One of my Hobbies and Likes is to Hunt
We have a Hunt Planned for 2025
I will be posting update’s on my blog and Vlogs on my youTube.
Hunter Hailey and I will be doing our planning of what to pack, which rifles and ammo we will be using, our range time to get ready. The hunt is planed for September 14th thru the 23rd of 2025.
What is this Hunt
We have a Drop Trophy Hunts that includes:
- Travel by Helicopter to strategic locations
- Hunt from Tent by spot and stalk as well as calling
This hunt has a harvest success rates of 96%
A day’s hunt will begins with a pre-dawn breakfast. During breakfast, where we will discuss with our guide will discuss and plan for the day’s hunt.
Based on the hunting scenario we choose for the day, we can opt to have a packed meal prepared to take with us or we can choose to return to the lodge for a hot lunch.
We will set out after breakfast and the hunt begins.
Once we take a harvest, the guide will field dress and debone the animal, then bag the meat and transport it back to the lodge. We can choose to take part in this process if desired – they cater to us. Believe me we will participate.
Where are they Located
Akhaia is located in the heart of the densest moose population in the world. Newfoundland has the highest moose population per square mile, more than anywhere else in North America. Newfoundland offers a prime habitat for the Moose to thrive in. Trophy Eastern Canadian Moose are bulls from 40-55 inches, in fact 40-50 inch bulls are quite common. Akhaia offers you a Newfoundland hunting adventure of a lifetime and provides you the opportunity for a big game Newfoundland Moose. Calling is our main method while hunting during prime time hours and then using high vantage areas to spot and glass animals during mid-day.
The average moose is 6 ft. tall at the shoulders, weighing an average of 1200 lbs, with our average antler spread at 45 inches wide. Moose are peaceful animals that live up to 20 years under normal circumstances. While moose tend to live in herds during the harsh winter months, it is common to see pockets of 3 or 4 moose during the rut. Larger bulls will push off smaller bulls and become territorial while herding up for the rut. Bulls will try to win cows by fighting other bulls with the victor becoming the dominant bull and the attractive mating partner for the cows.
Stay Tuned for further Updates.
🫎 Moose Hunt Adventure in Newfoundland
Featuring Hunter Hailey and PD with Akhaia Outfitters
After over two years of planning, the day has finally arrived—our first ever moose hunt adventure is about to begin! We’re hunting with the incredible team at Akhaia Outfitters in the rugged wilds of Newfoundland, and excitement is running high.
✈️ Travel Day: From Sioux Falls to the Edge of the World
We are all packed up and ready to head out from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, making our way through Chicago and Toronto before finally landing in Deer Lake, Newfoundland.
Tomorrow, the Akhaia team will meet us at the airport and drive us to Hawkes Bay, where we’ll board a helicopter that will carry us deep into the remote Newfoundland backcountry. From there, we’ll set up our tent camp and settle in for the adventure of a lifetime.
🏕️ Into the Wilderness: Tent Camp and Preparation
We expect to start hunting Sunday, right after camp is established and ready. Both Hailey and I will be documenting everything, bringing along our full suite of camera gear plus a Starlink Mini for connectivity, which we’ll power using batteries and solar panels.
Our goal is to capture as much footage as possible, and if all goes well, we may even attempt our first live YouTube stream from a remote camp in the Newfoundland wilderness!
🎥 Capturing the Hunt
I’ve mounted a camera directly to my rifle scope, hoping to capture that unforgettable harvest shot from this once-in-a-lifetime hunt.
This has been two years in the making—countless hours of planning, researching, and preparing—and now it’s finally here. The wild moose of Newfoundland await.
🙌 Special Thanks
A huge thank-you to Linsey Mass from Outdoor Solutions for helping us book this hunt and for being just as excited as we are about this journey. Your help made this dream a reality.
🌟 More to Come
This is just the beginning.
We’ll be sharing daily updates, photos, and video clips as we experience this epic event. Stay tuned—the adventure is only getting started!
