Catching the Good Life in the Canadian Wilderness

Good Day Happy Campers! Winter is still here, Ice storm now, then more heavy snow, what in the world is going on? Tariffs, why with Canada, they are our friends!! At least for me, most of the Happy Campers are friends and the ones that aren’t, well they dont know the way into camp anymore, haha!

Calling ALL NEWBIES: Happy Camp has partnered with the NOTO(Northern Ontario Tourist Organization) with EXPERIENCE FISHING. This is an attempt to draw new people. particularly first time Women and Children into Fishing!! Experience Fishing will provide all first timers with ON and OFF water education of fishing to include how to tie knots, choose lures, cast, catch and identify fish, and provide fishing opportunities. Additionally, we have some Rod/Reel Combos and tackel kits that will go to some NEWBIES!

Happy Camp will provide all the teachings and take you fishing, let YOU catch some fish, take a few back to Happy Camp, show you how to cook and enjoy eating our catch! More importantly Happy Camp will show you the wonderful outdoor world we have, the importance of taking care of the woods and water that we, and more importantly the Animals, Birds, Fish and All Critters call Home! Remember, we share the great Happy Camp Area with all of them, and we SHARE the World that was created for us to enjoy while here. I am excited about this opportunity and hopefully we can find some new Happy Campers to fall in love with the Happy Region.

Hopefully we all do our part to make this place better before we leave and go to another place! With that said, if you are a NEWBIE, or know of any NEWBIES interested in coming and experiencing Happy Camp and all it has to offer, shoot me a message or give me a call today reserving your spot to Come and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Hi Happy Campers, perhaps we have turned the corner as the bitter cold is leaving and warmer temps are on the horizon! Winter has not been bad, but as I age the cold is not so much fun anymore. But Rook and I went out to hunt, and he had a blast, he always does!

Rook is coming along nicely, and as he worked the field yesterday the light is coming on brighter and brighter. Rooks excitement is fantastic, the energy is starting to get harnessed as we work together. His nose is wonderful, never a dull moment with this pup! One bird dove down into the snow, Rook worked back and forth over and over in the patch, not able to find the bird. But I went over and we were able to dig down and find the bird, it is interesting how the snow can cover up the scent!

The last bird flushed right at my face, and I whiffed with the first shot, then whirled around, took aim and as I fired I noticed a hawk swooping in to take the bird. Off to the east it flew, Rook and I went after it. Down thru a swail we went, and Rook spotted the Hawk on the ground. Rook went in, the Hawk flew up to a tree. Rook grabbed the Chukar and on his way back to me, the Hawk swooshed down towards Rook. I walked quickly to Rook, all was good!! It never ceases to amaze me the adventures we have, whether it was Buster, Bam Bam, Shadow, Sadie, Magoo and now Rook. All of the pawed pals are so special, love them if you got them!! The picture of Rook and the brids is blurry, but at least it is not my thumb!!

We will be at the Wisconsin Traditional Archers Convention this Saturday, so if you near, stop by, we always love chatting with Happy Campers! I have a couple of spots left for the Spring Bear hunt, will be an adventure, Come and Join Us!!

ROOK and the BIRDS!!

Hi Happy Campers, it is February 16. 2025 and winter has come in a big way to northern USA. As I write, we have about 16 inches of snow on the ground, ice in excess of 20 inches and bitter cold has blanketed much of the Upper Midwest. While Wisconsin has been scathed from the bitter cold that has gripped northern North Dakota, we will get a taste of it later today for a few days. Wind is starting to pick up and while air temps are in the low teens, they will plummet later today and our windchill should reach -30 to -40. That is just dangerous cold, no way, shape or form about it!

But alas, Spring is on the horizon and next week I will be at the Wisconsin Traditional Archer Convention at Chula Vista in Wisconsin Dells, if you are in the area, stop by and say hi. As a traditional archer myself, time will tell if I find like minded people for Bear hunt 2025 and beyond. Bear hunt 2025 will take us to Pagwa and a new experience. For certain, we will have a new face and my new partner, Rook! This young darling has spent time at Hard Knox and is starting to become more social and just loves to chase birds, shoes, socks and most everything else he can put in his mouth. Rook is the tallest Lab I have ever had, so his head is almost perfect to run out to the bird feeding station and slide his head on the bread table where the bread is for the Jays. But Rook does a nice job of vacuuming the bread into his mouth. That boy certainly can devoure bread in a hurry, just imagine if he has time to put his head into a Bear bait bucket, holy hot dog!!!

