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[TomKat]

A couple of years ago, Kansas Krippler and I decided we would like to go bear hunting in Canada. Last week, the big day finally arrived.

Here we are getting ready to leave-



Part of our gear-



We then drove the 489 miles to the SD/ND border and hooked up with SD Larry. A rather boring drive, but we had a lot to talk about and it went by...well, it was a boring drive. I think this picture was taken in North Dakota



We did manage to see a bunch of waterfowl, nesting and other wise. We talked about ducks and habitat and the prairie pot hole region west of us that many ducks use to nest in. This picture is typical of what we saw for miles and miles-





Day 2, we drove to the border and jumped through the legal hoops to import our guns into Canada. All and all, it wasn't to bad.



We drove north through Winnipeg and stopped for fuel in Gimli, Manitoba. Gimli is home to the largest population of Icelandic people out side of Iceland. Here is a picture of a building there-


Gimli is also on the shore of Lake Winnipeg. Lake Winnipeg is a huge lake, about 300 miles long. We were headed to a place near Pine Dock, Manitoba. From Pine Dock we would board a float plane, cross Lake Winnipeg, and go another 50 miles into unsettled wilderness to hunt and fish.

Lake Winnipeg pictures-





On the road to Pine Dock. It was like this for 75 miles-

[TomKat]

Loading our gear at the airport. This is my pre 64 Model 70-





Here is the plane we flew out of Pine Dock in-



We flew in to some beautiful wilderness, here are a few shots I took from the air-





On approach for landing on the river-





The island we would live on for a week-



All of the modern services -



Actually, it wasn't that rough. We had electricity, and our guide was an excellent cook. All and all, not too bad.

After we got settled in at camp we did a little fishing before we went to our bait sites. This picture was from that first few hours-



5:30 pm and it was time to head out to our stand. This is me and Kansas Krippler prior to our first day in the bush-



Getting used to being alone in the big woods, waiting for a bear to come in takes a little getting used to. I took this picture of my self in the stand, I was a bit edgy. It was all for nothing; it would be a full 4 days before I would see a bear. Notice the safety strap in the picture; this was the first and last day I wore a harness. Not a very good idea, but I think in my case it kept me from falling out of the tree.

[TomKat]

The fishing pictures-

These are a hodgepodge of fishing pictures. By Canada standards we had a slow week, but I enjoyed being out in the wilderness on the water.

Shawn caught a nice Northern Pike one day-





And our guides caught bigger pike then we did. Ofcourse, they had a bit more experience-







As usual, I didnt do all that great fishing, but I had fun any how.





This would be KK's special waterfall...It sure was nice to see him back on dry land.


















We did have a few shore lunches of walleye...yummy!






Wild Blueberrys, not yet in bloom (bear food)



A moose had apparantly been through here before me...

[TomKat]

Bear Baiting was an intresting art. I went with Duncan one day to watch him do it.



Yes, that is what you think it is. We found it at one of the bait sites...an odd feeling to know you are carrying bait to an area frequented by bears.



Along about day 4, I came back at dark and noticed a light in on a shed near our cabin. Kansas Krippler shot a really good bear. I took these pics the next day after it was skinned. KK is one heck of a skinner and butcher, I hope I get to see him do another one some time.



My hand next to KK's bear paw





And so I was pretty hyped up to shoot one myself. I sat in the same stand that was active, and I saw a number of bears, but not the one I wanted.

On the last day, about an hour before sunset, a cinnamon phase bear came into my bait site. He was acting nervous as a real monster was in the area, based on the game cam pics. I placed the 180 grain Nosler Partition on his chest and shut the lights out. I was totally impressed with the bullet performance, and happily the placement was dead on at 40 yards. He was dead allmost instantly, which is a good thing as none of us wanted to go tracking a wounded bear, even a small one, at dusk.





This was a wonderful trip and I hope I get to go again some time. My thanks to Duncan Ross of Kitchi Island Outfitters.