Thanksgiving Hunting Weekend

[newhunterette]

Friday, October 5th – we left the house at 4 pm fully loaded – Peter loves to take highway 7 instead of going thru Hope (apparently reading the big HIGHWAY 7 closed due to rock slide on the Highways banner is like stopping and asking for directions taboo) so we drive until the road crew stops us and says ROAD CLOSED DETOUR BACK THRU HOPE – um do not say a word (knows better than the I told u so comment). No worries we head on back and then get back on track and pull into 100 Mile at just before 9 pm. Top up the diesel and 1 more hour to the cabin (nope stop at Forest Grove Legion for quickie howdy to my Momma – her Friday night cribbage night – confirmation she is coming down for Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner) – we make it to the cabin ay 10:30 pm – unload and have celebratory drink.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0041.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0075.jpg

Saturday, October 6th – not early risers – up at 8 am – coffee is brewing (why is it camp coffee is even better than Timmie’s no matter how strong u make it) – feed the beasties (kids) and give them their cabin duties and rules before Peter and I head out to have half a day hunting. All dressed in my adorable camouflage we head off (geeze my rifle is pretty – been a while since I seen her). We head into one of our favourite game spots. Dang it someone up here – best to say the friendly howdy (could be HBC member never know) – as soon as the young couple approaches the truck (you know that prickly feeling you get when something is not feeling quite the norm) young gal says HELLO so loud I think all the woodland critters scattered and then calls over MICHAEL (older gentleman looks rather ummm how to say in non-judgmental way TREEHUGGERISH and he speaks in a very soft voice – ya know the type let’s all hold hands and sing Kumbaya) Peter shakes his hand and asks if they have seen any other hunters come thru the road and we get nope just us – phew . We say thank you and head o up the road – checking for those the ever tasty chickens (grouse). We see one and yippee grab the 22 and off I go – BANG – dang it I missed oh well no worries been a while since I fired a gun –see another grouse and BANG gosh dern it I missed again – Peter climbs out grabs the 22 and fires it and POOF 1 grouse in the truck – no worries I am just over anxious – Peter spots another grouse and it is in a tree – he guides me thru the shot BANG missed again – He says I am shooting to the left – I say I am getting the bead right on the dang grouse and he says that was a gimme shot and I was too far to the left GRRRRRRRRRRR .Drive a little more and hit the snow line SNOW where did that come from – we found it. Follow lots of moose tracks but no sign of any deer L today. We stay out for a little longer then decide to head back to the cabin and check on the kids (leaving the quad in the hands of my son can be rather foolish for too long) but first stop at the quarry we always target shoot at to check out this 22 because I know I was shooting it straight on. Peter sets up the targets and fires off a few shots hmmmmmmmmmm something not right – imagine that – few minor adjustments – Fires off a few more hmmmmmmm for some reason it is shooting to the left (neener neener neener) wasn’t my shooting dag nabbit was the 22 – few more adjustments and he hands me the 22 and I fire it off BANG BANG BANG dead on target shots every time. Now I feel better haven’t lost my touch after all. Back to the Cabin we go. Sorry y’all no deer today but we have 2 more days to talk about – stay tuned.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0006.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0017.jpg

[Leaseman]

OK Ali....keep the story coming.....:tongue:

[TGF]

Nice cabin. Good luck.

[Elkhound]

good luck guys. keep the story going

[farside]

Ali - you look WAY to put together for a morning hunt. Is that lipstick? Couldn't be. I know, your just a natural beauty arn't ya. Me on the other hand looks mighty scary during the hunt. I try to scare them to death. It even works sometimes. lol

Looks like fun girl!!!

