by Kent Michie

As the turbo beaver rumbled along through the ski we were delighted to see a constant peppering of the tundra below. Herd after herd of caribou had already started to migrate south.

With the drone of the engine humming through my ear muffs I spied the small brown dot on a sandy ridge next to a glassy crystal water lake.  The hour and fifteen minute flight from Churchill was as uneventful as the day was calm and clear. On board for the first flight into the lodge for the season was myself (camp manager), Terri (my girlfriend), Ruger (camp mascot), Les Simpson (guide), and two resident caribou hunters, Trent Hedley and Rick Thompson,  friends of mine who had agreed to come in a day early to help me open up the camp.

Once the beaver was secured to the sandy beach we began to unload the supplies and were excited to see that the beach and surrounding sand ridge where the lodge is built, were covered with the tracks of thousands of caribou who walked right through camp.  By the time the sun set on the western horizon we had the entire camp up and running and ready for the season.

The following morning the beaver returned to Schmok Lake Lodge with a group that included both the resident hunters and the two non-resident hunters.  Rick Thompson was the first to harvest a trophy caribou bull and what a bull it was, with huge tops!  He made a great shot at approximately 300 yards and put down a true tundra trophy.  The following four days of hunting proved to be fantastic as everyone in camp harvested great caribou.  

Bill Lowen, who is in his 70’s, harvested a superb bull with palmated tops, not more than 500 yards from the lodge.  Murray Hedley took a bull with one of the widest spreads I have seen.  Trent Hedley took a very unique bull with great rear points.  After watching several other bulls approach the lodge as we ate dinner, Rick Thompson harvested his second bull caribou with long main beams and fantastic points!  Kent and Trett Johnson from the USA also both harvested two trophy bulls each.

We estimated that our six hunters witnessed more than 3000 caribou wandering by on their way south during that first week.  Along with the caribou sightings, Murray and Bill also had the privilege of seeing arctic wolves following the herds.  Trent and Rick enjoyed excellent fishing in Schmok Lake and provided us with some delicious fresh lake trout and northern pike for dinner on a few evenings. And almost every evening while we enjoyed fine dining at the lodge, we were blessed with a seemingly endless migration of caribou moving through the lodge site.

With it came time to head home, none of the hunters wanted to leave, and they indicated they would all be back to enjoy another Webbers arctic adventure. Of the eight bulls harvested during the first week, five made the record book. 

For more information on our Canadian caribou hunts and other arctic hunting and fishing adventures please e-mail us at info@webberslodges.com or contact Webber’s Lodges Sales and Operations Manager Kent Michie at kent@webberslodges.com.  You can also call Kent directly at: (204) 826-2840 or call us Toll Free at: 1 (888) WEBBERS (932-2377).