Hunting in the snow for moose is not easy. It's usually very cold, with a whole lot of snow to deal with. And outside of a snowmobile or pair of snowshoes, there is no other way to get around but to trudge, step by step, through knee-deep powder. Nothing will test your cardio like a snow hunt. I've seen fit men gasping for air, and teenage hunters red-faced and sweaty. Hunting in the snow can be a real challenge. Yet some of my most thrilling hunts have been in the late season, and the snow hunt is almost always an exciting one.
One memorable hunt occurred a decade ago, with my Dad and a longtime friend. We were hunting north of Nipigon, and there was fresh layer of snow on the ground. We were driving back roads, trying to cut a moose track, and seeing nothing. Then, we rounded a corner and suddenly came upon a barnyard of tracks, poop, and hair. We stopped the truck, looked out in the cut and saw two black shapes.
"Moose!" someone said.
We piled out of the truck and tried to make sure we had a positive ID on a bull. At first, it looked like two cows. However, binoculars revealed a small set of antlers on one of the animals. They scattered shortly thereafter, so away I went on the chase. My Dad, Gord Sr., and my friend took up posts on either side of the cut. The snow was deep and I was floundering, but once I got on the track, the adrenaline took over.
The small bull was a couple hundred yards ahead of me, and was cracking twigs loudly as it worked its way through the scrub. There was no clear shot until it scrambled up a hill and stood broad side at 100 yards, looking back at me. One shot put the bull down. Then, as they say, the work started. The snow was deep and my old Tundra had trouble negotiating the cut, as many stumps were lurking. We had to quarter the moose to get it out, and it was an all-day event. However, the feeling of satisfaction -- and great meat -- we had from that day in the snow was well worth the effort.
