Typical Day & Tactics

Either get directions from the outfitter and drive directly to the main lodge, or be greeted by lodge staff at the airport with round trip shuttle service. Depending on the time of your arrival, the first order of business is to get your licenses and tag from the outfitter, and time permitting, an evening bear hunt on the day of your arrival. Otherwise unpack, settle in, shoot your bow or gun to confirm the zero, have a nice dinner and call it a day. Unless the trail cameras have a specific bear active in the morning hours, bear hunting is usually a midday to evening affair. So typically, a hearty breakfast starts off each day. These packages come standard with 5 hunting days, and each outing per day lasts about 8-10 hours on stand. Hunters are driven to their remote, pre-scouted and actively baited stand sites by their guide, and once settled are left to enjoy the magic that can happen at close range in the bear woods.

Stands are normally 12 to 14-foot two-person ladder stands with a folding shooting rail, and room to place or hang your day pack and bow/gun. There is also room for a non-hunting observer or camera man. Baits are usually inside of archery range from the stands to accommodate all our hunters, and the 55-gallon barrels provide an excellent reference from which to judge a trophy caliber Black Bear. Black Bears are notoriously tricky to judge, and it can take some practice – until a no question monster bears rolls in! Continue hunting midday till dark until successful and depending on whether it’s the spring or fall hunting season, there may be other activities. There is a nice golf course nearby, or opportunities to fish for big Walleye or Freshwater Drum in the spring, or do some Coyote, Waterfowl or Upland bird hunting in the fall should the seasons overlap. Relax in the evenings with the gang, swapping stories over a lovely dinner, cocktails and a camp fire.

Landscape & Climate

The Interlake region is an area of central Manitoba sandwiched between two large inland lakes. It’s a productive landscape and also serves as a well-defined forest fringe environment where the northeastern most reach of the Prairies give way to the boreal forest. Here the last grain and pasture fields back on to big timber that extends north to the tundra. The transitional forest here is mainly comprised of poplar, aspen or birch, with isolated stands of jack pine and black spruce before giving way to the true conifer dominated boreal forests further north. Other species like Whitetail deer, Elk, Coyotes, Beavers, Waterfowl, Cranes, Gartner Snakes, Ruffed and Sharp-tail Grouse all share this expansive landscape with the Black Bears.

Hunts generally occur from midday until dark. In the spring season the days are long, and the afternoons have the potential to get warm. The trees are generally green and leafed out, so without a nice breeze expect some biting insects in June, and come prepared. In the fall season the leaves are starting to turn yellow, autumn is in the air and it cools down in the evenings. Pleasant conditions and it’s rare to see any temperatures dip below freezing. For detailed weather data, Wikipedia is an excellent resource for historic weather trends found in the “Climate” section available for any city worldwide.

Meals & Accommodations

Stay in a comfortable rural home style lodge on private acreage, located directly in the hunting area. Here everyone usually has their own space with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms for hunters. The lodge is complete with cell phone service, Wi-Fi and television to stay in touch or relax. It’s all kept neat and tidy with a large attached heated garage serving as a mud room, storing everyone’s gear during the hunt. There is even an archery and rifle range in the backyard to stay in sync with your weapon over the course of the week. The lodge is complete with a full kitchen, a full time cook and maid service. Enjoy a golf course 20 minutes away, firepits in the evening with a patio and hot tub coming soon!

Our hunters are fed 3 square meals daily, as well as snacks available anytime. Breakfasts are hearty with classic favorites like bacon and eggs, toast, pancakes and hash browns. Lunches are usually back at the lodge before heading out for the afternoon, but bagged lunches and snacks can also be assembled for the field if needed. Some popular dinner items include steaks, roast turkey or honey ham, chili, potatoes, soups, salads and desserts.

Key Equipment Suggestions

This hunt only requires basic equipment. A light day pack, good layered clothing, a light jacket or sweater, thin gloves and hat, 8-10x binoculars, rangefinder, bow, crossbow, rifle, muzzleloader or shotgun, comfortable waterproof boots, rain gear, headlamp, a thermacell or insect repellant (spring season), and a digital camera and any personal items cover the essentials. Medium action spin-cast fishing tackle for any fishermen if desired, and a shotgun, ammo, safety glasses and hearing protection recommended for bird hunters. Hunter orange is required during fall seasons.