1 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:08,719 Speaker 1: Welcome to this Country Life. I'm your host, Brent Reeves 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: from coon hunting to trotlining and just in general country living. 3 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: I want you to stay a while as I share 4 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: my experiences in life lessons. This Country Life is presented 5 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: by Case Knives from the store More Studio on Meat 6 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: Eaters Podcast Network, bringing you the best outdoor podcast the 7 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:31,319 Speaker 1: airways have to offer. All right, friends, grab a chair 8 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: or drop that tailgate. I've got some stores to share 9 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: on the Loose for Moose Part one, Who doggies have 10 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: I got a tail for y'all this week. I'm sure 11 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: some of you have seen on my social media pages 12 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: that I was up in the Land of Hockey chasing moose, 13 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: the state bird of Canada. Well, let me tell you 14 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: I had more fun up there than a monkey could 15 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: and an acre of grapevines. It's a long story and 16 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: one that's gonna take me a while to tell because 17 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: it was so impactful to me. I'll go ahead and 18 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: tell you now that we ain't even gonna see a 19 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: moose on the show this week, but I think you'll 20 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: like the story that hopefully we'll paint the picture of 21 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: what's to come. We got a lot to talk about. 22 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: So let's get to it. Brent. What's your dream hunt? 23 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: That question was posed to me by my boss, Garrett Long. 24 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: I sat back in my chair and kind of laughed 25 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 1: a little to myself and I said, I'd like to 26 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 1: kill a moose in Canada with a boat. His response 27 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: was the exact opposite of what I expected. He said, Okay, 28 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: who you want to hunt with? Sir, who would you 29 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: like to hunt with? You got to have a guide 30 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: in Canada. I was staring in displine at my phone. 31 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: My eyeballs was pegged out of my head on stems 32 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: like a cartoon character, and I'm like, really. He said, yeah, man, 33 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: start looking for an outfitter. Let's meet back in a 34 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,679 Speaker 1: week and discuss what you come up with. I said, 35 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: already know. I want to hunt with Craig McCarthy in Manitoba. 36 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: That was the morning of May thirty first, twenty twenty four. 37 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:29,679 Speaker 1: That meeting begat another meeting, which begat another meeting, so 38 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: on and so forth until the morning of Friday, September 39 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 1: the twenty sixth, twenty twenty five. I stepped on a 40 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: commercial jet in a little rock bound for Northern Manitoba. 41 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 1: My first dot would be in Chicago with a short 42 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: layover and then on to Winnipeg, Canada. Going through customs 43 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: was a breeze into Canada. The agents were beyond helpful 44 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 1: and welcoming to me and the few others that I 45 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 1: saw who were visiting their country shopping for the inside 46 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: of animals to bring back to the States to eat. 47 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: One agent I talked to as a friend who lives 48 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: in Arkansas, what a small world we live in, and 49 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: believe it or not, it was going to get even 50 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: smaller before this trip was over. My friend Dave Gardner 51 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: met me out front and helped me load all my 52 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: gear into our rental that he'd already stacked cases of 53 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: gear in to film this Canadian Moose Excursion to be 54 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: released sometime next year. I see in Dave, who I've 55 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: been on several media to shoots with starting back a 56 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: few years ago, kind of brought the reality of what 57 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: we were doing home. This hunt, my first big solo project, 58 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: would depend a lot on me. It was a task 59 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: I hadn't taken lightly at any juncture of the meticulous 60 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: planning and attention to detail that goes into a hunt 61 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: of this scale, but the talking and the planning was over. 62 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: From here on out, we would be reacting to whatever 63 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: came our way. It's hard to script anything past decide 64 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: and what the hunt will be. We can only control 65 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 1: so much. I'd practiced my bow the final couple of 66 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: weeks to the point of being very comfortable at shooting 67 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: anything out to forty five yards. I hadn't have all 68 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: the confidence in the world that I could make a 69 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: good shot and ethically punch a hole in a moose. 