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
Magoo, my best friend has crossed the Rainbow bridge around 9 p.m. this evening. As I drove into Happy Camp tonight without her, the empty feeling has set in. I walked into the lodge, silence is deafening. Everything at Happy Camp was Magoo, we were inseparable, now we are. Good Bye My Friend
Happy Opening Day Happy Campers! Yes it is time, time for Unity, Time for Joy, and Time for the Games to Begin! Soon the Boats will travel on the Seine with the Competitors of the 33rd Olympiad! One can only hope that this is a Joyous time that our world’s athletes get together, have competition, but more importantly start the healing process the World needs! We all have been in a tailspin since Covid, and it is time to start the healing, after all, we ALL need each other in this ever changing world. We ALL need to come together, put our differences aside and LIVE IN PEACE and HARMONY!
It has started, earlier than ever, but the Fall pilgramage has begun. Today in our travels looking for Bears, we saw them, the first Migrators from the north. The Nighthawks have arrived in the Happy Camp Boreal Forest District. By my recollection this is by far the earliest on record, certainly the earliest since 2012 when we first arrived here. Nighthawks have never been in this District before August 12th, seeing them today will put them 18 days ahead of schedule! That could coincide with the very early Spring which saw the snow and ice disappear before May 1, 2024.
Also, there is an influx of songbirds that I can not figure out what they are? They appear to be the size of a Scarlet Tananger, the Male is Beautiful red with white bards on his wings, while the Female is a drab brown. They are clustered on the trails in flocks from 15-54 birds. That’s right, I counted 54 of them in a flock somewhere in the Happy Camp District. Anyone know what they are, please share? Additionally, since the compound has had extensive brushing, there are a lot of songbirds flying around. By the way. Bernie has found his way back here, I told him the last time I let him go from the trap if he made it back, he would come into fold and learn to live in a cage. Well this afternoon, Bernie was laying on the north porch, front legs crossed and his back legs stretched out like he owned the place. His little tail waves back and forth as he watched the Moose Food Plot to the north for any creatures!
Another sign of an early fall, it was pertnear 90 today, damn hot, but I just shut off the air and opened the windows as it has cooled into the low 70s already, 3 hours before dusk! Finally, the last sign I care to share is that some fish are putting on the Feedbag. Yesterday Magoo and I went to Lake #4, and soon found out how eager they were to eat. We caught many fish over 20 inches and Perch over 12 inches. The bites were solid, many of them snapped the line when it neared bottom. They struck the Pimple with much intensity and almost always on the fall, which is a sure sign that fall is here. During the other seasons, they usually strike on the lift, not the drop, but always hit on the fall when Autumn is here.
I suppose the Moose will start rubbing their velvet anyday soon, perhaps they will find a sweet spot in the Moose Plot that is here for our viewing. Magoo Bernie and I are anxiously awaiting their appearances.
Bear hunt is full for this fall, if anyone wants to be considered for the Spring 2025, get in touch with me soon. It is looking like an awesome fall hunt, many, many bears of all sizes are running rampant thru out the Happy Camp District!
Well it is time for the gathering and Lady Goo Goo is performing, time to go and watch, enjoy the reason everyone!
Good Day Happy Campers, hope life is treating you kindly in this ever changing world! For us, twists and turns everywhere seem to unfold many new items, some exciting while others are mind boggling. First, to see a Coyote in the far north is perplexing but also are the numerous Cranes and other critters that have never been here are very visible! One could easily decipher this and it is quite possible that man has pushed them out of their areas again. Ever wonder what is the true purpose of so many people who do nothing more than fill their selves, destroy, then move on and think they are doing a great thing. After all, why does anyone need 40 Pickerel fillets, 40 Grouse, or 200 bags of Blueberries in your freezer? Wny not gather a few of them, enjoy and share, then go back and get more, what is so hard about that?
Berries are getting there, but new adventures await as the Berry spots have been destroyed. Anyone wanting Timmy Hortons, get in line along the Fry Road! There are some great fishing spots, but when we got there, we had to wait in line to drop the boat in at the landing, waht’s up with that?
The other day in our travels we were following a vehicle when they chucked out a wrapper that landed on our windshield. Sadly they could not put their McDaonalds wrapper where it belongs. How did we know this, because we had to stop and remove it as it was stuck to the windshield and hampering our sight!
Where is there respec anymore, anyone please share with me, I would love to be enlightened. You know we live in the bush, very few people except in town, so how do people find their way 35 miles away and run into us during our travels. Never ceases to amaze me, but then again I am a Dinasaur in a Mosquito world!
As Mr Z, said very simply and the statement holds true yesterday, today, tomorrow and beyond, The Times are a Changing! Off to the woods, Birds, Bugs and Bears are wonderful, take care!
Good Morning Happy Campers! Yes it is soggy, warm, humid and just 100% today! With all the commotion one would think we are in Tilleda, Arnott or the ever popular Garfield! But alas, we are in Hillsport, banging, clanging and so much activity going on! Soon the parking lot will be created and the foundation poured for the Secret coming to town. There are limited memberships as most have been snatched up by the locals. If you are interested, and enough on that 100%!
