Re: Newfoundland
[Re: SGT. C]
#6541044
05/20/19 04:55 PM
05/20/19 04:55 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 270 West Virginia
WV Danimal
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 270
West Virginia
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Went last year with high hopes such as yours. Let me tell you right away, if it's 48" and blond bears, just stay home. The "big" bull pics on all the outfitter's web sites are very very far and few between. They'll all promise you that they are there, which for a lucky few they are but the reality is that most people end up shooting very small bulls or settle for a large cow for meat. I don't fly, anywhere, so I drove and it's part of the adventure for us. Do your research on the meat processor your outfitter will have you to use. I was told that our meat would be ready to go in time for us to catch the scheduled ferry crossing. My wife killed on day one, I killed on the last day. NONE of the meat was frozen and mine wasn't finished when we stopped to pick it up on the way to catch our ferry. They charged $6 per box to put the meat in which I had to rip apart and throw away so that the meat would fit into my coolers. We find hair in nearly every pack we thaw to eat. All for a ridiculous price to process. I will certainly process my own if I ever go again. Anyone who does their own deer shouldn't be intimidated to do a moose, just takes a lil longer. You also don't need a box truck to get the meat back home as everyone seems to claim. We had no problem getting 2 moose in 3 large coolers. Of course, that could've been in part due to the shady processor too. Exchange enough money to tip your guide in Canadian. Don't get caught up in the hype of 'big bad tough animals'. We shot ours with 270 wsm and mine went about 20 steps and fell over dead. My wife's went about 50 yards. You don't need a cannon to take them down. I personally 2nd the tip to forget about the bear and concentrate only on the moose if it is your once in a lifetime hunt. I saw a couple bear there that I could have easily taken but had no interest to pay that much to shoot one of the nasty critters that I can shoot off the porch of my cabin at home. If you're going in 2020 for sure, reserve your "cabin" on the ferry now or you will not get one if you wait any longer. They fill up fast and are pricey but worth it if you want some sleep on the over night float.
Trash your goals and plans for life. Just wing it and you'll never be let down!
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Re: Newfoundland
[Re: SGT. C]
#6541052
05/20/19 05:18 PM
05/20/19 05:18 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,524 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,524
james bay frontierOnt.
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Smart choice,Bigbrownie.The older I get the less I want to drive long distances.
Last edited by Boco; 05/20/19 05:19 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Newfoundland
[Re: SGT. C]
#6541065
05/20/19 05:40 PM
05/20/19 05:40 PM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 3,189 Pa.
Bigbrownie
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 3,189
Pa.
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In the 10 trips I made, we went 33 for 36. We only killed bulls, never shot anything smaller than 8 point bull. The largest bull was 50.25 inches, we got 1/2 dozen in the mid to high 40s. The three tags we didn’t fill, we could of had shooting at smaller moose, we were only looking for slabs. Most bull moose where we hunt are between 36”-42”.
In an average week of hunting, we normally see about 30 moose. The best week we had we saw 58, of which 23 were bulls.
In 2013, I hunted with a friend of my son, he was a youngster in his 20s, never had been on an outfitted hunt. First morning, we had 3 bull within easy stalk range. Much to my surprise, he passed on them. I was stunned, being that the biggest was a respectable 10 point. They next morning we came upon a dandy 18 point- 48 incher that he was able to kill. I shot a good 14 point on Thursday of the week. Reinforced the theory that you won’t kill a big one if you shoot the first little one you see. We never get an either sex tag.
Caribou hunting is now priced out of my league. Woodland caribou allocations are now under 1000 ( Newfoundland is the only place in the world you can hunt woodland caribou). Many outfitters are getting $10,000- $15,000 for a caribou hunt today.
I’ve never heard of color phase bears in NL, I don’t think they have any. On years when there is a good blueberry crop, bears will be out all day, feeding in the open berry flats. They don’t seem as wary as the bears we have at home.
We always use Ricks Meat in Buchans to cut and wrap. They do a great job, vacuum seal also. They coordinate with the trucking company to ship the meat back to the states. I pick up in Camton, Ohio....everything is always in great shape.
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Re: Newfoundland
[Re: Bigbrownie]
#6541582
05/21/19 02:34 PM
05/21/19 02:34 PM
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1 OH
trapperzohio
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1
OH
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Also looking into a Newfoundland moose hunt and done a decent amount of research. For those who have been there - do you generally have a better chance at a decent bull (not looking for a monster but something representative of the species) if you go to a fly-in only type outpost camp versus a drive-to camp? I realize that is a more expensive hunt and never a sure thing - however probably only going to do this once and want to put the odds in our favor if possible. Thanks in advance for any info.
Last edited by trapperzohio; 05/21/19 02:51 PM.
trapperzohio
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Re: Newfoundland
[Re: SGT. C]
#6542108
05/22/19 11:58 AM
05/22/19 11:58 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,109 Northern Michigan
J.Morse
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,109
Northern Michigan
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I mounted more Newfie Moose than ones from any other area. I know groups that went there repeatedly. I never saw a 48" bull taken by any of these folks. I also never heard of a color phase bear seen there. Color phase bear are rare as hen's teeth unless you get a bit west of the Great Lakes. I have seen exactly one cinnamon colored Black here at home in my entire life, and I've hunted them since the mid 70's, and handled hundreds of bear in my taxidermy studio. Colored bear will be even more unusual in Newfoundland. Those Outfitter websites are deceiving. They always show the whoppers taken, even if it was way bigger than their average bull. Most of the Newfie bulls I mounted would be considered eating sized meat bulls most places. All that being said, I would jump at a chance to hunt Moose there, but I have always been a meat hunter that would gladly tag about any just-legal beast I'd see on opening day! Good luck SGT. I'll cross my fingers for you and your hunting pals!
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Re: Newfoundland
[Re: SGT. C]
#6581765
07/26/19 09:10 PM
07/26/19 09:10 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,223 Midlands South Carolina
SGT. C
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,223
Midlands South Carolina
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Thanks for all the info. Looks like I will be skipping Newfoundland. Heart set on a 45 or better bull. Once in a lifetime hunt. Thanks again, Sarge
Getting old is a fatal mistake
Always looking for reloading componets
I know a beaver or two, because I've seen a beaver or two
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