[Will]

Nice Shack ! :cool:
Looks like Fun, thanks for sharing, and Good Luck:D

[newhunterette]

Sunday, October 7th – got up a little earlier as had a long day planned with having to be back at the cabin in the early afternoon to begin the Thanksgiving feast – I got my bread dough made and in the pans to rise – stoked up the wood stove to get the oven nice and toasty to make that turkey. Got that wonderful coffee brewing – the best wake up call is that aroma of camping coffee perkin (that’s what Peter says but I really think its because he stays snuggled in bed while I get things organized and then bring him his coffee in bed). Anyways I get us all ready to head into the woods once again. The morning is a little on the windy side and a little cooler but watching the leaves flutter down and coat the ground in such an array of colours is magical. Off we head leaving the beasties (kids- heck who am I kidding they are teenagers not kids anymore) this time to fend for themselves. Peter decides to go in another direction this morning. Not spotting any critters for some time L (I think I am going to hire a new guide). We head up to where our little piece of the Cariboo is to check out if the surveyors have been thru it. As we pull down the road to the property we notice the people we bought it from are up where their property is so we have to of course stop in to say howdy (it is the right thing to do) grrrrrrrrrrr so much for hunting today – we go in and visit for a cup of coffee and homemade plum cake. 2 hours later, Peter decides oops we better head back to the cabin – Alison has a dinner to prep for – GRRRRRRRRRRRR – okay I am not really that angry because we can road hunt on the way back for chickens I suppose – have u ever tried road hunting when the driver is having too much fun hitting every pot hole and mud puddle – the man does like to get his truck dirty – so once again no Deer for Ali and no grouse for her pot – sigh – but what fun anyways – back at the cabin the kids have done their thing - I clean up and begin prepping the big bird and pop the bread dough into the oven – OMG it is gonna smell yummy – My Momma shows up (so funny to see her PT Cruiser comin down the loggin roads) – Peter decides to go set up the trail cam to see if we can find us some deer for the next day and then he loads the kids into the truck for some chicken hunting as they are all chomping to get out there too giving me and my Mom some time together. Usually we have a few extra guests at the table but the other gents had to leave earlier so they said there goodbyes and headed for home. Thanksgiving dinner is cooking - sorry y’all still no Deer tale for ya.
Peter and the kids got back – perfect time for the Turkey to be coming out of the oven. Braydon , walks in to the cabin smiling ear to ear look Mom – he has a grouse in his hands – his proud harvest hmm guess the 22 worked great for him hehehehehe - Cheers

Pictures of our property
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0098.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0078.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0087.jpg

[newhunterette]

Thanksgiving dinner

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0113.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0111.jpg

[Sideofabarn]

Glad to see you're out there having fun Ali. I'm supposed to be heading up to Fort St James this weekend. No 8am drinkers in this bunch!

[newhunterette]

Monday, October 8th – another morning another day – the lake is finally calm no wind so time to get the coffee brewing and head out to the boat and do some fishing – this time of year when the lake is calm u have to take it right now because it turns into an ocean with surfing waves in a matter of seconds when the wind kicks it up. It is so serene and peaceful when you troll along with your rod in the water – unfortunately Lakers were closed now but them rainbows are sweet – OH look there goes my rod doing a little dance – reel calmly – I get the fish right up to the boat and my ever efficient guide has the handy dandy net ready to go (so I thought) ping there goes my fish grrrrrrrrrrrrrr – I am thinking my dear darling wonderfully loving husband is out to sabotage me this weekend – hmmmmmmm guess a little competitive about his wifey getting the goods over him hehehehehehe – oh well this entire trip for me was the start of an entire new beginning for me after being cooped up for a year not being able to enjoy the outdoors in this free manner so getting back into it gradually is so enlightening for me no matter what. The wind is starting to pick up a bit so we head back into shore and grab a bite to eat. A crab feast – hehehehe the kids thought it was hilarious to be on a lake and eating crab legs outside with a nice fire going but what a feast it was. After lunch we all head into the truck and decide its chicken hunting time – so loaded up 2 dogs, 3 teenagers and Peter and I to go grouse hunting. We decide to take turns with each grouse we see. Going to an area we know u will always see lots of grouse and given the time of day we in now we should be able to get at least a couple more. What beautiful scenery up here in the fall. Wohooooooooo grouse #1 spotted – slowly I grab the 22 that has now been perfectly sighted in BANG dang it the thing missed so I thought but peter says no u got him – he heads into the trees to make sure for me and out he comes with my grouse – yes yes yes I finally did it (no laughing at the picture now because I know I look awestruck that I actually did it but what a rush I was feeling) I know it is only a grouse but to me it was my trophy. We had one more successful harvest of a grouse and quite a few misses but seeing the kids chase those buggers down to was a hoot for Peter and I – was getting too dark now to continue with the guns so we just took in the sites and did some more muddying up the truck as we headed back to the cabin. Out of the entire weekend we took 5 grouse – saw 1 deer (a doe) lots of moose tracks and almost had fish. Even though I never got to take down my deer I had the most incredible weekend (I still had moose roast, turkey, and crab and yes even buffalo burgers) so the wild was there even if I brought it in my cooler. This Thanksgiving I had so much to be thankful for and none of it will be taken for granted. I will post a few other pics of scenery to share with y’all – this place is always my piece of heaven.
Hope y’all enjoyed.