70 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: I spoke with Craig and I asked him how the 71 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: bulls were, how they were reacting, and if I was 72 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: being wise to choosing, you know, to bow hunt instead 73 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: of bringing a rifle. He was confident that either was 74 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: a good possibility, but I was. I was starting to 75 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: feel the added pressure of all the things that can 76 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: go sideways, like what happened on my bear hunt a 77 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: couple of weeks ago. Now, I'm not going to take 78 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: an unethical shot or take any chance that would prevent 79 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: me from coming home with all the parts the moose 80 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: that tasted good or would look good in my new office, 81 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 1: my freezer was my first concern, and since this was 82 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 1: my first moose hunt, my first big solo project, I 83 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: opted to go with my rifle, and as fate would 84 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: have it, I chose wisely with I rented suv loaded 85 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: from Moose, Dave and I headed north from the provincial 86 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: capital of Manitoba. We had almost five hundred miles which 87 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure equations around six million kilometers to go 88 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: before we'd bed down for the night to rest for 89 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 1: the early morning flight the next morning. Our jumping off 90 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: spot would be a city called Thompson, but it was 91 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: still hours away when we stopped in the community of 92 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: Grand Rapids for gas. Grand Rapids that's about halfway from 93 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: Winnipeg to Thompson, and according to the interwebs, two hundred 94 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: and twelve folks call it home. There was also a 95 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: lot of new looking it out back in the day. 96 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: Anytime the Hudson Bay Company and Northwest Company got in 97 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: the close proximity of each other, both fur companies wanted 98 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: to control the territory, and violence ensued. On more than 99 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: one occasion. Way back in the early eighteen hundreds, Dave 100 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: was pumping gas and I walked in to pay for it, 101 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: and walking back outside, I was reminded of that small 102 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: world thing as I walked by a young man who 103 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: smiled and asked me if I was Brent Reeves. His 104 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: name was Riyler, and I was surprised to hear my name, 105 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 1: but I just assumed he was just another cat like 106 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: me from the States who was up there shopping in 107 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: the meat section of the Great White North. Alas he wasn't. 108 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: Royler lives there and just happens to listen to the podcast. 109 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: He recognized yours truly and introduced himself. I introduced him 110 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: to Dave and the three of us had a great visit, 111 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: just appreciating all the wild things Canada has to offer. 112 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: And it's always nice to meet others who appreciate the 113 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: same things as you. I've said it a million times, 114 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,119 Speaker 1: and a half million of them were on this show. 115 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: But regardless of where we live and call home, there's 116 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: more of us out there with things in common, and 117 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: realizing how we act and the things we do say 118 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: more about who we are than anything. Now. I could 119 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: have stayed there all day talking to Riyler, and forgive 120 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: me for barring a little Robert Frost here, but David 121 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: and I had miles to go before we could sleep. 122 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: That evening, we rolled into Thompson, a city sport in 123 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: fifteen thousand residents who, if they followed the suggestions of 124 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: the road signs we saw on the edge of town, 125 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: all had winter emergency gear in their vehicles. I'm not 126 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: sure what that emergency kit looks like, but if I 127 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: live there, I'd get me one because it gets CLD 128 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: cold there and the last place you'd want to spend 129 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: the night would be on the side of the road. 130 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: When the temperature disps below I can't fill my toes 131 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: for about six months. Thompson has a high school that 132 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: offers classes in English, French, and Cree. Now how cool 133 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 1: is that they also have two airports, one made from 134 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: concrete and the other one mostly out of water. That 135 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: was the one that David and I had a rendezvous 136 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:34,959 Speaker 1: with Destiny the following morning. Sleep would be sporadic that night, 137 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: and I was going over and over my checklist for 138 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: the trip, trying to anticipate everything we'd need to document 139 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: the hunt, while Dave did the same thing. And man, 140 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:47,359 Speaker 1: there was a lot riding on the outcome of this experience. 