2014 Spring Bear Hunt

  This last spring we had the most bear hunters we have ever outfitted.  We ended up having 19 hunters, all of which tagged out.  It was an interesting spring, as the winter was a very very long one.  Feet upon feet of snow mixed with very cold temperatures, didn't allow the ice to melt off the lake very quickly, or did it allow the bears to get fully active as soon as they normally do.  However, what it did do was allow for unbelievable hides.  What we find here is generally smaller bears would start to rub earlier, but this spring all bears big to small all had thick, full, rich hair.  We also had some unbelievable colours come out of the woodwork.  Reddish chocolates seemed to be the prevalent colour, but we had major signs of blond hair at most of the baits. We also had one hunter that had shot that day, watch a 300 poundish black bear with white ear tips come and feed while he was waiting for us to come pick him up.  Our weights were averaging around 220 lbs, with the biggest touching just over the 300 pound mark.  That might not sound that great, but 2 of the bears actually went boone and crocket.  Our weights never would have been that great this spring, as the long cold winter definitely took it's toll on the their body mass and reserves.  Very very little fat if any was left on any bear.  But it seems that they did better than the previous hard winter when we had no fall berries, as bears either left or died in the dens.  Our numbers have climbed back up, and many big bears were prevalent.  Also, we had many first time bear hunters this year, and sizing a bear is very difficult, and deceiving.   But everyone had a great time, and everyone was kept safe.  And you can be sured that our scale is legitimate.

  If anyone is interested in doing a bear hunt with us, now is the time to act for 2016, as we are already booked full for the 2015 season.  We are looking forward to that season, as we have established another 12 baits in areas that have never been outfitted, and we are also having a wounded warrior from Wisconsin USA come and join us for a great hunt.  We are sure next spring will be yet another full of good memories.

 

Ice Fishing 2014

Well you know you are late writing on the blog when there is ice set in a year later.  From what I remember, it was a fantastic season again.  Our only downfall was the very heavy snow and very deep slush.  But in regular northern fashion, we pushed through and dug many holes, and many fish got sore lips....that is if they didn't hit the pan!

And as the saying goes- proof is in the pudding- so check pictures these out!  And to see more- check out our website at www.wekuskofallslodge.com and click on the photos/media tab, and the click on ice fishing.

  We are starting to book up for ice fishing trips- so anyone that is interested should contact us fast!

Bear Hunting Write Up- Check It Out!!!

Last spring, I had the honour to meet Mike and Megan at our camp.  They had booked a trip with us through SCI.  Here is the link to the write up that Mike did about the experience.  We are located on page 20.


  http://www.newisci.com/news/2013_november-december.pdf

FIrst Ice

It had been a long summer and fall, and I finally got the chance to get the snowmobiles out.  I took my father in law onto Wekusko, and we were walleye hungry.  We just hoped the fish were as hungry as we were.  

  We got to our spot, and drilled holes.  8" of ice.  I went straight to my best gps spot for that area, and expected action right from the get go.  We had been there a while, and not much to report.  I thought about moving, and actually got up to get the auger.  I looked at the vexilar when I made my first step to go, and a fish was on the bait.  I grabbed the rod, jiggled, and wham - 20" walleye.  Finally.  That fish felt so good- been too long.  

  We fished from 11 am to 2pm and ended up landing 8 walleye, 2 perch, 1 whitefish, and 1 tulibee.  My biggest fish for the outing was a 26" walleye.  I am sure that won't be the biggest for the year!

My Coldest…..

While I was in Saskatchewan waiting for the baby to come, I had the chance to fulfill one of my goals.  I planned this year to take my nephew Avery on his first waterfowl field hunt.  I had heard rumours of all the snow southern sask got, so I threw in the calls just in case, but left my shotgun and extras at home. 

 Driving out there, I realized I may have made a mistake, as there was no snow once we reached Yorkton.  Great…..  But all the small lakes and sloughs were locked up, and I wasn't sure what birds would be left.  

