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Burlap sack saturated with liquid smoke and grease filled with pork.

Didn't take too many hunters this spring so it allows me to slow down and enjoy the scenery along my travels.

First hunter roll in in over 2 weeks.

Do I agree with the new system? I don't know yet as there are more cuts to come in 2017.

The OMNRF has a legitimate concern. Because of the new Spring hunt, are outfitters going to take double the hunters. The bear numbers (population) are the same as last year. Can't afford double the harvest.

I had a meeting with the Compliance specialist ( top CO ) on the 21rst and a afternoon meeting on Monday with the bear biologist and her team leader. Working things out right now.

Many bear outfitters that are offering hunts this spring were not here in the late 90's. Many are going to be full force into dealing with fishermen in their camp when their very first bear hunter arrives. Will these outfitters educate the bear hunter in sexing and sizing the bear in front of them. Along with ensuring the bear they are about to take is not a lactating female. This is one concern of the OMNRF.

Now, the problem I see is that it is a NEW GENERATION at ALL the OMNRF offices working with the bears and the management of them. FRESH out of university. Our district has new CO's and all the people I met with over bear management are fresh at their jobs. This just might be a MAJOR problem.

I put it in 4 wheel drive and proceeded across. Well, half way across it started to go down the creek but I stopped it from flowing further.

I couldn't figure out WHY WONT IT GO. After about 1.5 hours of lifting and moving rocks along with falling in the creek a couple of times. I realized I DID NOT have it in 4 wheel but 2 wheel.

Had it out in 2 seconds. How often has that happened to you guys???

Just so happens I was the only one working today. No one to ask if it was really in 4 wheel mode!!!

After awhile I realized Cathy bumped the switch for the 2 gas tanks, not giving gas to either tank!!!

Another time we were about 45km's from any house or civilization. Me and the other baiter went in to do a bait set. Came out and the truck would not start. Looked under the hood, checked everything. No atv either.

After awhile we decided to start walking out. Went about 200 yards and decided to go back to the truck and checked it over 1 more time.

Again looked and then saw the tank switch was in between tanks shutting gas off to both tanks. John knocked the switch with his knee.

Im going crazy out here by the lake ya know.

Could you post of couple pics of the bait sites and maybe some of the stands. Just something to take the edge off a little.

2 cabins water lines are being thawed out. But still have lots of time before we have to use them. Last lake to go out was yesterday (ice). Boats go out to the lake caches on Saturday. Treestands up and ready to go.

Seen bears on the bait runs. Mother bear and cubs which would have just emerged from their dens. Some denning areas still have some snow and ice.

Here's a nice bear we surprised setting up new baits.

Stand has not been used for many years so I was up there checking to make sure all is safe with it.

Do you see the Eagles nest in the back ground??

Want to study up a bit on being able to tell the boars from the sows. Do you have any pics of bears on the baits that would give me a little practice.

When you have time of course Im sure you want to spend your time getting baits and camps set up

thanks curt

Ground bait either being barrel or wooden bait box. Haven't used bait boxes since they closed the spring hunt. Heavy logs are laid on top.

It is illegal to take a mother bear with cubs of the year. We also pass on sows that still has her yearling cubs.

If you notice this lactating female does not have her cubs near her. Wait before you take the shot. This female has 3 cubs of the year.

As I get older, the steps get closer together!!!

Truck died in the middle of the road in 1967 and just left. Used this bear bait site since 1979.

Any special instruction on shot placement or angles when the bear are standing at the elevated bucket.

I will show you in the lodge where to shoot. Not computer savy enough to put a pin on the ideal shot spot.

No frozen pipes anymore in the cabins. Now just spring cleaning to be done.

Bears are starting to hit the baits.

Smoke is real bad here today from the fire west of here that crossed into Ontario from Manitoba. Forest here is tinder dry. There is a fire ban on now.

This bait was wiped out today. Site was just baited on Friday. Baits called Bear Factory.

Got a couple of new trail cams out now. More going out tomorrow.

We have no reduction of tags from last year, spring or fall. I have a meeting with the bear biologist and her boss at the end of the week when I pick up the hunters forms.

Major snow storm arriving on Friday.

Six camera's out now.

Dave, Randy and Saxon are the guides. Brady is a smart young kid going places. He got a job as an apprentice. Brady will help now and then. Brady loved the job.

Gordon Bently actually had Fred Bear as a regular client. Gordon owned a Archery shop in Ft. Atkinson Wi area. Awesome bow hunter and Archery outfitter.

