I am going on hunt this coming sept. early archery season. Looking for recommendations for clothing - sounds like it will be 50 - 70 deg. I am expecting bugs and rain, but what about terrain - how tough must clothing be?
Any other thoughts from those who have done this hunt please let me know.
Thanks
Mike
I have been on the rock twice. Count on rain. Both times that I was there the remnants of a hurricane blew over. There is a lot of knee high evergreen type of forage that can make walking rather difficult . You are forced to stay on the actual game trails. Be sure your pants are totally noiseless when brushing against anything. Other than the island is pretty easy to hunt. Rolling terrain nothing to steep or high to climb. a light layer of merino underwear and early fall gear is what I wore when not wearing my rain gear.
Have been there at that time of year - good boots, wicking layers & wind protection are a gimme - we did some climbing & there were patches of scree higher up that were pretty manageable - the place is teeming with moose so you should b lucky - watch out when you're on the road though those guys come through the wind screen if you hit them with a car - M
Will be there the second week in October.Who are you hunting with and please keep me up to date on any and all things concerning your hunt.Above all have the time of your life!
Pant recommendations - sitka? Kuiu? Others?
never been to NFLD but I would bet on fold down hip boots, bug suit (canadian brand), good light and packable rain gear "space rain" is very handy and packable).
Hey Mike and others who have hunted moose in NFLD, I'm planning a hunt for next year and would appreciate info regarding reliable outfitters. Any help would be appreciated. Mike, I'd love to hear about your hunt when you return.
Cant really make any recommendations for outfitters but i will definitely give my report after the trip. I would highly recommend talking to mark at BSC as he has helped me a number of times.
Will sitka or KUIU hold up to the brush of Newfoundland or must i find a tougher material?
My father went there years ago on a gun hunt for moose and caribou. I think he wore some kind of Cabela's breathable rain gear and quality knee high rubber boots. He said it was a lot of low scrub trees and swamp with tussocks that made walking difficult.
Thinking ascent stuff from sitka or light KUIU, anyone use that in similar hunt
Can't comment on the KUIU, but all my Sitka gear has fallen apart. I have switched back to wool because of this. First lite wool for lighter warmer hunting, Silent Predator for when it gets a little cooler. I got away from wool for a few years, I got hung up on the next great thing......wish I would have stuck with wool, lots of money wasted IMO.
It seems to me that might be a tad early if you want them to come to your calls. Is he offering you an early hunt at a lower price instead of a rut hunt later on?
How about first lite kanab pant?
QuoteOriginally posted by pamike:
How about first lite kanab pant?
Mike, I have the Kanab and an older version pant that I don't think they offer anymore. The older version was supposed to be a little heavier, but I truly do not notice any difference between the two. I am extremely happy with the Kanab pant. The only thing I would recommend is to check with them and see if the sizing issue has been straightened out. By that I mean, I have a 32 waist and a 35 inseam, I originally ordered mediums (per their website) they were way too small. Sent them back for a large.....perfect. I have also read similar comments on their sizing for pants but that was last year, they may have corrected it.
By biggest complaint with the Sitka gear is the glued seams, I am not sure why they glue the seams rather than stitching them. All of the seams on the first lite pant are stitched. Also, I really like the rip stop in the first lite, I have a couple of tears from barb wire, but the tears have not grown even after washing them.
My brother never had a pair of the Sitka Ascent pant last longer than two weeks, they all came apart at the crotch. They were good about replacing them, but it really got irritating. His first lite pants have lasted him the last two seasons, he typically gets out close to 60 to 70 days a season, and is hard on his stuff, but they have held up so far.
One other thing, I would highly recommend boot gaiters that go up to the knee for the type of terrains that you are going to be hunting. You can find goretex gaiters that are soft on the outside, they will stay quiet going thru the vegetation.
Thanks for the report on tha kanab pants. Only problem now is finding a pair - sounds like not available til at least June.
Gaiters are a good idea and I have some of them.
That low scrub/brush is called "Tuckamore". It's really stunted spruce and fir trees that is a real leg/foot grabber.
Good quality rubber boots, not neoprene or maybe LL Bean 14" RBLT's should handle it. Leather part of boot well sealed with more in camp to re-apply if needed. Pants wise, I'm wondering about Filson Whipcord wool. I don't have a pair, but they're "supposed" to be tough. Filson oil cloth pants/chaps would be good, except for the "scratchy" sound on the tuckamore.
Usually when moving through the tuckamore, you'll stay to the game trails, but we all know how that can change.
I'm envious, it's a great place with wonderful people. Ask your outfitter about your gear requirements. At least be a start. If you're driving, you'll drive about 5 minutes from my door, could offer an overnight if needed. In the New Glasgow area of Northern Nova Scotia.
Good luck, have fun.
interesting - i am hunting at tuckamore lodge...must have alot of that "stuff" around. i was wondering what the name meant - guess that would have been an easy google search.....
That's where I hunted in 1991. Went for Caribou (with the rifle) on one of the Gray Islands off shore.
Is Barb Genge (sp?) still the outfitter?
yep still barb - just talked to her the other day. sounds like she has been doing this for awhile.....
I've moose hunted at Tuckamore twice with Barb and company. All I can say is, you're in for a treat—5 star outfit in all ways. It took a couple days to get used to the routine. You're up well before first light and only have about an hour and a half of morning hunting before the moose head in to the dark timber to bed. In the evening you get about another hour and half of movement before dark. But.... it won't matter. You'll see more moose than you can imagine. If you're looking to kill a moose, you'll be in the right place. I don't think you can go there without getting a chance to take a moose—and most likely several chances. :^)
Good luck to you.
now that is what i like to hear!!!
jim - when were you there? early season?