Journal Entry 1 – Testing Gear for the Hunt
Before we ever closed the tailgate, this hunt was won or lost at the table where we packed, tested, and pared down our gear. This was a tent back-country moose hunt — remote, rough, and long on electronics — so getting the charging and comms dialed in was a top priority. Sorting gear and testing the solar panels at home before departure.
Packing for contingencies (the short version)
I pack heavy on redundancy. For this trip that meant:
- Solar panels — my tested CGIS panels from Ascent/Enterplex (2016) — lightest and best packing for our needs.
- Portable batteries — we flew with multiple batteries; each of us carried two checkable battery packs for camp charging. (Note: you wrote 100 KWH — I’m assuming you meant 100 Wh-class power packs, which is the common portable size.)
- Starlink Mini — the big winner for connectivity in the field; limited runtime on battery so we rationed it to roughly an evening window each day.
- Comm gear — Garmin Montana 760i + inReach (great features but large). In hindsight a GPSMap 86 would have been lighter with longer battery life, but the Montana did many things well.
- Lighting & camp comforts — Biolite lanterns & strings, compact sleeping bags, micro-fiber towels, compact pillows, and lighter base/mid/outer layers (Under Armour, KUHL, Badlands).
- Camera stack — DJI Action 5, DJI Pocket 3, iPhone 16, GoPro, and a scope-mounted Tactacom 5.0 for shoot-through footage.
- Rifles & transport — Blaser R8 (me) and Christensen Ridgline (Hailey) in .300 WM; Pelican double rifle case + soft cases (which double as shooting mats).
Solar & battery testing
I re-tested my older CGIS/Ascent panels (the Enterplex kit from 2016) against some newer panels like Jackery. The older panels packed lighter and performed better for our setup — both in the bench tests and in-field. We ran the panels into our battery banks and simulated evening usage with the Starlink Mini and the cameras to estimate daily runtime. Solar test: charging the battery packs and running the Starlink and cameras off of solar+battery.
Starlink, comms, and power reality
The Starlink Mini gave us the best connectivity by far, allowing quick uploads and satellite texting, but battery-limited runtime meant we had to choose carefully when to use it. The inReach proved invaluable for one-to-one comms with our guide and the outfitter. Apple iPhone satellite texting was also helpful for short messages.
Practical lesson: pack the comms you trust, but be brutally honest about weight and charging needs. We took too many electronics initially and pared down to the essentials. Each battery adds weight but replaces a missed recording or missed check-in — a trade-off I deliberately accepted on this trip. Quick demo of Starlink Mini powering up; note the battery drain when the unit is under load.
Comfort & small wins
Small things made a big difference at camp: Biolite string lights and lanterns that lasted a week on one charge, compact pillows, and micro-fiber towels. Headlamps and auxiliary battery packs kept night tasks easy and safe.
Gear notes for fellow hunters
- Bring at least one communications device with guaranteed long battery life (inReach or similar).
- If you want video and live updates, plan battery + solar capacity and then add 25% more — you will use it.
- Test everything at home under load — things that seem fine on a table fail under real-world discharge cycles.
- Consider a smaller GPS (GPSMap 86) if pack weight and battery life are top priorities — larger units are nice but heavier to carry and charge.
Next up: packing day, travel to Sioux Falls, and the helicopter ride into camp — we’ll show what actually fit in the packs, how we staged our checked bags, and the Pelican/rifle-case logistics for air travel.
Journal Entry 2 – Packing & Travel
The night before departure was a mix of excitement and tough decisions. I had laid out more gear than any airline would ever allow — decades of hunting gear, backup electronics, optics, and camp comforts. The challenge was clear: pare it down to what we could carry on flights, protect for baggage handling, and still survive a week in the Newfoundland backcountry.
Sorting & Staging
We staged everything in the garage and quickly realized that even with our big new Mystery Ranch Marshal 105 packs, some gear had to stay behind. We kept the essentials: rifles, optics, batteries, Starlink Mini, solar panels, compact sleeping bags, layers, comm gear, and just enough extras to keep camp functional and comfortable.
