Labrador Moose Hunt

Boomer686

Boomer686

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The Big Land
So it was a great hunt. Got to see an area of the Churchill River I have never been before. Jet boat is definitely the way to travel over rapids and occasional low water conditions (hard on gas but man can it go places no other boats can go). We would go up river a ways then shut down the boat and just drift, glassing the shores and flood plains as we went. We would occasionally put ashore and set up an over-watch in a given area that looked good, calling and glassing. We saw lots of tracks each day. On the third day we stopped for a shore lunch then resumed around 2pm. As we were drifting I was sure I heard a bull grunt so I hit the cow call and he replied. He came out on the eastern side of the river and Grunt19 ranged him at 347m while I prepped the rifle. We grounded the boat and I stalked up a stand of young birch downwind from him. Double lung shot at a shade over 300m and he was done. We had to part him out in 6 pcs (4 quarters and the full rib cage and head) to pack him back to the boat which was another 300m downstream. It was an excellent hunt and the scenery was amazing. I'm glad I got to hunt this area because when the hydro project gets underway next year much of it will be flooded. Anyway enjoy the pics....


View from our camp





Glassing some of the flood plains





Nice 19 point bull. The camera angle doesn' t do it justice. Over a 1000lbs and good sized, wide body rack.





This picture gives a better rep of the sheer size and mass of the head & rack. I had a case of "old man back" the next morning lol




And of course it wouldn't be October in Labrador without snow... small blizzard on the return trip!

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Beautiful Pictures. Nice Animal.

I would put the Big land up against any other place in the world for beauty. I have not been back in a few years but hope to be back soon.
 
BigUglyMan said:
What? With a new 375 C-T to test out?
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:)Last year was a good year for a ;)FEW acquisitions and there's a few more besides the 375 C-T inline for a 'field trip'. However, this year the plan is for some Island Deer. Not too likely I'll run into a monster Island Blacktail so the 375 C-T probably won't get the call.
 
Jet boat is definitely the way to travel over rapids and occasional low water conditions (hard on gas but man can it go places no other boats can go)
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s we were drifting I was sure I heard a bull grunt so I hit the cow call and he replied. He came out on the eastern side of the river and Grunt19 ranged him at 347m while I prepped the rifle.
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In Ontario -- that would be illegal I think ... and I am pretty sure you are mistaken and had a memory lapse about "hitting the cow call" as you were drifting in the boat (while in Labrador). You probably went ashore to do that.
 
AP said:
In Ontario -- that would be illegal I think ...
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There were no shots fired from the boat at any time: one shot fired and that was on shore after a brief stalk. Can't speak for Ontario laws (I'm sure you are aware that they vary by province) but using a jet boat, drifting in the river and actively calling are permitted in NL as long as the motor is off and all forward momentum from the motor has ceased. None of that is permitted while under power from the motor.
 
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joenl said:
Beautiful Pictures. Nice Animal. I would put the Big land up against any other place in the world for beauty. I have not been back in a few years but hope to be back soon.
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Our moose population is certainly getting up there and that's great! Not sure if I will get to hunt this area again as, unfortunately, it will all soon be flooded when Muskrat Falls hydro project comes online.
 
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Boomer686 said:
Our moose population is certainly getting up there and that's great! Not sure if I will get to hunt this area again as, unfortunately, it will all soon be flooded when Muskrat Falls hydro project comes online.
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Only 41 sq km is set to flood along the river valley. The project is supposed to cut away trees in the areas effected so they don't rot in the water and leech out mercury from the granite. I'd expect the hunt could still run in some portion of the river, or some other locations can be used by the outfitters. Labrador is full of waterways.
 
labradort said:
Only 41 sq km is set to flood along the river valley. The project is supposed to cut away trees in the areas effected so they don't rot in the water and leech out mercury from the granite. I'd expect the hunt could still run in some portion of the river, or some other locations can be used by the outfitters. Labrador is full of waterways.
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But unfortunately a lot of that are the flood plains the moose here are making good use of. After they are under water the steep hills and cliffs that remain will make it much more difficult for these moose to make their way to the remaining plateaus that may not be submerged. In either case it's a shame because it is a very beautiful area of the Churchill River.
 
boomer dont worrey we know what ya mean.theres people always question when you harvest a nice animal.enjoy the memories nice bull by the way .thanks for sharing.
 
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