From Bows to Boats: A Wild Adventure in Northern Ontario

This spring, I was very lucky to head to Northern Ontario with my good friend Tim Kjellesvik of ‘GSM Outdoors’. Tim and I started our adventure, packing our rig and travelling from southern Ontario, driving the 13 hours up to the bear camp. We’d be hunting with Cameron Lake Fishing Lodges near Hearst, Ontario. 

We arrived late in the evening, so we never really got to see the place until the next morning. We woke to a beautiful setting on the shores of Cameron Lake. Multiple rustic, yet very comfortable cabins were spread out along the grounds, with the main lodge in the middle. They also offer cabins located on other parts of the lake as well as some unique lodging options, including a beautiful yurt and some very cool converted buses for remote moose or grouse hunters.

We met the whole crew at this lovely family-run operation in the main lodge. Owners Michel & Angela Chouinard, along with their kids Dillon, who is also a guide, Amanda and her boyfriend Max and guide Guillaume.

After the warm welcome, Tim and I prepped our gear and shot our bows, just to make sure they were still shooting accurately before our first evening hunt.

Late morning, we checked and scouted several locations, reviewing the game cameras that were set up before we arrived. After finding a number of good bears on camera, we picked a few spots to set our stands.

By 4 pm, we were both in our respective spots, excited to see what our night would bring us. Tim would be hunting from the ground near a large river, while I was set up in a tree several kilometres away, inside a large section of forest.

Though Tim had a slow evening, I had a small boar come in early, who decided to climb my tree to check us out. After making it almost 8 feet up, he slowly climbed back down.

But the action didn’t stop there, as a young sow made her way in and sauntered around with the other young boar; these two would hang around for 45 minutes before coming back near last light.

Though neither of us had our target bears show, Tim and I very much enjoyed our first night in the woods and ended our day around the campfire with the rest of the guests and crew back at camp. 

On day two, we got some new game camera videos of a few good bears visiting one of the other sites we had previously set up some stands at. So, Tim changed locations and made his way into the new spot. But what happened next was a surprise for everyone.

Tim climbed his tree and was just getting his gear in order, while Director Michael Higgins was filming him from the ground, when Tim spotted one of the shooter bears working into the setup!

With Michael still on the ground filming, Tim started to ready his bow, while still in disbelief that one of the shooter bears was already moving in. Tim and Michael had to wait 19 minutes for the bear to finally give them a good broadside angle long enough for a shot. Tim made a great shot, and the bear only went 30 yards before expiring.

Guide Dillon joined Tim for the recovery, and even Dillon couldn’t believe how Tim’s hunt had unfolded. Not only was this a very unique and exciting hunt, but this was actually Tim’s first bear ever and first hunt in Canada! A hunt we’re sure he will never forget.

The next morning, Tim got busy skinning and butchering his bear. He first sharpened all the knives he would be utilizing for the processing. Having the right knives for all the different jobs is key, and Tim made quick work of his bear.

With a little time before I had to head back out to the bear woods, Tim and I took advantage of some fishing. Cameron Lake Fishing Lodges is well known for its great fishery, especially for its walleye. We headed out in one of the provided boats and motors from the dock and soon were into fish.

We managed to catch several nice walleye and pike in our short time on the water, and had a blast doing so. Throughout our week, whenever time would allow, you could often find us on the water, putting a clinic on the walleye. We found a jig head fit with a white or pink and white grub, and larger silver soft plastic swim baits, that were absolutely magic, often catching 20 - 30 fish each in only a couple of hours.

We headed back with enough time to enjoy a truly Canadian surf and turf meal back at camp. While owners Michel & Angela Chouinard fried up some fish and fries, Director and Cook Michael Higgins cooked up some of Tim’s black bear. 

After seasoning it with some Cabela’s Steak Spice and some other spices, Michael coated the cubed-up loin in flour and browned the meat. Then sautéed some onions, mushrooms and garlic before adding the meat back in and braising the bear meat for 1.5 hours in some liquid.

In the end, the braised bear was placed on top of fries and cheese curds, and covered in gravy to make the ultimate wild game poutine!

After eating way too much, I soon headed back into the bear woods on the third day. I was excited to get back in the tree, as I had checked several trail cameras, and I found a big bear now visiting another site we were keeping an eye on. After setting a new tree stand up late morning, I was up and in the tree by 4 pm, waiting for the bears.

I first had a young boar enter, but it left in a panic shortly after arriving. As the young boar ran off, my attention was drawn about 20 yards into the woods. I could see a big bear weaving its way through the timber. As it stepped out into the green moss-covered opening, I instantly identified it as the big boar from the trail camera. 

About 20 yards behind, I caught movement. It was black and slowly moving towards me, with tall trees blocking most of my view. As he stepped out into the opening, I could instantly tell it was the huge bear we had seen on the trail camera. We had an intense stand-off, with the bear stepping our direction and facing us, not presenting a good shot for a few minutes, yet it felt like an hour. Eventually, he turned, allowing me to draw my bow, and he gave me a great broadside shot.

After the arrow found its mark, the boar crashed 60 yards away. I was very happy to walk up to this bear and took a moment to admire this big Ontario boar before getting to work dragging him out.

What a hunt we both had, amazing bears, epic fishing and incredible food and company.

Big thanks to everyone at Cameron Lake Fishing Lodges. They run a great outfit in a great location in Northern Ontario. They have lots of bears and an amazing fishery. If that sounds like something you would like, please give Michel and Angela a call.

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