| The sun was just starting to climb over the hills | | | | from Corner Brook our home town. |
| and a mist was rising from the river below. The | | | | Suddenly Gary pointed across the valley. There |
| four wheel drive moaned as it worked its way to | | | | were three moose standing on the edge of the |
| the crest of the hill. | | | | marsh. We packed up our gear and drove down |
| Gary slowed down and stopped at the top of the | | | | to the marsh |
| rise. He checked his 300 savage Winchester and I | | | | At the bottom of the hill we stopped the truck |
| checked my 303 stock model as we stepped out | | | | near a washed out bridge and walked up a game |
| and surveyed the valley below. It was a frosty | | | | trail towards the marsh where we had seen the |
| morning. You could feel and hear the ground | | | | moose. We spread out a few feet as we came |
| crunch under your feet. | | | | to an opening overlooking the marsh. There was |
| We hauled out our portable stove, made coffee | | | | fresh moose sign all around us. |
| and sat on a couple of rocks overlooking the | | | | We checked the wind direction. Gary moved off |
| scenery below. We studied every little detail of | | | | to my right and walked around the bog and I sat |
| the marsh. This was a beautiful country. | | | | down on a small knob so I could get a full view of |
| Walking Chief Brook ran through the valley below | | | | the area. The hunt was on. |
| and into Harry's River. Where the brook runs into | | | | Suddenly a large bull moose ran across in front |
| the river there is a place called the Dark Hole. | | | | off Gary as he lifted his gun and fired. I just |
| During the peak of the fishing season the Dark | | | | stood there for a few seconds as the moose fell |
| Hole is usually full of salmon and salt water trout. | | | | 1500 ft in front of me. We ran over to the |
| Harry's River is a well known salmon river located | | | | moose but it didn't move. It was a large animal |
| in on the west coast of Newfoundland. | | | | around 1100 lbs and had 23 points on its rack. The |
| Gary and I spent a lot of time fishing and hunting | | | | hunt was over. |
| in the area and we had a cabin in the nearby | | | | Gary and I were great friends and we did a lot of |
| community of Gallants a hours drive from | | | | hunting and fishing. We were both self employed |
| Stephenville. This was one of favorite spots. We | | | | and determined our own schedule. We had a |
| were in a remote part of Harry's River where | | | | freedom and we had discovered a world that |
| few people ventured. It was also only 30 minutes | | | | very few people enjoyed. |