What an AWESOME trip! Words cannot describe the beauty and serenity of the pristine Canadian wilderness we experienced, and pictures simply cannot do it justice! That said, I'll try. Others may have different accounts, but here's my story from memory...

The trip started out slow for Brad and I. We were delayed for 6 hours Saturday morning after we missed our 6:30 a.m. departing flight out of DFW.

While hangin out at DFW, I noticed a large group of soldiers who were obviously returning home from Iraq on a glassed-in floor above me. As they walked by, I started waiving to them. They all started waiving back, apparently happy with the attention. I immediately stood, removed my cap and saluted the group. A lump came to my throat as they all began stopping and returning the salute, sometimes as a small group, sometimes just one at a time. I kept it up as long as they filed past. It was very emotional. How proud I was of these men & women. I digress.

The delay also resulted in an additional 4 hour layover in Toronto. We decided to make the best of the layover in an airport pub. Soon the delay mattered very little. We finally arrived at our hotel in Saskatoon around 11:00 p.m. Saturday night.

After meeting the outfitter the next morning and having a quick breakfast, we were off to camp. The drive was long and tiresome. It took approximately 10 hours to reach camp. The last 165 miles of the land trip was on a gravel road! (Next year we're taking a float plane to make the entire trip in one day instead of two!)

The final boat ride to camp was awesome! We navigated across three lakes, through two shallow "narrows" and over 1 beaver dam to reach the remote camp. After the delays, flights and long drive, the short boat trip through the wilderness was like a breath of fresh air. Beautiful scenery, comfortable cool temps and, literally, fresh air! The wall tents next to the lake shore were a sight for sore eyes!


Scene from behind camp

Since it doesn't ever get completely dark in this part of Northern Sakatchewan at this time of year, Brad, George and I immediately set out in one of the small skiffs for a few Northern Pike. We found em hungry and cooperative.


Brad's big Northern Pike

Although the spices on hand left much to be desired for those of us who are used to spicier foods, we ate pretty good in camp. The best meals consisted of fresh caught walleye, homeade moose soup and moose meat with brown gravy & white rice.


L to R - George, Brad, Emile, Tom, John & Mouse


One of my walleye


One of Brad's walleye


One of John Gray's walleye's

Monday afternoon found all hunters in their treestands early as anticipation and excitement was high. We all saw a cow moose up close and personal as we rounded one bend in the river. I got video, but no stills. As I recall, neither Brad nor John saw any bears on Monday. George saw lots, however. Four bears, two of which were shooters, another moose and I don't remember exactly what else. He passed on everything since it was the first day. Nevertheless, we were all pumped up after seeing his video Monday night!

All I had seen were two cubs that evening. The butane in my Thermacell ran out early and the mosquitos knew it, so I decided to exit my stand and put my reversable vest near the lake shore so any passing guide would know I needed a lift. The mosquitos were worse than ever there close to the ground so I doused myself in Deet. That helped a lot. Right before being picked up, I felt the hair on my neck rise as if someone was watching me. I slowly turned to my left and came face to face with a small cub sitting just 15 feet away. Startled, I jumped and swung around as he and his sibling took off the other way. Rattled, I kept a sharp eye peeled for momma who I knew was close by. Thankfully, she never showed herself and the boat came soon after.

As I recall, Tuesday afternoon was when Brad shot his bear. He took a great black bear and his story is nothing short of amazing. I'll let him tell it, but I'll give you a preliminary on his second shot. It was from point blank range and I think all present wet themselves!!


Brad's bear

I saw a beautiful smaller black bear Tuesday afternoon and passed on him. I was really hoping for a larger bear, hopefully a color phase, and this was not a "second day" bear. I still had fun watching him. He climbed a tree 6 yards away from my tree and sat eye-level with me while he slurped on the nasty "goods" in the suspended bait bucket. Great encounter!!

Neither George or John saw a bear on Tuesday. (Continued...)

(Continued...)

With so many active baits, we all played "musical stands" as we continually tried new areas. I killed a nice black bear on Wednesday afternoon after a short sit on stand. I first saw him 8 yards to my left as he angled down the trail towards the bait barrel. He walked straight to the barrel 20 yards away and laid down on his belly with his butt towards me as he munched away on stale donuts. He presented no shot. I decided he was big enough to shoot and that I'd take him at the first opportunity. After about 15 or 20 minutes, he finally stood and turned broadside to be as he sniffed the barrel. My arrow found its mark and the bear whirled. Puzzled by what had just happened, he took a few steps toards the trail he came in on. Then he stopped, trembled a bit, fell and died. His death was swift. He expired within 10 seconds of the shot, completely unaware of what had happened. I love that about bowhunting.

