One time on a moose hunt to the far north of our province, I travelled in company with a much younger friend. He was driving his old Dodge mini-bus that he used in his trade as an electrician. Of course, the extra seats had been removed except for the front passenger seat. The rest of the bus was used to tote our gear, plus a recently acquired ATV, without a muffler, that took up most of the room back there. I wondered, but didn’t ask, “Where will we put the moose?” In addition, the old bus was pulling a well used, leaky RV.
In planning for the hunt, I wanted to know my share of gasoline expenses. The answer seemed fair at the time, as we both would share that cost plus groceries. But I had the bull moose tag! What neither of us counted on was the price of gasoline in “the far north”! Nor did I count on the fact that the old bus would stall it’s motor every time we came to a bridge that had only one-way traffic due to construction – and that seemed like dozens of them! Then the ritual began: The V8 motor was installed nearly between us with a cover. Each time the motor stalled when we were forced to stop bus, ATV, equipment and RV, off came the cover for the motor, out came wrenches, etc and *&+#! And I prayed… Yes, I did!
Then, it seemed that the old Dodge bus with its big V8 was exceptionally thirsty for gas, and at over one dollar per litre, that cost was quietly eating away at my comfort zone! I roughly calculated that it wasn’t the best means of getting us there at a best mpg of 8 or less. That worked out to $5 per Imperial gallon and 2000 miles/8 mpg… uh, well, by rough figuring that cost alone would mean a very expensive moose – if we got one! 250 gallons of fuel for transportation (there and back) x $5 = $1250. My share of that would be $625, when I was told “a couple hundred” would be fair and just! The cost of moose meat was getting pricey! Let’s see now… hummm… If we got a 1000 lb bull, about 50% would be edible. 500 lbs of good bull, shared would be 250 lbs each at a cost of (I figured on $400 for the trip, all in) about $800 for the trip = $3.20 per pound of edible moose meat! That was back in the mid ’90’s. No too bad for all the fun we’d had so far!
In spite of everything, we finally made it to a good place to set up camp, as I’d been there the previous year. That previous year was spent in becoming familiar with an area of hundreds of square miles of old and new logging operations and hundreds of miles of old and new logging roads. But I’d learned where and how to hunt there, which is another tale!
But my thoughts were still running like: “Where will we put the moose?” As it turned out we didn’t need a place! The weather was great for moose hunting, like it was bitter cold with snow off and on throughout the five or six days of actual hunting. But not so great in the cold, leaky RV! Every morning I was glad to crawl out of the bunk to get a fire going for warmth and food. Then snacks in the pockets, rifle in hand and I walked trails hours on end scouting for sign! My friend with the “new to him” ATV? He rode his muffflerless ATV hours on end, and I could hear “It” from miles away… and I’m sure any moose could hear “It” from many more miles away!
I toted my first Ruger No.1 in .45-70, loaded with the 500gr Hornady Interloc RNs at just over 2000 fps, as my backup rifle to a .340 Weatherby Magnum.
We travelled those same 1000 miles/1600 kms back home again without a moose, experiencing the same costs and rituals over the stalling motor, and my companion let me off the hook in not charging for half of the fuel cost.
But apart from the endurance test of living in the cold of that RV, and walking scores of miles over old and sometimes new logging roads, I came home with increased learning and knowledge: “Learning” – how to hunt in those very remote conditions, and how to be happy while doing so! “Knowledge” – I didn’t just walk trails, but scouted out areas of new growth that had been clearcut a decade before, especially in the region of a medium-size lake. And there I found a recent rut pit, made by what appeared to be a young bull. I took note of it in my memory bank, and the following year, with my son, shot a nice bull there. There was also a cow and calf nearby. It was apparent that the bull was not as immature as I’d thought on my first encounter with that “rut pit”!
So, when you think “This hunt is a waste of time and money!” , you could still learn something, and gain knowledge that could be stored in your memory for a later date with… what you didn’t experience on your first try.
New trails and experiences: Last time I mentioned some discoveries on a new logging road in my familiar hunting region of the Haliburton Highlands (Crown Land). Along with scouting out the area, and walking some of the trails, I found a recently fired cartridge in the mud on my second trip. After cleaning it up it retained the same blue streaks that indicated high pressure, heat and perhaps some oil residue in the chamber when the rifle was fired. I gave a challenge to identify it!
Here it is again after a cleaning
I was surprised to find this particular cartridge – or any cartridge for that matter – in such a remote area so soon after the end of logging operations. But I’d assume that this particular one would still be quite unfamiliar with hunters of this area — but I was wrong!
The headstamp (which I tried to clearly photograph, but was unsuccessful) was smeared with dirt and the strange blue streaks across the primer, but when cleaned enough I could make out 28 Nosler, with NOS stamped clearly next to the primer – which, incidentally, was normal in appearance for a fired primer. But the case neck will not accept a 7mm bullet unless seated by a press as was the same for my former BAR in 7 Rem Mag!
According to Nosler their 160gr NP factory load is 3250 fps/ 3752 ft-lbs at the muzzle and 2446 fps/ 2126 ft-lbs at 400 yards. Of course, I don’t know what factory load was fired (assuming it was a factory load), but the 160 NP load IS hot! That would be an excellent load for a good size bull elk at 400 yards, but for a big bull moose I’d opt for a 175gr NP at about 3000 fps MV, and at 400 yds that should be adequate. For more range, I’d choose at least a 300 mag.
But there’s nothing like a good workout in preparation for a big game hunt!
And that must include great food! Home made coconut cream pie as an example, especially on vacation which prepares one for an exciting adventure!
And one mustn’t neglect getting machinery ready!
Along with shooting at the range … using the latest in bench rest style!
And walking trails to discover something we didn’t see before Ain’t vacations great!
Till the next…
Shalom
BOB MITCHELL