Catching the Good Life in the Canadian Wilderness

Good Morning and Happy Groundhog Eve Happy Campers!  As we near the special day, winter has come back with a vengeance here!  Snow, wind and cold have once again become the norm but maybe for a short time, time will tell?

Happy Campers have been buzzing around with many messages and reservations.  In the last week we have booked people from Pennsylvania and Colorado, as well as working on a trip with some Veterans, hope that falls into place for them!

On another note, I have started teaching music in Tigerton and after 2 days we were performing for the Basketball game!  What fun we are having studying and making music in that tiny town in central Wisconsin!

With Groundhog Day tomorrow, we hope the heavy clouds stay in tact so the fat little fellow will look over his shoulder early tomorrow and see nothing, thus blessing us with an early Spring!  With the even of an early spring, it brings us closer to Happy Camp!

Good Luck with all your Ground hog Day Festivities  and Come on and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Greetings from cloudy, cool and windy central Wisconsin!  Many birds and squirrels are hustling around looking for food!  The feeders are full with sunflower and thistle seeds as well as suet and peanut butter for the critters!  A Pileated Woodpecker has shown its face in the yard, spends its time eating leftover berries, what’s up with that!

I spent the day yesterday with some friends who have frequented Happy Camp!  We spent the day fishing Lake Julia, a lake nestled near the edge of a national forest in North East Wisconsin!  We caught fish after fish as flags flew and jig poles bounced with excitement from Perch after Perch after Perch!!  Too bad most were Twirps!  Smiles abounded everywhere but the voices rang clear, There’s No Place like Happy Camp!!

What a nice thing to hear over and over, and late in the day a Bald Eagle soared over to join in the conversation!  Maybe he is spending the winters on Lake Julia and his summers at Happy Camp, hmmm, never know do you?

Mid winter blues spent chatting with friends about our favourite place, Happy Camp!  From woods and waters to fish, birds bear, moose and beyond, fantastic to hear all the Happy Camp talk!  Furthermore, this week chatting with people from Pennsylvania to Illinois and Colorado and beyond, the Happy Camp Bee’s are buzzing!  Even talk of a Pike Fly Fishing group coming to Happy Camp!

Flip the coin and we talk about hunting!  From Bear supplies to gun permits, wonderful Grouse hunting and pounding away at Moose tags, there is not much down time for the Happy Camp Crew!

Some down time may be in the future as Magoo and I plan on heading to North Dakota to fish a bit and work with some students, but that’s weeks down the road!  For now, we continue to teach English and sub in central Wisconsin, watch the birds, and chat with many, many people that have come and caught the Good Life!

But for the few who have not been stung by the Happy Camp Bees, Whatcha waiting for, give us a call or message us today and Come and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!!

Good Afternoon and Happy New Year Happy Campers!  Winter has come back to central Wisconsin with fresh snowfall and the coldest weather of the year to hit us tomorrow!  Temps are expected to reach around -30 and that’s cold wherever you are and whatever thermometer you look at!!

With the return of winter, the birds have also found their way back to the feeders.  From Pileated Woodpeckers to Juncos, Cardinals and many others, they are spending much of the days at our feeding stations!  We have also made a couple of peanut butter feeders out of old logs that have yet to be visited, but only been hanging for a day!

With each passing day we are looking forward to the 2015 season at Happy Camp and seeing all of our old friends and making new ones as they make their way to Happy Camp and the shores of Beautiful White Otter Lake!

We hope you all had a wonderful Holiday season and are looking forward to the new year and all it can bring!  Hopefully Happy Camp is already etched in your plans, but if not, whatcha waiting for,  give a shout or email today to save your spot and Come on and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Good Morning and Merry Christmas to all from Catfish Chris

After a brief warm up where all of our snow disappeared, Winter has re-appeared and we have a white Christmas here, hope you do as well!

With the warm up, raccoons made their way out of their dens and are prowling around the woods and roads looking for food.  Last night a young one was hit on our way to the in-laws house!  Our winter flying friends have gone deeper into the woods as food is plentiful as snow pack is light so far this winter!  I hope for everyone’s sake this continues as last winter was a tough one to say the least!  We do have a pair of Pileated Wood Peckers who frequent the trees near our house which is really cool!  In addition, as Magoo and I have been Turkey hunting, we have seen a Bald Eagle soaring around the edge of our pond looking for food!  No luck with the Turkey yet, and interestingly I was seeing Turkeys on a daily basis before I bought the tag, now that I have a tag I have not seen any!  Go figure eh!

Happy Camp will open early June of 2015 for the season and hope that it is as spectacular as our other seasons, time will tell what Mother Nature throws our way!  One thing for sure, we look forward to seeing all of the Happy Campers that show up at our doorstep looking for the adventure of a lifetime!  So whatcha waiting for, get in touch with us today and reserve your spot with us and Come on and Catch the Good Life with Us at Happy Camp Ontario!

