The Journey

For several years Richard Sells and I have talked about going on a moose hunt. Somewhere we could drive to from our home state of Oregon and truly enjoy the journey. And enjoy the journey we did!

In 2021/2022 we applied for our elk tags in Oregon as usual, this time with no luck for either one of us. It was now time to get busy and get our first moose hunt planned. Richard and I started calling around, talking to different guide outfitters. Richard found Stuart Maitland, owner of Eureka Peak Lodge and Outfitters. We took our turns talking to Stuart and agreed he was the right guide. We told Stuart we were looking for a 10-day hunt and a great adventure. In return, Stuart told us he had the perfect spot picked out for us and it would definitely be an interesting ride in and out.

Sometime later we met Stuart in person for the first time at the Portland Oregon Hunting Sport Show where we asked him several more questions. Getting to know him better, we felt extremely pleased with our decision to book with him.

With both Richard and I being recently retired, we had the time to really enjoy the journey. Instead of rushing to be there just in time, we decided to head for Williams Lake a day early and spent the night there. After a great breakfast the following morning, we headed to Stuart’s and arrived plenty early with lots of time to relax.

The following morning, we loaded up and headed for the horses. We had a total of seven horses and our guide Joe, let us help load four of them. Once packed and secured, the three of us started off on our 20-kilometer (plus or minus) ride in. What another great phase of our journey! Once we got to the spike camp location which would be our home for the next 10 days, we helped set up camp.

Then the hunting started. The first bull was seen for only a moment and was the only animal we saw that day. “No shots fired.”

On the third day we headed for a little higher ground. Once there, we tied the horses and Joe started calling. Forty-five minutes later the first bull showed himself and came within50 yards of us. But, like the day prior’s bull, he just wouldn’t show himself long enough for us to get a shot.

Several 100 yards down the hill another bull was spotted, and the challenge was on again. This bull always stayed in just enough cover to not allow Richard to get a clean, clear shot. We headed back to camp and the plan was made to go back out at 2:00 p.m. and call that big bull into us. We headed out at the time we’d planned, and Joe started calling…and the bull immediately started talking back. He was across the big burnt out flat from where we stood, and up on the mountain where we had left him earlier. Joe made a few more call sand then in he came! We watched and waited as he headed our direction until finally, Richard took this big bull at 230 yards.

Richard and I are so grateful for the experience. Stuart knew we were after more than just a hunt–we were after THE JOURNEY and taking this moose was just a great gift to top it off.