people, you know.
01:04:29.360 --> 01:04:31.440
That's what hunting is a bit.
01:04:31.840 --> 01:04:33.599
My dad had his license a couple years ago.
01:04:33.679 --> 01:04:35.280
I never bought the second license.
01:04:35.920 --> 01:04:40.719
Because I told I told my father, I said, if I buy the second license, you're gonna make me shoot it.
01:04:40.960 --> 01:04:43.519
You know, my dad was 75, 76 at the time.
01:04:43.599 --> 01:04:45.119
I said, you know, you may never get him again.
01:04:45.280 --> 01:04:52.480
So well, yeah, it was during actually it was it's more than a couple years ago now, but it was during COVID at the end of COVID season.
01:04:52.719 --> 01:04:56.239
And he called me on Sunday night and he said, I'm not feeling that great.
01:04:56.480 --> 01:04:57.519
I'm like, Yeah, that's all right.
01:04:57.599 --> 01:04:59.440
He called me Monday morning, he said, I think I got it.
01:04:59.519 --> 01:05:00.719
I'm like, you know what?
01:05:01.119 --> 01:05:01.679
That's fine.
01:05:01.760 --> 01:05:04.159
You got your mane drawed from moose, we're going moose hunting.
01:05:04.239 --> 01:05:04.480
Yeah.
01:05:04.639 --> 01:05:07.679
So I call my buddies and I'm like, you know, they were gonna go out.
01:05:07.840 --> 01:05:11.280
I said, Dad probably has COVID, so it's up to you guys if you go or not.
01:05:11.440 --> 01:05:13.039
So they said, No, we're going anyway.
01:05:13.280 --> 01:05:20.960
So we go to the spot and I call in the morning, and the bull immediately answers.
01:05:21.039 --> 01:05:24.960
My dad is in the back of the truck Tuesday morning, like printer, like he's dying.
01:05:25.039 --> 01:05:25.840
Like I thought he was dying.
01:05:25.920 --> 01:05:26.800
I was like, Dad, you've got to go home.
01:05:27.199 --> 01:05:28.000
He definitely had the Rona.
01:05:28.239 --> 01:05:30.639
Yeah, he's like, Well, I'm gonna be the same way home as I am here.
01:05:30.880 --> 01:05:32.800
So I'm as well in the back of your truck, right?
01:05:32.880 --> 01:05:33.039
Yeah.
01:05:33.199 --> 01:05:34.960
I'm thinking, well, shit.
01:05:35.280 --> 01:05:37.119
So I said, You gotta get out.
01:05:37.199 --> 01:05:39.920
I said, This bull's like, he's coming, you got to get out of the truck.
01:05:40.079 --> 01:05:43.280
So he gets out and he loads the gun, and we're walking down.
01:05:43.360 --> 01:05:44.719
I'm pretty well gotta like drag him.
01:05:44.800 --> 01:05:45.840
He's like, Can you carry the rifle?
01:05:45.920 --> 01:05:48.800
I said, Dad, I don't have the light, I don't have a license, I can't carry your rifle.
01:05:48.960 --> 01:05:50.960
Like, no, you have to like suck through this.
01:05:51.039 --> 01:05:52.159
Like, you gotta do this.
01:05:52.400 --> 01:05:52.880
Be a man.
01:05:53.039 --> 01:05:59.599
Yeah, we we get down and I called again, and and it's like 40 yards away, you can see the the mass.
01:06:00.079 --> 01:06:02.639
Like I got a picture of the bull on my camera from the night before.
01:06:02.719 --> 01:06:06.480
He's got wicked paddles, and it's just like a D10 dozer coming through the woods.
01:06:06.800 --> 01:06:08.000
Just like plowing shit over.
01:06:08.079 --> 01:06:09.440
And I'm like, Holy shit, like this is coming.
01:06:09.519 --> 01:06:10.400
I was like, get your rifle up.
01:06:10.480 --> 01:06:13.039
And he's like, and he pulls it up.
