Jeff H returns May 2018 to take a colored bear is what was planned. Bears are not planners when we are hunting….. They arrive if they are hungry and if there is what they want at the barrel… After sticking this great bear with his easton arrow and the skull went to the beetles. it came back as 17 3/16 just short of Boone and Crocket bear score here in Manitoba… But still a great bear.. His other 2 bears 18 8/16 and 20 1/16 if they’d been taken with his bow they’d made book….. Anyway what a great trophy black bear Jeff harvested in May 2018
Wolf hunting in Manitoba many years ago it was not unheard of to see a wolf roaming threw a whitetail area of Manitoba
An evening at the Assiniboine River, a day on the Lake of the Prairies and some great walleye eating at Big Grass Outfitters, but no worries we hope to have a fish fry this fall when hunters are here. |It was nice to be in the boat on a nice day.
Fresh strawberries from the patch at Big Grass. The Market Garden out past the Lodge produces some great produce to turn into yummy food for while the Hunters are here..
then to top the afternoon off Sticky Buns.. a favourite to all the hunters and her Dad and Brother. Grandpa Tom and anyone who arrives.. She loves to bake so it is a great help to Judy when Jessica arrives for the day.
Beavers is the main food of a Bear in the Spring prior to grass turning green, the beaver may be out cutting trees or the bear will dig into a beaver hut to access the beaver kits for food.. We are lucky to know Elzivar who traps fur in the winter and spring. Just the other day he called to say he had a bunch and would like to bring them over as he doesnot have a deep freezer and temps outside are rising. here are 20 carcasses he bought over, and he will continue to trap till we arrive in the area for our spring bear hunt. We chop the beaver in pieces and wire the pieces to the so bear will have to work away at trying to release it to eat it..This gives the hunter time to determine how big the bear is and to get a good killing shot. We also use oats and grease for bait along with meat scraps, sweets and a scent control to spray hopfully covering the scent of the hunter in the tree, plus this scent is an attractant. 
I visited Scott the other day, he was in the middle of mounting a caribou shoulder mount. measure horns and hide, Tan the hide, order and prep the form, tan the velvet horns, mount the horns to the form, eyes mounted and then the hide. In total it likely takes a few hours to place and glue and sew the hide onto the form, then setting hide to make sure it looks lifelike, Total hours likely 25 hours from start to finish atleast. Someone who takes the time, uses references, and takes pride in their work, plus experience does a great job… Scott has lots of experience and does a good job.. Some people want to skimp on the price of the mount however, you just spend 3-5 thousand on the hunt, $1500 gun and scope, flight, and you want to skimp on the only thing you can actually touch after it is all said and done… I do believe the Taxidermy is very high on the list in the completion of the hunt. 
Our 7th annual Ice fishing Derby on Lake of the Prairies held Feb 27, Judy did the photos at the derby.. You know the Papparazzii thing she is always got the camera.. Well 556 people attended 1200 holes were drilled, we caught 39 fish, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Perch.. largest fish 68cm Northern Pike took home $12500. second fish 64cm northern $5000, Winners choice raffle tickets and she took home a Polaris Side by side.. not bad for a little ice fishing derby here in Manitoba. If it wasnt for our volunteers and our local sponsors we would not survive.. but it brings some Tourism $$ in and some good fishing stories of the one HE didnt catch.. but all have FUN IN MANITOBA!