DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,402
- 6,213
Blkram (Gil) and I spent Saturday looking for wolves and lynx. It is the breeding season for lynx, and Gil wanted a good representative for a mount. We travelled about three hours north of Dawson Creek to an area where Gil had operated gas facilities some years ago. His assessment of good game populations appeared correct. We must have seen well over two hundred grouse during our day; and high grouse populations mean lynx.
We were able to drive into the muskegs because of the ice roads pushed through to the various isolated facilities. That saved my tender knees, allowing me to participate in the hunt without destroying what progress I've made. As we moved along the pipelines, we were cutting predator tracks frequently. One pleasant observation were numerous caribou tracks in the snow, indicating a reasonable population in the area. We did see a young bull moose pestering a cow that seemed clearly irritated with his attentions, if her vocalizations were any indication. We were cutting lynx tracks constantly. Surely, it would only be a matter of time until we happened upon one of the beautiful kitties.
Finally, coming into an isolated facility, Gil spotted a large tom. "What's the distance?" he asked breathlessly. "Forty yards," I responded. He grabbed his 17 HMR, stepped out and took careful aim. One shot and the cat accepted his invitation to go with us. The impact of the little 17 is astonishing to witness. The cat turned--not rapidly as you might expect, crouched and didn't move any farther.
Definitely a beautiful cat. The pelt is thick and rich with great colour. The foot pads were massive for this bad boy. I marvel at how long those rear legs are.
In all, a great hunt.
We were able to drive into the muskegs because of the ice roads pushed through to the various isolated facilities. That saved my tender knees, allowing me to participate in the hunt without destroying what progress I've made. As we moved along the pipelines, we were cutting predator tracks frequently. One pleasant observation were numerous caribou tracks in the snow, indicating a reasonable population in the area. We did see a young bull moose pestering a cow that seemed clearly irritated with his attentions, if her vocalizations were any indication. We were cutting lynx tracks constantly. Surely, it would only be a matter of time until we happened upon one of the beautiful kitties.
Finally, coming into an isolated facility, Gil spotted a large tom. "What's the distance?" he asked breathlessly. "Forty yards," I responded. He grabbed his 17 HMR, stepped out and took careful aim. One shot and the cat accepted his invitation to go with us. The impact of the little 17 is astonishing to witness. The cat turned--not rapidly as you might expect, crouched and didn't move any farther.
Definitely a beautiful cat. The pelt is thick and rich with great colour. The foot pads were massive for this bad boy. I marvel at how long those rear legs are.
In all, a great hunt.