  Avery and I set out to bait for some deer, and I noticed a huge flock of geese with ducks mixed in.  We were in hot pursuit, thinking they will be feeding nearby.  40 miles later and the birds still high, it wasn't looking good.  We did a huge loop, and ended up near the Melville dam.  And there were the only birds around.  Canada geese had 2 big holes kept open on the dam, and there were birds in the air.  We took chase and found they were feeding in a corn field.  Things were looking up!

  I made some phone calls, and got my blinds sent up.  We would meet a good friend and client Corey in a couple of evenings to scout out the field prior to the hunt, and he would bring his decoys.  We met up with him on the field approach on the evening of Nov 10th, and there were ALOT of geese.  It was looking promising.

  The next morning we woke up to -26 C (-15F), and this was before windchill kicked in.  It was cold cold.  Avery and I got somewhat dressed, and headed out.  We stopped at Robins Donuts and got some donuts and coffee.  As we got close to the field, I saw geese.  Are you kidding me?  How did they bear us, they shouldn't have left the roost till at least 11.  As I drove closer I noticed the geese were not moving….decoys…and not ours.  Two other hunters also got permission to hunt the field.  I chatted with them quick, and offered them to hunt with us.  They weren't to excited to move in this cold, but we they were not set up where the geese fed the evening before.  I assured them this would be a good move, and they got their trucks and started to load up.  

  We figured out where we'd set, and I thought I'd be warm enough getting the set ready.  I was wrong, I was freezing.  All my snowmobile gear got pulled out, as it was a necessity.  We got ready, got the trucks parked, and waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Time to eat some donuts….and they were frozen.   And we waited some more.  Finally- we spotted a small flock.  They came right in to our J hook perfectly, and we let them have it.  And Avery shot his first goose!  Soon another flock came in, and again, Avery shot another one!  He was giving it to them!  

  It took most of the day, but it did warm up some.  And we did end up getting our limit.  Avery shot VERY WELL, and even shot his first double.  I also gave him some pressure shots with him being the only shooter when singles came in, and he never let them get away! 

  This hunt was loaded with firsts.  Avery's first waterfowl hunt, my first hunt with Corey, my coldest waterfowl hunt ever, first time I had calls freeze up during a sequence, and my first corn field hunt.  And I am sure it will be one of the "firsts" when I think about waterfowl hunting for many years to come!  The only thing I would have changed is to have had my lab Maggie with me because I was tired with all those retrieves!!!

5 hunters, 40 Canada Geese, and Smiles All Round!

New Baby

During November, Elissa, Kiley, and I headed to Saskatchewan to have another huge change in our lives.   We had a baby girl and baby Kolbey was born.  It looks like we will be putting another pink rod in the rod holder!

Fall Bear Hunting

This year I had 7 fall bear hunters, and they were combo's with wolf.  This would be the final test on how wolf hunting goes, as well as fall bear.  

  The wolf hunting was a success, but I found out it takes a lot more money and time than I thought.  I started to bait in June, every couple of weeks at each bait.  In august I picked the pace up, and wolves definitely knew where the baits were.  The baits were being crushed and in the first 5 minutes of dropping the first hunters off, I got the call that one of them shot a wolf.  I called B.S., but sure enough a wolf was shot.   After that though, the wolves were nocturnal.  They would eat all the bait during the night, including whole bear carcasses.  I did however have a client draw 3 times on 2 wolves in one of the bear stands, and these wolves even ate his first bear that he shot!  The wolves are a problem up here, FOR SURE.

  As for bears, there was lots of action, but it seemed that our numbers are down.  We killed mostly sows with no cubs, and that seemed to be what was at majority of the baits, and in high numbers.  My concern of winterkill was verified, and thus I have dropped out tags back for the next few years.  I want to make sure that quality hunts are sustainable, even though it hurts the pocket book.  We are sold out for next year with 18 tags I have decided to sell.

  Color was super evident again this fall, with many chocolates shot and seen.  I am not sure why color is on the rise, but I am looking forward to what we see next spring.  

  The berry crop was decent this year, and all the bears had good fat reserves, so we should be good for next year.  

  I also have approached manitoba resources, and I have expanded our territory, so we are getting into some new areas that look AWESOME.  I am hoping that we get some real crankers next year!