Moose-Newfoundland Report
10-07-2002, 03:59 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Moose-Newfoundland Report
Well, I took my first Moose hunt last week in Northern Newfoundland with Viking Trail Outfitters. I got a cow on Sat. Morning right before jumping on the Beaver Sea Plane. Being my first moose hunt, I learned alot.
First off, this was the toughest hunt I ever did. It snowed, it rained sideways, it got to 55 degrees, then back to 20 degrees. I wasn't expecting bogs after bogs. I sure wasn't expecting to walk 12 miles a day. I wasn't expecting this black spruce that is worse than any briars I ever seen. But most of all, I wasn't expecting my gun to be off 10 feet at 250 yards. Don't know how it happed, but it did with Leupold rings, bases and Vari-X III scope.
After three days of hunting and only seeing Caribou, and moose around 1000 yards away, on Friday we heard a cow call. We climbed down a 40 foot cliff and saw a nice 15 point bull and cow. It looked to me to be 300 yards max, but after the guide ranged it, it was 450 yards. This land played tricks on my eyes. I got 250 yards away and shot and shot under him by a long shot according to the guide. He never left the cow and the wind was in our face. I shot 5 more times raising each time. I was very upset at this point, since I have worked for one year with this gun getting 1.1" groups at 200 yards. So we snuck up 150 yards. I told the guide, I had only one bullet left. He yelled, "thats all". So I knew the gun was off, so I put it 7 ft over its back. This time, we saw the hair fly but it was too high. I over shot it.
That was supposed to be our last day. But the cook loaned me her 30-06, and we tried for a few hours in the morning. And I got a cow at 80 yards. While we were quartering it, the plane came. I had to go so I only took 200lbs of meat back in a hurry. Got 120lbs after it was wrapped.
These people treated us great. I got my shots. But it was harder than I thought it would be. And I thought I would see more animals.
So after vowing to never go back on Friday, while putting away my meat last night, I said to myself, "maybe I will book another trip next year". What I learned; a range finder is a plus if its your first trip. 2:know your gun well if you plan to shoot over 150 yards. 3:Rubber boots are a must and goretex pants. 4:Goretex pants will be cut to ribbons if you don't wear something over them in the Black Spuce. 5:Need to be able to run at least 3 miles or your trip will be miserable. I thought I had a few heart attacks myself. 6:Earplugs in cabin is a must. 7:Never assume your rifle is sighted after a trip on the plane. Also, if you fall down, also could be out severely. 8:I will never make fun of people with see thru sights again. 9:Carry a full box of ammo, you never know when you might get lost and need it or need to take more shots. 10:Guides was wrong almost every time on distance, they do bull**** a little. 11: Make sure you know how to get your meat back. Airports was living hell dealing with it and cost me $450 to get that back and set of horns I found on top of the mountain. 12
idn't know that cargo didn't open until after I was gone.
I asked several times when I got there to shoot in my gun. They insisted that it was a waste of time. I think next time I will get a boresighter and make note of zero. and if i fall down or after the plane ride, make sure its in zero. It was a great country, and all they seemed to worry about was if I was having a good time.
First off, this was the toughest hunt I ever did. It snowed, it rained sideways, it got to 55 degrees, then back to 20 degrees. I wasn't expecting bogs after bogs. I sure wasn't expecting to walk 12 miles a day. I wasn't expecting this black spruce that is worse than any briars I ever seen. But most of all, I wasn't expecting my gun to be off 10 feet at 250 yards. Don't know how it happed, but it did with Leupold rings, bases and Vari-X III scope.
After three days of hunting and only seeing Caribou, and moose around 1000 yards away, on Friday we heard a cow call. We climbed down a 40 foot cliff and saw a nice 15 point bull and cow. It looked to me to be 300 yards max, but after the guide ranged it, it was 450 yards. This land played tricks on my eyes. I got 250 yards away and shot and shot under him by a long shot according to the guide. He never left the cow and the wind was in our face. I shot 5 more times raising each time. I was very upset at this point, since I have worked for one year with this gun getting 1.1" groups at 200 yards. So we snuck up 150 yards. I told the guide, I had only one bullet left. He yelled, "thats all". So I knew the gun was off, so I put it 7 ft over its back. This time, we saw the hair fly but it was too high. I over shot it.
That was supposed to be our last day. But the cook loaned me her 30-06, and we tried for a few hours in the morning. And I got a cow at 80 yards. While we were quartering it, the plane came. I had to go so I only took 200lbs of meat back in a hurry. Got 120lbs after it was wrapped.
These people treated us great. I got my shots. But it was harder than I thought it would be. And I thought I would see more animals.
