Bear searching at Golden Eagle Camp

November 11, 2022

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The sound of a bell echoing via Golden Eagle Camp indicators success and ringing it’s the aim of each visiting bear hunter.

Located between Elk Lake and Matachewan on Freeway 65, the camp owned by Mike and Liz Younger sits on the banks of Sydney Creek, a tributary of the Montreal River.

Final summer season, the women took the triggers. We arrived on Sunday and cut up into pairs. My spouse, Karen, was accompanied by our youngest daughter and observer Aliyah, whereas I hunted as an observer with our oldest daughter, Abby. Throughout the first two days, our bait barrels have been visited by quite a lot of wildlife — together with pine martens — however no bears.

Early success

There was some pleasure in camp Monday evening when hunter Steve Kolodziej thought he had a bear however didn’t. Karen and Aliyah modified stands on Tuesday, whereas Abby and I made a decision to present our spot one other attempt as a bear had hit the bait after we weren’t there.

An hour in, Karen texted me, “Mike is coming to select us up.” We received the story after we met Karen and Aliyah on the highway. Their stand, named Satan’s Elbow, was located about 80 yards from the barrels and Karen had taken a two-year-old bear (good for consuming). She’d ring the bell when she returned to camp.

Again at our stand, Abby and I had no luck that evening and determined to maneuver the following day.

Report practically 600 kilos

Bears at Golden Eagle common between 150 and 250 kilos, whereas the camp file is 598 kilos. In a traditional 12 months, Golden Eagle runs 52 stands, two for every hunter, in case one web site turns into inactive. With the pandemic and no American hunters, there have been solely 21 bait websites in 2020.

Looking throughout the second week of the season, we aimed to keep up our early success. About 80% of hunters are profitable at Golden Eagle.

New stand

Our new web site subsequent to a creek was a strikeout on Wednesday evening. Having a roads crew engaged on the close by bridge didn’t assist.

Longing for a bear and feeling assured, Abby was out by herself (the stand being too cramped for the two of us) Thursday at first mild — once more to no avail.

She returned to that stand by herself that evening. I checked the barrel when dropping her off and it had been hit within the quick time she left for lunch. After replenishing the popcorn doused in a combination of dextrose, corn starch, and water, I used to be on my manner. It was one other silent evening, with the odor of close by anglers possible hampering bear exercise.

Bell rings once more

The bell rang that evening as Kolodziej received his bear, a 140-pound male. Within the enjoyable spirit of the camp, the waterslide doubles as a victory slide for profitable hunters — generally garments and all. Though there had been searching success, the cool, moist climate saved Karen and I off the slide.

Decided to alter her luck, Abby proclaimed she would exit all day Friday — our final day. We hung across the camp, ready for her name, the place I had an opportunity to speak to Liz in regards to the camp.

Bear hunters often taper off in September, changed by hen hunters, after which moose hunters, she stated. They’re visited by snowmobilers in winter earlier than anglers return within the spring.

Though Golden Eagle caters to anglers and hunters, it’s a nice household facility. Canoes and kayaks can be found to be used and quads for hire. There’s a waterslide, a playground, and a basketball internet. It’s an actual household ambiance and we found a lot of these staying on the camp are regulars and mates — all of whom saved asking us all day if Abby had received her bear.

Final-chance bear brings smiles

Whereas Abby hunted, the remainder of us went fishing.

On Monday we hit the river for a brief outing and landed a scrappy two-pound smallmouth. This time, we explored farther downriver. As soon as once more, a smallmouth smashed my tube jig earlier than placing up a spectacular, rod-doubling struggle. After releasing it, I caught a small pike and Aliyah tied right into a bass earlier than we determined to move again.

We have been barely within the door when Liz got here by, excitedly telling us, “I feel she received one.”

After we arrived at her stand, Abby’s story isn’t as promising — a bear got here by however didn’t strategy the barrel. She took a shot however wasn’t positive she hit it the place she wished. We looked for blood or signal that it was hit, with Mike and I each figuring it would head in the direction of the river.

“If solely we might discover some blood,” I stated. She seemed down, replying, “Like this,” pointing at a single drop.

I stood by the spot whereas Mike, Karen, and Abby seemed for extra. A path emerged and we adopted it. Mike and Abby noticed the bear on the identical time in a tangle of brush on the creek’s edge.

Seeing Abby ring the bell that evening, smiling broadly from taking her first massive recreation animal, prompted two different smiles as her mom and I have been happy with our daughter’s efforts.

Getting there:

Take Freeway 65 west, between Elk Lake and Matachewan, in northeastern Ontario.

Value:

The six-day bear-hunting bundle is $1,699 per hunter and contains lodging, a ship and motor, baited stands, and retrieving/processing of the bear.

Lodging:

There are 11 cottages with one to a few bedrooms, plus just a few trailer websites. Amenities embrace a seashore, docks, sauna, retailer, and waterslide. Boats and ATV leases out there.