by Ken Wicker
This is a story of a moose and black bear hunt in British Columbia that Ken Wicker found and booked on BookYourHunt.com, told in his own words.
Our destination was a primitive outpost cabin nestled deep within the wilderness of British Columbia, fulfilling our desire for a truly remote experience. Sparse supplies, pre-cooked meals, snacks, and beverages to sustain us for several days were loaded on the truck, an Argo was loaded onto a trailer, and we headed out with high hopes, especially as the area was renowned for its bull moose population.
Eventually, we ran out of road; we transferred our supplies to the Argo and, mid day, made the final stretch from the truck to the cabin. Words cannot describe the picturesque scenery and abundant signs of game along the way. To our delight, tracks and rubs from bull moose were obvious. Our rustic cabin sat on a knoll above a small lake and was equipped with basic necessities, a propane tank stove for cooking, wood-burning heat stove, lanterns and candles, and an outhouse nearby; the stage was set for our wilderness quest.
The Road to Adventure
I was reared in the heartland of the Midwest; by age five I began accompanying my father on small game expeditions; my loyal hunting companions were always beagles and rat terriers. My initiation into firearms started with a single-shot Winchester 410. As my skill set grew I began using a 20-gauge and, later a 12-gauge Remington 870 Wingmaster; by age ten, my father introduced me to deer hunting, initially using a 12-gauge shotgun and, by age sixteen, I transitioned to a Winchester Model 94 lever action 30.30 rifle, a cherished possession to this day.
Moose and wolf were at the pinnacle of my hunting bucket list. My goal was to relish a genuine wilderness encounter in the remote backcountry regions of mid to upper British Columbia. My research led me to BookYourHunt.com. I’ve been using this website for several years and find the site easy to filter and navigate. The ability to search by area or by species is very helpful. There are many hunts listed and most have a lot of details for comparison which helps narrow down which one to choose.
I selected Inzana Outfitters for their impeccable reputation, extensive experience, and, additionally, the option of bringing a non-hunting guest, my wife; this was a trip for us to explore and enjoy British Columbia together. Lastly, Inzana Outfitters offered the flexibility of a combo hunt, and the hunting area provided just that, diverse game. After a quick chat Paul, the owner of Inzaha Outfitters, had impressed me with his responsiveness, realistic approach, and profound knowledge of the hunting terrains. Communicating with the outfitters via the website is seamless, and so was booking the hunt.
Awesome Scenery and Unexpected Black Bear
With a carefully laid out flight plan, my wife and I made our way from Wisconsin to Vancouver, navigated customs with a firearm, flew to Prince George, and, finally, we embarked on a final 2-3 hour drive in our rental vehicle into the remote BC wilderness looking for our lodge (no GPS, just a hand drawn map and written directions). The lodging was perfect! We acquainted ourselves with the outfitter and his wife, settled into our cabin, unpacked gear, met the guides, and enjoyed a camp dinner as we strategized for the days ahead.
Our initial moose scouting involved Argo rides and hikes to nearby small lakes. Despite the promising environment and best efforts, our calls went unanswered. With each passing day, wildlife sightings intensified, particularly wolf encounters signaling the proximity of a pack. Although a bull moose responded at dusk one evening, he failed to respond to our calling. Midway through the week we sighted several wolves across the lake in front of our cabin; wildlife signs from grizzlies and black bears and wolves were, literally, on our door stoop. But no moose.
We decided to return to the main lodge after the third day and check new areas; to our surprise we encountered a nice specimen of a black bear en route! Seizing the moment, I was able to secure a clean shot with a 300 Weatherby Magnum and make a successful harvest.
Moose From the Boat
Upon our return with the bear, we opted to venture across a neighboring lake in a small boat in the evening. Our destination was an area where Paul had previously encountered impressive bull moose. The lake was gorgeous and looked the perfect habitat for moose, adorned with concealed coves and reeds stretching into the water. We called out to the moose until dusk, made our way back to the lodge and, over yet another great camp meal, made plans to return to the new lake the following morning.
