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Bear Hunt report, August 28 to September 6, 2025, In Canada

Saturday August 30 My son and I flew to Winnipeg, MB Canada to hunt bear with outfitter Harry Walker of Sandy River Outfitters. https://www.sandyriveroutfitters.com/ We were booked for a 6-day hunt for baited bears.

We spent Saturday night in a hotel at Winnipeg Airport. Sunday morning Harry picked us up at the hotel and drove us out to his hunting property near Powerview-Pine Falls, Manitoba. The property consists of three lodges and a warehouse. From this location Harry operates 70 bear bait stations, some sites several hours from camp.

We stayed in a nice modern lodge-a three-bedroom lake cabin. Standard outfitter bunks in each room, single bed on top double bed on bottom. The lodge was clean and neat with fresh clean bedding and towels provided. Food was home cooked and incredibly Good. Harry’s wife Angie was our cook. I will get to that later.

Normally Harry has only 8 hunters per week. This week we had 9 hunters to accommodate a father and his two sons. There were 5 hunters staying in our lodge. The other 4 stayed in the neighboring lodge.

Hunting is afternoons only with hunters going to the blinds about 2pm and staying until last shooting light, about 8:30 pm. No morning hunting as there is too much chance of bumping bears in the dark, going in.
Hunting sites are stocked with a bait barrel and either a ground blind or a tree stand. Baits were refilled when you go to the stand and were obviously being used. Bait was old bakery goods. I hunted from a ground blind.

My son took his bear the first using his 30-06 with Vortex bullets.

I took my bear the second night night.

My rifle is a Ruger No. 1 in 450.400 3” NE with a Leupold VX®-3HD 1.5-5x20mm scope using 400 gr. Barnes TSX bullet in handloads.

The guides took those of us who had tagged out early fishing on the lodge pontoon boat on the Winnipeg River. We caught walleye, northern pike and small mouth bass. Pike and bass were catch and release for us. Walleye were catch and eat.

Since my son and I were flying we decided to have our hides processed into rugs in Canada. My US Taxidermist had suggested I at least have the hide tanned in Canada and shipped down. But after all consideration the cost of having everything done in Canada and then shipped to us was less than if we shipped and finished in the US. The cost include customs processing as well as shipping.

Saturday September 6 Harry drove us back to Winnipeg Airport and my son and I flew home

In summary I was incredibly pleased with this hunt. I have hunted with several outfitters over the past 35 years. Some good, some exceptionally good and a couple, mediocre. I must rank Harry Walker and Sandy River Outfitters as one of the best. Harry and his crew were warm, cordial, and personable. They went out of their way to make sure we had a great hunt. They were knowledgeable and skilled. Food was great, accommodations were clean and neat, equipment was well maintained, and game was present. If you are considering an Outfitted hunt for Bear, I would suggest Harry Walker and Sandy River Outfitters. Harry also offers whitetail deer and wolf hunts. https://www.sandyriveroutfitters.com/contact-us/

Edited by DoubleD (15/09/25 06:17 AM)