| NORTHERN BC MOOSE/ELK HUNT |
BY DR. JUSTIN CAPPIELLO - Life Member #384
I was the successful bidder at the FNAWS 2006 auction for a moose hunt offered by Tuchodi River outfitters
in northern B.C. Canada. It was a 10-day hunt beginning on September 1, 2006 to September 10, 2006. I
wisely chose to purchase additional tags for elk and black bear never knowing what luck and adventure
would lie ahead. After traveling to Ft. Nelson B>V> Canada, I flew into the Tuchodi River area of the wild
northern Canadian rocky mountains. The “base camp: was located at the base of surrounding mountains
and surrounded by wilderness. The hospitality and food were excellent throughout my stay.
On day #1, September 1, after a hearty breakfast, we mounted up on our gelding horses and left camp with
the enthusiasm and expectations of great things to happen. We were on our way to pursue a Bull moose in
moose country. This required hours on horseback into the high country. We covered a lot of ground and
“Glassed” a lot. The Bull moose were in the high country and were not moving around much. The weather
was mild and the moose were not in the “Rut.” Mother nature was in control.. We headed back to base camp
as nightfall quickly arrived and we were exhausted from the day’s hunt.
Day #2 - We again set out on horseback for moose country high up following the mountain trails where my
ears popped from the altitude. We spotted a few grazing Bull moose bu the number of points of their antlers
were too small to be legal.. The regulations are difficult in B.C. and controversial. During the day’s travels,
the Bull Elk were bugling here and there and were beginning their rut cycle. It’s the sound that one
remember s for a lifetime.
Day #3 & 4 - We set out for a night in a spike camp. The moose were scattered into small bachelor groups.
We were waiting for colder weather to make them start moving and to fulfill their natural instincts of
propagation, not yet.
Day #5 - Now we are aggressively pursuing the elusive Bull Elk. After a grueling & exhaustive real chase
uphill, and painfully lasting a few hours, I saw a huge “Rack” suddenly appear at the crest of the hill, I was
out of breath and quickly by crosshairs were on his chest and in the excitement the rifle safety was still on
and I pressed on the trigger, no action. I quickly got the safety off and by the time it took to aim again, the
Bull took off into the tree cover and I had lost my trophy. I could not believe it, I was destroyed as this was
my fault. We searched later that day, with no real opportunity, we returned to camp frustrated and
exhausted. For a moment that afternoon I actually had real tears flowing down my cheeks, how could this
happen? I kept asking. I was discouraged and mad. I repeated to myself many times, I must keep my cool
and “this contest is man against beast.”
Day #6 - Another Day, each day was full of excitement that big chance was close. You never know where
you will be challenging an elusive and smart animal like Bull Elk. We chased Elk in the morning and again in
the afternoon, it was time to head back to camp on horseback and on foot. I guess I was on horseback at
least for 30 hours or more and no game was taken. The country is extremely rugged terrain. You really
need to prepare for the Rockies. “Lo and behold” around 7:00 pm, about 30 minutes outside of camp on
horseback, the guide using a “cow call” provoked a near by Bull to “bugle.” I got off my horse, I was totally
exhausted, I dug into my coat and pulled out 4 cartridges of Winchester 30-06 180 grain silver tip bullets,
one into the chamber and three into the magazine. I positioned myself against a tree, the safety off and read
as ever for the big moment. There it was, about 100 yards in a poplar forest, a nice Bull Elk was looking for
his cow. He sottd still long enough for my crosshairs and with ho hesitation or reservations, I pulled on the
trigger and he went down. In a few minutes we were at this side and he was “oozing life,” I had my first Bull
Elk, unbelievable!
Darkness arrived within the hour and we quickly began the skinning and preparation for a shoulder mount
and butchering process. This was performed with two flashlights. One head lamp and one had held of the
new diode types. Close to 11:00 pm we mounted our horses and, in the darkness, headed for camp. I was
totally exhausted and exhilarated at the same time.. The sweet feeling of success made the sweat and tears
worth the trip.