Checked Bags & Rifle Cases
In the end we pared it down to three checked packs, plus my Pelican double rifle case. The Pelican was key: a hard case for airline travel, with Ruger soft rifle cases inside that doubled as shooting mats once we reached camp. This setup gave us both security during travel and flexibility in the field.
Carry-Ons & Batteries
Each of us carried two batteries as part of our airline carry-on (airline rules limited what we could check). It was a balancing act — enough power for cameras and Starlink, but still within TSA guidelines. Hailey and I split the load evenly, with electronics and optics tucked in personal packs for protection.
At the Sioux Falls Airport
Finally the day arrived. Bags stacked on the curb, rifles secured, and tickets in hand — we were ready to roll. Sioux Falls was the first step on a long chain of flights that would eventually land us deep in Newfoundland moose country.
Travel Day
Our route took us from Sioux Falls, SD to Chicago, then on to Toronto, and finally into Deer Lake, Newfoundland. From there, Akhaia Outfitters would take us north to Hawke’s Bay and eventually into camp by helicopter. Every flight was one step closer to the hunt of a lifetime.
Last-Minute Checks
Every flight connection was a reminder that if a bag didn’t make it, the hunt would get complicated fast. But by the time we rolled into Deer Lake with all our gear intact, we felt ready — nervous, but ready. The next step: helicopter into camp.
Stay tuned for Journal Entry 3 — the flight into the backcountry and our first camp setup.
Journal Entry 3 – Arrival at Deer Lake & Ride to Hawke’s Bay
After a long day of travel — Sioux Falls to Chicago to Toronto — we finally touched down in Newfoundland. The final leg into Deer Lake Airport came late at night, under a glowing moon, but the sense of arrival hit us the moment the wheels touched the runway. We had made it: gear intact, rifles secure, and anticipation sky-high.
Deer Lake Motel
That night we stayed at the Deer Lake Motel, a convenient stop right near the airport. After long travel days, it felt good to unpack, regroup, and grab a real meal before the adventure kicked into high gear. The next morning was crisp, cool, and filled with the promise of heading deeper into the backcountry.
The Ride to Hawke’s Bay
From Deer Lake, our outfitter arranged transport north to Hawke’s Bay. This drive gave us our first daylight look at Newfoundland: rolling hills, rugged spruce forests, and scattered ponds that seemed to stretch forever. The scale of the land was already humbling — vast country where moose truly roam wild. On the road to Hawke’s Bay — the first real look at the Newfoundland landscape.
Hawke’s Bay was our staging point before flying by helicopter into camp. The long journey was nearly complete — we were on the edge of the adventure we had been dreaming about for months.
Next up: Journal Entry 4 — Helicopter flight into the backcountry and setting up our first camp.
Journal Entry 4 – Helicopter Into Camp & First Setup
The next leg of the journey was unforgettable. For Hailey, this was her very first helicopter ride — and what a place to experience it! We loaded gear into the chopper at Hawke’s Bay and lifted off, the ground dropping away as the rugged Newfoundland backcountry unfolded beneath us. Endless ridges, bogs, and lakes stretched to the horizon. Moose country at its finest.
Look at the Country
As the helicopter set us down on a small clearing, the reality of the hunt hit home. We were far from towns, roads, and cell service. The landscape was raw and untamed: rolling spruce ridges, mossy ground, bogs, ponds, and rivers. Locals call this terrain the Tuck — thick, weathered spruce that can be knee-high in one spot and twenty feet tall in another. Underfoot, it’s mostly moss-covered rock and marsh grass. Beautiful, but tough to move through with heavy packs.
Once the helicopter lifted off, silence set in — and so did the work. We unloaded gear, put up our tents, and built camp from the ground up. Shelter came first, then food and light. With Biolite lanterns, compact sleeping gear, and our cook setup, we quickly had a livable camp in the middle of the backcountry. Every task took more effort on the uneven ground, but every step brought camp to life.
Setting up our tent camp on the edge of a small lake.
With camp set, we finally had time to breathe, look around, and start to understand the country we’d be hunting in. The terrain was tough, the distances long, and the challenge real. But this was exactly the adventure we came for.