This is what I woke up to each morning
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0116.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0115.jpg


Crab Feast :)
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0126.jpg

[newhunterette]

hey look y'all - I really did get one
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0149.jpg

Braydon thought this was a funny picture - he stuffed my grouse into a chicken jerky bag
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0153.jpg



and just a few extra pics to share with ya
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0125.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0036.jpg

[Wildman]

Great story, thanks!

[newhunterette]

this what happens when u leave a 15 year old alone with a quad
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0140.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0139.jpg


I am a proud real southern canadian beaver
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0070.jpg


Looks a little like Moose territory here
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ioarana/DSC_0142.jpg

[Will]

Some Great Pics...........keep em coming for those of us stuck back in "the world" :biggrin:

[Sharkey]

Sounds like you all had an amazing weekend! Goon on ya! I bet it felt good to be up in the fresh air...
~D

[greybark]

:razz: Hey Ali , You and your familly give this site a real and healthy slice of life . Good on you !!!!!

[BCrams]

That is a great family trip! Great location and its too bad you all couldn't stay a whole week and relax.

[newhunterette]

Ali - you look WAY to put together for a morning hunt. Is that lipstick? Couldn't be. I know, your just a natural beauty arn't ya. hehehehe ummm it's chap stick yeah thats it chap stick not lipstick hehehehe

[quote=Will;193337]Some Great Pics...........keep em coming for those of us stuck back in "the world" :biggrin:dang Will all the pics I take - I would get banned for taking up too much space - wait I think someone already accused me of that hehehehehe


Sounds like you all had an amazing weekend! Goon on ya! I bet it felt good to be up in the fresh air...
~DSharkey - anytime up there is amazing whether we get critters or just go for "get out of Dodge" time


:razz: Hey Ali , You and your familly give this site a real and healthy slice of life . Good on you !!!!!thank you ever so much Greybark - means a lot to me u saying that


That is a great family trip! Great location and its too bad you all couldn't stay a whole week and relax.BCrams - we hate coming back to reality - but unfortunately peter has to work so he can leave for his next hunting trip and Braydon has hockey committments and Azshia well she could use a little more rest - plus we have Breanne who had to miss this trip due to a school trip to Ottawa - but yes it was fantastic - thanks

:) glad y'all enjoyed reading my little diary and hope the pics contributed a little for y'all to enjoy a little of it too

Ali

[Th0r]

Great stories and pics. Thanks. Whereabouts is ure place? My Uncle lives near Watch lake. Sure is beautiful up there.:-)

[newhunterette]

Great stories and pics. Thanks. Whereabouts is ure place? My Uncle lives near Watch lake. Sure is beautiful up there.:-)
we are on North side of Canim Lake :) thanks bunches

[Elkhound]

Wish my thanksgiving dinner looked like that

[newhunterette]

Wish my thanksgiving dinner looked like that

Elkhound I have always had an open door policy in my house and at my cabin to visitors, guests, friends and family - if u show up there is always a plate setting for you :)

[srupp]

Great Read Ali..thats what life is for spending time with those you love....beautiful photos also..Thanks

Steven

[Derek_Erickson]

Ali, umm, I'm gonna need the keys on these dates :tongue:

thanks

[newhunterette]

[quote=Derek_Erickson;194043]Ali, umm, I'm gonna need the keys on these dates :tongue:

oh what dates are you after there Derek :) hehehehehehe