Thanks KIWI, I enjoy taking scenery and wildlife photo's.

Clay Lake Bait.

Clay Lake Bait.

Only checked 2 camera's yesterday. I have 8 camera's keeping an eye out at the baits.

***Not only will I show what pictures of nice sized bears are hitting but also I will post the little comedian bears on camera.

Im counting the days.

Tomorrow, I'm going to grease up the area around each bait after this fowl weather. I take about 2 gallons of restaurant grease, put about 5 ounces of liquid smoke and throw it up into the trees.

Drips for hours, the scent drifts off into the timber. Works great!!

I'm still going to put out a few new baits in the next day or so. Have 7 days of sort of nice weather ahead.

After a week, this bear still can't figure out how to get in the box. He started chewing on the top piece of wood slat to get in.

Wish you Alex and all the other sponsors a successful season!!

Cedar Bait.

We love looking at your pictures. Those lakes are beautiful.

I am going turkey hunting for the next three days so I hoping for a good crop of pics to review when I get back.

When do your first hunters arrive?

Mile 47 bait.

I set him up at 2:00 pm and after baiting the barrel I went back to the truck. Well 100 yards down the cut was a fair sized bear.

I went back to his stand and told him to come out and get the bear if he wanted. He came to the cut and we decided it was a shooter so we stalked it as it was feeding on the clover.

Well he shot and missed the bear. Spent a good amount of time looking but no blood or bear.

Disappointed he went back to his stand.

After about 40 minutes here comes another bear, the bear he's dreamed of for many years.

Here is Ed Miller, a 86 year old gentleman from Michigan and his bear. Saw 3 different bears this afternoon.

First spring bear in camp in 18 years!!!

When I skinned out the bear I noticed 2 holes. So he did hit the bear in the clover, but bear still gave him a second chance.

Tracked another bear this morning. Hunter's arrow hit the bear in the blade. Barrel bait, a 20 yard shot. Bears in fine shape but the hunter is not happy with himself. Tracked for 3 hours.

Allegany8, we did not measure the bear, I measure the excitement of the hunter in his trophy. Bear weighed about 275LBS.

Mark

Here's a couple of nice bears on one of our new sites.

Camera took 2200 pictures. 2150 being ravens.

The hunter who had bad luck today passed an average bear this evening.

Thanks mark, Marvin, Dean and Chuck.

Cobble Lake bait.

Pass this bear.

Cobble Lake bait.

I also don't think I will have a problem with the real small ones that cant even reach the bucket, but do you have any pics of medium size bears that may tempt me but that I should hold out on.

What do you look for in a shooter.

Thanks, keep em coming.

This bear is a shooter. Also just showed up for the first time. P&Y Bear.

Meadow Bait.

Its a shooter to some hunters.

Do you think that single bear at the meadow bait is a sow or a boar.

Cant wait get there and see for myself.

One other important question. Are your mosquitos coming out yet. When do expect your first batch of blood suckers.

This is the first year where barrel baits are used. Had about 4 last year but many in the western BMA's towards Kenora this year.

45 minute drive 1 way so want to have everything 100% before we use it.

Segise #1 Bait.

Segise #1 bait. Far North, Deer Lk Rd area.

Next week I have a bear biologist traveling with us on our bait runs. Her and her boss will visit our sites, look at trail cam pics and talk to hunters in camp.

Cedar Bait.

Thanks guys, spring hunt is bringing out the big bears. Many more on camera ready for the next 2 weeks.

John I would estimate 19+ or better. His taxidermist will measure the skull after the 60 day period.

Pad was 5 1/4 inches.

We call this bait "Drive By Shooting!!"

Don't have to get off the atv to bait this one, right on the trail. My laziest bait. 4 bears hitting here.

Last time I hunted here was 1994 by truck. All clover. Now road is only 4' wide.

Segise #3 bait. Far North area.

Well he couldn't find anyone or atv.

This morning at breakfast I ask him if there was grouse around and told him it was the grouse beating the wings.

We all had a good laugh!!

Nice bears!

*** during the Fall hunts, you never get a bear rubbed out like this.

This is what the new bait box looked like when we got to the bait.

The only deviation from rule #2 should be when you encounter an ornery sow with a bad attitude two nights in a row, and then have video from the third night demonstrating her nasty disposition, right Chris?

One bait had not been hit Monday and |Tuesday. Hunter wanted to move but I talked him into staying put. Last night he watched 3 bears, one being a dandy. He was happy he took the advice. Bigger bear was all rubbed so he passed. So you are right Bob.

