Good Moose Juju - Ontario
Freddy's first moose..
Hunter: Freddy Lagos
Cameraman: Robert North
Well…after Joe and Z got home from Alaska on their Moose hunting adventure, I headed North with POSSE member Robert North to Ontario with our good friend Fern Duquette and Kashabowie Outposts for our own moose hunting journey, and what an unforgettable journey it would be.
Our trip started on October 9 when Robert arrived here at the office. We loaded our gear into the truck, set the GPS for Atikokan, Ontario and started our trip to Kashabowie. We drove late into the night and after a two hour search, we finally found a hotel that had a room available that was reasonably priced. Didn’t know this but apparently the peak of the fall season is a big tourist attraction up in Minnesota, and a lady at one of the hotels was very snippy about this fact. Well a big….DUH, goes to me. Next time I’m in Minnesota in October I’ll make sure to note this little fact.
Anyway we were up early the next morning and finished the drive to Kashabowie by early that afternoon. We were unable to fly to camp that day due to high winds and snow, that’s right, snow in October, so we had to wait it out until the next day. Sunday came and we headed to a local gravel pit to check our TC Icon to make sure it was still good to go…it was. I chose to take the Icon that Joe and Z had taken with them on their Alaska trip, figuring it already had the good Moose juju on it from their moose kills. After we checked the guns and the weather cleared up, we loaded the float plane and headed to our camp. It was sweet! Wood burning stove, hot water, propane stove, and refrigerators. It was very comfortable and after a good dinner we all turned in early in anticipation of our first mornings hunt.
Robert hunted the first day. We paddled a canoe to the east end of the lake and up a long set of narrows. Now let me give you a bit of history about myself, Robert, and canoes…WE DON’T MIX! Past experiences for both of us in canoes usually resulted in them tipping over. But we actually kept the canoe afloat and by the end of the week we became master canoeists. Uncle Fern was quite proud of both of us. The first day came and went with no activity. We setup and called in several different spots, but to no avail. When we got back to camp that night a call came over the CB radio, “An eagle has landed.” That’s Canadian for we killed a moose. Another one of the camps north of us had killed a great 50 inch bull that evening. Our blood boiled with anticipation, and we all knew it was just a matter of time. We went to bed that night with high hopes of what the next day would bring.
Day two and three ended the same as day one. No activity or response to Ferns calling attempts. But two more eagles had landed at the other camps. We joked that Fern must have sounded like and ugly cow calling and that was why the bulls weren’t responding. On the upside, on our way back to camp that night we spotted a cow feeding in a set of narrows on the west end of the lake. We made a game plan to return to the narrows the next morning. It was a wise decision and one that I will never forget.
Day four and it was my turn to hunt again. We arrived at the narrows on the west end of the lake at first light. As we walked around the point of the shore to get to our calling spot, we looked up and there she was. The cow from the night before was back in the narrows feeding in the same spot as the night before when we saw her. We setup in a stand of jack pine trees on the edge of the narrows. We watched her feed on the vegetation in the lake and she slowly made her way out of the narrows and disappeared into the swamp. Shortly after we lost sight of her, Fern began calling. About an hour after his first calling sequence, we heard a large branch crack from across the narrow to our left. Robert tried to get Fern's attention and I shushed him, trying to get a location of the sound myself. Sure enough another branch cracked and I could hear a bull grunting across the narrow. It was snowing pretty good that morning and it was difficult to see where the noise was coming from. Then all of a sudden, like a 1200 pound ghost, he appeared in an opening about half way up the hill to our left. Across the narrow there he stood looking down towards the lake. His antlers were white with snow as he stood on the hillside looking for the cow that he thought had been there calling him. Fern gave another small cow call; he broke his stare, and started down the hill towards us. All the way down the hill he was grunting and raking brush; my heart was pounding out of my chest. I had to take a second to calm myself if I was going to make a good shot on this bull.
He got to the edge of the narrow and again stared intently looking for the cow. The crosshairs of my Nikon scope were already settled on his chest. I whispered to Robert, “As soon as he turns broadside, I’m going to take him.” Fern gave one more small cow call to seal the deal. The bull stepped out into the water and turned broadside. I flipped the safety off, put the crosshairs on his shoulder, and told Robert, “Here we go.” The TC Icon 300 Win. Mag. barked loudly as I pulled the trigger, and the 180 grain bullet hit his shoulder with a loud THWUMP! He took a couple of steps into the narrow, I jacked another round into the chamber and sent another one his way. The second shot anchored him right where he stood, and the celebration began. I broke down in awe of what had just happened. I totally lost it and began weeping with happiness. I couldn’t believe that I had just taken my first moose. After Robert, Fern, and myself got done celebrating, I grabbed the satellite phone and called Ralph and Vicki who were down in Pike County on the ladies hunt. My next call was to my wife and kids who had been anxiously waiting for that call to come in all week. Now that my bull was down my next thought was, “How in the world are we going to get him out of the lake.” After some work with a come along, my bull was on shore and I was standing over a dream come true.
Needless to say pulling the trigger on these animals is the easy part. After spending the rest of the day cutting, quartering, and skinning him out, the canoe was full of moose meat, hide, and rack. It was a day that I will never forget. We got back to camp that night exhausted from the work we'd done and celebrated by throwing some moose steaks on the grill. What a great way to end the day!
I would like to say thanks to Fern Duquette, his daughter Dani for the good luck charm she made for me, and the entire staff at Kashabowie Outposts, for allowing me to fulfill a life-long dream, and of course, Ralph and Vicki for the opportunity to go up and hunt with Kashabowie. Robert North for filming me, great job…love ya bro. My wife and kids for being so supportive and praying for me. Joe and Z for the good moose juju on the Icon, and of course, last but certainly not least, my Lord and Savior for allowing me the opportunity at one of his most amazing creations, and giving me the ability to make a good shot when the time came.
If you’re looking for a great Canada Moose hunt contact Fern Duquette at Kashabowie Outposts. Not only is the moose hunting great, the fishing up there will blow your mind. Thanks again….EVERYBODY!