Just before daybreak we departed the lodge and reached the lake just as the sun began to rise. The water journey was slightly rough due to high winds, we proceeded cautiously. As we neared the spot we had called from the previous night, my guide, Logan, suddenly exclaimed, “A moose! I see two, one of them is a bull”! I observed a moose making its way towards the woods and quickly identified it as a female. Moments after sighting the cow, Logan alerted me to the presence of the bull moose; the bull, belly deep in water, proved challenging to spot amidst the tall reeds.
Logan cut the engine, and we silently floated on the lake on the rough water, bobbing and drifting our way towards the shore where the moose stood. The boat rocked perilously, making it difficult for me to take a shot. As we neared the shore, the moose grunted and swayed its head, creating a captivating sight and, to our surprise, the moose began to slowly approach us, coming to a stand about 50 yards away. Still drifting toward the bull, I fixed the crosshairs on his shoulder, and pulled the trigger at 20-yards. The bull dropped! And instantly went underwater.
With the moose submerged in five feet of water, we struggled to extract it from the lake. After some effort, we managed to secure ropes around its antlers and pull it to a somewhat shallow, level bank nearby. And that is where we stopped to admire my harvest and take photos! Following photos, we strategized on how to process and transport the moose back to the truck. Equipped with hip waders and a chainsaw, Logan field dressed the moose and halved it for easier extraction. We loaded the halves onto the boat, making it a challenging journey back to the truck due to the added weight and choppy waters. Upon reaching the lodge, we proceeded with further meat processing and prepared the cape for mounting.
Mama Bear Gets Angry
After successfully filling the moose and black bear tags, we opted to spend our final afternoon in the area below the lodge, hoping to spot a wolf or maybe even an elk. With my wife and I in tow, Logan, our guide, escorted us to a two story-level treehouse stand that was fully enclosed, equipped with sleeping quarters and heat – a far cry from roughing it – located in a corner overlooking a small field. After an hour of glassing the surroundings, I caught sight of movement across from the stand. As the figure got closer to the field’s edge, it became evident it was a bear.
The bear, a grizzly, strode onto the open field without hesitation, soon accompanied by two large, most likely yearlings, cubs. Thus, we found ourselves observing a mother grizzly and her two cubs feasting on roots some 50 yards away. From the safety of the stand, the three of us watched the bears’ activities back and forth for nearly an hour. Logan and I saw the scene unfold from the balcony, while my wife observed from inside through an open window.
At one moment, the mother bear seemed to sense or catch wind of our presence. Instantly, she rose, bellowed, and charged directly toward the stand. She came up to a large brush pile, stood up, and with a powerful swipe, broke 6-8 inch logs like toothpicks. The mother’s displaying and intimidating behavior, seemingly frightened the cubs as much as we humans, and they fled in the opposite direction, with one yelping as it ran. The mother bear shot us one final glare before turning to rejoin her cubs, vanishing into the forest. Her reaction made it abundantly clear she did not want us near her offspring.
While we never felt endangered, the encounter certainly instilled in us a heightened appreciation for grizzly bears, especially those with cubs. Seeing a grizzly bear charge in person proved more startling and fearsome than I had ever envisioned; believe me when I say, it is much more frightening than those re-enactments we see on tv.
The Importance of Planning
Months of meticulous planning and gear preparation set the stage for our adventure. Paul had suggested packing with layering in mind (I opted for Kuiu clothing) suitable for the area, terrain and season. The late evening and daybreak temperatures carried a chill, making the choice of Kuiu layers a wise decision – light enough to pack yet efficient in keeping us warm and dry.
Although I anticipated the hunt to be not physically strenuous, I nevertheless dedicated months to conditioning with my backpack and breaking in a new pair of Crispi boots. Investing in quality boots paid off as our feet remained warm and dry, with the added benefit of excellent ankle support on rocky terrain. What we failed to take into consideration was the abundant bug population; face coverings would have been nice, lightweight hoods that didn’t disrupt listening was an absolute must.
After I inadvertently stepped into a beaver channel in the muskeg (managing to catch myself with my outspread arms as my feet dangled above the bottom), we learned to be hyper cautious in the marshy-muskeg terrain; the water beneath is deep and chilling and difficult to extract oneself from.
