The Northern Canadian Moose Hunt
Our Moose hunt took place last Fall (98). The STRARS of the show were from left to right (Paul (THE fisherman)Wilson, David (The Skinner) Brown, Lee (The PALS) Kramer and Lyle (The Shootist) Scrimger.
The hunt took place in the most Northern reaches of the Ontario Province of Canada. To get to the location, called White Fish Lake, we needed to travel overland by van for about 14 hours heading mostly do-north. Then stopping for the night in a little village called ----- we boarded a sea-plane for the 1 hour flight to the lake. where we would spend the next 11 days. No electricity, No phone, No Pets (other then the wild life), No running water (but plenty of access for use), No plumbing (but an outhouse not far from the cabin), and no way by road to reach us.
We had hired a local Indian guide name John George, who turned to be quite an educator for all of us hardened Army boys, in the ways of the outdoors. His tracking was great and his ability to get into places and back out were outstanding to say the least.
Fishing during the non-hunting periods turned out to be no contest for Paul. He shined every day but one and Brown Dogger took the honors that day. We had all we could eat every day of wall-eye and even a few Northern Pike were thrown in. Paul could filet them like no man I'd ever seen.
Round about day 7 we were getting a little worried about going home empty handed when early in the evening a shot rang out to the west of camp. That left the possibilities to either Brown Dogger or Lyle (the shootist). As Lyle was the first to return to camp the story was told of the great hunting ability that had brought the magnificant animal down. As it goes, Lyle had just looked up from reading his book at the stand due to noticing some of his body parts were going to sleep. At that presice moment "Bruce the Moose" decided to show himself. Not at the 200+ range, that this formidable hunter had been so deligently pratcing at for months. But a mere 20 yds from his book. Needless to say and I wish to quote here, "One shot, one dead Bull Moose". A nice 3-4 year old bull was a decent trophy for the trip.
We all headed for home much the wiser of the bush in Northern Ontario Province, but with satisfaction that we had all enjoyed ourselves and would not hesitate to return to this part of the country again. After all 500 lbs of meat for the freezer is hard to sneeze at.
I would be remissed if I failed to tell you all that had it not been for these three fine friends of mine, I would never have been able to attempt such a trip in my present condition. They managed to carry me (litterly at times) during this trip from one spot to another. Never complaining of the hardship or the trouble. I am surely blessed to have such friends as these and can only pray that other PALS find or have such friends of their own. It makes the hardships of this disease so very easy to handle. They shall be near and dear in my heart forever!
G-Day to ya all and you have a nice day eh!
