Okay where did it go? How many are we missing? Oh there is the pink one, and a green one.  The woods behind the archery targets seem to be the landing spot for a few arrows which did not make it to the target. 2 weeks now of punching the insert in that bear and they had to put a rag over the hole to slow them a little. Most mornings each guy has show 10-15 arrows. Mathews, Hoyt, Forge, Bowtech, Parker, Bear, Pse, Stocker extreme, Thunderhead, Monteck, Easton ,G5, Muzzies, are just a few brand names in a Bowhunters vocabulary.  Also there is Oh I missed, you shot my fletchings, I broke another, Good shot. OOOPS to name a few.

Week 3 11am  and it sarts to rain. Jack and Drew brought their quads for the 5 mile ride through swamps, woods, grass lands, and a 2 track  to the Management. Ron experiences the ride on the 300 Suzki. Rain gear, dry mitts for in the stand and off they go.  All winches are in working condtion when they leave and water levels are actually low this year so ride should be a SNAP if you only have a little imagination. Tom leads out the pack pulling the Hillbilly bus full of meat scraps with anticipation of returning with bears in a tarp

Spring bear camp we usually have one cake but first week Brian alias Mikey by the end of the week had one on Sat of the first week of hunting. Tom’s birthday is on May 9 usually in the third week , 2001 Steve shot a 6 ft cinnamon on that day and like he said usualy we have to skin a bunch from the night before or we have a good night of hunting. 2008 was no different with 3 trophies on the pole when we went to bed May 9.

Every hunter shoots his rifle before going to the stand while in bear and deer camp. Chris got this 450 Marlin for Xmas so Paul told me. Do you think it was in prep for this Manitoba bear hunt. The hole it puts in a paper will have no problem puttin any bear on the ground.

           

 Its got to be a bigger one this year Judy!! Well we have a good one Al. Tom and Al travelled to and from the bait on our “Power house 300 Suzuki.”  3 nights NO SHOW well be better go to the swamp. They arrive about 3;30 water over the running boards, Al’s grin gets alittle wider and he makes his way to the stand. There is water everywhere Al is on an island , Ihope Tom comes back I bet that water is kind of cold when temps are dropping below 30F at night lately. Around 7 Al hears something and slowly the bruin makes his way to the barrels he seems to be limping on his front leg. Al pulls his Remington 300 Win Mag up and pulls the trigger. The bear rolls and races away. Al calls Tom and Dave and Dave and they come in through the water. He is right over there I thnk he even had a white blaze but he was really limpin.  Well NO blaze but Wow 4 inches larger, within 1 hour of 2007 kill time and Al has another Manitoba black bear . There are no end of stories at the table from Al, the last one was about these Dove like birds at the bait. Not sure what they were doing but after the story he lost his Blonde Arab name and will now be known by his Native name  2 Birds H*****. Congrats Al. Again it was a blast!!.

What am I doing wrong? I do not think I move at all was Chris’s statement on way to stand on Wed eve. Not a thing I told him. Chris are you haveing fun? Why not try just relaxing and enjoy what is going on. HE got out of truck and decided to get all gear on before getting on quad. Off across the mud, water and swamp we went. Stopping at the barrel , the meat was GONE , piefilling bucket on the ground, this looks good. Chris makes his way up to his stand. Judy gets bucket up and sprays the sock and looks up Chris is holding his 450 Marlin out to her and says “this always happens to me its jammed what  do I do?” Out comes the Big Gras pocket knife and hooks the bullet and it pops up into the chamber. Chris heaves a sigh of relief and grins. Thumbs up and up the ladder. 6 pm his toes are nearly numb so shakes up a heat pack and proceeds to put one in his boot. What was that. Oh no a bear. The bear continues around and walks to bottom of stand and looks up “I froze” HOLYS*** then off he goes to the barrel, takes a piece of meat and goes back to woods. HE returns and gets another making his way towards the stand. OH NO HE IS GOING TO LEAVE.  Chris pulls up his 450 and lets a Hornady fly. This Manitoba Black Bear drops in his tracks.   Chris gets down from the stand his heart still a thumpin. He has a snack and a squirrel proceeds to chatter at him.  These squirrels have been harrasing Chris all week. Crack and the 450 blows the hind legs off a squirrel. Now he has 2 trophies for the HANGIN POLE tonite.

One more snowbank for Tom and the new 700 Yamaha  with the Executioner tires. Snow and water flying and a big grin and the goes through it again. It is no problem as long as the winch doesnot have to be used.

There was need of Road side service after this truck arrived to camp. A tire flat on ONE side only.  After trying to get Chris talked into changing it, Tom brought out the OLD Quads Plugs and did a practice run on a USA tire.  After much discussion and a very price invoice which was received, Gatlin has air in his tire. It is amazing of the cost of Gas in Canada and also the Cost of Clean AIR!!!

He told me the cheque was in the Mail!! Go figure.

Quick get the camera, its a cow moose, did you get it? Well when we stopped you could see her in the woods but the camera would not pick her out . But the first photo did catch the tail end as she entered the woods.

 

Gatlin has 2 No show nights in the stand only squirrels and Skunks at the bait. WEdnesday we head out again. Ok this is the night. 2nd night at Judy’s lost bait when we arrive at 4pm goody pail is pulled down, fresh prints at the bait and meat is all gone “the blood is pumpin” Just after 7 he hears something off to the right of the barrel, a few minutes later out walks the bear, stopping and sniffing every step. He looks towards the stand Paul freezes. The bear continues to the barrels, sniffs the oats, sniffs the meat and looks back at PaulThen he sniffs the scent sock and walks over to the goody bucket Judy rehung. Seemed like just seconds and he goes to head away fromt he bait. HOLY S*** he is gong to leave. Pauls pulls the 450 up and a shot rings out. The Hornady blows through the bread basket of this bear leaving membrane through the brush. Back in the woods lots of thrashing and then a large moan. “Judy, I have a bear down” the radio sounds off.

 

When we track the bear to the ending spot membrane hangs from the tree branches and on the grass from the exit of the 450 Hornady bullet.

 

Paul’s bear this year is larger than last and the coat on it looks just awesome for a 1/2 body mount for the office.