Catching the Good Life in the Canadian Wilderness

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!!

Hey Happy Campers, look at the 2024 photos. You will see the 2 Cubs who scampered up a tree, but what do you notice??? One Fella is Hanging 5!!

Hi Happy Campers. It is June 9, 2024, and we just completed the 1st Spring Bear Hunt at Happy Camp Ontario. Initially there were 6 booked, but 5 of them backed out. But alas, Henry found his way to Happy Camp Ontario on May 31, 2024 with Bonnie, Aiden and Buddy Blerek to enjoy the Candaian Wilderness.

Excitement ran high for them as I have told them for weeks the Animals are waking up to get to Happy Camp to hunt ASAP! But as they waited for Aiden to finish school, the woods came alive with Animals, Birds, and of course Bugs!

On their way into Happy Camp, they saw an amazing 10 Bears. Henry was soon to find out, the animals during our adventure were simply incredible! During our trip to hang his stand, he came across 4 Bear, 1 with cubs and the other lone bears. Henry wants to sit, has no interest in stalking a Bear, but that to me would be the Ultimate rush!

Henry’s first sit was June 1, and the woods was quiet, bait was not hit when I put him in his stand. But alas, June 2nd, bait was hit and Henry’s adventure was about to begin. Henry saw 4 bear on June 2nd, he decided he did not want to shoot the Sow with 3 yearlings.

June 3rd brought heavy rain and no hunting. June 4th, Henry was treated to 7 Bear at the bait, a fight between a Sow and a Boar. Henry did shoot and missed at a Bear, after checking, he shot underneath the Bear. June 5, Henry saw 2 Bear, shot at another, and again, shot underneath the Bear. Henry now is starting to scratch his head, what is going on? Henry shoots at camp, hits the bullseye just fine, must be Bear Fever!

June 6 the woods is silent, mostly because of the commotion and continued rain. June 7, Henry again seens 2 Bear at the Bait, decides not to shoot. June 8 Henry sees a Sow with her family of 3 Yearlings. Near dark, Henry decides to get down from the tree, turns around and there is a Bear staring at him from 15 yards away. The Bear stand on his back legs, Henry shines his flashlight on him. Henry says, GEESH he is a Big One! Luckily for Henry the Bear walks off or possibly just goes and layes down near the bait. Henry had no way of defending himself, Luck was on his side for that time!

June 9, today, heavy rain, wind and temps of 38 put a wrap on Spring Bear 2024! But, overall, to see over 20 Bear while sitting and over 40 Bear during our travels, along with 6 Moose, a Wolf, Lynx, many Snowshoes were incredible. The wonder of nature, magically has brought us a Bird Migration. In the lasst 2 days, Canada Geese, Woodcock, Purple Finch and Night hawks have found there way to the Happy Camp Region.

Spring Bear 2024 brought no Bears to camp, except the criminal that is damaging the Camp, but the adventures, and animals that we have encountered are simply priceless. This is what hunting is all about, Hunting is not Shooting. My father, god rest his soul, would have relished the Bears we have, Dad loved Bear hunting and all it took with it.

Fall hunt has a handful of hunters, we shall see what happens. When we look to Bear 2025, here is what I am looking for:

3 hunts of 4 hunters each, starting 10 days after the snow is gone. With the season starting May 1st, that could be as early as May 3rd, weather will dictate this. We can sit or stalk or both, to me this is an adventure of a lifetime and an opportunity like no other that I know of! If you want the adventure of a Lifetime, give me call or email me today for more information!

Water is high, bugs are plentiful, and the weather is going backwards! Last week we were 90, today it is 38, go figure. Soon we will be fishing and look forward to the breezes blowing us around the lake. Magoo is excited to jump in the water again, and the taste of fresh fish, ooh it’s so Good!

With that said, time to go relax and listen to the Brewers beat the Tigers again. Listening to the Brewers it is SOOO nice to see a team play Baseball how it was meant to be played! Go Uecker and the Brews!