141 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 1: After all, we weren't just hunting. We were telling a 142 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: story with a camera about a hunt. They're two totally 143 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: different things, but each very enjoyable. If you can separate 144 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: the two been on the other side of that camera, 145 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: I think helps me keep the line between the two 146 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: clearly visible. I know that it was gonna be my 147 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: honor to shoot the moose, should the opportunity arise, but 148 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: I admit to being a little jealous of Dave running 149 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: the camera. That's the role I played for so long, 150 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: and I loved it. I swear though, I always felt 151 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 1: more pressure behind the camera than in front of it. 152 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: After all, we were there to film the event, and 153 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: the old saying goes, if it didn't happen on camera, 154 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: it didn't happen. That's the pressure cooker of filming a hunt. 155 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: And normally on shoots like this, we'd have two cameras rolling. 156 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: But due to the limited space and logistics of the 157 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 1: floatplane flying us and others into separately isolated camps, it 158 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: was all gonna fall on Dave's shoulders. Now, that's a 159 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: yoke that he wears well. And we've been running together 160 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: through the mountains, the prairies or river bottoms and the 161 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 1: rolling hills of the US of A for five years 162 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: now and he always pulls has waited more. But this 163 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: would be a true test for both of us. We 164 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 1: were up way before breakfast the day we were to 165 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: fly out, and after a pot of Tim Horton's finest, 166 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: we headed out to meet the float plane. Now, if 167 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: you're not familiar with that name, allow me to tell 168 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 1: you what that is, just briefly. It's coffee, and it's 169 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: good coffee. And I was introduced to it by a 170 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: couple of Yankee boys on a Kansas deer hunt ten 171 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: years ago. It is my favorite, and for some reason, 172 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: it's not to be found in the Land of Cotton 173 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 1: with any frequency. For the love of humanity, could someone 174 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: please tell mister Horton that we'd welcome his company down here. Anyway. 175 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: It was cool that morning, like in the forties cool, 176 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: and a quick check of my weather app showed it 177 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 1: to be twice that back in Arkansas. That's a shame 178 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: everyone back there. That is our chariot was a de 179 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: Haveveluan Cauntada d h C three otter single engine airplane 180 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: that was floating alongside a dock that jutted out into 181 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: the water. It had six windows running down each side 182 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: of the white fuselage and was painted brilliant white. It 183 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: would be hauling five passengers for a total of six 184 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: souls on board, counting the pilot, plus all the gear 185 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: we were all toting. I learned a lot on this 186 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: trip as far as what you need to take with 187 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: you on on an eight day hunt. I brought too 188 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:37,079 Speaker 1: many clothes. Here's what I would take as far as 189 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: clothes go on my next adventure like this with similarly 190 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:45,959 Speaker 1: predicted weather now one good raincoat and breeches, one cold 191 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 1: weather jacket, three pairs of hunting breeches, two pairs of 192 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: long John's, two long sleeve cold weather shirts, one long 193 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: sleeve warm weather shirt, four T shirts, four pairs of socks, 194 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: and just let your conscience be your guide on drawers. 195 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 1: Unless you want to take a bath in the lake 196 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: with water as cold as a still wedge, you're allowable 197 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,319 Speaker 1: to get a little spicy before you get back to 198 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 1: running water. Now, I highly recommend the shower type wipes 199 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 1: that you can buy. They work great, and we'll keep 200 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:19,959 Speaker 1: your cabinty mates from dragging you down to the edge 201 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: of the water, loading you onto a hastily built wooden raft, 202 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 1: and sending you off in Viking funeral style for stinking 203 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: up the place. I also took a pair of hip boots, 204 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,679 Speaker 1: knee boots, and regular hunting boots. Now, I could have 205 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: left the hip boots at home on this trip, but 206 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: there are times in that ecosystem when you're gonna need them. 207 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: Just never know. I didn't take any crocs camp shoes, 208 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: and I really wished I had. That was