Ann Paul had never been hunting before, but last weekend, she woke up at 4:30 a.m., grabbed a coffee from Tim Hortons and hit the road.
CBC hired Paul to gather photos and video of the annual moose hunt competition organized by Sitansisk, St. Mary's First Nation. She joined experienced hunter Brenna Nash, a woman who knows how to gut her own moose and tan its hide.
They spent three days walking through the trees and clearings of Pokiok and Crow Hill, Crown land where they're allowed to hunt. Watch the video above to see them study tracks, peer in between branches and use a horn made of rolled up birch bark to call to the moose.
No, they didn't bring one home — but at the end of the day, Nash said the competition is still fun. Several other hunters brought moose home to the butcher, which were later distributed to the community's elders.
Scroll through the photos below to see what Ann Paul photographed during her first moose hunt.
Image | St. Mary's Moose Hunt One
Caption: For this assignment, Ann Paul wanted to photograph an experienced hunter — someone who knows her stuff. Brenna Nash has been hunting since she was a young girl, and she taught Paul the difference between moose and deer tracks, plus how to tell if a moose is nearby. (Ann Paul)
Image | St. Mary's Moose Hunt Two
Caption: Moose are hunted and given to the community’s elders, Paul said, and eaten in celebration of the moose. (Ann Paul)
Image | St. Mary's Moose Hunt Three
Caption: Jennifer Davenport of St. Mary’s First Nation reads up on hunting safety ahead of the big day. (Ann Paul)
Image | St. Mary's Moose Hunt Four
Caption: It might look small, but it’s anything but. The moose track pictured here sits next to the footprint of a women's size 10 boot. (Ann Paul)
Image | St. Mary's Moose Hunt Five
Caption: Ann Paul said she stumbled across this one day during the hunt. 'I just thought it was beautiful,' she said. 'I said, Look, Brenna! There’s a sign that we were here.' (Ann Paul)
Image | St. Mary's Moose Hunt Six
Caption: Brenna Nash used this horn made of rolled up birch bark to call to moose. There are different kinds of moose calls that can mimic a young bull, a male grunt or a female response. (Ann Paul)
Image | St. Mary's Moose Hunt Seven
Caption: Autumn was showing its full sleeve of colours in the woods near Crow Hill. (Ann Paul)
Image | St. Mary's Moose Hunt Eight
Caption: Brenna Nash stands in a wide clearing, using binoculars to search for moose on the outskirts of the woods. (Ann Paul)
Image | St. Mary's Moose Hunt Nine
Caption: From left to right: Ann Paul, Trevor Harrison (Brenna’s partner), Brenna Nash, and Jennifer Davenport. (Ann Paul)
Image | Ann's Eye Graphic
Caption: (CBC News Graphics)
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