Robert and his Ontario moose.
Hunter: Robert North
Cameraman: Freddy Lagos
It was pouring down rain when I got the call. I looked down at my phone and saw an unknown phone number, I answered the call and on the other line was Freddy Lagos asking if I would be available to go on a moose hunt. I told him that I would call back in an hour and let him know. After getting my affairs in order I called Freddy back and told him I was there. A week later I was in my truck headed up to Archer’s Choice to meet Freddy, and from there we would begin our trip to Kashabowie Outposts in Ontario, Canada.
We arrived at Kashabowie on Saturday and spent the night at Fern’s house, where we were greeted with unbelievable hospitality and one of the sweetest little girls I have ever met. Dani, Fern’s daughter, was most definitely full of energy and gave Freddy and I many laughs. We woke up the next morning and Dani had made Freddy a good luck charm that I’m sure was the reason for our success. We got on the float plane and flew to what would be our home away from home for the next week. As we landed on the lake, I was looking at this amazing cabin in the middle of nowhere. I could not believe that this cabin was so nice. It had running water, a generator that gave us electricity and several rooms. After getting our gear unpacked we were all in our beds soon after. I do not know about Fern or Freddy, but I could not sleep at all; thoughts of moose kept racing in my mind and I could not believe that I was actually living one of my dreams.
We hunted the first three days with no responses and no sightings of moose. The fourth day of our hunt, Freddy was able to connect on a gorgeous bull. The scene was great—his bull stepped out on the edge of the creek with snow in his paddles; the only thing separating us and him were snowflakes. Freddy put a perfect shot on him and it was done. There were three days left to our hunt and I was anxious to get my chance. I was completely satisfied with just being here, but if the opportunity presented itself, I was definitely ready. With no encounters Friday or Saturday morning, I was starting to believe that it just might not happen.
After cleaning the camp during the afternoon, we sat down with Fern and he told Freddy and I that he knew of a huge bull that was in the area. He really did not have an exact spot or anything on him, but he knew an area where the big bull would stay. He told us of a couple ponds that were completely secluded and were surrounded by the thickest, nastiest stuff you could ever imagine. After determining the direction of the wind we studied the topographic map and made our plan. Now we just had to put it into action. Fern told us that this was really a last ditch effort and there are so many things that must go right for this to happen, it really was a one in a million shot.
So we piled into the boat and drove to the spot where this stalk would begin. We had walked for about an hour when we got to the first ridge where we THOUGHT we would be able to see the ponds. Unfortunately, thanks to the thick willows and underbrush, there really was no viewing distance more than 10 yards. It seemed like we were checking the wind every few yards. I swear I started out with a brand new bottle of HS Windchecker powder, and by the end, it was almost gone. We walked to another ridge and had a clear view of the first pond. Nothing! We stayed there for a bit to see if anything would come out and nothing did.
Fern told us there was one more ridge over where we might be able to see the other pond. This was it...the last evening of the hunt, one more ridge over, one more ravine to cross, and if we got there and nothing was there, then it was all for nothing. All the sweat, all the walking, falling, being bushwhacked by Freddy many times, would all be for nothing. Before we started walking again, Fern pointed out a few trees that a large bull had completely massacred.
The bull had been there very recently. The closer we got to the other pond, the more Fern stressed how quiet we must be. We just crested the final ridge and Fern turned around and his eyes were huge. He looked me right in the eyes and said there is a HUGE MOOSE right there, almost a mile stalk to this point and to this moment. Fern looked at both of us and said, “We have come too far to screw this up, one noise, one broken branch and this is all over.” From where we were standing we had no shot with the Thomson Center Icon. Fern saw a rock about 15 yards away; he snuck over to it and found a perfect opening to put the 180 grain Hornady through. Freddy and I did an opener and we started our slow and final stalk to the opening.
Each step was put down so carefully. My heart was pounding so hard I swear the moose could hear it. Fern had the Nikon rangefinder and had already checked it. I got to the opening and he said the giant was 166 yards. Freddy was right over my left shoulder. I put the crosshairs right behind his shoulder and asked Freddy those four little words, “Are you on him?”... He replied, “No, I have to be over your other shoulder.” So Freddy slipped behind me and got focused on him. The bull had been standing in the exact spot, broadside for almost twenty minutes. Finally, I heard the words I had been dying to hear, “When ever you’re ready.”
I had been looking through the scope for about five minutes now and I was starting to shake. I was breathing so hard that it took everything I had to take one deep breath... hold... squeeze... The first shot hit him perfect. He took two steps and I heard Freddy, “Hit him again.” I lined it up and put one more in him dropping him like a rock. I looked back at Freddy, then Fern, and then Freddy again, and just broke down. I shot a monster and a ton of emotions hit me as hard as I just hit that bull. I cried, I laughed, and I thanked God. I called my dad on the Satellite phone and he was in a tree stand deer hunting. I told him I just shot a monster. I think after our conversation he called probably all 152 contacts he had in his phone to tell everyone. We got down to the giant that God had granted to us and I was absolutely Awe Struck. We got a couple pictures, but had to wait until the next day to get to work because of the loss of light.
The next morning Fern had two other men come in to help. When I say men, I mean it. You will never find three harder working guys than Fern, Jim, and Brian. They worked their butts off to help us get him out. Without them, we might still be there. We got him quartered out and packed him out over our 800-yard trail that Fern had cut with the chainsaw. Once again, a prime example of how hard these guys work to help out there hunters. We got the bull back to the float planes, loaded up our gear, and flew off into one of the most beautiful and memorable sunsets I will ever experience.
I would like to thank Ralph and Vicki and everyone at ACM for letting me live out my dream. Also I would like to thank Freddy for busting his butt to get the job done and lay down some awesome footage. Also Fern for everything, he is an amazing guide and an even better person and friend. Last thanks go to Brian and Jim for all their help.
THIS MOOSE WAS FOR YOU DAD. Thanks buddy!