Catching the Good Life in the Canadian Wilderness

Hello Happy Campers, we are closing in on another year and 2024 will soon be in the books! Let’s all stop and realize we will not be joining countries anytime soon! In fact, when I spoke to a chap who phoned me the other day, I said, hold on to your horses and do not burn your Passport just yet! In a short while, we will see what starts to unfold, but I suspect the show is just starting!!

Weather continues to be weird with all of our snow being gone now, little ice and while we wait for that to thicken up, Rook wants to say hi, that he is coming along nicely and waiting to go chase his next birds. In the last few days Rook was able to flush Grouse in different parts of the state, in fact they flew right by this writer, too bad I do not have a Grouse license or they would have been easy pickens even for my sore eyes!

Rook and I continue to explore avenues and maybe we will go south early 2025 or maybe stick around here and chase some Chukars, that will be fun. Speaking of fun, we plan on going Fly fishing soon for some Trout, we shall see how that stacks up! Having never gone fly fishing in January will be a first but with the warm weather, I suspect we can get some action.

Bald Eagles have found their way into Central Wisconsin, just today on our way up towards Townsend we saw at leat 6 of them, such a great bird. Oddly, we have known for years they are our national Bird of the USA, but congress took the time, money and energy to pass a law about this! Don’t you think they could spend some of our money on finding ways to reduce our debt, work on national health care, or get the simple county workers to treat the roads when they need to be salted. It is the end of December, we have had little winter weather, but the Road crew couldnt find the time nor salt to put down when it snowed and rained. We had to realy on mohter nature to help melt it, sadly these baffoons work for the tax payers, don’t they?

2025 will soon be upon us, and another year at Happy Camp Ontario. We plan on a early Spring Bear hunt, then some fishing, followed by plane rides, berry picking, then our annual trek up the Albany in search of the Landlock Salmon, maybe this year we will be fortunate enough to tussle with a few. If not, I hear that there are fresh Frog Legs to the east that can be very tasty if prepared correctly!

If you want to claim one of our few Bear hunts spots, give me a call or email soon. As always, it is an adventure of a lifetime and who knows what will be around the next curve, down the next hill or over the next rainbow?? That’s what keeps us explorers exploring, the unknown! Come and join us, Happy 2025 everyone, take care and keep in touch!!

Good Morning all, winter has set in as we wake to temperatures about -20 with wind. Light snow has blanketed the area, slowly we are making ice. Rook is enjoying being a puppy and all that comes with it! Rook has been busy retrieving birds from Ducks, Geese, Grouse and pheasants, he loves them all and can’t wait for our next adventure!!

2025 will soon be here, I have a few spots for Bear hunt which starts May 10, 2025. If you book and deposit before the end of 2024, your price is $1800 USD per hunter per hunt. Prices subject to change starting in 2025.

Bear hunts will take place either at Happy Camp or north near Pagwa. 2024 Spring hunt was an awesome adventure, seeing many Bears during this time that were not seen during the rest of the year. Many color phase bears in 2024, what does 2025 hold, one never knows until we get after it!

Boats have been cached at lakes in the area for your adventure. Lakes 1, 2, 6 and 19 are ready for you to come and fish and explore. Spend a day or 2 on White Otter, then adventure out to one of these lakes to see what tugs on the end of your line!!

As we close out another calendar year, I want to say thank you to all who have come to Happy Camp during my time here. Meeting wonderful people from all walks have been a highlight of my time at HCO. You along with the wonderful wilderness that encompasses the Happy Camp Region will always be a treasured memory during my time on earth. Some expereiences one can not put into words and if you have ever been there, you know what I am am talking about. If you don’t know what I am talking about, maybe its time to come and check out the Good life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!

From the breathe taking sunrises and sets, the marvels of mother nature in all her beauty, a nature lover is truly amazed what we are able to live and breathe each day at Happy Camp. Sure a fresh fish fry is a smell and taste that one longs for, but also the fresh air, smell of the conifers or the awesome smell late in fall when winter shows her first hand! The sting of ice, snow and wind on the face this fall as Rook and I walked the shores near the dam looking for Scoters, was an adventure we cherish. We saw Goldeneyes, but no Scoters, but to walk with my new pal as he played near the ice, snow and water was worth the price of admission!

We wish all of you a Happy Holidays and all the best in 2025! If you are hankering for an awesome adventure, Happy Camp Ontario sure has it, from fish, birds, berries and more, we are your full service cabins in the far north. I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones and making 2025 memories! Take care !!

Good Morning and welcome to Moose Hunt 2024 Eve! Happy Campers, hold onto to your skivies, the woods are full of hunters! One chap told me last night the Parade of Pumpkins is about to begin! From what Rook and I have seen, the parade has never stopped. A few days ago, trailers, trucks, campers, and everything that can come with them have started to show up.

