Those readers that have followed my columns over the past
few years will remember that I’ve had some very exciting and rewarding trips to
the island of Newfoundland in the last six or seven years.For those wanting more information, those
columns are still available at this site with a little digging.
While the big attraction in bowhunting Newfoundland
has always been the potential to collect a woodland caribou
(Newfoundland
is the only place that offers hunting seasons/permits on this
subspecies), Newfoundland also has the highest density of Canada moose
and some of the largest black bears
in North America.There is some interest in collecting Newfoundland’s “Grand
Slam” by harvesting all three big game species.With a little luck, it can even be done on one hunt!
My first few trips to the island Province were for the
purpose of trying to put a woodland caribou into the Pope & Young records
as one more step in collecting all five caribou sub-species with my bow. My efforts the first two trips were
frustrating at best, and/or total disasters.On the third attempt (all three trips being with different operations
looking for that one good one!) I struck “GOLD” as far as bowhunting is
concerned.Dolland Pond Camp was/is an
honest “bowhunting only” camp with ideal terrain for bowhunting and good
amounts of trophy class animals.The
camp had not been hunted at all for nine years prior to my first visit and has
maintained very limited numbers of hunters since.Of course, all hunters/clients have been
bowhunters!The hunting has continued to
get better as the guides have become bowhunters themselves and as they have
guided more successful bowhunting clients.Not that the whole experience wasn’t simply awesome the first time out!
Roy with his Woodland Caribou
That first trip to Dolland resulted in harvest of a very
good stag which exceeded the minimums for entry in the Boone & Crockett
three year records as well as placing very high in the overall Pope & Young
records for Woodland Caribou.I also
managed to take a bull moose for the freezer in that six day hunt.I didn’t “need” to go back quite honestly,
but……..there is always the “but”!
I’ve found hunting caribou during the rut to be one of the
most fun hunts you can do.Add the
potential to take Boone & Crockett caliber critters, my desire to take a
record book Canada
moose, and my seemingly never ending search for a 20” black bear, and I just
had to return!As I pack my bags for
this trip I realize this will be my fifth trip back to Dollands.I also realize that I have already entered
four woodland caribou into the record books from this camp, and really don’t
need another one.
Still I look forward
to this trip with as much excitement as any other.I’ll have a moose and bear tag in my pocket
as well as another caribou tag.While
I’ve taken some great stags here in the past, my clients over the years have
seen much better ones than I have brought home.Perhaps this will be the year that Andy (my guide) and I finally catch
up with that elusive 42 pointer?
I’ve
seen moose over 50” on almost every trip, yet something has always gotten in
the way of claiming one for the trophy room, perhaps it will be different this
time?We know there are huge bears in
the area, but I’ve never had the opportunity to stalk one on the ground at this
camp…..could this be the year?
I’m also
looking forward to spending time in camp with a lot of friends.Andy has become a close friend, as has
several of the other guides and manager of the camp, and several good friends
from Colorado
have decided to join me on this hunt as well.
Tomorrow the journey begins; I hope you all decide to join us this time as well.