Next up: Journal Entry 5 — learning the land, our first glassing sessions, and discovering just how challenging the Newfoundland Tuck can be.
Links
https://www.outdoorsolutionscorp.com
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/665244
https://www.peakdo.com/PeakDo-LinkPower-Power-Bank-and-Mount-for-Starlink-Mini-p6467650.html
Journal Entry 5 – First Glassing & Learning the Tuck
Once camp was up, it was time to lace up our boots and start exploring. Before we could truly hunt, we had to learn how to move in the Newfoundland backcountry. This land is like no other — rugged, wild, and dominated by what locals call the Tuck.
What is the Tuck?
The Tuck is a thick growth of stunted black spruce, battered by weather and growing in unpredictable patterns. In some places, it’s only a couple of feet tall; in others, it towers over twenty feet. Beneath it lies a patchwork of moss-covered rocks, bogs, and marsh grass that make every step uncertain. You don’t walk a straight line here — you weave, climb, crawl, and balance your way forward. Picking our way through the Tuck — every step a challenge.
Learning Curve
For Newfoundlanders, this is just walking. For us, it was a whole new skill set. The first steps were awkward, but as the days passed, we adapted. The rhythm of lifting higher, finding balance on moss-covered rock, and watching for hidden water holes slowly became second nature. By mid-hunt we were covering four to five miles per day across this country — not fast, but steady, and always forward. Working through the brush and rocks — the first lessons in how to walk this land.
The Hills
Adding to the challenge were the hills. Rising 200–300 feet at a time, they forced us to pick our way up and over before we could glass the next valley. Every climb burned legs and lungs, but each summit rewarded us with sweeping views of moose country: endless ridges, ponds, and valleys waiting to be explored. At the top of a ridge — a hard-earned view of the country below.
First Glassing Sessions
From these vantage points, we set up to glass. Patience was key — long hours behind binoculars and spotting scopes, scanning ridgelines and bogs for any sign of movement. The terrain made it clear: success here wasn’t going to come easy. Every bull would require effort, planning, and a willingness to push deeper into the Tuck. Glassing over the ridges — scanning valleys and bogs for the first sign of moose.
It was tough, humbling, and exactly the challenge we came for. Each step in the Tuck made us better hunters, more in tune with the land, and more determined to find that bull moose.
Next up: Journal Entry 6 — moving camp, the encounter with a bull and cow, and the hard choices of chasing moose as daylight faded.
Journal Entry 6 – Moving Camp & the Bull Encounter
Sometimes the hunt doesn’t start the way you expect. After several days of glassing from the first camp, we hadn’t seen a single moose. The landscape was beautiful, the terrain challenging, and the hours long — but the valleys stayed quiet. The decision was made: we had to move.
Breaking Down Camp
Camp life in Newfoundland is work. What takes hours to set up can be broken down in minutes when a helicopter is inbound. Tents down, gear packed, food and equipment staged for pickup — all under the watchful eyes of the blackflies, which never miss an opportunity.
Flying to a New Camp
The helicopter lifted us out once again, carrying us over ridges, rivers, and bogs. As the rotors slowed and silence returned, we knew we had another chance. A new camp, a new valley, and hopefully — moose.
First Moose Encounter
Not long after glassing from this new camp, we spotted what we had been waiting for: a bull moose moving across the valley. Our guide Marty began calling, pulling the bull’s attention — but a cow rose between us, distracting him and complicating the stalk. The timing was tight, the light was fading, and the ground between us was rough. Still, this was the encounter we had been dreaming about. Glassing the bull — the start of a long stalk through the Tuck.
We had to call it a Night as we needed to get back to camp after spotting this Bull Moose he was distracted by a Cow and we would have to go get them about a 2 Mile walk he was only 1,700 Yards from us and Marty called him in and he stoped and took another path but with him bedding down for the night we did the same and picked it back up the next day. Stay tuned.
Next up: Journal Entry 7 — the final approach, Marty’s calling, and the heart-pounding moment as the bull came within range.
