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After packing all morning we were ready for our move. The Otter was right on time and before long we were heading east toward Dick's Lake - only 11 miles (as the crow flies) according to my GPS. The flight took no time - which was good - since we were anxious to get hunting. After landing, Bill and I put our things away in the sleep cabin and I headed up a small hill behind camp to glass. From this vantage point I could see several groups of swimming caribou - a good sign for sure. Jimmy motored us up to the end of the lake - about 3 miles from camp. On the way there we motored by a small group of decent bulls along with quite a few cows. He dropped us off at a beaten down trail and Bill and I spent an hour scouting the shoreline for converging trails and topography changes which created funnels. We moved about four hundred yards back toward the end of the lake and set up our ambush spot at some very active crossings. Before long, caribou were swimming across. For most of the afternoon Bill and I watched caribou swim the lake - but they were all cows and very young bulls. Late in the day Bill spotted a decent bull, along with a calf, swimming toward us. I rolled the video camera as he waited at the crossing. The bull headed toward our trail, but when he was 80 yards from shore he changed direction and headed to a far trail out of bow range. Bill moved to intercept the bull but that required moving in the open and the bull picked him off. We watched our only opportunity swim back to the opposite shore where he came from. Day 4 was now over, and we were in serious crunch time now. When we returned to camp, the other hunters had all seen caribou but nothing they wanted to shoot. Everyone had a serious look about them - we were getting down to the wire. Shortly before dinner it started to rain. The thermometer was climbing as well. This was not good. We only have two days left and neither Bill nor I had a shot yet. I had not even picked up my bow. For camp as a whole only two caribou down out of a possible 12 - but I am still optimistic. I had been caribou hunting many times before (including once here in Quebec) and knew that this could all change in a day. By this time tomorrow evening we could be tagged out. It all depends on whether the herd is building or if the we were on the back end of the migration. It was too soon to tell. Tomorrow morning I'd know more about our prospect for success.
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