Travel nowadays, particularly flights, can pose challenges. While carrying a gun across borders via vehicle has never been a major hassle, navigating through airport customs proved to be quite a headache. Despite what we believed was a comfortable buffer, delays and customs lines caused us to miss our initial connecting flight out of Vancouver to Prince George, forcing us to board a later one and nearly missing the last shuttle departure to our overnight motel. In retrospect, renting a rifle from the outfitter would have saved time and alleviated customs worries, negating the need for an extra bag check.
If you’re going on a wilderness adventure, do your research and don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions of the outfitter. Again, I stress, plan for physical fitness, clothing, and weapon choice. Plan and allow for flight delays. Don’t forget to bring cash to tip your guide, they do a tremendous amount of work and provide a necessary service.
In Conclusion
The Inzana Outfitters trip was exceptional; its remote setting was precisely what we desired. British Columbia’s landscape exuded mesmerizing beauty with a genuine wilderness ambiance. I felt many of the game animals we saw likely had never seen a human before. This is a big country, wild, and pure; if you are looking for adventure, it’s the real thing. I don’t know where else you can see this beautiful country and see this many different game species in one trip! About the only thing I regret is not having more time to enjoy fishing in the local lakes, which undoubtedly offered a splendid experience.
Now it’s time to plan our next adventures. Although our recent New Mexico mountain lion hunting endeavor ended without success, it remains on our bucket list. We bow hunt for whitetails in the fall and hope to plan a mule deer hunt for black powder or rifle. Getting back to British Columbia is on the list as well, possibly to pursue elk or a mountain goat.
The key to a successful outing lies not solely with the type or size of the animal in a specific area, but in having a dependable outfitter and goal oriented, hard driving guide. For me, the journey and overall experience define the outcome of a hunt, and this trip was undoubtedly a success, culminating in harvesting a magnificent black bear and moose in the same expedition.
Next in “Hunting Stories”:
An Experience I Will Never Forget: My African Macnab Challenge
By Max Roesler
This is a story of a hunt in South Africa that Max Roesler found and booked on BookYourHunt.com, told in his own words.
We drove through winding bushveld sand trails, and what we saw looked like a scene from The Lion King. A herd of some twenty oryx, with a baby running behind, then some zebras galloping across a plain with impalas in tow, then more oryx and a herd of red hartebeest.
We crossed over to the Emoyehle game reserve, stopped at a large plain, and saw four guineafowl walking about a hundred yards in the distance. We hopped out; Vian put the tripod and I took a 110 yard shot at a small common blue headed (helmeted) guinea fowl. It flapped around for half a second – dead.It was only 6:30 A.M., and I was already “blooded” with my first animal of the African Macnab Challenge. CONTINUE READING
Previously in “Hunting Stories’
The Most Authentic and Adventurous Hunting Experience: My Cape Buffalo Hunt in Zimbabwe
By Harri Rissanen
This is a story of a Cape buffalo and plains game hunt in Zimbabwe that Harri Rissanen found and booked on BookYourHunt.com, told in his own words.
Hunting has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father introduced me to it when I was just a boy, in my home country of Finland. He took me fox and hare hunting since I was four or five, and I still remember the adrenaline rush I experienced when I saw a wild fox for the first time – the feeling similar to what you get before taking a shot at game. At about that age I took my first shots with a .22 caliber rifle, although of course at paper targets.
I passed the exam for my Finnish hunter’s license at the age of 12. My first big game hunting was moose hunting, which is traditionally done with dogs here in the Nordic countries, and my experience was no different. From there I have progressed even further as a hunter, and went on three plains game safaris in Africa, two in South Africa and one in Namibia.
When I felt I was ready for the Big Five, I searched through the offers on BookYourHunt.com and booked a 7 Day Buffalo Safari with Elephant Trails. This proved to be the most authentic and adventurous hunting experience I’ve ever had in Africa. When it’s dark and your car is stuck in the long grass with a fresh buffalo carcass onboard, and you know for a fact there are lions nearby, it doesn’t get any more real or thrilling than that. But I’m getting ahead of myself. CONTINUE READING