01:06:13.119 --> 01:06:15.760
And I was like, take the safety dog because he's coming the next step.
01:06:15.840 --> 01:06:16.239
He's yours.
01:06:16.320 --> 01:06:17.360
And dad starts coughing.
01:06:17.440 --> 01:06:18.559
He couldn't hold her bat no more.
01:06:19.199 --> 01:06:22.320
Oh, and I just turn and I and the bull just swung like that.
01:06:22.480 --> 01:06:24.400
And he starts going away from us.
01:06:24.559 --> 01:06:26.000
And dad's like, I'm sorry.
01:06:26.079 --> 01:06:27.599
I'm like, it is what it is, Dad.
01:06:28.079 --> 01:06:28.480
He he didn't.
01:06:28.559 --> 01:06:30.559
I'll give you dad props when I have a man cold.
01:06:30.639 --> 01:06:31.920
I'm I'm down and out.
01:06:32.000 --> 01:06:34.880
I'm calling the morgue almost like get my spot right now.
01:06:35.119 --> 01:06:36.480
I thought we were gonna have to with him, eh?
01:06:36.639 --> 01:06:38.000
Like that's how bad he was.
01:06:38.400 --> 01:06:41.039
And so we drive around the rest of the day, never see nothing.
01:06:41.119 --> 01:06:43.199
The next morning we get up, we go back to the same spot.
01:06:43.360 --> 01:06:47.519
The same scenario, the same bull, only like 50 yards closer.
01:06:47.599 --> 01:06:48.400
He's in the truck.
01:06:48.559 --> 01:06:49.280
I'm calling.
01:06:49.440 --> 01:06:50.079
He answers.
01:06:50.239 --> 01:06:52.079
I go back and say, Daddy, gotta get out.
01:06:52.239 --> 01:06:53.199
He goes down again.
01:06:53.280 --> 01:06:56.480
We go down 50 yards closer than where we had to walk before.
01:06:56.639 --> 01:06:59.599
And I get to the spot where the bull's gonna cross.
01:06:59.760 --> 01:07:01.840
Uh and dad wasn't quite there yet.
01:07:01.920 --> 01:07:08.480
He had crossed in front of me, and as he walked, he turned his head this way as he was walking, just to say, not today either.
01:07:08.800 --> 01:07:09.360
Really?
01:07:09.920 --> 01:07:10.559
Massive.
01:07:10.800 --> 01:07:11.039
Yeah.
01:07:11.360 --> 01:07:13.679
When we get there, so he stopped inside to thick.
01:07:13.920 --> 01:07:14.719
I could see one leg.
01:07:14.800 --> 01:07:15.920
I'm like, Daddy's right there.
01:07:16.079 --> 01:07:20.079
You can't see the vitals, but I said, if he moves, you're gonna be he couldn't take him out.
01:07:20.159 --> 01:07:20.480
Yeah.
01:07:20.800 --> 01:07:23.360
And it was so we never got it that bull.
01:07:23.519 --> 01:07:24.800
And I said, We're not gonna get him.
01:07:24.880 --> 01:07:25.519
That's twice.
01:07:25.679 --> 01:07:25.920
Yeah.
01:07:26.079 --> 01:07:26.880
He's not coming back.
01:07:27.039 --> 01:07:29.760
We we tried again on Wednesday, but nothing happened.
01:07:30.000 --> 01:07:33.679
Thursday or Wednesday night, I told dad, I said, I'm not feeling good.
01:07:34.159 --> 01:07:35.119
Something's going on here.
01:07:35.360 --> 01:07:35.679
Yeah, yeah.
01:07:35.840 --> 01:07:37.280
I get up Thursday morning.
01:07:37.440 --> 01:07:41.440
Like, I thought somebody took me out in the middle of the night and put me in the tracks, and I thought the train had run over me.
01:07:41.519 --> 01:07:44.079
I'm like, oh my god, like I am like bad.
01:07:44.159 --> 01:07:47.039
I I call my wife and I'm like, I'm like done.