From what I gather here, the Mooseaholics and the Termites will battle for Supremacy in this area. By the way, Toppers are filling the woods with noise, from Radio’s blasting music to chainsaws running all hours of the day, one scratches their head with just what people think? But alas, it will be quieter for the immediate moment, because, another Drum Roll Please, Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Welcome rain has come and while it is a pain in the rear, we need it so bad. So this moderate rain is a welcome sight and even though we are in the lodge while hunters make thier plans in the cabins, it is a welcome sight!

Although water temps have got below 50, boats and anglers continue to pound White Otter Lake. Actually, there continues to be a steady stream of boats to the lake and parade around taking whatever they can. We are all in this together, and just like the Birds and Moose, moderation and conservation will only continue what we have, the supply is not endless. I do my part, do you? Here is a simple tune that fits so well, kindly take a listen to it: https://youtu.be/HKgFjiS7dI0?si=gHhatiM7JBzwysj9

Birds have been pounded deeper into the woods. Rook and I took a trail very less traveled yesterday and to our surprise, we saw lots of birds in our short trek! Interestingly Rook is doing a lot of really wild things, in fact as he trotted down the trail he whirled around, locked on a spot and lo and behold a Grouse flushed. Crackpot Chris nailed the Grouse with a load of 8’s which came out of the Lever action Ober/Undar. Quickly the Black blur grabbed the Grouse bringing it to hand! Rook is quite the character let me tell you.

Rook is a mere 9 months old, sometimes going on 4, other times going on 4 weeks. he often tears around camp grabbing things and being a Wild Puppy! Just yesterday he grabbed shoes off the deck and tossed them in the woods, needless to say the hunter who’s shoes were missing was not very happy! But they were found and many chuckles were shared. As you will see on Rook’s Nook, there is a lot of activity with this young pup. I do suspect he, just like his sister Magoo and brother Shadow before, will become wonderful hunters and companions. Rook sure has taken onto jumping into the truck quickly, but also likes to jump out when the door is left open, what is up with that?

Tomorrow morning, Revelry will beckon the Hunters at 5:30 a.m. when they are awoke to greet the Moose Hunt. 4 wheelers will fill the air with their hum as so many go to the woods. Others will drive their trucks, while few will set a foot to thier posts. What will the magic of the hunt bring, time will tell, but for Rook and I, we shall be elsewhere.

Rook and I will lay the blocks near the newly built blind, very few Sea ducks have shown up, the heat has kept them away. Few Goldeneye, Buffles, and Scoters have been seen. Some Blacks and Ringbills have started to flock up, and to see the ringers wing into the decoys is awesome, the only finer sight in this Waterfowlers eyes is to watch a fine Black lab charge after the birds. I recall maybe 2017 when the bay was full of sea ducks, Magoo spent the entier morning at my side, every so often a Buffle or greater Scaup would swing near the spread, I would bang out of the air, sometimes hitting, others missing. It is odd as those big Greaters can really fly not like their little brothers, holy hot dog.

Anyway, I downed a drake Scaup, off went Magoo towards the narrows for the bird which floated belly up, but the wind was bellowing strong out of the south, so Magoo was on a long trek. Magoo’s little head afloat as those strong, strong legs got that duck, I guess maybe a 300 yard retrieve. Magoo grabbed the duck, whirled around and swam back like a champion. I ahve been blessed with Champions at my side and think we have another with Rook!

So the hunt is upon us, take care everyone, and remember, Come and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Hi all, welcome Rook to the Happy Camp land! She is certainly a tyrant who runs like the wind, chases everything under the sun including Squirrels, shoes, blankets, boots, Grouse, Ducks and much more! Stay tuned as she is lurking on the deck looking for a boot, hat or camo shirt from the Moose hunters to run around with!

Welcome Rook, may your stay with us be long, feather and adventure filled just as your Sister Magoo, Sadie enjoyed! Hang onto your hat boy, you are truly in for the ride of your life!!!

Good evening Campers, finally a break in the weather. Tonight should be near freezing, and maybe the Moose will start to move around. Hunters are having a tough time locating Moose with the low waters and warm temps! Just near dusk Geese were heard honking on their way south from James Bay, the sound was something I have not heard in years! In fact, there was a small group working the south shore later this afternoon. So time to go.

I met some nice blokes from Niagra this evening, they were looking for Moose, nothing in 5 days, hey that’s hunting as they said!! That is so true as we walk thru the wilderness, we are all responsible for ourselves and how we treat and leave the world! I seem to butt heads with a lot of people who seem to think otherwise, Awe Come On Man! Just once as Hank says, I’d like to spit Beechnut in that Dude’s eye!

Changed have occured and you will have to come and find our for yourself! That is all the people need to know as the Baron has showed his CLAW!!

Good Morning Happy Campers! Catfish Chris, and my sidekick Molly Magoo always here in spirit! Everyday I look for her and have yet to find her, almost a month has gone, it seems like forever! But my PAL, the time is coming, very quickly!