Rook and I have had a tough go of ice fishing this winter. Actually, I have not kept nor cleaned a fish yet, which had not happened since I do not know when. We had our shack in Cecil Bay, part of Shawano Lake. Last Sundy we went to dig it out and fish, but we got stuck in a drift, shoveled that out, then shoveled to the shack. I went in, drilled 2 holes, walked outside to check on Rook and he was playing in about 6 inches of water!! So I got dug out, hooked up the shack and yanked that off the ice. Actually glad we did as fishing was poor, caught only a few small Perch, Bluegill and one Pike about 15 inches. So the shack is sitting by the barn, we have been to Big Arbor Vitae, and alas more headaches. Can not access the north end, lovely snow has been plowed over the landing and ice heaves make it impossible to get out there with our shack. South end is a mess, snowmobile trails go thru the public landing, snow is soft making it tough to get out. But we got to Swiss Cheese area where Crappies used to be wonderful, now a mere pittance of that. Sadly Jumbos up to 16 inches are now no more than 10 inches, ugha!

So Rook and I have looked to other lakes and we thought we found a couple. Rook and I walked onto a lake, and he took off for a Brown spot on the lake and went thru the ice! Frantically I screamed and started to run, but what can I do, I will go down too! Seeing my buddy struggle, he then disappeared. Rook then popped up, I saw his front feet dig into the ice and he pulled himself out. Rook shook off, then ran as fast as he could to me, as I bent over to hug him he barreled me over, covering me with kisses. I hugged that boy like no tomorrow, we ran to the truck fast, I put him in the truck. We went to town, bought a couple towels and dried him off. Enough adventures for today, BUT I hope anyone who has a hunting dog realizes that the Dew Claws can save their lives. Rook was able to dig those Dews into the ice and pull himself out, otherwise he would have drowned. Thank God for Dew Claws.

Happy camp will be fishing after the Bear season in June thru Berry Picking, then Bird and Moose season. Adventures abound, boats are cached, more going to get cached just waiting for you to come and find your smile at Happy Camp Ontario. Rook looks forward to meeting all of the Happy Campers, whatchas waiting for, Come and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Hi everyone, we lost a good one earlier today, my Bear hunting buddy Tim Frostick lost his battle with cancer! I met Tim in 2014 when he and his wife Shelly, made their way to Happy Camp Ontario with friends Shirley and Jim Young! Tim and I quickly hit it off and he Bear hunted with us at Happy Camp for 4 years, the last being August 2024!

Covid took us away from our annual Bear hunts, but Tim and I kept in touch speaking on the phone often. Tim’s favorite way to answer the phone to me was, How’s it going Chief!!! We had many laughs over the phone, but the best was getting to know Tim during our times at Happy Camp. Tim and I spent many days chasing Bears and I remember one day Tim was helping me lift the Game Pole when the pole came crashing down on his head. Tim had a hell of a bump, a little blood, but he never flinched an eye, ready for the next adventure!!

One time Tim and Shelly were having a tough time getting into fish, and I found a bunch on the south shore of the island inside the main lake. I motored over to Tim, took him to the spot, he started catching fish!! Tim was grinning from ear to ear.

Anyone that ever shared Bear camp with Tim knew first hand how he would lend an ear to any story, share his thoughts, and more then that, just made everyone feel welcome! in 2024, Tim’s favorite spot was in the recliner in Cabin 4, he sat there many spells during the hunt!

Little did we know that Bear hunt 2024 would be the last for Tim and I. Tims brought new hunters Jim and John to camp with him. Tim’s hunt was short as he shot his nice Bear in early afternoon of opening day! As I drove in to pick up Tim about 9:30 p.m., there was Tim, laying on top of his Bear resting! Tim had shot the bear, tracked and found the dead Bear. Tim then gutted the Beat and dragged it out to the trail. Tim then went back into the woods, took down his stand and carried it out! Needless to say I was amazed at Tim, he always loved lending a helping hand!

Tim spent the rest of the Bear hunt helping me and other hunters. Tim helped drag Jim’s Blueberry Bear out of the woods and the smile on Tim’s face as Amber’s Bear was found was simply priceless! Tim, your presence at Happy Camp always brought joy for not only me, but for all that came across your path! Thank you Shelly and Tim Jr. for sharing Tim with all of us at Happy Camp, we will never forget him!!!

I spoke to Tim shortly before Deer season in November, and got word of him being sick early January, 2025. Rook and I went to the Detroit area to see him. Once I got back, I searched and found Freezy Pops and Molasses Cookies that were going back to Tim soon, but that unfortunately never happened! So, as I venture to pay my last regards to a dear friend in the next few days, the Freezy Pops and Molasses Cookies will go for a ride with Rook and I, hope to share them with anyone who finds their way to Sandusky, Michigan too!!

Tim, I will miss you so much, you will never know. From our chats, to hunts, to just spending time with you as part of Bear Camp, it will never be the same for me with you gone! In this world of shitheads, Tim, you certainly were a breathe of fresh air, your smile, smart wit, smart ass comments and so much more will be sorely missed not only by me, but by all of the Happy Camp Crew. Tim, I thank you for your friendship and so much more and I can only hope that you are busy Bear hunting with my Dad and Magoo!! If you are, say hi to Dad and hug that pal of mine Magoo!

Godspeed my friend, until we meet again take care!!!!

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!