Good Morning and Happy Holidays everyone!  Catfish Chris here at the computer with a Mid-winter Update!  Mid Winter has seemed to have stalled, after much snow, bitter cold, the weather has warmed up!  Yesterday was a fantastic winter day with bright warm sunshine and a great day for a Parade!  We attended the Annual Clintonville Holiday Parade!  The bands played upbeat Holiday tunes and the Man in red made his appearance riding in the back of a Mustang convertible!  Magoo’s paws were clapping in anticipation and she smiled and whined as he tossed biscuits to the dogs in the crowd!

With the year winding down, so too come the openings at Happy Camp for 2015!  We have filled all of the bear spots and have limited openings for fisherman starting in late July.

Magoo wishes everyone Happy Holidays and hopefully you will be able to paws and take a breathe, enjoy the fresh air, and enjoy the reason for the season!  Regardless if you are from the states or north, all of us here at Happy Camp wish you the best of each and every day!

So with that I am off to an auction with Goo in search of outdoor supplies for Happy Camp, so Whatcha waiting for, call us today and save your spot and Come and Catch the Good Life with Us at Happy Camp Ontario!

Hi Folks, Catfish Chris here with a cold update from snowy, cold and a titch windy central Wisconsin.  As you know Happy Camp is closed for the year but that does not stop us from shooting updates with this and that?

After a cold and semi-productive duck hunting trip to  Dunseith, North Dakota, Magoo and I are back in Wisconsin.  We did, however, have fun hunting ducks and geese, got enough for the freezer, and ran into some old friends along the way!  Late Sunday afternoon, Magoo was visited by the neighbor kids who played with her near the Quack Shack!  They all had great fun and it is wonderful to watch all of them, about 8, run like crazy.  When they were finished, Magoo treated them to Halloween candy and wished them off to supper with their families!

Magoo and I also visited the Dunseith School where she continues to be a hit!  She ran and played with the elementary kids in the gym, she even learned how to run around the basketball court, not across it!  Way to go girl!

Happy Camp Ontario made a nice donation to the Dunseith Playground fund, and hope that they reach their goal and get the new items!!

As we look into 2015 and Happy Camp Ontario, we have the following news as of this morning!

2015 Fishing, we have some openings starting Mid July, before then we have little available.  August will bring in Bear hunters, but there is a cabin available if you wish to fish and pick berries then!

2015 Bear Hunt, we have 1 spot left!

2015 Moose Hunt is full for the month of October!

In addition, we continue to pursue more BMA and Non-resident Moose tags!  As of now, none have become available but we will keep trying!

We hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday season.  While our friends to the north celebrated Thanksgiving a while back, it will be held late next week here in the states!  I do think your Grey Cup is upon us as we saw the semi-finals last night!!

Thank you for your continued support of Happy Camp and making it a very special place!  If you haven’t checked it out yet, give us a call or shoot us an email and Come On and Catch the Good Life with Us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Hi folks, Catfish Chris with a short update from soggy Happy Camp.  Weather continues to hamper the Moose hunters, rain, snow and wind have made hunting difficult over the past week!  Mr. Sunshine made a brief stop in the Hillsport area on Wednesday, but before and after that weather has simply been miserable!

While the Moose hunting has been difficult with none harvested in the area this week, Happy Camp has been buzzing with many laughs, stories and tlales from various people making their way to their Camp!  Even Mike Carecelli from Toronto stopped in for a cup of coffee and a brief visit before heading back home for the winter!

From chasing Squirrels to Grouse, Deer and beyond, Happy Camp and its guests continue to make each and everyday exciting!  John brought in a picture from a White Tail Deer that was shot in the area.  Time will tell if that is an expansion on Happy Camp’s hunts?  Doug Webster and his crew have made Cabin 2 their home!  They brought in shelving, new kitchen cabinets, a pantry as well as other improvements to make it their own!  Stay tuned for the wonderful pictures and you will be pleased when you step into this cabin!

Happy Camp will be closing for the year at the end of October!  While we have many spots filled for 2015, we do have some weeks available.  In addition, we have 1 Bear hunting slot to fill.  Moose hunters, openings are pretty slim for October at this point, but November can provide some great hunting!

Since opening our doors a few years ago, we could have never imagined the wonderful people who have chosen to stop at Happy Camp!  Each of you bring something special to our area and we can not thank you enough for choosing Happy Camp!  With that we wish all of you a wonderful off season and You truly are a special bunch of people who we are eager to see again in 2015 and beyond!

So if you are looking for a truly special place, whatcha waiting for, shoot us an email or phone us today and reserve your spot and  Come on and Catch the Good Life with Us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Week 1 is now complete with Moose Hunt 2014!  Today dawned heavy rain, cold and much wind and one would think the Moose would sleep in, but with a smaller crew as the SeaGull Clan pulled out early this morning, it was up to the Kent Krew to get the Skunk out of the bag!

They certainly did not disappoint, as Jeffrey nailed a beautiful Calf Moose about 10 a.m. near Happy Camp!  The Krew spent the better part of the day retrieving the Moose and as I write, the wind is howling, rain is coming down sideways and the Krew is finishing touches on packing for the trip home!   Watching all of our groups work together is simply awesome, they work tirelessly together to make everyone’s trip the best it can be, way to go!!