Wild weather has come to the HCO region, last week some warm, then Monsoon’s which brought badly needed rain to the area. Last check we were just shy of 2 inches, but rain, wind, oh my. A boat was buried in the lake, Bob worked tirelessly with me to get it afloat where we could winch it onto the trailer! But alas, all was fixed and only 2 very sore backs. Strong NW winds had switched straight North and the boat rocked back and forth wiggling and pounding the boat plug until it fell out. But all is back to semi=normal. I say semi-normal because I don’t really know what normal is anymore!!

Later in the week many locals found their way to HCO as Servina Shaganass passed on. Priscilla and I spoke the other day, and Amy her daughter and her family stayed with us for a while. So sorry for your loss, hope we were able to help out a little. One bright spot for me is yesterday I went over to the Shaganass compound looking for them, I ran into Martin Shaganass. A nice older bloke but Rocky caught my eye right away! Rocky is a pointer that runs like the wind and loves to retrieve. Rocky runs all over the place, Martin says he is a great Moose dog?

As Rocky ran, it reminded me of when Dixie was here, another pointing dog. Dixie and Magoo would run like the wind, in fact their is a page where those 2 were flying in the air, tongues out! You know to watch that is simply priceless, also are many other things we get here at Happy Cap Ontario!

Hard frost came last night, Bernie and Lisa are busy gathering seeds for the winter. Many Whiskeyjacks are here too, none have eaten out of my hand yet, but soon I hope! Ducks are starting to fly around, Redheads are here, first time seeing them. Time will tell if I hunt them or not, Magoo it is not the same without you girl. You know I am looking for a new girl or boy, time will tell how they do, but that dirve you had, OH BOY, I dont know if that ever can be matched.

Bear hunt will be complete by weeks end, we shall see how this finishes, but it has been a great year so far! I am looking for a group of 4 that wants to experience an adventure of a lifetime either here at HCO or at our sister camp in the far north. In fact, I will be headed there to see some Moose spots tomorrow, the rut should kick in full swing now as frost is here!

I met a trapper in the woods and Peever showed up at my door, it is really interesting how I bump into so many different people. Many have said to me, you need to write a book, well if there are any Ghost Writers that would like to help out!

Coffee is done, cabins to clean and Mouths to feed (Bears), sun is brilliant now, take care Happy Campers!

Hi Happy Campers. Bear Hunt 2024 is pretty much a wrap, recap can be seen at the Hunting Page. Thanks to all for a wonderful hunt, great memories, awesome Bears taken and for all you bring to Happy Camp. As we look to 2025, we look forward to more great hunts, thanks again take care all!

Tonight is the first night that I have sat alone without Magoo, and the empty feeling is as large as when she was taken from me 2 weeks ago. Bear hunt is over for now, incredible adventure where all hunters enjoyed the Happy Camp area, with beautiful Bears shot and many more seen and left for another day! More on that with another post, but this is for Magoo. Magoo, you stole my heart a long time ago, made me look like the best hunter in the world many times, greatest partner I could ask for. As I start to think of the next girl to walk at my side in the bush, I just wish we had one more day, one more hunt, swim, share one more sandwich, treat or just a great big deep breathe with sigh telling me goodnight, I miss you so much my buddy!!

Days are quiet, the walls are silent. The lodge is errily empty, and the best friend, sidekick and pal who is as much of Happy Camp as I am has left. Magoo was taken from me late Friday night and I wander aimlessly thru the days doing this and that. Oddly, it never seemed like a job before, it was life full of adventures.

Just today I looked for Magoo maybe 100 times. While cleaning I found half a biscuit under the chair. I took the biscuit, sat in the chair, held it and cried. Later as I left the fish shack, I looked around the corner hoping to see Magoo, did not happen. I also looked under the porch where she used to like to lay and relax, no Magoo. Finally, as I sat in the chair with the computer on my lap, I looked down the driveway hoping to see Magoo coming into Camp, but that’s not happening!

I have asked a million times, WHY? I know there is no answer, never will be. I can only hope that one day there truly is after life and we will be reunited? But as I try to piece each day together, there are a couple things I will share the links too, one a song and the other a poem. Both of these are wonderful, hope you enjoy them:

Bernie has found his way back to camp. After being caught 5 times, he was caught again. But this time, I took the trap, looked at him and said, Bernie, you just want to be my friend don’t you? Bernie said, yes I do! So Bernie ate his peanut butter bread piece, and we agreed that he will help me catch that darn Red Squirrel. I then opened the trap and out hopped Bernie. Bernie went off into the woods, but about an hour later he was back, first under the bird feeder, then found himself right back on the north lodge steps. Bernie likes to lay on the 3rd step, back legs stretched out and his front legs crossed as he watches over the compound. Sometimes his tail wags back and forth like Magoo, so maybe part of me is hoping that Bernie will truly become a friend, but never a best friend, that is reserved for Magoo. But Bernie, time witll tell what you become.

Soon Camp will be filled with Bear hunters, baits are hitting well, so we shall see how Bear Hunt 2024 develops, time will tell! As for now, I am going to go look for Magoo some more. Enjoy the links