I was there the first week, both times; last few days of August, and first few days of September. Interesting... the bulls were all in velvet when we arrived and all had shed by the time we left.
I'll send a few pictures to your email address (sometime today), and if you'd like to talk, I'll send along my telephone number too.
excellent - cant wait to see them.
i will call you as well -thanks for the offer!
just checked out their website, wow what nice digs dude! My two times their were just a bit rougher!
When I hunted there for woodland caribou, at the end of the week 6 guys had torn rubber boots. I had Schnees 13" and did great. I oiled them nightly back at camp, and at the end of each day the leather showed the abuse that tore up the rubber.
If you cant grab some,or the Bean type mentioned, I recommend the gaiters as said above to help protect the rubber boots.
Good optics are great to have, anti fog.
pamike i was there 2 years ago. My hunt was a gift from my boss. I really wanted to take my recurve but was told buy the booking agent to take a rifle as the group i was in camp with were all gun buffs. Take 2 pair of boots to have a dry pair each day. Had the time of my life saw 9 moose no big bulls. I was there on some one else's dime so i wanted a nice one. Saw some real nice caribou bulls also. All in all a great trip. I was in the interior but the 4th group to hunt that year. Outfitter was upset with me for not shooting a cow. We did harvest 5 moose out of 8 guys. Good luck!! TD.
I am not staying at the fancy lodge - i am doing the remote trophy hunt. I can't hunt out of a lodge like that....just wouldn't feel right. I believe this will be tents or wilderness buildings.
Definitely taking two pair of boots. Have to look into high high leathers - not sure what is out there like that.
Even if you don't get Schnee's, they sell a latex seam sealer that you brush over the stitching of the leather boots to prevent moisture from getting through. Works great on any rubber bottomed leather topped boot.
Gaiters also prevent the sticks from catching in your laces and tripping you. Bring flu flu's, ptarmigan all over. Small native trout all over too. A daypack or Catquiver, keeps dry clothing ready, snacks, and you can travel. Which you will! Keep fletching dry, it can be pretty wet. Dry broadheads nightly.
If you find a shed antler, don't try to take it back into the U.S. without a cities permit. They almost arrested me for bringing a small cow shed caribou antler home for my daughter. Held me up for an hour, almost missed my flight.
Mark Buehrer has been there and .recomended 16 inch Schnees.pamike we .need to stay in touch.Mark spoke very highly of your .outfitter when I was trying to decide who I wanted to book with.
I booked to mark - always do - he is a great resource!
"I am not staying at the fancy lodge - i am doing the remote trophy hunt. I can't hunt out of a lodge like that....just wouldn't feel right. I believe this will be tents or wilderness buildings."
Oops! You're in trouble. Their outpost camps are still 5-star. Better cancel now while you've got the chance. lol lol
You're going to love the place. btw... that monster in those pictures I sent you? It was taken on the outpost/trophy hunt.
Any pics of the Tuckamore outpost camp?
My father and I are starting to plan for a 2015 hunt.
PaMike,
Been there a couple of times in late August / early September. Temps ranged from thin ice on the puddles in the AM to the mid 60's in the afternoons. Had rain about 30% of the days, no bugs to speak of.
Myself and all the fellas I hunted with wore knee high rubber boots. Most everyone brought other boots and after the first day or two, when they were all soaked, it was knee highs the rest of the week. Depends on if your hunting in the bogs or on higher ground in the clear cuts. Grey Wolf Wolfskins and Cabela's Microtex worked out good for most of us, with a wool shirt under for the chilly days. MT050 and Peter Storm rain wear worked out equally well. It was windy most days, not breezy, WINDY.
It's a wonderful place in all respects, from the people to the flora and fauna, just a treat to be there. A "once in a lifetime" trip that I have done twice and plan on doing again.
Here are a couple of pics to give you a little idea of what the area looks like. We were all hunting within 50 miles of Tuckamore Lodge.
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/rudycu/scan0006_zpse2ea803b.jpg) (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/rudycu/media/scan0006_zpse2ea803b.jpg.html)
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/rudycu/scan0007_zpsfd5ac09c.jpg) (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/rudycu/media/scan0007_zpsfd5ac09c.jpg.html)
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/rudycu/scan0001_zps4a2e387e.jpg) (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/rudycu/media/scan0001_zps4a2e387e.jpg.html)
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/rudycu/scan0004_zpsc8107a2b.jpg) (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/rudycu/media/scan0004_zpsc8107a2b.jpg.html)
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/rudycu/scan0005_zps009c402d.jpg) (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/rudycu/media/scan0005_zps009c402d.jpg.html)
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/rudycu/moosefolder2_zps54e03205.jpg) (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/rudycu/media/moosefolder2_zps54e03205.jpg.html)
Looks like you had some great hunts.
Tuckamore bushes make for some tough walking.Will pull at your boot strings a bunch.I would think about a pair of gaiters to cover my laces if I wore laceup boots.I wore Schnees last Oct and will wear them again if I go back to hunt caribou.
Schnees with gaiters are on the radar for me.
Red wing exo flex worked perfect!!
Tell us more everyone ! Show long of drive ? How long of flight ?
I been thinking about this hunt for a few years , ever since Jim Casto told me about it going around the range . I need to quit thinking about it and go Hunting .
Normal day of flying to deer lake NF, spend night in deer lake, they pick u up for 4 hr drive to lodge. Beautiful ride!!
Lodge is ridiculous - not sure what rating systems are but 5star makes sense!
Remote camps are not tents and are rougher but still nicer than I needed that is for sure.
Book soon barb is thinkin about getting rid of remote camps and it will not be too long before she retires (my guess). She runs a tight ship and things might change if she leaves.
The remote camps have my interest.
when hunting that early and temps are warm,, bugs are going to be a problem, make sure you take some "after bite"