the only 209 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:51,959 Speaker 1: item I didn't take that I miss lesson learn Anything 210 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,079 Speaker 1: else you take will depend on what you're hunting and 211 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: you know how you're hunting. And I hope that helps 212 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: anyone who might be heading out on their first one 213 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: like I did. This would be my second floatplane trip. 214 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: I flew on a much smaller one once several years 215 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: ago in Alaska. I would see my first moose on 216 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 1: that trip. It was a cow feeding and a grass 217 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 1: flat across a big lake, and nothing struck me about 218 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 1: the size of the moose because there was nothing to 219 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 1: compare it to. There was just a long legged horse 220 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: for all I knew, and I could make it out 221 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:30,679 Speaker 1: with my eye and that it was a moose and 222 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 1: confirmed it with a pair of binoculars. That's how far 223 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: away it was. I didn't know it yet, but I 224 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: was about to get a lot closer on this trip. 225 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 1: And estimating the size of a Canadian moose wouldn't be 226 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: a problem at all. Two other camps would be joining 227 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: us on this flight, and it would take a couple 228 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: of hours for us to get dropped off. At all 229 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: our different locations. We were the first to load all 230 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: our gear, but would be the last to get off 231 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: at the end of the circuit. The whole left side 232 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 1: of the interior of that airplane was reserved for gear, 233 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 1: along with the rear storage compartment. The right side had 234 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 1: a single row of four forward facing seats started behind 235 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 1: the cockpit wall in the coppola it's position. The seats 236 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: were manufactured sometime between nineteen fifty one and nineteen sixty seven. 237 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: When the airplane was they possessed all the engineered comfort 238 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: of an electric chair, and both instances function came before form, 239 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: and since we weren't going to be in them that long, 240 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: I assume mister de Havilin figured if we looked out 241 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: the window, it would distract the passengers from the seat 242 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 1: and he could put that money elsewhere, like ensuring all 243 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 1: the engine noise was transferred to the interior of the aircraft. 244 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: The headphones hanging by each window came in handy. Also, 245 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: I suggest a course on lip reading and sign language 246 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 1: if you want to communicate with any one While traveling 247 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: the Friendly Skuis with Manitoba and an airplane named after 248 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: a fur bear. We chugged out into the big part 249 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: of the river, and the Canadian version of Charles Lindbergh 250 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: showered down on the throttle, and after a few moments 251 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: we shed the earthly bonds of gravity and took wing, 252 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: heading everymore northward. The haveling was right. I forgot all 253 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: about the season Roebuck catalog of the sea that I 254 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: was roosted on, and stared out at the heart of 255 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: the Canadian Shield, with its glacier formed lakes and woods 256 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: made up of spruce, pine, fir, birch, popular and aspen 257 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: trees contrasting shades of green and gold, looked like an 258 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: inviting patchwork quilt wilderness, which in a way I guess 259 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: it was. But it was also unforgiving and a desolate 260 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: landscape of every day survival by its inhabitants. Moose, woodland, caribou, 261 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: black bears, wolves, and even polar bears were on this range. 262 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: According to the map overlay. I was just just perusing 263 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: on the Internet. That's doubtful. You'd see the polar bears 264 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: where we were, because they eat seals, and there ain't 265 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: no seals there. But they're also in a fence keeping 266 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: them from slipping over from Hudson Bay to see what 267 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: a moose tastes like. I wasn't thinking about polar bears then. 268 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: I wasn't thinking about moose for felming a hunt. I 269 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: wasn't thinking about anything. I was hypnotized by the beauty 270 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: I was staring at passing under me at one hundred 271 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: and thirty miles per hour. I think that's like six 272 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: million and kilometers. Regardless, it was breathtaking and indescribable. It 273 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 1: was a long long ways from the saline river bottoms 274 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: of Cleveland County, Arkansas. I thought about that as we 275 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: buzzed along at three thousand feet. I think that's like 276 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: six million