I had a job for 35 years that kept me from taking time off in September through November. When I decided to retire the first thing I promised myself was to hunt in September. I did what all good hunters should do and that was to research and talk to as many people as possible to sort out the numerous outfitters. Once I had narrowed the list down I made sure that I met and talked in person with each of the outfitters at one of their shows. I meet the Webber’s Lodge staff at the Chicago show in January on a snowy windy day. Once I had met them, I was sold and booked a combination fly-in Manitoba Caribou and Moose hunt. Once I sent in my deposit and made that commitment I hoped I was right. Well, I was and here is the 
story.
On September 5th I left for what would turn out to be the hunt of a life time. The country was beautiful as I dove up and the flight from Thompson to Churchill was over some of the most spectacular country I have ever seen. When I landed in Churchill I was met by the Webbers staff who gave me the tour of the town. I had arrived a day early so I could see the beluga whales, polar bears and visit all of the historic sites. Finally on September 10th I was picked up at the hotel with the other hunters and driven to Landing Lake to met the float plane. We took off and flew a short ways to Dymond Lake to pick up two other hunters who were goose hunting and then joining us for the caribou hunt. What a beautiful lodge Dymond was, with Helen Webber serving hot coffee and sweet rolls upon our arrival. Once we loaded the two other hunters in the float plane we flew for about an hour north and saw herds of barren land caribou below us. Talk about exciting. The float plane flew low over Schmok Lake Caribou Lodge to announce our arrival. By 2 pm we were on our first hunt. I could not have been more excited. The colors of the tundra were an amazing back drop as we glassed for caribou. The first day we did not see any that were big enough to shoot and we ended up going back for the first of many great meals and socializing with the other hunters.
Day two had us stalking and glassing herds of caribou, but again it was too early to just shoot an average size bull. One party of hunters took three huge bull caribou with one scoring well over 370.
Day three was my day. We walked to a great outcropping of rocks and sat down. The caribou had to come right by us to get around the lake so we settled in and began glassing. At 8:15 I s
hot my first caribou ever at 50 yards. If I had waited any longer it would have walked right over me. After pictures, Yvan my guide carried the meat, but I wanted to carry the cape and trophy antlers. We hung the meat and went right back out for the afternoon. At 3:45 four bulls and eight cows came out of the trees about 2 miles away and were making a beeline straight for us. When there was no doubt they were coming we run to a small rise and got ready. The caribou covered the 2 miles in less than 15 minutes and were directly in front of us and had no intention of stopping. Finally I had to shoot or again get walked on. One shot and it went down like a ton of bricks. The other caribou stopped and turned allowing us to see one of the other four bulls and it was a huge one. The rest of the trip I spent my time fishing for Northern Pike and Lake Trout. It was also nice to spend the days just relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the surrounding tundra.
hot my first caribou ever at 50 yards. If I had waited any longer it would have walked right over me. After pictures, Yvan my guide carried the meat, but I wanted to carry the cape and trophy antlers. We hung the meat and went right back out for the afternoon. At 3:45 four bulls and eight cows came out of the trees about 2 miles away and were making a beeline straight for us. When there was no doubt they were coming we run to a small rise and got ready. The caribou covered the 2 miles in less than 15 minutes and were directly in front of us and had no intention of stopping. Finally I had to shoot or again get walked on. One shot and it went down like a ton of bricks. The other caribou stopped and turned allowing us to see one of the other four bulls and it was a huge one. The rest of the trip I spent my time fishing for Northern Pike and Lake Trout. It was also nice to spend the days just relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the surrounding tundra. Stay tuned as Paul is about to head to one of our fly-in Manitoba Moose Hunting camps. That part of his story coming soon…..
Paul Kimpton – Illinois
Socialize :)