Climbing down from my perch in the tall jack pine, I approached the downed beast. Confirming he was completely dead with a gentle poke, I relaxed. As I turned him onto his side, my heart sank. The hair on his front shoulders and belly was rubbed off pretty bad. This specimen would not make a good rug or mount.

Disappointed, and with assistance from one of the guides and John, I carried him to camp. Emile agreed that he was in pretty bad shape. Since he disappeared from the boat overnight (wolves?) Emile agreed to allow me to continue hunting for another bruin. Very nice gesture, indeed! It pays to have a good outfitter, eh!


Scruffy bear 1


Scruffy bear 2

Wednesday was also the day George would shoot one of the shooters he had passed up on the first day. He got great video and the shot looked good, but it looked as if the arrow hit the tough shoulder blade as penetration was shallow. There was decent blood, but George and his guide decided to leave it until the next morning to hopefully avoid pushing it. We were all hopeful for George and fairly confident he would find his bear the next morning. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

George made what would've otherwise been a textbook shot on any other 4-legged critter. The black bear, however, has an ultra-thick shoulder blade that bowhunters often have trouble penetrating. I'm not certain because we never found the bear, but I'd wager that was the only reason George's bear wasn't recovered. (Check the video here: http://www.deertexas.com/movies/moose_bear.rm )

Having a kind and generous outfitter helps in such disappoinint situations. Emile agreed to allow George to continue hunting for another bear as well.

Thursday was uneventful for both George and I. No bears seen, at least in range. This was the day, however, that John Gray would find redemption. He killed the largest black bear I've ever seen! What's amazing is that he almost passed this bear becuase he wasn't sure if it was a big one! He was busy shooting video instead of picking up his rifle! When you look at the video, this trophy bruin dwarfs the 55 gallon bait barrel. He finally decided to set the camera down and shoot this massive beast. Boone and Crockett record bear for sure!!


John Gray's bear

As Brad & Mouse (guide) fished on Friday afternoon, George and I continued to pursue the bears. I went to the stand I'd seen the smaller bear I had shared time with on Tuesday. He finally showed himself at the last minute. When he stopped broadside at the base of the "bucket tree" just 6 yards away, I put an arrow in him. Just as George had done before, I put the arrow a little too tight in the pocket and caught part of his shoulder blade. Fortunately, the 125 grain Rocket Steelhead penetrated far enough to make quick work of it. The bear died quickly just 50 yards up the trail. Yowza! He wasn't huge, but on the day before the last day, he was just what the Dr. ordered!


My bear

I spent the next day fishing with John and Brad. Unfortunately, George never got another opportunity. We were, and are, disappointed for him. Still, George took it in stride and his attitude about it was awesome. George, you're welcome in my camp anytime, bro!!

Since George spent most of his time bear hunting and I didn't have a camera to get any pics of him and his fish, I have few pics of George. Hopefully, I'll be able to share his shot with you soon. Meanwhile, a group shot with John's trophy...



Let's see & hear from some others now!

You betcha by golly yeah hey dere,that's a great story bro.Glad y'all had a great time up there in the great jack pine forest of the northland.Great pics too Scott!!! Those walleye eat real good don't they. Thanks for sharing!!!

Kewl!!!!

I really enjoyed the hell out of that trip minus the travel. I am ready to go back next year, no problem.

Well, here is the story for my bear.....

I got dropped off at my stand at around 4:15 and got up in my stand while the guide (Mouse) was baiting the barrel. He hopped back on his four wheeler and headed out. I happened to glance over my shoulder towards the barrel and noticed that a bear was already waiting and ready to come in. So I gently grabbed my bow and nocked an arrow. I turned around and he was already at the barrel chowing down on his nasty dinner. He did not mind one bit that I was even there. SO, I finished setting up quietly. I set my bow down and set up my camera and positioned it in the right spot so it was looking onto the barrel. He ate and he ate and he ate..... He came and checked me out in my stand couple of times and would go back to the barrel and eat some more. Finally after about 30-45 minutes he gave me a shot and I took the opportunity. It looked like a great shot and he ran out of sight. I waited a little longer and headed down out of the tree stand and headed to camp to get the guides.

Apon returned about 45 minutes later. We tracked the blood trail for about 150 yards were it went right into his din. We could see that he was still alive and kinda movin around in there. I wanted to finish him off with my bow and not the gun so I waited for a good shot. Meanwhile, the guide left me there with a gun and my bow and left to get the four wheeler and cart so we could get him out of there. About 15 minutes after they left, another bear came in and was messin with me big time. He finally got about 5-6 yards from me and started huffing and chomping his teeth. He stood up on a log and did some more noises and jumped on that log that was aobut 6 inches around and broke it right in half. When he did that, I started yealing at him and he walked off.