01:07:47.119 --> 01:07:48.079
Like, I can't, I don't know.
01:07:48.159 --> 01:07:49.840
And she's like, you know, pull your shit together.
01:07:49.920 --> 01:07:50.639
Your dad's up there.
01:07:50.719 --> 01:07:51.920
He's 77 years old, right?
01:07:53.760 --> 01:07:55.039
You're getting the same speech.
01:07:55.280 --> 01:07:55.599
Yeah.
01:07:55.840 --> 01:07:58.800
And I anyway, we we never we never got a moose that year.
01:07:59.199 --> 01:07:59.840
But you tried.
01:08:00.000 --> 01:08:00.320
We tried.
01:08:00.559 --> 01:08:01.199
Saturday morning.
01:08:01.280 --> 01:08:02.719
I get up and I said, Dad, I'm done.
01:08:02.800 --> 01:08:03.440
I can't do it.
01:08:03.599 --> 01:08:04.960
He said, I can't do it more.
01:08:05.039 --> 01:08:06.159
He said, We gotta get the hell out of here.
01:08:06.320 --> 01:08:07.599
He's like, I haven't been able to do it.
01:08:07.840 --> 01:08:10.320
We never packed or stuff or nothing, like we just left it at the camp.
01:08:10.400 --> 01:08:10.559
Yeah.
01:08:10.719 --> 01:08:12.559
We had to go back like the week later and pick it up.
01:08:12.880 --> 01:08:13.119
Yeah.
01:08:13.920 --> 01:08:15.199
Yeah, no, I felt bad.
01:08:15.280 --> 01:08:16.560
That was that might have been his last year.
01:08:16.640 --> 01:08:17.439
He had his license, eh?
01:08:17.600 --> 01:08:20.159
But all circumstances, I mean, you know.
01:08:20.800 --> 01:08:21.600
That's understandable.
01:08:21.840 --> 01:08:23.199
It was yeah, it was a good hunt.
01:08:23.439 --> 01:08:23.760
Yeah.
01:08:24.000 --> 01:08:26.239
No, that's uh yeah, that's really good.
01:08:26.479 --> 01:08:29.279
Um, yeah, Steven, I can't thank you enough for coming out here.
01:08:29.359 --> 01:08:40.960
And you know, we've been talking about doing this for a little bit, and I'm really glad you were able to come because in person, because I do phone calls, you know, with this podcast because I have to, but if the person is able to come in studio, that's great.
01:08:41.119 --> 01:08:53.840
Yeah, you know, I mean, if anybody that's that wants any information on, you know, on moose hunting or on guides or on outfitters in the province of New Brunswick, you know, reach out to me because yeah, I have my uh my recommendations.
01:08:53.920 --> 01:08:56.720
I follow these outfitters pretty well my whole life, eh?
01:08:56.880 --> 01:09:05.680
So most of them will get nice bulls, but if you want big bulls, there's certain outfitters that that's what they they're in the right area and that's what they do.
01:09:05.840 --> 01:09:06.720
So they specialize in the biggest.
01:09:06.880 --> 01:09:08.399
They specialize in those big bulls.
01:09:08.479 --> 01:09:11.600
Like not all outfitters can offer that.
01:09:11.680 --> 01:09:14.000
They you know they offer you a moose and they'll get you a moose.
01:09:14.159 --> 01:09:14.319
Yeah.
01:09:14.560 --> 01:09:16.640
But uh there's some outfitters that really big ones.
01:09:16.800 --> 01:09:17.119
Big ones.
01:09:17.199 --> 01:09:17.279
Yeah.
01:09:17.520 --> 01:09:17.680
Yeah.
01:09:17.920 --> 01:09:18.079
Yeah.
01:09:18.159 --> 01:09:18.880
No, that's awesome.
01:09:18.960 --> 01:09:20.960
And uh again, Steven, thanks for coming out.
01:09:21.039 --> 01:09:21.920
I got something for you.
01:09:22.000 --> 01:09:24.720
Uh one to hear, so thanks.