Ryan Hubbard of Santiago is an avid hunter. He has enjoyed hunting since his childhood and often hunted with his dad, Ron Hubbard. Ryan and his dad have enjoyed hunting near Becker and northern Minnesota.
Ryan says he often dreamed as a kid about going on a big hunting trip someday. That dream became a reality earlier this month, when he was able to travel to British Columbia on what he described as “the trip of a lifetime”.
2-1/2 years ago Hubbard started researching hunting trips and ended up booking a hunting trip to Canada a year and a half ago.
Hubbard traveled by car for 40 hours and three straight days of hard driving the end of September from Becker to Watson Lake, Canada. The beautiful town of Watson Lake is known as the ‘Gateway to the Yukon’ and is situated along the picturesque Alaska Highway near the Northern Rocky Mountians.
From the town of Watson Lake, Hubbard took two separate flights south into British Columbia. "The first flight was to base camp and the second (in a smaller plane) took me up into the mountains”, Hubbard explained.
Hubbard’s hunting excursion lasted seven days. On the second day, he shot a 56-1/2” moose using a rifle. The moose weighed in at around 1,300 pounds. “I was in camp for seven days. After I got the moose, I continued to go out hunting every day for mountain goats.”
Hubbard was glad to get away and thankful for everyone who stayed back to keep their business - Hubbard Electric in Becker - running to make it possible for him to experience this amazing trip.
Ryan has been hunting since he was a child using bow and arrow, rifle and muzzleloader. Hubbard has shared his hobby with his family. They enjoy hunting and fishing on a regular basis.
Ryan and his wife Michelle live near Santiago with their children Max (14) and Melanie (10).
This weekend, the Hubbard family is headed to Bovey (northern Minnesota) to hunt with bow and arrow. Two years ago, Max shot a bear at the age of 12 near Lake Winnipeg, Canada.
The Hubbard family plans to keep the family tradition of hunting going for many years to come. Who knows, maybe another massive moose is in the their future?
Whether families hunt or spend time doing other hobbies, the important part is enjoying quality time with the people you care about.
