From January 2007
When he made plans for the impending moose hunt I doubt that Ricky Burke gave any thought to being trampled. Burke, age 27, is an independent logger. In short he’s a strong, well conditioned young man who is at home in the bush.
The drive from Bancroft to Terrace Bay takes about 14 hours. Burke, his two brothers Jack and Kenny and sister-in-law Gayle pulled into their motel on Sunday afternoon, October 15, 2006, full of anticipation.
They would be hunting an area that was new to them. Armed with radios to maintain contact they headed out the next day. Rick had decided, for reasons even he can’t explain, to take his dog, Queen, a black& tan mix, with him on this hunt. “She always comes back,” he explained. “On the deer hunt she’ll break off the chase and she always finds me.” Queen was at heel as Rick made his way along a bush trail when he heard what sounded like a large animal, perhaps a moose, thundering away, hooves pounding out a retreat. All the sign indicated that the rut was on and Rick wasn’t surprised. That was soon to change.
“It was 10 a.m. I was watching the sun for direction. There were lots of fresh moose tracks so I got on the radio and told the others. Ten to 15 seconds later, another moose stood up.”
This one had no horns. Was it a cow? A mature calf? “Identify your target,” states one of the 10 Commandments of Hunter Safety. Burke had a bull tag. Shooting a cow wasn’t an option.
“It took off. After 50 feet it stopped.” He leashed Queen who was barking at the moose.
The moose stood broadside to Burke for about 20 minutes. He could see blood where the horns would be had this been a bull and that confused him. He also noted it was wobbly on one leg. Unable to raise anyone on the radio he continued to watch. Then, without warning, it charged. No feints, no gestures, no snorting; nothing – just a full out charge.
Reacting instinctively Ricky Burke released Queen and took to his heels. He didn’t get far tripping after only going about 10 feet. “I turned to look and there was the moose about 2 feet from me. I thought I was a goner.”
“It looked like it was about to trample me when one leg gave out. Flipping over me it landed on its back, legs flailing in the air. I thought that one of the hooves would get me.”
Falling, the moose glanced against Burke’s left side. It was at this point that Queen distracted the moose so Burke could escape. He made another 20 feet before he fell again. “The last time I saw that moose it was standing on my rifle. It sure was in a bad mood.”
Burke got hold of the others by radio. “They would fire a shot and I’d direct them to me.”
Returning to the motel they met two O.P.P. officers and asked for directions to the hospital. As the officers transported Burke to the hospital they heard his story. When they learned that there was still a loaded firearm in the bush they determined to go and find it.
“I first saw Ricky Burke limping and hobbling out of the pick-up,” said Constable Keith Jones. “He had a healthy walk to get out of that bush. It’s rugged terrain. Then they had to take an ATV another 3-4 km to a logging road, Mill Road, before they could drive another 4 km to town.”
Sister-in-law Gayle stayed with Rick at the hospital while the two officers plus brothers Jack and Ken returned to search for the rifle. Jones’ partner, Officer Rob Chivers-Wilson, found the rifle. One of the brothers found a freshly shed moose antler about 5 to 10 feet from the rifle. “There was blood where the antler would have been attached,” added Constable Jones. Two days later, the Burkes found another moose antler near the scene.
Upon reflection it appears that there had been a battle of the bulls. When Rick came along the victor ran off – that may have been the one Burke heard first – leaving the vanquished licking its wounds, laying, stunned, in the bush, minus its horns, with an injured leg.
“Maybe that’s why it just stood and stared at first,” said Burke. “It would also explain why the blood where the antlers would be confused me. I couldn’t shoot because I couldn’t identify it as a bull. It also explains why it was in such a foul mood.”
“Rick was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Constable Jones. “When we found the rifle the stock was damaged. Someone suggested that he mount the rifle on the antler.”
Dr. Thompson’s report described a swollen left knee, left hip and left wrist that four months later was still healing. “Someone has estimated that the bull weighed 800 pounds,” said Burke, who is well aware that if that moose, after it flipped over him, had landed more closely…
How often has any reader considered how “things might have been” upon reflection? What if Ricky Burke hadn’t taken his dog? “Queen probably saved Rick’s life,” said Constable Jones. What if the moose had landed closer? Such incidents provide pause to give thanks.
The Burkes didn’t get their moose that year. They did get a set of moose antlers that measure 48 inches. And, they never did see that moose again. But they do have many memories to share and blessings beyond compare. Perhaps the Hunter Safety Course could add Moose Evasion 101 to the curriculum?
“The officers would regularly stop by to see how we were doing,” added Burke. “That was very thoughtful.”
“They were very nice guys,” added Jones.