Weather ups and downs have made for unstable fishing. In fact, with the cold snap, the 1st lake as it is reffered to by some, has ice. Not enough to walk on, but enough to keep us out of the 2nd lake. But for a few days, the Horse flies that average 4 inch in length are gone, and that too is 100%!
Woodland Caribou are beginning to gather near the Dam for their trek back to the promised land. Last head count there were 35, but apparently some more were seen near the Geko Mine headed north, but may have turned onto RabbitSkin for a dip in the Archibald Pool, so they may be late. But the Trail will be well trampled so they are fine, as long as they don’t stop to long to dine on the Saskatoons that are slowly ripening, that too is 100%!
Many large Landlock Salmon are now seen in the tributaries to the West and North. These behoemoths have ventured out of their quarry near American Can in Caramat, thank DJT, our saviour, that he is allowing the ladder to be reopened. That along with the departure of the Aluminum deposits in our Pop Cans is truly a special offering to our savior, DJT, perhaps 100%!
Zander are very active off Pointers reef nearly every evening in 6-12 feet of water. Many fish over 45 inches come to the surface and are feeding heavy on Black Poppers or the secret lure that came from the Orient! This red tailed Wet Fly really works great when ripped acrosss the surface in 3-5 foot waves, 100%!
Whats with the Balloon thing, apparently they didn’t know they cant land up here, many balloons are stuck in the trees up here, who the hell knows why?
For now, Let’s All Go to the Lobby for some JuJu’s and Corn, see you there. Enjoy your day, 100%
Happy July 4th Eve Everyone, as you can see we have our Christmas Tree up! If you look behind th glorious Charlie Brown Tree, you can see some of the New Normal at Camp. We have spent considerable blood, sweat and tears clearing the area. It was unbeleivable the amount of dead trees embedded within the dark bush that surrounded Happy Camp. As luck would have it as the job was finished, or so we thought, yesterday, last nights blow brought down 3 more trees, and one is the top of 2024 Christmas Tree! While it may look bare, it is merely calling all of you to come and share your favorite decorations and make it very pretty before it browns, who knows when!
Summer is here one day, gone another, Magoo and I went to Lake #1 the other day, super fantastic to say the least. The wind kicked up just enough to keep many of the bugs away once we reached the shores of Lake #1. Much to our amazement, the lake teemed with fish, some real nice ones too. For any more information you will have to come and decorate the HCO Tree and share.
Bear baits are up and going, that should be exciting as we have a host of hunters new and old to share in the Wilderness and all the Adventures that come with Bear Hunting. Time will tell what happens, but as we look forward, I have a few spots open for Spring 2025. These will start 10 days after the snow is gone, could be May 1 like this year, or June 1, mother nature only knows. So if you are hankering for an experience of a lifetime to come bait sit or stalk an Ontario, get in touch with me today for more information and an application.
Magoo is slowly down considerably, she is 13.5, so I have to give her some slack, in people years that 94.5 years old. With as many paw tracks she has under her feet, that is a lot of miles don’t you think. Just the other night we started out to clear the trail to Lake #2, but Magoo stumbled and fell much, she has developed Degenerative Myelopathy, a disease that effects aging dogs, especially working and hunting dogs. There is no cure, not much one can do except watch your best friend struggle to lift there back legs. So she is on Librella, Galliprant and Dasaquin. Librella is a monthly injection but since there are no vets anywhere in Ontario that will see her, we will need to come back to Dr. Logan in later July to get the injection. But if you know Magoo and I, there is nothing I won’t do for my best friend. If you have ever watched life catch up with a loved one and not being able to do a damn thing, you do your best to keep your sanity. Sadly, this reminds me of Dad when he got sick, then watching him slip away knowing that there was no cure, just when he was going to be taken. Even though that is over 20 years ago, the sting never seems to go away, but as I watch myself start to fade away, I look more to the woods, water, wilderness and sanity, I will leave this place better than I found it, thanks Mom and Dad for instilling that into my life long journey!
Time to watch the next storm knock more trees down and rub Magoo’s ears, maybe tonight the storms will clear so we can go for a boat ride or catch some fish, they are biting quite well for us.
If you are wanting to come and hang your decoration, sit and spell and watch the wind whip trees around, discuss a 2025 bear hunt or just get away into the Wilderness, get in touch with me today. As always, Come and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!
Hi Folks! Spent the day in the Bear area, then went south to the highway, up to Hearst, then back to Happy Camp. During our travels we crossed the Nagagami River that is a Speck River. Speckle Trout are what we call Brook Trout. The Picture below is the River and it looks amazing, I checked a map and it looks like some rapids are upstream a few bends. Looking downstream, it looks like a long ways to Highway 11, so one will have to do some further investigation.
Speaking of investigation, I also heard that they cut a trail close to another great Speck stream, that also is something to check out! If anyone is up for adventure, give me a shout, come on up with your energy, Fly Rod, waders and let’s GO! Mayflies have stopped for now, should be a great hatch coming soon!
Look below, doesn’t it look wonderful, Here Fishy, Fishy Fishy!!
