Photo Credits: Michael Stroh, Mark French & Matthew French

Moose Hunting for Stroh and the French Connection started out as planned, camping the night before opening day to be in the woods early the next morning. I was super pissed not being able to be there this year due to a bad ankle injury but was happy to see the boys were having a great time. The boys would be cruising the country this trip in French's 2017 Argo Huntmaster.

Stroh is the official license holder for the French Crew this season holding an either sex license, Harry also has an either sex license and Mark NFP-charity tags all for the Southern Shore.

The enclosed trailers make great accommodations for such trips, they are sure as heck a lot better than fooling around with tents, etc especially in inclement weather. This is the crew's third year camping for Moose Hunting and it's been a game changer to our hunting strategy.

Matthew's beautiful sunrise capture Saturday morning.

While the boys did not fill their tags opening weekend, Mark did manage to bag a coyote!

The boys made quite a few trips in September through November, some evening, some single day and a couple overnighters. I was finally mended well enough to join them November 3rd for a dandy boil-up and the evening shift hunt.

On November 9th having just missed a massive rainstorm, the boys landed a double header and filled two sets of tags at the same time. Stroh connected a successful shot on a dandy Cow, while Harry harvested a young 2-point Bull.

The side by sides made surprisingly easy work hauling out this years harvest as French took his new Yamaha Grizzly ATV this trip leaving his Argo at home. Stroh cruised in his Yamaha Viking while Harry piloted his Polaris General. The heavy machines had no trouble this day even on the rain soaked marshes.

From Mark's post on the Shed-Headz Outdoors Facebook Group: "After a very challenging year for our hunting group, between weddings, sprained ankles, car accidents, family life in general, and after many unsuccessful trips we finally managed to luck out this morning. We were able to harvest a beautiful cow and last years 2-point bull!! Should be some fantastic eating!! All cleaned up and in the cooler!!! Now the processing fun begins!! Sausages, bottling/canning and all the laughs and memories that go along with it!! Can’t beat it!"

So the French Crew have two licenses filled, Mark still has the Charity/NFP tags to fill so the season may not be over just yet!

Cheers, MIKE

Copyright © 2025 Michael Smith