Good Number of Moose were seen by Happy Camp Hunters this first week, but most were Cows and the only Bull seen by Brian Boucher was behind a Cow and he could not get a clear shot, so he passed!  Each morning well before dawn, the rumbling of trucks and ATV’s pulled out of Happy Camp in search of the elusive Moose!  Roger did find a great covey of Ruffed Grouse and brought back his limit one morning, good for you Roger!

We all had a wonderful time chatting, playing cards, placing a bet on the ballgame, sharing a story over a favourite beverage or eating a meal together!    To watch Magoo’s tail wag with excitement as hunters or friends come into camp, or your never ending treats you save for her,  thank you to everyone for all you bring to Happy Camp!  As one hunter said to me this week, its not about shooting a Moose, its about the time spent up here with people, the woods and that comes with it!  To Catfish Chris, the  writer, host and so much, more these times are simply priceless!

As I walked from Cabin 1 to the lodge this morning, flocks of Swans were overhead flying and hooting their last farewell for the year as they head south for the winter!  The water is high for this time of year, and with the pouring rain today, it most certainly will raise more.

We got out fishing this week a couple times, and Magoo and I pulled in quite a few Pike and big ones too!  The largest we caught is still swimming in White Otter Lake, it measured about 39.5 inches, certainly will be the magic 40 next year!  Herk and Jeffrey caught a few fish for the fry last night, my were they tasty!  Tony and Ray also caught some fish on White Otter, but they let them go to swim another day and maybe caught another lucky Happy Camper!

Groups will be shuffling into Camp soon, so Catfish Chris will sign off for now!  Soon the excitement will be with new hunters in hopes of finding the elusive Moose.  Stay tuned for updates and one never knows what will come through the Happy Camp door this week!

So if you haven’t experienced the wonderful Happy Camp area, whatcha waiting for, give us a shout and save your spot today at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Good Morning and Welcome to Moose Hunt 2014!  Yes I know it is only Thursday, but the woods is alive with hunters, and the first Happy Campers will be in camp early this afternoon!  Dizzy Dan and his clan of Merry Men will grace the Happy Camp grounds!  Sadly Crazy Cal is sitting out this year, get well soon Cal, you will be sorely missed and we can’t wait for you to get your butt back to Happy Camp and chase the Moose!  Soon afterwards, the Kent Klan will stumble and bumble their way down Philip Creek to Happy Camp!  From Tony with Magoo, Brian and Roger chasing the birds, to Ray, Herk and Jeff chasing fish, Happy Camp looks forward to you and all Hunters coming after the elusive Moose!  Stay tuned for hopefully many exciting pictures and stories to come across the Happy Camp way!

As always, this is Catfish Chris with a short update!  Snow, rain and cold continue to hang around the Happy Camp area.  A Moose was sighted the other night in the area, hope our guys will get a crack at it?

The water is at spring levels right now, wonder where that will lead to? Also roads are sloppy so take care when coming into camp.  Most of the birds have left for the year, a few migrators showed up this morning, Mergansers, but they are one of the last to head south!  I guess if you look at their hairdo’s, you wouldn’t wonder why they take so long to move south, but then again a ducks temperature is 105!!

Thank you to all who come across our path including Sheldon, our new found friend in Dunseith, North Dakota.  Sheldon, you certainly need to put on some pounds man, even a Tiny T-Shirt is way too big!

As we look to 2015, we have only a couple of Bear Hunt spots left and some weeks are full with fishers, so if you want your spot don’t delay, reserve today!

So whatcha waiting for, Give us a Call or Email and Come on and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

The water is at an all time high for this time of year

Good Day and Hail Call to all fellow hunters who chase the Fine Feathered Fowl!!  Magoo is coming along nicely and should be ready to hunt in earnest when she returns to the Prairie in early November!  If you should like to venture out that way, Hail Call us and we will give you the low down on the Quack Shack.

Hi Happy Campers, Catfish Chris here with a brief update.  Fall is upon us and Magoo and I spent the last few days working on Shadow’s Quack Shack, our hunting house in North Dakota!  Shad’s Shack fully operational and ready to take on hunters.  We have a couple of spots open in October, but November it is Show Time for Magoo and the Duck Hunters.

Magoo spent a day or 2 in the elementary school where she quickly became Dunseith’s celebrity.  While mowing grass, Magoo had at least 20 visitors stopping to say hi and What’s up Girl?

The northern prairie is filled with water and birds, my I have never seen so many, the hatch was incredible.  Magoo and I spent this early morning at our pond in Wisconsin and holy mackerel there are the birds here as well.  Magoo and I have sent out invites to some local hunters, hope they choose to come over and spend a day in the marsh with us?

Bear hunting spots for 2015 are filling fast, if you want to secure one, let us know so we can get the ball rolling?  As of this writing I am in Wisconsin and will be here until early October.  If you wish to get hold of us, please phone or email me here.

As always, thanks to all who have come along the Happy Camp Ontario way, we hope to see all of you again in 2015 and beyond.  For the Moose Hunters, time is growing near!

Take care everyone and have a safe and enjoyable fall and wonderful hunting season!