Lonnie and his woodland caribou.

Hunter: Lonnie Turnbeaugh
Cameraman: Bucky Beckham

We got up early the 5th morning of our hunt. Bucky shot a huge moose the night before and we had to get the remainder of the moose meat and bring it back to camp. Now what hasn’t been said is the outboard motor on our boat would not start. We worked on it for a long time and finally gave up.

We decided that we would row the boat the mile or so (just like the night before) across the lake and back so we could get all the meat. This turned into a contest between Glen, our guide, and Bucky and me, I think... I am pretty sure that Glen won (sorry Bucky).

After all the meat was back at camp, Bob came roaring over the mountains in a snow storm and landed the float plane in a hurry. When he got out he gave us some heart breaking news. He told us, “Fellas, I can’t fly you out to caribou camp, the weather is too bad.” It was like you let the air out of a balloon. We were stuck in camp again and had lost the first three day's due to weather, now here we go again.

We cut some firewood and got into the tent and was settling in for a long afternoon and evening. Suddenly we heard a plane. Glen said, “Oh, that’s probably someone else, the plane sounds bigger.” Well Glen was wrong; it was Bob returning to moose camp. Bob landed the same way, in a hurry. Bob stepped onto the pontoon and as he was floating in and said, “Get your gun, camera gear, and a sleeping bag, leave everything else here, we have a small window to fly out of here. So let’s go!!!”

Well Bucky does not like to fly, and let me tell you, if you have never flown in a small plane in windy conditions, it’s a real treat. Bucky almost lost his cookies. After a bumpy ride, we landed in caribou camp, threw our sleeping bags into the tent and took off to find a Woodland Caribou. Having the privilege of a Woodland Caribou tag these days is quite an honor, they are very scarce and coveted.

We only walked ten minutes when Glen, our guide, stopped us and said very excitedly, there is a GIANT caribou, he is right there in the Tamarac’s. I am not kidding, no more than a ¼ mile from camp. We were not ready, the gun was not loaded, the tripod was strapped to the camera pack, and we were prepared to hike up the mountain. Bucky and I went into auto-mode, we don’t even remember what we did or how we did it, but in less than one minute, Bucky was filming and I was aiming my loaded TC at a true GIANT of a Caribou.

I said, “Talk to me Buc” and I honestly do not know what he said, but I know he was ready. I remember thinking “man those cross hairs are steady for free hand” and I touched the trigger. At the bark of the TC the caribou buckled. He ran 15-20 yards and stopped, that is where that huge rack came crashing down. I don’t think I realized how big he was until I got my hands on him, a TRUE TROPHY of a lifetime.

Bob Efford, I cannot say enough to express how much I appreciate the awesome experience you allowed us to have, thank you so much! Glen, Bucky, I could not have done this without either one of you guys, you made my week a memory I will NEVER forget. Thank you Ralph and Vicki, for making my dream come true. Newfoundland, what a beautiful place.