I just returned from a moose and caribou bowhunt in Newfoundland. It was my first time there and on a floatplane. Hurricane Ophilia followed my from NC to NF, arriving the same day as me but we were barely able to fly into camp on a saturday. I enjoyed looking through the pile of shed antlers..
The 4 bowhunters in camp beat up the target, but didn't do so well on live animals...
The heavy rains and wind arrived on saturday night and became a daily factor, with only 1 day on sunshine and calm. Still, I had a good chance at a nice bull moose on the first and second days. I passed on a 80 yard shot (to my guide's dismay - he was a gun hunter and had never guided a trad bowhunter, and I explained that I much preferred 8 yard shots, not 80 yard shots) on monday and passed on a quartering to shot on the second day. That stalk was ruined by the watchful cow moose. The lone gun hunter killed this bull moose on the third day..
At least there were plenty of blueberries to eat, between the rain showers...
One day I spotted a nice bull woodland caribou and an hour later, was only 10 yards away from the elevated rock that he laid on, but when he rose and I picked my spot (an upward shot through his sternum), I got excited and forgot all about form. The sickening sound of the string hitting my armguard was followed by a wobbly arrow behind the bull. I couldn't believe that I had found another way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory...
Here is my consolation prize, a nice shed antler...
Overall, it was a great bowhunting experience on "The Rock" and I hope to return some day...
One bonus of the long drive was having breakfast with my buddy, tradganger David Kretchmar, while passing through NH.