Journal Entry 7 – The Stalk
After spotting the bull from our new camp, it was time to make our move. This was no quick walk — it was a careful, deliberate stalk across two miles of Tuck, bogs, and ridges. Every step mattered. We moved slow, stopped often, and trusted the experience of our guide, Marty from Akhaia Outfitters. His instincts, timing, and calling led us closer than we ever imagined we could get.
Listening to the Guide
Marty called, paused, and listened. He read the bull’s mood, judged the cow’s distraction, and walked us up close and personal to the moose. His skill was evident in every decision — when to move, when to stay low, and when to wait. Without that leadership, we’d never have closed the distance. Video clip from the stalk — careful steps, always in Marty’s rhythm.
The Final Moments of the Stalk
As the distance closed, the anticipation grew. The bull was within range, the cow still nearby, and our hearts were pounding. The terrain forced us to use cover — brush, rocks, and shallow bog edges — to hide our approach. Each pause brought us closer to the inevitable moment.
The next step would be the most important of the hunt: the shot. All the effort — the Tuck, the miles, the camp moves, the climbs, the glassing, and the stalk — came down to these final moments.
Next up: Journal Entry 8 — The Harvest. Two camera angles captured the shot, the bull’s final steps, and the unforgettable moment of success.
Journal Entry 8 – The Harvest
Everything came together in this moment. After days of glassing, moving camp, and miles of careful stalks, we stood within range of the bull. The final key was our guide, Marty from Akhaia Outfitters. His years of experience calling moose showed in every sound he made. With a deep, guttural rhythm, he drew the bull in close — steady, patient, and deliberate. It was a master class in guiding, and without him, this moment would never have happened.
The Shot
As the bull stepped into view, my rifle was steady. The cow had moved off, the bull’s attention was on Marty’s call, and I knew this was the time. The air felt still, heavy with anticipation — then the shot broke. Shooter’s view — the harvest shot captured from behind the rifle.
Hailey’s GoPro angle — capturing the moment from the side as the bull went down.
The Moose Down
The bull fell, and a wave of emotion rolled over us. Relief, respect, and gratitude. We walked up carefully, humbled by the size and power of this incredible 16-point Newfoundland bull. This was the moment we had dreamed of, and it was everything we hoped for.
After the bull was down — walking up to the moose, soaking in the moment.
Ethical Harvest & Meat Care
For us, hunting has always been about more than the shot. It’s about gathering food, respecting the land, and taking only what we need. With Marty’s help, we began the process of field dressing and carefully harvesting the meat. Every cut, every pack load, every trip back to camp was part of honoring the animal and ensuring nothing went to waste.
Moose meat is legendary — rich, lean, and nourishing. Bringing it home to our families was the ultimate goal, and it made the long days, the climbs, the stalk, and the shot all worth it. The hunt gave us not only an epic story but also the food that will sustain us through the year.
This was the culmination of an unforgettable adventure. From Sioux Falls to Deer Lake, from the Tuck to the ridgelines, from glassing to the stalk — it all led to this moose. And with Akhaia Outfitters, it was done the right way: ethically, respectfully, and with gratitude.
Journal Entry 9 – Butchering, Meat Care & Walk Back to Camp
With the bull down, the real work began. We caped him out for a beautiful shoulder mount and then turned to the butchering. This is where the respect for the animal shines — careful cuts, clean work, and attention to saving every pound of usable meat. Moose meat is a gift, and nothing would be wasted.
The Butchering
Working together with Marty’s guidance, we broke the moose down into quarters and boned out the rest. Each section went into breathable game bags, carefully tied and hung for cooling. The quarters were heavy — no small task in the Tuck — but we knew the helicopter would return to fly them out. Our job was to make sure the meat was well cared for until then.
Leaving the Meat for Pickup
Once the bull was completely broken down, the meat was left in game bags to cool. This is standard in remote hunts — the outfitter’s helicopter would return to sling-load the bags out of the backcountry. That meant our packs would be lighter for the hike out, carrying only our personal gear and rifles.
