I just got back from what can only be described as a true Northern Safari. The group I hunted with rented 20 horses to access some very remote country in the North East Rockies of BC. There were 7 of us to start.

We started off the Alaskan Hwy to battle what I call "Muskeg Hell". I was thrown off my horse twice in the first 3 hours and was accidently kicked in the jaw and chest by my horse. It was a standing 10 count. Lot's of wipe outs but by the end of the day we were on higher ground following the Prophet River. We took a risk and pushed through to our first camp on the Besa River in the dark. There was some insanity in the dark!!

Second day the traveling was much better. We had solid ground and the river crossings were not too bad as the river was not too high. The weather stayed hot the whole trip too. We eventually got off our trail though. A decision was made to skip our first hunt camp and move on to the high country. We made camp on Richards Creek. In the morning, 2 sheep hunters split from our group and backtracked to their sheep camp. We pushed through to our what was supposed to be our second hunt camp. 3 full days of travel on horse back and no hunting yet. What a relief to set hunt camp. The country was breathtaking.

First day of the actual hunt my father and I nailed his moose. On our way back to camp we jumped a cow and a young bull followed. My father made the shot. What busts out of the bush? A 60" bull!!! He's telling me to shoot but the truth is I'm not there for moose. I want an elk or a sheep and have a LEH tag for bull moose when I get home. I pass. He's shaking his head.

The work ahead is tough. The flies and hot weather don't make it any easier. Niether does the pack horses escaping after I've already hiked all the way back to camp to retrieve them. I do it a second time, I'm exhausted!!

My worst fear the next day. One of our buddies comes on this hunt with the snivels. A nasty cold rips through camp and we all get it!! I drag my ass for the next couple of days but the elk are all way up in the sheep county.

Other guys in our camp get some great action in the alpine. I'm watching from camp as elk by the dozen are coming over top of the ridges after what I find out later is blown stalks. I see a big bull elk come over with 2 cows. This is my best chance so far. I head off to ambush him. Things are looking great til he decides to head straight down hill towards camp. Oh crap! He spooks when he winds camp and over top he goes where I figure only goats would dare go.

We decide to break camp after the sheep hunters have had enough. Everything is pushed back or in the woods. We are going over top of a mountain to our next camp. This will be elk and moose camp.

We find elk heaven in an old burn and set up camp for a couple of days. Despite there being more elk sign than I've ever saw before in my life, they stay in the timber and we hear only bugles. No sightings. More smaller bull moose are passed on and it's then voted we head our way out. We are using maps to find our way out and will not back track on our trail. We suspect we can save a day by trying to find a hair raising trail up and over a mountian into the next valley that has a designated quad trail. We find it. It's hair raising alright. I'm impressed with how hard these horses work. Just no quit in them even after the rodeo that was set off due to one getting accidently bear sprayed in the face.

We covered about 45 kms on the last day to make it to the Alaska Hwy. We basically covered a 140 km circle. My ass still hurts. It will pass but these memories will last forever. I'm going back next year with just my father. We now know a easier way into elk camp. I'll return during prime time elk rut and bull caribou will be open too. They won't have a chance!!

Pretty much everyone could of tagged their bull moose. Over a dozen were passed on as well as a few 6 point bull elk. Funny, the elk hunters were seeing bull moose, the sheep hunters were seeing legal bull elk and the one trophy moose hunter was mostly seeing small moose and good elk. All of us were seeing caribou which had not openned yet. That's the way it goes I guess.

Here's some pics.

Glassing for elk



Turning the horses loose in elk camp



Glassing down the Besa River



Caribou visit camp



Pushing through to elk camp with my ol'man's moose in front



My hunting companion Gatehouse has a bad hair day!



Over top we go to the trail home



I'll add some pics later and gatehouse actually has some excellent pics he might care to add later once he rests his aching bones. Everybody is plenty sore after this trip. Feels good, every last bit of it!!

Great story. Where is your LEH? I saw two nice Bulls last week.

Bulkley Valley area and yeah, I'll be fly fishing for those big steelies too.

Need someone to come along and carry your fishing pole?