So after vowing to never go back on Friday, while putting away my meat last night, I said to myself, "maybe I will book another trip next year". What I learned; a range finder is a plus if its your first trip. 2:know your gun well if you plan to shoot over 150 yards. 3:Rubber boots are a must and goretex pants. 4:Goretex pants will be cut to ribbons if you don't wear something over them in the Black Spuce. 5:Need to be able to run at least 3 miles or your trip will be miserable. I thought I had a few heart attacks myself. 6:Earplugs in cabin is a must. 7:Never assume your rifle is sighted after a trip on the plane. Also, if you fall down, also could be out severely. 8:I will never make fun of people with see thru sights again. 9:Carry a full box of ammo, you never know when you might get lost and need it or need to take more shots. 10:Guides was wrong almost every time on distance, they do bull**** a little. 11: Make sure you know how to get your meat back. Airports was living hell dealing with it and cost me $450 to get that back and set of horns I found on top of the mountain. 12
idn't know that cargo didn't open until after I was gone.I asked several times when I got there to shoot in my gun. They insisted that it was a waste of time. I think next time I will get a boresighter and make note of zero. and if i fall down or after the plane ride, make sure its in zero. It was a great country, and all they seemed to worry about was if I was having a good time.
10-07-2002, 06:06 PM
#2
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: fort mcmurray alberta canada
Posts: 5,667
RE: Moose-Newfoundland Report
I find it odd that they didn't insist on you shooting your rifle before hunting.Every outfitter I know wants to see you shoot your gun as much to see how you shoot as to see if the gun is sighted in properly.I also take a spare rifle on every hunt I go on just in case.In any case you killed a moose and learned a lot about hunting them.
10-07-2002, 06:24 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New England USA
Posts: 7
RE: Moose-Newfoundland Report
Bigcountry,
Sorry to hear that your scope was off , the same thing happened to my dad on a deer hunt. He had a real nice 8 point standing broadside at 75 yards and missed by 2 feet.that was the last buck he laid eyes on for the rest of the year. Every trip i have gone on the guides insisted that all hunters check their scopes before stepping into the bush. I am very glad that you had a good time and congratulations on your moose. Will you be going back with the same outfitter?
snowchaser61
Sorry to hear that your scope was off , the same thing happened to my dad on a deer hunt. He had a real nice 8 point standing broadside at 75 yards and missed by 2 feet.that was the last buck he laid eyes on for the rest of the year. Every trip i have gone on the guides insisted that all hunters check their scopes before stepping into the bush. I am very glad that you had a good time and congratulations on your moose. Will you be going back with the same outfitter?
snowchaser61
10-08-2002, 06:00 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Moose-Newfoundland Report
Oh yea, absolutely I will visit Viking Trail again. They really tried to accomadate me. Food was good, they had running water at the camp. The guides are what you want for a guide, they knew the area, they were tough, they were ok freindly. But you couldn't hardly understand them.
I knew better and that voice in the back of my head kept telling me to fire that gun. But I went against my instincts and listened to them. Nobody to blaim really but me.
I knew better and that voice in the back of my head kept telling me to fire that gun. But I went against my instincts and listened to them. Nobody to blaim really but me.
10-09-2002, 06:04 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Moose-Newfoundland Report
The airports was a mess. This was the most stressful part of the hunt. If you have any means to make it up by truck, I say do it. When I got back to BWI (Baltimore), I didn't realize the sniping going on here, and was about detained with the rifle.
10-14-2002, 05:35 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Moose-Newfoundland Report
About 2800-3200 dollars american for one moose. This usually is with 1 on 1 guide, food and lodging. My outfitter has the following web page if interested. Very good people, that cared if I had a good time.
www.vikingoutfitters.nf.net/
www.vikingoutfitters.nf.net/
10-14-2002, 07:56 PM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 358
RE: Moose-Newfoundland Report
bigcountry
I read your post with interest. I annually enjoy a fly-in moose hunt into northern Ontario with my 2 sons and 2 friends. Like you my rifle is mounted with a Vari-X 111 with Leupold (QR) mounts. Our plane is also a Beaver in which everything is packed as tight as it will fit and with about as much care as loading cord wood into the back of a pick-up. I've never had a problem with my scope loosing zero. In fact I shot my bull this year at 170 yds (range finder) broadside cleanly through the shoulder, lung and heart. I always pack my rifle in a hard case confident it would be protected and to be honest I have never varified its sighting after being in there. Your post has given me food for thought because next year I'll definitely pack a bore sighter.
The one question I would like to ask is, was your rifle packed in a hard case? Thanks gg.
"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it."
I read your post with interest. I annually enjoy a fly-in moose hunt into northern Ontario with my 2 sons and 2 friends. Like you my rifle is mounted with a Vari-X 111 with Leupold (QR) mounts. Our plane is also a Beaver in which everything is packed as tight as it will fit and with about as much care as loading cord wood into the back of a pick-up. I've never had a problem with my scope loosing zero. In fact I shot my bull this year at 170 yds (range finder) broadside cleanly through the shoulder, lung and heart. I always pack my rifle in a hard case confident it would be protected and to be honest I have never varified its sighting after being in there. Your post has given me food for thought because next year I'll definitely pack a bore sighter.
The one question I would like to ask is, was your rifle packed in a hard case? Thanks gg.
"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it."
