After just a few days in the Minnesota whitetail woods, it was time for the Driven team to hit the road. Pat was up to bat, and we headed to Alberta to hunt with Glenn Brown and Blue Bronna Outfitters. Pat had his Mathews dialed and began his quest for his first Shiras Moose.
We met Glenn at the trailhead and loaded up our Watson bags and gear on the horses, and it was off to spike camp.
This would be our home for the next 10 days. The snow capped mountains captivated us as we rode up to the tent, and the anticipation started to set in.
The first morning we awoke to frost covering the ground and headed out to see if we could locate a big bull.
We put on several miles, calling along the way, but at first…..no moose, but we knew that if we kept at it, we would find the right bull and get him fired up enough to come in.
At the end of the day, there is nothing like coming back to camp and sitting around a warm fire.
We spent a lot of time calling, and waiting with high hopes of hearing that deep grunt of a big bull in the distance.
Finally, it happened. You could almost feel that grunt echo through your chest. The bull was about 200 yards away and fired up from his bed. We were losing light quick, so we decided back out and get back there at first light to see if we could get him to close the distance.
When we got there, he fired up again, and it was on! As he started around the corner towards us, I could hear Pat’s heart beating. The huge bull was coming right at us. I was taken back by the sheer size of the animal. Pat drew back and drilled him at 20 yards. He ran 70 yards and tipped over right in the meadow.
Now the real work began! It was Outdoor Edge time, and let me tell you….we put those knives to work!
After getting the bull all cut up and skinned, we put up a meat pole to hang the meat and let it cool before getting the horses and packing the meat back out to camp.
Packing him out.
By the time we got the bull packed out, it was late when we arrived back to camp. We cranked up the fire and got the fresh backstraps cookin. You can’t get food fresher than that! There is nothing more rewarding than sitting around the fire and eating backstraps from an animal that you harvested and worked so hard for.
After we tagged out, we had an extra day before flying out, so we headed back to civilization and spent the evening in Banff. This has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. The scenery is immaculate.
Banff has a herd of wild elk, and some of them live right on and around the golf course!
We spent the evening taking in all of the beautiful scenery and enjoying the country and wildlife.
This was truly an experience of a lifetime.
We are all so busy these days, that we rarely have a chance to step back and give thanks for all that is around us. We are so fortunate for all of the opportunities that we have and everything that we are given each and everyday!
Special thanks to Glenn and Donna Brown, and Dan Adkins for an incredible journey.
Blue Bronna Outfitters
Glenn Brown
1-403-443-5718
bluebronna@gmail.com
www.bluebronna.com