Been using popcorn since the 70's. Mixed with steamrolled oats and molasses, chocolate raisins, granola, pie filling and topped off with popcorn. Lots of gummi candies.

We use 2 pails per bait site.

He saw a big guy the second day of his hunt, and he showed up just before dark yesterday, but held off from taking the shot.

The 14 consisted of 1 sow with 2 this years cubs, sow with 4 yearlings and a sow with 3 yearlings and a single lesser boar.

This is the one he is after. ***Date on camera should say 2016.

Congrats on a great week Chris!

Weather cleared just after 8:00pm and this bear walked in.

***Taken only 3 miles from camp!!!

Bob Wisner of Michigan.

Brian, it was shot on Segise #3.

Got another bear tonight and many others seen.

This bear has not shown up on the trail cam previously.

She is here on her honeymoon.

Clay bait. There is over 14 bears visiting this site.

Clay Bait.

I recall working on those washouts!

Kendall Brewer, Michigan.

One hunter left for the season. Everyone this week had an opportunity. All worked together skinning their own bears, helped each other in tracking, was like one big party!!! I hunted in some areas this spring I have not used in over 20 years. I have 4 Bear management areas that I did not use this spring, saved for the fall season.

Now camp has to regroup and get ready for Fall season August 15th. Baiting will start in about 50 days. All hunts are booked for the fall.

Will hand in teeth and forms for this spring hunt and will know whats happening next year by end of July.

Only took 2 females this spring. Many bears seen but hunters took their time in sexing as the OMNRF will be looking close at the results. Looks like I was the only one spring hunting this year in this area.

Heres another trophy taken by one of the Michigan Bowhunters in camp.

One more hunter left to get a bear!!

I had not been having much daytime activity at my stand location. Chris moved me to another bait after giving me some good pointers in sexing bears.

My wife had tagged a great bear the night before so she joined me in a double ladder stand. At about 7 pm a huge boar came in. He was very leary and knew we were there but still commited to the bait.

the boar would eat for a little bit. and then leave the area and stand in the brush for a few minutes before coming back in.

He did that three times. I drew on him three times hoping as he would spin away from me he would present a broadside shot long enough for me to send an arrow. He never did.

One time he gave me a hard quartering away that i just didnt feel comfortable with. I also had several opprotunities for a solid single lung hit but wasnt sure if I would get anything vital on the off side.

He ended up walking. However very exciting to see one that big.

Had a rubbed bear and a smaller boar over the next hour.

About 830 while the smaller boar was still a the bait another boar came in. They argued for a short time and then decided on a truce. the little bear took the bucket while the bigger bear took the bait box.

Finally the bear turned his head to the left exposing his right side. The shot was away and I was a little concerned it was too low. That concern lasted about 5 seconds. As he tore out of the area he was running into and smacking trees.

19 seconds after the shot we heard the death moan. Autopsy showed lungs and top of heart with slick trick tracks all over them.

I was very happy with my bear and my entire experience with Chris at Pine Acres.

Chris claims that he is computer illiterate but he is a regular Al Gore compared to me. So if you want see a picture of my bear it is in the previous post.

thanks again chris

Saxon's turn at bear hunting. He bagged a 400 pound boar bear on Sunday. Had him and many others baited in but had to wait for time off to do a little bear hunting of his own.

I'll post a picture if I can figure out how to get it off his phone. Still learning computers.

I was wrong in my earlier post. I said 50 days till I start baiting for the Fall. Well.... I start in 28 days.

***On or about June 1rst I was stopped by 2 Kenora Conservation Officers. They were NOT too polite.

They walked into 4 of my baited sites in the far North.

After a couple of walking trips into mile 47 bait he said the bait was ILLEGAL. Said it was only 100 metres off the rough 2 track. Measured the other sites too. Said none of my baits were legal.

I told 2 Kenora Co's that I went into the Dryden District office. Had a talk with the Dryden Compliance specialist about it and he stated that the co's in Dryden district have yet to have an issue with my sites. So he deemed my baits okay to hunt this spring. Exactly where they are now. So I did.

Never heard another word from Kenora Co's. Dryden said to continue as usual!! So I did.

Great food source for sows with cubs.

As you can tell I enjoy pictures of sows and their cubs.

Black Bluff bait.

You'll enjoy the new areas available to hunt this year, thanks to the loggers. They built a road within our deeded land. Looking forward to this Fall.

Our Fall bear hunters staying at the Mutrie Outpost will keep us posted on sightings.