What to Bring on a Newfoundland Hunting Trip

For remote locations please note that because of limited space in the bush planes and helicopters, keep personal gear light, approximately 60 to 80lbs. Don't forget rubber or waterproof footwear, rain gear and a sleeping bag. If you have to rent a sleeping bag from your guide after you're miles and miles in the bush you may find his one and only sleeping bag very expensive when it is well below freezing and the wood furnace burns low. Foot gear, rain gear, and a sleeping bag are a must for a comfortable trip.

THE TERRAIN and WEATHER:

This location consists of two types of terrain; open alpine hills of 400 to 800 feet in elevation from the lodge and conifer forested valleys with soggy tundra spots.  Comfortable yet waterproof 10-16 inch footwear is a must. Walking is easy in the open alpine regions and more difficult on the tundra spotted forested valleys.  Strong durable rain gear (preferably not noisy in the brush for close-up final stalks) for early morning dew/rainy days is a must. Nylon or Gore-tex rain gear that sounds like someone is playing a scrub board when walking in the brush has resulted in many a spooked animal during the stalk. An inexpensive way to "fix" noisy rain gear is to wear an outer garment (ie track suite, camo clothes, etc over the scratchy/noisy rain gear). Please note: inexpensive vinyl rain gear lasts about 1 hour in the Newfoundland bush before it is torn and you're wet.
 
 

The following is a check list of recommended things to bring:
You will only need the barest of hunting gear as most of what you will use will be on your person or in the guides small day backpack while in the field as travelling light is recommended while hunting. Most of the daylight hours will be spent away from the lodge hiking or short distance boating.
1) a good camera (video and/or still) and lots of film
2) strong (quiet) rain gear suitable for heavy brush
3) sleeping bag
4) good (ALREADY  BROKEN  IN) water proof 10" to 16"  hunting boots. N.B. isulated boots are more difficult to dry once wet unless the lining can be removed. Rubber is not. Synthetic socks don't absorb moisture like cotton does and don't cause as many blisters.
5) small backpack
6) warm clothes (consisting of many light layers for hiking and then sitting to glass)
7) gloves
8) winter cap
9) good binoculars and/or spotting scope and/or range finder
10) a good book
11) small flash light
12) recommended calibers include: 30-06, 7mm, 308, 307, 270, 280, 300 mag, 338, 375
13) a draw weight of at least 45lbs is required by law for bow hunters, recommended is 60+ with rifle back-up for moose recommended (guides are unarmed and cannot defend against an enraged bull moose unless YOU provide the gun).
14) spare batteries
15) water bottle (ideally with charcoal and hepa filter).
16) personal bathroom items (shaving gear, tooth brush, towel and face cloth, etc).
17) camp slippers