It's nearing the end of August so while Salmon Fishing is still open it's  finished for me as I switch gears to Moose Hunting. This week the crew and I begin preparations as the season now opens early on September 10th here on the East Coast. Last year I felt way too rushed when the season opened, I had a lot on the go in both outdoor adventures and work. This year I decided to start getting ready well in advance so we could really enjoy the fall moose hunting season.

One of the first tasks completed was setting out our game cameras. In addition to our fleet of standard cameras, cameras equipped with Spypoint Cell Link and a few Spypoint Link Micros, this year French and I picked up the brand new Spypoint Flex cellular trail cameras. These units are higher resolution, have dual sim cards for better connection to the cellular network, can record & transmit video and are way easier to set up/update firmware. All around great units and a real step up from an already incredible product line!

For this year's hunt, most of us decided that we will camp in Moose Management Area 36 instead of driving back and forth. Our hunting area is approximately 1.5 hours away which in the past has meant a lot of very early morning rises to drive down and get into the country before first light ahead of other hunters. This year French and I will both be towing our enclosed trailers to carry the Argos then setting them up for overnight accommodations. This will get us in the country refreshed, and provide a welcome break in fuel expenses while gas is still quite expensive. French, Slaney and I already tested the plan during our 2021 Gander River Salmon Fishing Trip and it worked out great!

Next on the list was to haul out Project 6x6. I haven't had to use the Argo at all this summer and only logged two hours of run time last winter due to a severe lack of ice and snow. This meant I didn't need to complete any maintenance other than an inspection and cleaning.

For repairs/mods I decided to finally ditch the last of the cold rolled steel shear pins on the centre axles after finding another pair broken on the left side. Older Argos used shear pins where the axles connect with the chain/drive cog, these always break at the most inopportune time. Beginning in the early 1990's Argo ditched them for an updated design without shear pins. Both my front axles and one rear axle are the newer updated design where the drive cogs are permanently engaged with the axle shaft via splined shaft.

To replace the pins I took a long shank grade five 5-1/16" bolt and cut it to the length of a shear pin (which removed the threaded portion). 

Next I tapered the end then ground one side of the head flat so it could slip in place past the chain on the outer shear pin location.

Finally I drilled a hole in the opposite end to install a cotter pin to prevent the bolt from falling out while driving.

Then I installed an ordinary shear pin in the 2nd (inner) location on each of the 3 axles mainly because the holes were already there. This design should make for a strong permanently locked cog to axle, but the pin is still removable which is necessary for removing the axle while replacing wheel bearings/seals.

If needed Project Foreman is ready to roll with all fluids checked and it's just running great.

Next was the first of a couple trips to the range at St. John's Rod and Gun Club to sight in my rifle and practice shooting. My Browning BAR 30.06 was dead on so I continued practice with my .223 and my demo Fierce Carbon Fury 6.5 rifles. I shot from sitting and did a lot of shooting standing just as I will be doing in the woods.

I believe this is one of the most important and often overlooked routines by big game hunters, shooting practice will definitely make you a better shot in the woods.

Over the next few weeks French and I went on some pre season scouting trips walking the country until dark checking for fresh sign to get an idea on where Moose may be hanging out/travelling this year as it often changes season to season.

On most trips we saw live animals, especially after dark both in our hunting area and on the way home.

Next we spent a few nights at French's shop finishing up Moose Cooler 2.0. This has already proven to be an invaluable tool especially during early season warm weather hunting stemming from the new earlier start to the hunting season. Traditionally Moose Hunting here on the East Coast always opened the first Saturday of October, two years ago our provincial government moved opening day to the 2nd Saturday of September.

Next up was checking over my trusty and now 11 year old Silverado 2500HD with 225k km on the clock. My truck will be tasked with transporting me, all my gear, Project 6x6 and enclosed trailer/accommodations unit out over the highway. Brakes were serviced, front end greased and all fluids checked.

Burnt out marker light bulb replaced.

A couple years ago I had a small coolant leak on the truck caused by an OEM spring type coolant hose clamp. It rusted out loosing its ability to hold tension, now it's something I periodically check for. Sure enough I found 2 more on the heater lines that split when I checked them so they were replaced with standard stainless steel hose clamps.

Finally, I had a squeaky U-joint in the rear drive shaft so I pulled the shaft and replaced it. Thankfully the forward joint was in great shape as the parts store only had one joint in stock.

Setting up the trailer for camping was pretty straight forward. Mark has permanently installed fold up bunks and a table in his new trailer, while I will be using fold up removable camp cots & tables in Dad's trailer which I will be borrowing for the season. Both trailers have fly screens installed on the man door to keep pesky flies out.

They are a walk through screen which falls back in place and automatically re-join using strong magnets.

One other project I completed for Dad was the installation of a 110vac power hook-up and a battery box/charger to run the interior lights when the truck is disconnected. 

Right before the season opened I set up my trusty Moose Hanging rack which will be used to hang, skin and quarter our harvest before placing in the meat cooler. Using my own garage for this makes it easier to coordinate as we're often in the woods at different times than the French's throughout the hunting season.

Miscellaneous stuff included getting gear picked out and laid aside as not to forget anything for hunting and/or camping, checking out my outdoor cooking shelter and sharpening knives etc.

French's Argo also saw very little use last winter so we simply had to uninstall the tracks, move tires around and perform a general inspection.

We feel quite well prepared for the upcoming hunting season, the only items left to do include figuring out when we're going, who's going, meals etc. It's shaping up to be an enjoyable hunting season, fingers crossed it's successful as well.

Cheers, MIKE

Copyright © 2025 Michael Smith