Chris first time hunter to Big Grass is taken to the Veraghes swamp bait.. riding through mud and water for over a mile, and John and Chris  arrive at the  new bait site.. Water is high.. but the bait looks hit hard.. ducks quackn, birds cherpin and then off to the right he hears water and then the bear shows. He does not hesitate and pulls the trigger on his 450 Marlin.. one more wiggle of the leg and the 450 rings out again and again..Tom says taxidermists get paid to sew holes.. No movement and Chris has a Manitoba Black bear trophy…Congrats. “”That was a blast Chris says he will definitely be going on another bear hunt.. these new hobbies are getting expensive!!””

Jeff  returns to Manitoba to hunt bear.. he has brought back 2 hunting buddys and  2 good friends to experience this years hunt. Jeff is waiting for the big one which he had seen skirt he bait on Monday nite.. if he had been a rifle hunter  the bear would have been on the pole but as a Mathews switchback shooter Jeff just watched and his heart pumped harder and louder but the big bear would not present himself.. ..Wed nit jeff  sits patiently for 2 nite in the rain.. 9 pm , the witchin hr is near in walks this black , weather is not great, bears back as high as the  the standing barrel, as it enters the first time at 30yds no shot presents it self but at 16yds, broad site and Jeff releases the trigger.. Jeff is using the same Montec G5  broadhead  he used on his 2008 cinnamon bear and his  whitetail last fall. Now another trophy.. Jeff has another great black bear but “Oh that Big black who stood with his chin on a standing barrel is still out there hopefully for Jeffs return””.. 2012 Jeff could be in Manitoba again with his Switchback to get that big old Black Bruin if the  $$$ are available.

Eugene old time friend of the Gellers comes to Manitoba for a bear hunt.. John Geller said “if you wanted to see a br this was the place to come”.. wet roads, rain and then we were in Manitoba the Big Grass Outcamp.. in the stand by 430  weather cool and windy and  there was I was to sit.. time passed fast and first things Gene knew a movement and the left a movement and then it was on the right “Oh my sure hope it does not come up to the stand to visit me, all those storys of cubs comin to the tree above my head are ringing in my head”.  The bear turns and goes to the bait. Gene pulls the trigger the bear goes down and He has a Manitoba trophy…Warren arrives just at dark and Oh better go for a trailer, Gene you stay here and I will be right back… however minutes turn in to hours , batterys run dead on the light so I replaced them.. No sounds but it is really errie to sit here without a light..and 1 am He returns , quads swamped in the water we get the bear out through the swamp and off we go to the others standing in waist deep cold water trying to get quads started..  That nite we leave 2 quads and get safely to the truck where other hunters are standing around a hot fire talking of the evenings hunt.. Guides are wet and cold but they are safe and we travel home to supper…No telling how they will get those bikes out of that mess.

Each year we stop and leave offerings of tobacco to the spirits at the Rock.. This is just another unique experience of the hunting in this area.

On the X is so very important before going to the stand.. All hunters must shoot thier rifles before going to the stand.. safety and a good shot is a must.

Each week Tom gives bear 101 answering any questions for the new hunters, and refreshing the answers for the past hunters, Safety, knowledge of what we expect of a hunter and what he is to expect of us,, what to do after you shoot your bear, and what we will do.. No question is too small..

Bowhunters John and Jeff fling a few arrows in prep for the afternoons hunt.. John and Jeff both took cinnamon bears in 2008,. and returned this year with 4 others from Indianna and Tennesse. Great hunters these 2 are and many good stories told around the table when they are in camp.. and the new fellows have a few to add. should be an interesting week.

Every year we dig some spruce trees to place inthe shelter belt around the lodge at home.. Warren decided he would take a few home to his Mom.. After the baits were checked on Saturday, the sun was shining we took time to enjoy the outdoors, relax, poke around and see what was going on.. Seems we are always rushing to get hunters in and workn, today we did a little fun stuff including another hotdog roast, and picked some crocusses which Judy must do every year.

While replaceing barrels there was this huge print in the mud at the site.. The big boys are travelling around looking for food and for a female bear as Rut begins in middle of May.

Checking baits yesterday and this is what I saw in the goody pail which is attached to the tree, clawmarks where the bear had reached in and pulled out goodys, and then chewed the pail on the edge.. lots of sign at this bait of a good bear.. We use different flavors of pieflilling, creamcheese icing and other good tasting treats.