Last week, I finished my 29th animal, the Canadian Moose. I am humbled by the beauty found in all these creatures and the experiences this 17 year journey of chasing these Big Game North American animals. Now I’ll be working on finishing the book that will tell the stories and unique adventures each one presented. Here is an excerpt on this last hunt.

……Before we reached the South end of the lake, my guide Dan advised we should head back to camp cuz the weather was looking to turn for the worst and he didn’t want us to be caught out on the lake. Yet we continued to the lake’s South end before we turned around and headed back towards camp. No longer traveling at the slow trolling speed, we now glided over the waves trying to get ahead of the impending storm spewing freezing sleet. Disappointed to lose an evening of hunting, I faced the reality of there being only 2 more days to get this done. I asked myself would staying on a few extra days to hunt, be possible? If I had to book for next year, should I return or was there a better opportunity in a different location? Suddenly the thrust from the Yamaha 4 hp motor propelling us back to camp, ceased and the boat stopped. Dan exclaimed in a whispered voice, I see a bull. I looked in the direction of his gaze towards the shore and pulled up my binos. A small island lay between our position and the shoreline of the mainland. I immediately captured the wide paddles of this moose, just inside the trees. He looked statuesque, standing motionless in a small grassy meadow, 400 yds away. The sleet turned into snow and began falling heavily. With the big bull starring our direction, Dan asked quietly, are you up for putting a stalk on him? We were just 1,300 yards from camp. Weather safety concerns now gave way to adventure and the possibility of harvesting my 29th and last species of the Super Slam. We eased the boat to the islands rocky shore in front of us. The island was brushy with scattered trees and was a short distance off the shores of the mainland where the moose stood. I slipped my bow out of the soft case, quickly I slid on my chest protector and arm guard. I kept my finger tab in my coat pocket to keep it dry as I stealthily moved to the islands opposing shore. Staying low and positioning trees between myself and the moose, I reached a dead, twisted, lifeless uprooted remains of a fir tree. Dan stayed back and let out a cow call. The heavy antlered ungulate stepped out of the cover of trees and began coming towards the shore. I would have a shot across the water if he came to the water’s edge. Perhaps he would wade into the water and come across to the island to find the lonely cow calling out to him. I retrieved my tab from my pocket, sliding it onto my glove liner covered right hand, and turned my hat bill slightly left to clear my bowstring. I pulled an arrow from my bow quiver, and snuggly fixed the lighted nock’s groove onto the string. Closing the distance fast, the brute of a bull would be in traditional bow range in seconds. Dan Grunted, as the bull reached the end of the brush near the shoreline. He paused, peering across the waterway searching now for both a bull and cow. Whether he was coming across the water to the island, or walking away from the cow, I’ll never know. He turned broadside, and began walking away 90 degrees, coming no closer. I couldn’t let him walk out of range and take away my opportunity to loose a deadly razor tipped arrow. 27 yards away, I crawled my tab upwards and over my fixed crawl knot on my string. I would need the added power to compensate for the distance. Coming to full draw, I overlaid my Broadhead’s tip in my line of sight, just behind his right shoulder, picking a spot on a 4” fur patch. Instinctively I wanted to release the string immediately at the moment but first, I had to calibrate the shot and confirm each step of my shot sequence was executed. Focus on the process, not the outcome, this was the key. I relaxed my grip on the bow, feather touching my nose, my bowstring path would be clear of my coat, here we go! I tensed and expanded my back muscles to allow my bowstring to release off my tab. Instantly the Morrison super curve carbon bow limbs sprung forward, propelling the arrow towards its mark. The green lighted nock lit up the pathway as I watched the mystical flight of the arrow rocket towards the bull. Snow flakes falling from above, the lake water surface reflecting from below, the arrow crossed the water to bury deep into the hollow fur penetrating the heart. 15 steps and the moose crashed to the ground, only his antler tips visible in the tall alders.

Nice. And congratulations!

Holy cow Bryce, congratulations on an amazing adventure. Thank you for taking us along!

SUPER write-up BRYCE and wow all throughout it. THANK YOU. Steve

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to you Bryce; well done!

Shick

Congrats on a nice Bull!

Great tale to tell, on a magnificent animal!

Beautiful bull. Congratulations. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Very nice buddy. Congrats

Wow good for you that’s incredible

Congratulations!

Very nice bull congratulations!

Beautiful bull, congratulations!

Great bull congratulations.

You got it done congrats on a great accomplishment.

Congratulations on a beautiful bull and #29! Will be waiting for the book.

Amazing!

Meat abound, Congratulations

What a beautiful animal! Well done Sir! Congrats to the awesome hunt and the story. It should be a great book to read.

Congrats!

Handsome bull, congratulations.

Very very good.

Nice bull, congrats!

Man, what a cool story and congratulations!

Bryce, Congratulations my friend, well done. John

Congratulations! Nice bull.

Congratulations on your hunt.

Way to go Bryce! Congratulations on a fine bull and a great stalk.

What a great story, about a great archery shot, on a tremendous bull! Congratulations!

Thanks for sharing not fortunate enough to go myself but so happy that you share hunts like that.

Beautiful animal ,, thanks for sharing,, heck of an accomplishment,, Congrats!! Funny how things work out sometimes.

You are a beast congratulations can't wait to read the book

Great job Bryce, on both the Moose and your sharing of the story. Doesn’t seem that long ago that we met in the Tulsa airport and you struck up a conversation with me about shooting traditional bows. You’ve come far pilgrim!

Awesome! Were all 29 with a traditional bow?

Just Awesome.Thanks for the trip. Magnificent bull. >>>----> Ken

Great job Bryce, I know you have put in a lot of work over the years. It has paid off, this is a huge accomplishment.

Congratulations buddy.

So cool. Congratulations

Congratulations. Nice bull moose.

Congratulations! Loved the write up!

I'll pass on the book. Great hunt.

Thats a beautiful bull , congrats . Moose is something I have not hunted , but would love to .

Yes, all were taken with traditional bows. 27 with a recurve and 2 with a longbow

Yes Michael, I recall our meeting in Tulsa and our discussion. That was years ago but it seems it was as long ago as it was. Thank you for your friendly conversation that day and for stoking the fire about hunting moose!

Nice bull. Congratulations. That is quite an accomplishment. Hats off.

Congrats on big moose.

Congrats on big moose.

Huge Congratulations on completing a lifetime adventure!

Incredible.

Good story and great moose! Congratulations!

Congratulations on your accomplishment!!!!

Congratulations.

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