DIY Caribou hunt.
- Thread starter Cole
- Start date
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I have heard this before.....I'm wondering, in general, when do they start tasting rank? What is the latest date in September you could shoot one and still be assured it wouldn't be "rut tainted"?
You're good anytime in Sept, but beware come the first week of Oct and, like H4831 says you can't even be in the same room cooking it by mid Oct. The biggest bulls are done by Oct 25th or so and by the 30th are excellent eating again, not so the smaller ones they will continue into mid Nov sometimes.
Telegraph creek can be good. South of all in is a good bet. Here is mine off one of the platues on a flight in hunt we did a few years back.
Lovely pic and caribou! What rifle, scope and caliber combination did you use on him?
A loooong time ago I drove the dirt Alaska Highway to Jakes corner and hunted caribou for a week around Atlin, all my myself.
I had a Honda 90 trail bike to get around with and an old time gentleman who was born in Atlin giving my advice on where to hunt and directing me to at least two different cabins I could stay in.
I saw a hundred caribou altogether, but not my dream head, so on last day I shot a very mediocre guy.
Here is one of the cabins I stayed in. I set the camera up to take my picture, having coffe after a morning hunt.
That is one great photo!
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Fantastic thread guys, good pics and great info!
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
And the risk, especially in the days before sat phones. And I don't mean the exciting and understandable risks that are fairly benign and unlikely like bumping a grizzly, but the simple fall and break your leg stuff. I've got a ways to go until old yet, but I have realised I'm not invincible, and some of the stuff I used to do alone I shake my head at- and admire. That's admirable history H4381.
I've hunted and fished mainly solo my whole life. Canoes, boats, quads, dirtbikes, trucks, snowshoes and just plain old boots. Pretty remote areas most of the time. Never thought much about it. Always figured I could handle any situation that came along. BUT the last couple of years it's taking a lot more convincing to go it alone. My good decision making skills have vanshed apparently. I can't even decide which sock to put on which foot first. Sad sad sad.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Know the drill, as I write this and it will be hard to believe I'm in cell receiption but we have a cell tower for the project, I'm on my own 58 degrees north into BC with the closest person 20kms South, and that's just camp, town is 220kms away. This is a comparatively "big city" flying job too for helis. My last job you had an end of day check in, and that was it. Now we're satellite tracked out the wazoo, have cell service, fall sensors... Never thought anything of it but there were a couple incidents the last couple years in the industry that open your eyes, especially as a dad of young kids. This is a regular work day for most pilots in the bush, but many times you're completely out of communication, working off the area they expected you to, and you have the "Sure hope this thing starts..." when you go to fire up. Mild, but throw a bear attack (hospitalized one of our pilots last year), fall, stick in the eye, you name it in there and it comes into contrast you're hanging out there a good ways. Partners are a good plan for somewhere like the Muskwa-Ketchika.
Plenty of trappers, pilots, prospectors, you name it will balk at this and I don't mean do not go out alone. Many including myself do for a living, but if this is your first northern foray, I wouldn't go solo, and just be aware of the risks.
Plenty of trappers, pilots, prospectors, you name it will balk at this and I don't mean do not go out alone. Many including myself do for a living, but if this is your first northern foray, I wouldn't go solo, and just be aware of the risks.
For sure I will be taking a partner! I usually hunt alone down here in the kootenays. Its more personal choice than anything. Dont have to worry about anybody but myself, the other guy not being where he is supposed to be, noise, whining, stupid pranks. Most of the time its pretty good, but I have had a couple of incidents along the way, dislocated my left patella 116km back in the north White river no one around to help, dragged my self through the bush to the truck and popped it back in place myself. Ran up onto a sow grizz and her cub and she bluff charged me. If you keep your head, stay cool and don panic, you will be alright. Just remember the rules and dont take big risks.
You have given me the inspiration to tell more of the story, and just what the isolated, historic town of Atlin was like at that time, 1968.
In the course of my earlier flying, one of the foresters I flew was Harry Gairns, at Prince George. He was born in Atlin and had said that his parents still l lived there. Earlier, a Native Indian I met was from Atlin and he had given me good information about caibou hunting out of Atlin and said if I ever came up there to hunt, to look him up and that was the main reason I had chosen Atlin to try for a big caribou. But as I was driving down the trail from Jakes corner I thought of Harry Gairns and decided to look up his parents.
The first person I met in Atlin was the most historic of the old timers-Norman Fisher, whose exploits have been written about quite often in newspapers, years ago. He still ran a water taxi, was just on his way to the dock to check his boat and he invited me to come along with him. He checked his gas tank and made the remark that no one had stolen his gas last night! I asked who would steal his gas and he said the young people who have moved in here will steal anything!
I then asked about Mr Gairns, forgot his first name, and Norman Fisher told me that Mrs. Gairns had died, (Mr.) Gairns was away but was due back that afternoon and all were gathering at one of the (old timers) house to wait for him and I was welcome to come along and wait with them.
Soon Mr. Gairns came and I introduced myself as having flown his son Harry on Forestry work. He took a deep breath and loudly stated, "You're Harry's pilot," then pointed me out to the rest and told them all that, "This is Harry's pilot!" That was just like rolling out the red carpet for me and like I had just become one of them.
Later they started to talk about gas, with one fellow saying he had a couple gallons, while another fellow said he had nearly ten gallons. I asked if that was boat gas they were talking about and they said, "No, that's any kind of gas." I said I had noticed a gas station as I drove into town and they said, "Yes, but he hasn't enough money to fill his tank!"
I remarked that I hoped I had enough gas to get out and about three all answered at once, "Don't worry, we'll find enough gas to get you out."
What great men these were. Later, one of them took me to his home to show me the new log house he had built on the shore of Atlin Lake. He stood looking out over the lake and stated, "One couldn't wish for a better place to retire." I couldn't argue with that!
And the older gentleman I told of telling me where to go for caribou was (Mr.) Gairns, who also was born in Atlin and spent a lifetime in the area prospecting.
The old time moccasin telegraph, where every one told everyone else every thing, so prevalent in all isolated areas, was never better illustrated than was my visit to Atlin in 1968. I was a friend of Mr. Gairns, so that meant I was a friend of all the old timers.
I didn't realize it at the time, but I had just come at the sunset of old time Atlin. In 1978 with wife and youngest son, we made a holiday trip to the north, including Atln. It had completely changed, hippies were every where and I could not find even one of the old timers from ten years ago.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Good stuff. Above all else, weather will be your biggest concern. You are making timing challenging by wanting well rubbed, worn antlers and good meat. If it wasn't for the exact picture of the antlers you want I'd set off as early in the season as possible. You won't get "coffee with one cream" coloured antlers until late season, full on rut bulls.
albertacoyotecaller
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Peace River, Alberta
You guys are lucky. I have been dreaming of a DIY caribou hunt since I was a kid in Ontario.
