Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Anticosti Island hunting

I look forward to Longbeardking's postings every year on his Anticosti trip with Nan. He has a knack for taking great pictures, and taking you along on their hunts. I really missed reading this years version, but should make next years pics and stories even better.
I'll be 70 in a few months, and my hunting buddy now is my 13 year old grandson back in Vermont. We hunted hard this year, and only saw a few deer, but did have a shot at a nice buck on the very last day. It was about 8am and we had been climbing a hardwood ridge for about the last hour. We had just got to the top of a steep hill, which gave us a view of a nice little Oak flat shelf, and caught movement to our left. Sure enough a nice buck walking down the ridge, not 50 yards from us. I started to raise my rifle for what I thought at the time was going to be an easy shot. No sooner had I thought that, he winded us and bolted giving me a running broadside shot, which I missed. I'll be the first to admit, I am a terrible shot at a running deer. He stopped maybe 100 yards out from us, giving me a second shot, but thru a lot of whips. We looked for close to an hour for a trace of blood, but nothing. I turned to my grandson and asked "Are you as disappointed as I am?" He looked at me with a smile and said "Grampa, at least I got to see a nice buck!"
I think about that buck every day, but also think about what my grandson said to me that morning. It's not always about the kill, it took my grandsons perspective of things to realize how lucky I was to have that happen, with him with me.
My nephew, who is "Foss" on here, took a dandy 8 pointer, 160lb buck the first Wednesday of the season. It was a great time, and can't wait till next year.
Would love to take a trip to Anticosti with the Grandson, Son and Nephew some year. At my age, I better start making plans!

You also tell a great story. Memories last a lifetime. Stay well.............

Were Canadians allowed to hunt Anticosti this year, and if so, I wonder how much hunting pressure the island had with no non residents allowed? If the winter isn't a severe one this year, it may bode well for you guys who have booked for next year. It will be interesting to read the reports next Nov-Dec. Good luck to all.

Yes Quebec hunters got to hunt Anticosti this year. Foreign hunters make up only about 20 per cent in a normal year. That is mostly USA.

Thanks Joe, sounds like next year would be a good year to book a hunt. I just heard from my daughter back in Vermont, that they got dumped on with 38" of snow Wednesday night into Thursday afternoon! I'm sure Anticosti got even more, as they were right in the path of the storm. I hope they don't get too severe a winter, and have a lot of winter kill.

I am booked for next year, just like the last 20 or so. I doubt hunting has much impact on the deer beyond making them more wary of hunters. Anticosti deer numbers are much more dependent on the winter, especially if it breaks late when the deer are at their weakest. That is what the winter kill of 2003 was about, a late ice storm in March or April and all the hunters found, myself included, were piles of fur and bones in the forests.

It was not just US hunters who were absent this year. I have been told (by someone from Quebec who did hunt) that many hunters from Quebec also opted out this year. I can't blame them. The plane ride, the truck rides, and the close quarters of the camp are an invitation to Covid or that matter the flu or any disease with an airborne spread. . The island is also no place to get sick, especially if you are out in a camp.

Looking forward to next year.

Call them NOW. My favorite lodge Chicotte is already booked full for 2021. In a normal year they are usually booked by early March for the less popular cabins and lodges. I've been trying to get back into Chicotte mid month for the past two years. All booked by Jan. This year there are hunters who booked for 2020 and couldn't cross the border due to Covid. We were offered a full refund or rebook for 2021. I rebooted both my Sept and Dec hunts.

PLEASE try to come back. I am home for the foreseeable future caring for Nan. She has had a stroke and I am caring for her. They have found a hole in her heart but for some reason aren't planning surgery right now. I am a basket case.

I wish your Nan all the best and a speedy recovery.

Thank you my friend.

I wish you the best and pray that everything turns out well.

Thank you, but let's not hi-jack this thread with my problems. The fact is that BOTH my wife and ILOVE Anticosti and Canada. If all goes well, we WILL be back,

So sorry to hear of your bride's health issue. May God bless her and heal her, and may she join you on many more successful Anticosti hunts in the future.

Sir;
My intent isn't to disrespect your wishes by saying this, but please know that you and your wife will be in my thoughts and prayers.

May the surgeon's hands be guided, may you both find rest and peace and healing for your wife.

Hopefully that's acceptable sir.

Dwayne

ALL of you fellows are the ABSOLUTE best. We love you all for your concern

LBK...I've got my fingers crossed for you and Nan.

And I hear what you said about getting older. One by one things I used to do are falling away.....but in retrospect I'm SO glad I did them SO many times! Makes letting them go a lot easier.....

Theres no more mountain climbing for me either!

Believe it or not every time I posted about out hunting together I honestly realized how lucky we were. Posting about Anticosti has given me friends even tough I never met them in person. No matter what anyone says people that care ARE easy to find. We are NOT doom and gloom. THANK YOU INGWE.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for both you and Nan.

Thank you Joe. We both miss your conversations.
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Best wishes for you both Steve, you'll be in our prayers.