A week after school finished a whole bunch of people and I went camping back at Kayakutaq. There was a total of 6 boats: Vernon's boat, Boliver's boat, Angeline Coffee's boat, and both Patty and Alan had their own little boats. We all left Marshall approximately the same time. It took us about an hour and a half to reach the camping ground. As soon as we landed the boat, we unloaded and packed all the necessary items up to the land. After everyone was squared away with the tents and everything, we ate a quick meal and off we went again. The Boliver crew went out egg hunting and the rest of us went both egg hunting and animal hunting. We took the same slough we used to get to the camping area but just kept on going. On our way, we saw a beaver and chased after it. The poor nervous thing kept diving every time we spotted it, so we left it alone and kept traveling. Minutes later we saw another one, but this time it was bigger and we were hungry so we didn't give it a chance. Flora, J.B. and I were ready to shoot. As soon as we spotted the beaver we all shot at it and I guess we all hit it because it died. We were like"WOW" because this beaver was big! After we pulled it in we all decided that J.B. should have it. He was so proud he painted big smiles all over his face.

We continued our ride, and there ahead were five swimming ducks. I got excited and just pulled the trigger and off they flew. Since the night was getting nearer and nearer we slowly idled back to the camping spot. On our way we saw only six or seven ducks. The night was getting cold so we speeded up the engine and almost in a blink we had already anchored the boat. By that time everyone was back and already digging in the grub boxes or cooking their catch.

Not long after morning came we were off again back to the wilderness. That day I caught a beaver. It was almost as if it were in slow motion. We popped up in this one lonely looking slough and way up front I spotted something black and moving slowly in the water. I warned the others and they all took one glance at the animal. Then I aimed and shot it. Blood splattered all around it, then I grabbed its feet. But I could not pull it in, it was so heavy. So I got some help from J.B. and we went back to the camp.

Later that night I went out muskrat hunting with Jerry and some other boys. The moon light was shining all over and the water was glittering, but I thought it was a wasted trip because all we got was one lousy muskrat. From far away we could see the flames of the campfire. When we returned, everyone was skinning their catch. But I was too lazy to skin mine that night, so the first thing I did when I got up in the morning was skin my beaver. By the time I was done, everyone else's boat was off for home. We were the last to leave. But the ride was calm and relaxing. That was a fun and exciting trip for us all.

By: Maureen Fitka