By this time, the guides started returning, cutting there way in there and the other bear moved his way off. Upon there arrival, and me waiting there by the din for about 45 minutes, I told them that I had not gotten a shot off yet and that he was still alive. They asked me if I wanted to leave him over night and let him expire. I told them that I would rather put him down now and and get it over with.

So, with that being said, Mouse said get ready. SO I drew back on the bow and got to full draw. Mouse turned around and grabbed a pole about 2 inches around and jabbed the bear with it. OH MY GOD........ That bear still had plenty of life in him. He came out of that hole and wanted a piece of somebody. As soon as he stuck him head out of that little hole, I let the arrow fly. I hit him right in the top of the head and he died instantly. If I would have missed, he would have gotten the better of one of us before the other guide could have gotten a shot off with the rifle.

After that, we reached in there and tied a rope around his neck and pulled out with the winch on the four wheeler. Got him back to camp and took pictures the next morning.

Truely a hunt I will never forget as long as I am still alive. If I would have been in my right mind, I would have either shot him with the rifle or waited...... But, I did it with all archery equipment and I can call it an archery kill.

Awesome hunt and I can not wait to go back next year. Everything about this hunt was truely great except the traveling and we can work on that.

THE END..........

Awesome stories guys....congrats!!!

Great story, Brad. Thanks! Anybody got more pics? What about camp? The bald eagles? The moose? Brad? John? George? Ringo?

WOW. What an awesome hunt.

Scott you and Brad have discribed my dream hunt. Congratulations to all of you!! Wow!!! I'm extreamly jelous!!! I have been in the process of building my dream house for the last year and a half (moving in in 2 weeks) so money has been very tight. Next year I'm there if there's another one . You guys are an inspiration to me and I'm sure a lot of other "lurkers" out there. Awsome stories and pictures. Fo shizle dawgs!

I have lots of pics and will get them to Scott.

Scott, I have plenty of pics of George and other stuff. Will get those to you tomorrow.

What an awesome trip you guys had. I'm green with envy!! Very fine bears and some dang nice fish to boot. Looks and sounds like a wonderful trip!

Hope I can make the next one!

I'm lost for words!!! That's too Awesome!

Glad you all had agreat hunt Brad Im with you on next year Just couldnt make it happen this year.

Congrats

I have read many stories of group hunts posted here over the past several years. I have been jealous and disappointed that I was unable to go on any of them. These two stories are the 1st ones that gave me chills. Congrats to all you guys and though I have never been real interested in bear hunting, I truly hope I can work it out to be able to go next year.

WOW!!!! I get more and more jealous and envious every time I read your posts! That sounds like an awesome trip. Bear never have been on my list but that trip sure makes me consider it.

Brad----You better get a life size mount of that bear. I bet you had a hard time finding those big brass ***** after that bear charged.

Great stories, great pics!

Could you guys hold those fish any further out in front of you?

Hope to be able to make one of these some day.

George's Video

http://www.deertexas.com/movies/george_bear_shot.wmv
http://www.deertexas.com/movies/george_moose.wmv
http://www.deertexas.com/movies/moose_bear.rm

(The top two take longer to download but give the best images.)

Great pics, great hunt stories and some dang good looking bears.

What a complete blast and a half I had with Brad and Scott on this trip. It was a true wilderness experience. Forest fire and all. Yea I lost a good bear and I sent my bear and moose footage to Scott this morning. Hope he posted it. I was extreemly confident we would find my bear the next morning but it was not to be. I am still bummed. But next year will not be the same. I will let the air out of a good bear and retrieve it.
I have a couple tips for any one wanting to do one of these hunts.
1. Pay the extra and get a float plane to take you to your camp. It is way worth it. Just be sure to call "Shotgun" right Scott.......my God we are a bunch of 3rd graders I swear
2. Bring along some spices. Those folks are some bland eaters.
3. If you can smuggle your own beer in to Canada.....do it......an 18 pack of Coors Light is $44.00. Plus once you have developed a successfull technique for smuggling beer let me know.
4. Bring an ass pad to sit on while on stand. I did a couple of 14 hour sits on stand there towards the end and a Lock On stand is about as uncomfortable as they come.
5. Bring a sleep mask, as the sun comes up at 2:00AM.
6. Bring loads of Thermacell FUEL. That way you will have enough for your self and Scott.
7. It is all about the DEET. I can not stress this enough.
8. Bring some sort of Down Rigger so you can get your crank baits deep in the water to catch Lake Trout.
9. Bring ear plugs so you do not have to listen to Scott snore.
10. Bring anything with Jenny McCarthy on it

LMAO!!!