The remainder of the trip was unsuccessful for that elusive moose. To quote a friend form the base-camp
Lyle, “Some believe that the hunt ends with the kill, however, to the wise hunter, it is not the end.. But merely
the beginning of the next great adventure.”
in northern B.C. Canada. It was a 10-day hunt beginning on September 1, 2006 to September 10, 2006. I
wisely chose to purchase additional tags for elk and black bear never knowing what luck and adventure
would lie ahead. After traveling to Ft. Nelson B>V> Canada, I flew into the Tuchodi River area of the wild
northern Canadian rocky mountains. The “base camp: was located at the base of surrounding mountains
and surrounded by wilderness. The hospitality and food were excellent throughout my stay.
On day #1, September 1, after a hearty breakfast, we mounted up on our gelding horses and left camp with
the enthusiasm and expectations of great things to happen. We were on our way to pursue a Bull moose in
moose country. This required hours on horseback into the high country. We covered a lot of ground and
“Glassed” a lot. The Bull moose were in the high country and were not moving around much. The weather
was mild and the moose were not in the “Rut.” Mother nature was in control.. We headed back to base camp
as nightfall quickly arrived and we were exhausted from the day’s hunt.
Day #2 - We again set out on horseback for moose country high up following the mountain trails where my
ears popped from the altitude. We spotted a few grazing Bull moose bu the number of points of their antlers
were too small to be legal.. The regulations are difficult in B.C. and controversial. During the day’s travels,
the Bull Elk were bugling here and there and were beginning their rut cycle. It’s the sound that one
remember s for a lifetime.
Day #3 & 4 - We set out for a night in a spike camp. The moose were scattered into small bachelor groups.
We were waiting for colder weather to make them start moving and to fulfill their natural instincts of
propagation, not yet.
Day #5 - Now we are aggressively pursuing the elusive Bull Elk. After a grueling & exhaustive real chase
uphill, and painfully lasting a few hours, I saw a huge “Rack” suddenly appear at the crest of the hill, I was
out of breath and quickly by crosshairs were on his chest and in the excitement the rifle safety was still on
and I pressed on the trigger, no action. I quickly got the safety off and by the time it took to aim again, the
Bull took off into the tree cover and I had lost my trophy. I could not believe it, I was destroyed as this was
my fault. We searched later that day, with no real opportunity, we returned to camp frustrated and
exhausted. For a moment that afternoon I actually had real tears flowing down my cheeks, how could this
happen? I kept asking. I was discouraged and mad. I repeated to myself many times, I must keep my cool
and “this contest is man against beast.”
Day #6 - Another Day, each day was full of excitement that big chance was close. You never know where
you will be challenging an elusive and smart animal like Bull Elk. We chased Elk in the morning and again in
the afternoon, it was time to head back to camp on horseback and on foot. I guess I was on horseback at
least for 30 hours or more and no game was taken. The country is extremely rugged terrain. You really
need to prepare for the Rockies. “Lo and behold” around 7:00 pm, about 30 minutes outside of camp on
horseback, the guide using a “cow call” provoked a near by Bull to “bugle.” I got off my horse, I was totally
exhausted, I dug into my coat and pulled out 4 cartridges of Winchester 30-06 180 grain silver tip bullets,
one into the chamber and three into the magazine. I positioned myself against a tree, the safety off and read
as ever for the big moment. There it was, about 100 yards in a poplar forest, a nice Bull Elk was looking for
his cow. He sottd still long enough for my crosshairs and with ho hesitation or reservations, I pulled on the
trigger and he went down. In a few minutes we were at this side and he was “oozing life,” I had my first Bull
Elk, unbelievable!
Darkness arrived within the hour and we quickly began the skinning and preparation for a shoulder mount
and butchering process. This was performed with two flashlights. One head lamp and one had held of the
new diode types. Close to 11:00 pm we mounted our horses and, in the darkness, headed for camp. I was
totally exhausted and exhilarated at the same time.. The sweet feeling of success made the sweat and tears
worth the trip.
The remainder of the trip was unsuccessful for that elusive moose. To quote a friend form the base-camp
Lyle, “Some believe that the hunt ends with the kill, however, to the wise hunter, it is not the end.. But merely
the beginning of the next great adventure.”
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