Good Day and Happy June 2026 Happy Campers! Spring Bear Hunt 2026 is a wrap, the Bugs have hatched in a BIG way, and summer is on its way! Mayflies are buzzing around, fish are getting hungry, Grouse are nesting and Bunnies are hopping like crazy! In this first picture, you can see the Bunny hiding in the grass, take a look.
5 Archers made their way to Happy Camp. Stands were set, and the HUNT started on May 30, 2026. Trevor saw a Bear jumping up and down on the logs, could not take the Beast down. Jake was blessed to be in the presence of Tim whom brought him luck when he shot a beautiful 206 Pound bear around 9 p.m. Jake made a Great shot arrowing the Bear and he dropped about 10 yards from where he shot it, CONGATS JAKE! Other hunters found the woods all quiet for night 1.
Brandon joined the hunt for May 31, and while he saw a Bear, could not get a shot. But as I waited for Hunters in the BMA, about 7:30 up over the hill came and Orange Hat with one of the Golden Oldies grinning from Ear to Ear! It was Donna and all she could say, I shot a Brute, I shot a Brute! Donna and I went to her stand, found a massive Blood trail over the Rocks, Moss and timber led us to Donna’s bear, a 402 Pound Monster Black. At first, I said to Donna, Holy Moley, I know we can gut it, but how will we get it out? We gutted the Bear, rolled it into the sled, and pulled it to the truck. Being on a ledge, we were able to slide the sled into the back of the truck. Dropping the Bear off at Nelson’s in Manitouwadge brought the weight of 402 to Donnas Bear! Holy Hot Dog Girl, that is a Biggin! No other Bears were seen by hunters during their sit tonight.
On the way back from Hunting, the lug nuts on my Ram Truck broke off, Tire flew into the Woods and the truck stopped along Bound Road. The hunters helped me gather stuff and brought Rook and I back to Camp. Keith figured out what parts I needed, early on June 1, I phone NAPA in Hearst, they had all the parts I needed. Keith, Trevor and I went to Hearst for parts, while Donna and Jake took her Bear to Manitouwadge for Processing. Brandon hunted this evening, no activity except the bugs to which Brandon said to me later in the night, MAN THE BUGS SURE DO SUCK!
Keith, Jake and Trevor worked together like a well oiled machine in getting the Truck fixed and we brought it back to Happy Camp shortly after 7:30 p.m. Thanks Guys for all of your help, you are just Awesome!!
June 2 brought us Heat, Sun and Humidity. Temps pushed upward to 90 degrees. No shorts yet, but the heat brought a local into the BMA to drive his fancy Silver GMC Pickup all around with brush scratching the sides. In the Immortal words of Daredevil Dave, WHATEVER! Tonight was Golden Oldie #2 night as Keith was in Henry’s stand when a large Boar made an appearance around 6:15 p.m. The Big Black Bear made his way to the stump, started chewing, gnawing, then stood up, walked to the Bait and layed down. After a few moments, he stood up, Keith placed his arrow directly in the Vitals of the Bear! Keith and I tracked the Bear and the Beast lay dead no more than 30 yards from the Bait! Keith and I dragged out the Bear, brought him back to Happy Camp Ontario, Keith’s Bear pushed upward of 260 pounds!! Other hunters were quiet tonight, maybe tomorrow, but the woods was anything but quiet. The heat has brought us an explosion of Mosquitoes and Black Flies, simply Incredible. Even Rook hates them as he runs, jumps and lays down in his bed in the truck and when I ask him what is going on, he raises his paws to his eyes and says, THIS IS CRAZY MAN!! IN fact for 2 nights he ate dinner in the truck while on his bed, WHAT!
June 3 brought more heat, humidity and yes Bugs. Trevor, Brandon, Rook and I headed out to hunt shortly after noon. The other hunters took Keith’s Bear to town, then went fishing. Today seemed like a day the Bears would move as we saw 3 of them on the Trek to the BMA! Hunters set, Rook and I checked baits, then spent time in the truck with the A/C on as it was in the upper 80’s again! What’s up with this MAN, just 10 days ago the lakes were covered in ice and snow on the ground!!
Rook and I are fast asleep in the truck about 7:30, when a tapping on the Window woke us up! Brandon was getting our attention as he hit a Bear, came to get me to track. Brandon and I went to his bait, found the Arrow and looked for Blood. Brandon thought he heard a crash and watched the Bear run off to the east after he shot. Despite looking all over, not a speck of Blood. I stood near the Bait as Brandon made circles in search of anything, no luck. More circles, no luck. Brandon made one last circle, Blood! He then saw the Bear, YAHOO! I quickly made my way to him, DEAD BEAR, Congratulations Brandon!! Brandon had arrowed his 177 pound Bear at about 10 yards with his Longbow and 2 bladed Broadhead. Brandon thinks the broadhead made such a thin cut as it was so sharp, that the fur had closed over the entrance and exit from the Arrow. Brandon had cut the Heart, Lung and Liver with his Broadhead! Brandon and I brought the Bear back to the Truck. Trevor had no luck today!
June 4 would be Trevor’s last chance for 2026! Much cooler and breezy greeted us, and just yesterday the temps were in the upper 80’s, today it would not be above 50! Trevor started his sit around 10 a.m. as the Bear has been visiting the Bait around 11 a.m. recently. But Trevor sat all day, evening and night only to see a Lynx, no Bears. But that is hunting, and while Trevor did not get a Bear in 2025, he is already talking about his Bear hunt 2026! On our way back to Happy Camp, I said to Trevor, gosh I hope we are not going to have Frozen Pizza again. Opening the front door to Happy Camp brought us the wonderful smell of Fresh Pike and Walleye the Gang had caught, cleaned and cooked. Fish, Cheesy Potatoes, Beans filled out Pallets. Thanks Gang, you are the BEST! Below is a Lynx Trevor and I saw on the way back to Happy Camp after hunting.
Hunters all departed by early today, June 6, 2026. Rook was the hit of the Gang, each night while eating and chatting after the day’s hunt, Rook would run around with Pillows, Shoes, Crocks and anything else he could show off with!! All can say that is is quite a Cool Dog, don’t you think? Speaking of Cool things, look what Brandon Made up for Happy Camp!! Brandon made this up for one night his bait had some leftover Brats in it. Brandon told me the Bear was walking around with a Bratwurst in its mouth, I told him of the Bait with Brats!!
2026 Spring Hunt has ended and it was a Spectacular hunt. Great People, Great adventures, Great Memories and of Course Rook was Great. Just Remember All, Rook is my Right Hand Buddy, he loves the adventures as much as you! As we close this chapter in Happy Camp Ontario Bear Hunts I have to say thanks to Dad for giving me the sense of Adventure. Thanks Dad for this as well as the tracking sense to Never Give Up! Also, thanks Tim and Henry for watching over us, and thanks to the Great Creator for allowing us to come together in the Wonderful World of Happy Camp Ontario!!! Last but certainly not least, Rook and I say thank you to all who came to Hunt with Happy Camp Ontario Spring 2026. You all made it wonderful, thanks for the Awesome hunt and Wonderful Memories!
As we close this chapter, we pause to Welcome Matilda to the area, she has brought her Fantastic looks and maybe her baby to the area. Hope we see lots of you in the coming months, and years! But for now, it is time to shift to the Pagwa for Fall Bear Hunt 2026. Some time for Fishing, so Come and Catch the Good Life with Us at Happy Camp Ontario. Take care Folks.