A Moose Hunting Adventure

Every hunting morning is special. The dawn delivers it, a big tank of hope filled with possibilities.

I watch the shoreline unfold, my eyes still glued from a short night’s sleep. If all hunting mornings are special, this one stands out because it begins with the unparalleled Restigouche River crossing, and because this is my first day out moose hunting in the coulees along this mythical river. It’s hard to get my mind off the fact that it was here, more than 10 years ago, that Hooké was born.

A privileged access to a prized hunting area

Moose hunting in New Brunswick is a rare opportunity. Tracking the king of cervids here, even for a resident, is a matter of good fortune—only some 5,000 permits are issued through a provincial lottery system. This tight control results in a renowned hunting experience, with a balanced and abundant herd of mature bucks. I owe my presence in the Land of the Giants to Sébastien Hodgson, owner of Restigouche Cottages, who once helped me catch my biggest salmon to this day and has now offered me a non-resident hunting permit and access to his beloved territory.

The Restigouche River shatters one’s sense of proportion. This wide, clear-water river flows into the Baie-des-Chaleurs, in the heart of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Near Kedgwick, right where I’m standing, its streams are bolstered by the influx of the Matapedia and Patapedia rivers. In the company of local guide Hugo Terrasse, I set out on the other side of this forest for the first time, a forest I’ve so often watched with curiosity during my fishing days.

Moose territory

Hugo knows every coulee and knoll in the territory we’re surveying together. He moves forward with confidence. My first steps in the forest were marked by an observation: the strength and vitality that characterize the river are carried over into the vegetation. The trees exude health, the underplantings are abundant and the species are diverse. It’s an ecosystem that spells “moose” with bold letters. In the first light of the morning, the moan of a cow moose echoes in the distance, pulling me back to the present moment. My guide glances at me and points in the direction from which the call seemed to come. I nod. He moves closer to me and then explains how we will change our course to get closer. His confidence energizes me as I sharpen up my focus. I always double my efforts to stay focused when hunting with a guide. Because first of all, there’s a lot to learn from someone who spends that much time observing animal behaviour in the forest. And secondly, after a few hours spent tracking, it’s easy to get lost in thoughts and become dead weight. Whether you’re out hunting or fishing, things can move very quickly, and you always have to be ready.

As we enter a fir forest, we discover a small tree whose bark has been stripped off. The fresh sap and damp bark on the ground suggest the male was here less than 48 hours ago. We slow down the pace, but my pulse accelerates. Hugo pauses for ten minutes, trying to provoke a reaction out of the buck by strumming his moose paddle. All my senses are awake, and I try to anticipate where the moose might come from. The tension eases gradually while Hugo’s calls are answered with a thick silence from the forest.

Harvesting the king of the forest

We pick up where we left off. The sun is high in the sky now, but the temperature remains crisp. The coniferous slope gives way to a vast deciduous plateau, where we spot signs of fresh grazing. As tracks on the ground confirm we’re on the right track, my guide points to his left: “Moose,” is what he mimes with his lips. Over the sound of my heart beating its way out of my ears, a crunching noise signals the presence of a large animal. I stand behind a tree as my guide moves off to my right. Antlers appear in between two trees. Each time I encounter an animal of this size this close to me, I am amazed. The way they so quietly move around fascinates me.

The moose slowly moves towards us, defying Hugo’s provocations. He’s not the biggest, but if he grants me a window of opportunity, I intend to take it. He’s a mature, grown-up specimen from which I’ll be able to feed my family and loved ones. He’s facing me, looking in Hugo’s direction, who’s positioned himself to make him turn around. As he gets closer, he exposes his vital zone to me. I prepare my shot, carefully aiming, then pull the trigger.

Kneeling before the King of the Forests, I always think of my father, who died in a collision with a moose. I tell myself that, from above, he must have played his part in all my lucky encounters with this creature. As I shake hands with my guide, I thank him for showing me the other side of the Land of the Giants and for strengthening the intimate bond connecting my existence to the Restigouche River. Every hunting morning is special, but the ones that reward our efforts mark a turning point. Every game harvested attests to the fact that, in the forest, you have to believe, over and over again, that anything is possible.

Tips and equipment for a successful hunt

• When you think you’re going slow enough, slow down again. When you’re in a good area, it’s time to take your role as a big, ruminant mammal seriously. Take good breaks. If there’s a moose in the area, you’re more likely to hear it, and he’s more likely to believe you’re another moose.
• Always visualize the best possible scenario, even when the evidence is slim, even after hours of inconclusive walking. It’s not about vibrations or positive thinking, it’s about being ready. Even if we all dream of seeing the big buck waltzing right in, it doesn’t happen that way very often. The window of opportunity often presents itself in unexpected moments.
• Keep your hunting gear in order. After a few days in the woods, you’ll often end up scattered all over the place. A good bag with well-distributed compartments is essential. I especially like bags with waist-high compartments because they allow me to keep things I need access to close at hand at all times: my GPS, my wind indicator and my scent lures.