meters. But I didn't want to blink. I 277 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: didn't want to miss anything. And yet everything I was 278 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: looking at looked the same unnamed lakes, rivers and streams 279 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: that went on forever in every direction. My mind imagined 280 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: how the First Nations people and the French explorers and 281 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: trappers that roamed the land below me survived in that place, 282 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,680 Speaker 1: that would have looked exactly the same as it does now. 283 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: It would rain, frost, and get colder before we left, 284 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: and I would travel well over one hundred miles in 285 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 1: a little over an hour in that country by air. 286 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: Those folks were paddling and portaging all their belongings and 287 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 1: then building themselves a hight out once they found a 288 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:35,920 Speaker 1: spot they wanted to stay. Being a frontier trapper was 289 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: a childhood dream. I watched Jeremiah Johnson and the Mountain 290 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: Men when I was just youngin and that, on top 291 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:46,199 Speaker 1: of hearing my brother Tim talk about and longed for 292 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: that same kind of life, was what I thought about most. 293 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 1: Whenever I figured out that dream was just a dream, 294 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: I knew that whatever I grew up to be, there 295 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 1: would always be a mountain man trapped inside of me. 296 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: I was seemingly in the middle of running my imaginary 297 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 1: trap line when I heard the otter's engine slow down, 298 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: and I saw we began to bank, descend and make 299 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 1: a small half circle, lining up with the wind to 300 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: land on a big stretch of water that was formed 301 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: eons ago, And as it was when it appeared nameless, 302 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: it remains the third of our passengers. We would drop 303 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,879 Speaker 1: off here along with all their gear. The hunters, coming 304 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 1: out of the camp they were going into would fill 305 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: the cargo spaces and seats they just emptied. The scene 306 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: was repeated as we took off and flew to the 307 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:43,120 Speaker 1: second camp, dropping off hopeful hunters and all their belongings, 308 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: and meeting their tired but talkative replacements, telling their tales 309 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: of triumph or tribulation. After a week of chasing moose 310 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: and fishing, we took off once again. The last leg 311 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:58,919 Speaker 1: would be a thirty minute flight to Mining Dave's camp, 312 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:01,680 Speaker 1: and I watched out the window, lost in thought as 313 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 1: we logged miles further and further into the vast Canadian wilderness. 314 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,680 Speaker 1: I couldn't have been more excited or humbled to be there. 315 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:14,119 Speaker 1: It was eleven thirty. We'd have plenty of time to land, 316 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: unpack and stow our gear, and be ready to hunt 317 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: that the very afternoon. The familiar sound of the changing 318 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: engine pitch and the slow left hand bank gave me 319 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 1: a dose of adrelline, and I strained to contain my excitement. 320 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: It wouldn't be the last time that happened on this trip, 321 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: but it'll be the last time I talk about it today. Now, Now, Brent, 322 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 1: that's a dirty tree. You bumped your gums about anything 323 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:43,879 Speaker 1: and everything all along the way on this trip, and 324 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 1: now we finally get to camp and you leave all 325 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: these folks sitting on the edge of their seats. Well, 326 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: at least that's where I hope y'all are, And honestly, 327 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:56,640 Speaker 1: I didn't plan it that way. I want to tell 328 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: you the story of how we did and what we 329 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 1: did that you can see your head as I describe 330 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 1: it and see how it plays out next year and 331 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: you see it with your eyes when the film is released. 332 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: But fear not, next week, I'm gonna tell you the 333 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 1: rest of this story. It's a special one and I 334 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: couldn't have given it the justice it deserves by condensing 335 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 1: it all into one episode. Don't be mad at me. 336 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: I promise you're gonna like next week. Tickets for the 337 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 1: Meat Either Live Tour Dip into the Motherland are going quickly. 338 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,120 Speaker 1: If you have any interest in seeing a show near 339 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: where you live, I suggest getting a hold of them 340 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: pretty soon. It's gonna be a fun time and I 341 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 1: look forward to seeing y'all out on the road. We're 342 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 1: gonna finish this moose hunt next week, and until then, 343 00:20:43,160 --> 00:21:02,640 Speaker 1: this is Brent Reves signing off. Y'all be careful.