The Walk Back
We shouldered our packs and began the trek back to camp. This time, the weight was lighter, and our steps were quicker, but the satisfaction was heavier than any load. Every mile back carried a sense of accomplishment. The Tuck felt different now — less like an obstacle, more like part of the story.
Looking Ahead
With the moose safely harvested and the meat prepared for pickup, we turned our attention to the next part of the adventure: Hailey’s hunt. Camp was alive with energy — one bull down, one tag left, and plenty of country left to hunt.
Next up: Journal Entry 10 — shifting focus to Hailey’s hunt, with hopes high for another incredible Newfoundland bull.
Journal Entry 10 – Hailey’s Hunt
With one bull already down, the focus turned to Hailey’s hunt. That evening, she and Marty climbed the hill above camp and began glassing. From the ridge, they could see miles of rugged country stretching southwest of camp. As the light faded, they spotted moose about two miles off — the plan was set. At first light, we would head that direction, hoping to close the distance.
The Cow Encounter
The next morning, we worked through the Tuck and climbed to a higher vista. That’s when it happened — a cow moose nearly walked right up on us. At the time, we were still waiting on a bull and passed on her. Looking back, had we known what was to come, Hailey may have chosen differently. Cows need to be managed too, since most hunters target bulls — and you can’t eat the antlers. But in that moment, we let her walk.
Caribou on the Hill
As if to remind us of the wild diversity of Newfoundland, a caribou appeared on the same ridge. Seeing them in this country was a bonus gift, and Hailey had the chance to watch one cross the open ground. These moments are what make the hunt bigger than just the harvest.
The Search for a Bull
Over the next several days, we glassed, called, and covered miles. Another bull was spotted deep in the wilderness, but before we could close the distance, he slipped away into the timber. The land reminded us again that it belongs to the animals, not the hunters. Video from the ridge — scanning for a bull in miles of country.
Storm Front Coming
As the week closed, a storm front rolled in. Heavy clouds and rising wind forced a decision — we called in the helicopter and returned to Hawkes Bay. A bed, a shower, and a warm meal welcomed us back, even as Hailey’s tag went unfilled. That’s hunting — unpredictable, humbling, and always an adventure. Helicopter ride out — the end of the backcountry portion of Hailey’s hunt.
Looking Ahead
Though we didn’t bring home a bull for Hailey, the memories are priceless. From glassing ridges and crossing Tuck to the close encounter with a cow and watching caribou roam, it was a hunt full of stories. The next step: our journey home, from Deer Lake to Toronto, Denver, Sioux Falls, and finally the long drive back.
Next up: Journal Entry 11 — the journey home and reflecting on our Epic Newfoundland Moose Hunt.
Journal Entry 11 – The Journey Home
With a storm front pressing in, we made the call to leave camp a day early. The helicopter lifted us out of the backcountry and dropped us at Hawkes Bay, where Jeremy from Akhaia Outfitters connected us with Vaden and Joyce. Not only are they fellow hunters, but they also run 3C’s Short Stays in Deer Lake, NL, and do incredible missionary work overseas. Their hospitality was a blessing after days in the tent camp.
This place was great check them out if in Deer Lake, NL great people great place.
Heading Home
The next morning, Jeremy drove us to the Deer Lake Airport. From there, we started the long journey back: Deer Lake → Toronto → Denver → Sioux Falls, SD. Finally, a drive home to unpack, wash gear, and settle back into normal life.
Deer Lake Airport was the best Airport experience we have had. People here are Great.
Back Home
There’s nothing like walking through your own front door after an adventure like this. The gear was spread out to dry, laundry started, and freezers made ready for the moose meat that would follow. The hunt was over, but the memories — and the meals — will last for years.
That wraps up our Epic Newfoundland Moose Hunt with Akhaia Outfitters. From packing in Sioux Falls to glassing in the Tuck, from the helicopter drops to the harvest, from Vaden & Joyce’s hospitality to the long flights home — it was the adventure of a lifetime. Thank you for following along, and stay tuned for our next hunt!