Discover memorable hunting stories from Sportchief Ambassador Dan Gilbert. Through these stories, immerse yourself in captivating adventures that reveal Dan's passion and expertise for moose and deer hunting. From the Laurentides reserve to Anticosti Island, each shared moment is a celebration of nature, sport and camaraderie. Be inspired by these exceptional souvenirs that perfectly illustrate the spirit of hunting with Sportchief.
Hunting Stories from Dan Gilbert, Sportchief Ambassador
Story #1: An unforgettable hunt with my father
My father and I were lucky enough to be chosen for a moose hunt on the Laurentides reserve, an area renowned for its wildlife. It was the early 1990s, and although I already had a few years of hunting experience, this expedition was still special.
Before leaving, my father gave me an unforgettable gift: a magnificent Browning .270 caliber rifle. We hit the road together, walking leisurely for about a mile, enjoying nature and each other's company.
That’s when I saw a moose through the woods. At first I only saw his sides, but when he raised his head, his majestic plume came into view. My heart was beating wildly. I took a deep breath and fired. The shooting was precise and we managed to shoot a superb male, a moose over 50 inches long. It was truly an exceptional trophy.
Emotions were at their peak. It was not only the success of a hunt, but also the sharing of this precious moment with my father, whose mobility was already beginning to decline. The fact of having lived this experience together, despite its difficulties, made this moment even more unforgettable and memorable in my years of hunting. It's a memory I will always cherish.
Story #2: A hunt for Chic-Chocs
Following an invitation, Jason Tremblay Morneau and I went hunting on the Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve. During the summer, we did prospecting in this promising area, with beautiful places, although there were not many moose. We were there from October 1st to 5th, excellent dates for hunting.
The day we arrived at the Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve, we went to reception to register, then explored our hunting area. On the first afternoon, we looked for fresh trails. The statistics of the other groups before us were not encouraging: 0 out of 5. Many of the tracks were in fact truck tracks, which did not inspire confidence in us. Most places had been searched, leaving us perplexed.
We were with Jason, Rémi Brault and Stéphanie Parent. While exploring our area, we entered the woods to find a fresh trail. That evening, we did a few calling sessions and thought we heard a distant response, but we weren't sure. We did a smear with rutting male urine and remained positive for the next day.
The next morning we were optimistic. We had spotted a fresh track the day before, probably that of a male with a female. The wind was light and white frost covered the ground, ideal conditions. After walking about 1.5 to 2 km, Jason started making female-in-heat calls and heard a response. The male was nearby, we saw the female, then the magnificent male approached, fooled by Jason's calls.
Jason, with his traditional bow, shot an arrow right in the lung. The moose only made it a hundred feet before falling. It was a moose over 50 inches, an extraordinary experience. This is one of my favorite hunting memories and one of the great films Jason made with me. It will remain etched in my memory as something extraordinary.
Story #3: My first trip to Anticosti Island
For my third hunting story, I will tell you about a significant experience that dates back to 1987, my first hunting trip to Anticosti Island. Although I have been an avid moose hunter for almost 40 years, this adventure was particularly special.
I went with a friend to hunt moose and deer, which was still allowed at the time. Early on in our stay, I managed to shoot my first deer pretty quickly, and we had a wonderful week. However, it was my second deer that left me with lasting memories.
At that time, Anticosti deer weighed on average between 100 and 150 pounds once gutted. The last day of hunting, I was still missing a deer to complete my hunt. Accompanied by our guide Bernard (whose last name I no longer remember), we explored the Carleton area by mountain bike. We had a wonderful day, seeing several females, calves, and even a young male, but nothing really notable.
I absolutely wanted to come back with a beautiful specimen. While walking back to the mountain bike, the guide pointed out to me that there was a deer nearby. He was a magnificent male with 8 points. I settled in, took aim and fired. The deer fell on the spot. The guide, visibly very excited, explained to me that it was an exceptional deer, probably over 200 pounds, a rare weight for Anticosti Island.
We loaded the deer onto the ATV and headed back to camp. In the evening, when comparing my deer with the others, we noticed that my deer's nose was almost touching the ground, confirming its exceptional weight of over 200 pounds. It was not only an achievement, but also a memorable trophy.
This combined moose and deer hunting experience on Anticosti Island in 1987 remains engraved in my memory as an unforgettable adventure and one of the best hunts of my life.