If you are looking for an adventure of a lifetine, get in touch with me to Come and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Good Day Happy Campers! Spring was here, the animals were running wild, but someone forgot to tell Mother Nature. What was 65 has crashed, we are in the low 30’s right now, heavy clouds and light snow is falling. But alas, the birds are eating and many varieties including Chipping and white throated Sparrows, 2 kinds of Nuthatches and more. I can’t wait for the ones from the south to pass thru here! In our travels we have seen the larger Birds of Prey, never ceases to amaze me what birds can do, anyone else wish they could fly!!!

Bears are eager eating and I have seen 2 groups of Cubs with their Momma. In fact near Manitouwadge I saw a Mom with 3 little fellas. Many other critters wandering around, to watch the wilderness wake up from winter is awesome, anyone wanting to come check it out let me know!

Camp is getting ready for our hunters coming in soon, anyone wanting to come and Stalk a Bear, the Ultimate challenge, let me know. If you want to use a Spear and are successful, your hunt is FREE! If not, well you figure it out!

Magoo is still rumbling around, there is a Red Squirrel in the yard we need to go tend to, shoot me a message or give me a call if you are up to the Stalking Challenge!!!

Here we go again folks! 71 last night was met with 31 and light snow most of the morning! Needless to say we needed our hats, mittens and jackets into the bush! But alas, long day on the buggy trails. Happy Camp region is waking up, lots of different things seen today, but no ice. Snow, yes, animals yes, birds yes, people yes. But many things are waking up and the hunters should be excited to hear this! Soon we shall see if the water is glowing, but for tonight Magoo says enough we will sleep in! So if you are a hunter, start thinking as it was a Grand day in the Happy Camp Region!!

Good evening Happy Campers, Magoo and I landed in the bush at Happy Camp about an hour ago. Alas, there is still SNOW, but just a little to remind us what winter is like! Haha. Magoo danced in the snow, then saw the first Skeeters of the year, they found us already! But not to fret, they are already gone, most likely to find their friends.

We unpacked a little, but are eager to get out and chase the Bears in the morning, so we had a light bite and are calling it a night as morning comes early to the Happy Campers. So the 2024 Adventure begins in earnest tomorrow May 8, 2024!

Give us a shout if you want an update or have a hankering to come and adventure in truly one of the most beautiful wilderness areas still left, guess what, there ARE Ruffies here strutting there stuff, Yahoo BabbaLoo!

Morning from breezy, chilly, cloudy upper Midwest USA! Spring was here, but now it seems that it has stalled, light snow last night has gone, but the Breezes continue and should through the weekend!

My right hand Girl who has been thru it all for the last 12 years, 364 days has made it to 13! Miss Molly Magoo has her special Day and she was already treated to breakfast of Egg, Bacon and a slice of Angel Food Cake topped with Cool Whip, Blueberry and Raspberry, Delicious!!

If anyone has followed our adventures, you know well how Magoo and I have been thru it all, from the inception of Happy Camp Ontario, the loss of her Brother Shadow, many, many wild trips including a Roll over accident on the Interstate. I remember laying in the shoulder as someone pulled me out of the truck saying, We gotta go get Magoo! We went to the truck which was laying upside down, she was curled in the back seat, I was able to crawl in, scoop her up and carry her to the shoulder of the Interstate. Luckily Magoo only had a little scratch on her nose!

Interestingly, the other day I drove by the area where we had the rollover some years ago, and it all now has guard rails and wires which will stop any vehicle from going in and rolling over, hmmm, could it be from Magoo’s accident, one never knows do they!

I recall another time we went fishing and Magoo was not herself, wandering aimlessly to the shore, then when I got back home she would not get out of the truck. I lifted her out and puss started coming out of her. I phoned Dr. Karen and drove immediately to her office. Magoo had Pyometra, which is a natural course during a female’s Heet cycle, and sadly Magoo lost the ability to have puppies, but if no surgery, we would have lost Magoo! But that was a few years ago and today on Magoo’s 13th Birthday we celebrate the joy of her. Swimming will be on her agenda and who knows what else.

So I challenge everyone who has a pawed friend to give them a Hug from Magoo and tell them how special they are! Soon Magoo and I will head north and start the 2024 adventure at HCO, will be fun, Magoo stomped her Paw and said, Let’s Get At IT!