King of the Wilderness

Two small boats, one in front and one in back, headed towards that mysterious hunting ground.

On Lin Yu’an’s support boat, Little Eagle sat at the bow, holding binoculars, his sharp eyes scanning every tree line and mudflat on both sides of the river, full of the expectations of a young hunter.

However, the reality of hunting was far more brutal and tedious than planned.

On the first day, they achieved nothing except seeing a few does drinking at the riverbank.

In the evening, back at the temporary camp, Little Eagle was still excitedly discussing the size and fur of the does with Lin Yu’an.

On the second day, they paddled upstream, deep into an unmarked tributary on the map.

Barton, using his experience, discovered some willow branches that had been nibbled by moose. He disembarked, snapped a branch, and showed the jagged break to Lin Yu’an and Little Eagle.

”Look, these are the traces left by moose. They lack upper front teeth, so they tear rather than cut; this break’s color has started to oxidize and darken, indicating they passed through here at least a day or two ago.”

The third day, the fourth day...

As days passed, their patience and confidence were slowly worn away by this vast yet stingy wilderness.

Each morning, they set out full of hope, and by evening, dragged their weary bodies back to the riverside temporary camp.

The atmosphere gradually shifted from initial optimism to something heavier.

Around the campfire, there was no more lighthearted chatter. Little Eagle’s spirits had visibly dampened as he looked at the unchanging riverbank scenery, his face marked with frustration.

”Dad, are we ever going to find them?” he finally couldn’t help but ask.

While maintaining his hunting knife on a sharpening stone, Barton assured his son with his calm voice, ”Most of hunting is about waiting and searching.”

”What you see is the same scenery, but what I see is the change in wind direction, traces in the water, and omens in the sky.”

”You must learn to read the language of this land, instead of just looking with your eyes. Be patient with it, and it will reward you when you least expect it.”

Stan, still reticent, focused on carving a piece of birch wood with a small knife, as if crafting a piece of art.

Occasionally, he shared some tracking skills with Little Eagle.

He pointed to a piece of dried dung and poked it open with a stick, ”See the main fibrous content from woody plants? This indicates its recent food source was tree branches, not aquatic plants.”

”So we should focus our search further from the riverbank, in areas where willows and birches are denser.”

David faithfully recorded all this, writing in his filming log, ”This is the real Alaska hunting. It’s not an exciting shooting game but a long practice testing patience, skill, and luck.”

”It’s been six days with no results, the team’s morale is being tested. The calmness of the three adult hunters starkly contrasts with the youth’s restlessness.”

On the afternoon of the sixth day, just as everyone was about to lose confidence, ready to return to regroup, a surprise appeared! ℴ

Their small boat silently drifted around a river bend when Little Eagle on Lin Yu’an’s boat suddenly lowered his body, excitement bursting yet highly restrained, pointed to an open sandbank ahead, ”Dad! Look there!”

Everyone immediately looked in the direction he pointed.

There, about two hundred meters ahead on the sandbank, a gigantic bull moose with perfect physique stood with its head lowered, drinking unguardedly.

Its body was as strong as an ox, the muscles on its shoulders bulged high, and the wide, symmetrical antlers on its head shone with a bony sheen in the sunset, a top trophy any hunter dreamed of!

Little Eagle’s breathing instantly became rapid. It was his first time seeing such a majestic beast up close in the wild.

The rush of adrenaline and the impulse to prove himself made him instinctively raise his .270 Winchester rifle.

He quickly aligned the crosshair behind the moose’s shoulder blade, whispering excitedly to Lin Yu’an behind him and his father on the walkie-talkie, ”The distance is just right! I can hit it! I can take it down with one shot!”

However, Barton’s response was like a bucket of cold water, instantly quenching his enthusiasm.

”Put down the gun, Little Eagle! Immediately!” Barton’s voice came through the walkie-talkie, not loud but filled with undeniable authority.

”Why, Dad? It’s right there!” Little Eagle retorted in confusion, feeling it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

”I told you to put down the gun!” Barton’s tone grew even more severe.

”Turn on your GPS! Look at the coordinates of the river bend in front of you! Then compare it to the red-line marked no-hunting zones on our map!”

Little Eagle hurriedly took out his GPS, glanced at the blinking coordinates on the screen, and compared them to the marked professional map on his knee, his face instantly changed.

On the map, a clear red line ran precisely along the river bend in front of them.

And the sandbank where the moose stood was clearly within the no-hunting zone across the red line!

Lin Yu’an also, through the telescope, saw a nearly fading red warning sign at the edge of the woods further behind the moose.

David watched anxiously from the side, whispering to Stan, ”In such a remote place, do they really only rely on signs and maps to decide hunting bans?”