I am asked many times just what it is like to hunt a bear and to be honest the excitement and emotions of a good hunt are so hard to put into words. From the anticipation of looking at trail camera pictures of true bruin bears that were present only a few hours ago, to the realization as you are posing for pictures you have just harvested a 200, 300 or even 500lb. pound animal that the majority of world will never even see in the wild.
Now the most popular question I am asked is
“What is your success rate?” Now that is a very
tricky question as we are not a numbers outfitter
and we do not cater to guys that want to just
blast any bear and then head to the bar for the
rest of the trip. Our hunters tend to be a dedicated
hunter, a true sportsman that is looking for a
quality hunt, quality animals and quality
opportunities. This is also why we place a cap on
the number of hunters we book every year, and it
is a small number. Now for those that are shopping
by the numbers most years our hunters run 90-100% shot opportunity; as I said many of our hunters pass on 200lb or even 300lb class bear waiting for the opportunity of a 350-500lb plus brute and we see several each year. Now the 2010 season was tough, most likely the toughest season we have ever encountered. With scorching temps’ pre season and extremely active bear I was worried about having enough freezer space for them all, I even hired extra post kill help ahead of time it looked so good. The night before opener gale force winds came up and the temperature plummeted for the next two and half weeks and the wind never stopped…it was tough. Now as I was worried that some of my hunters were disappointed and was digging deep to figure out where the bear went I was shocked to have hunters want to book next year before they left camp!? That’s when I truly realized that after all these years it really is not all about the numbers but about the quality of the experience.
Now for the numbers as some guys have to see them and I don’t blame them. On a six year average our firearms hunters are hitting 90% success or the opportunity to take a bear; as I said several pass on bear looking for Boone and Crockett class animals.
Our archery hunters tend to run in the 65-70% range. Now I have also noticed our archery hunters do a lot more shooting with a lot less dragging and they do not see as many bear. Of course the challenge is why several guys do archery hunt but with bear placing a hunter in such close proximity to the bait (15-20 yards) does increase the odds of detection and noticed hunter error and in turn decreases the amount of bear or shot opportunities.
For those of you that are new to hunting with the Petrowske family we are now offering these amenities.
- 1)
Baits that are tended DAILY, no question about it every bait is tended every day from the start of bear baiting season until the day you take a bear!
- 2)Top of the line trail cameras on the active baits to verify the presence and huntabilty of quality boars. We will be placing slideshows on display for hunters to check out throughout the day as we come in from that mornings bait checks.
- 3)A walk in on site freezer within the “Bear Center” to properly clean and care for bear after the kill.
- 4)On site scale that will verify the weight up to 525lb.
- 5)Tracking, retrieval and even assistance field dressing by bear pros Kelly and Jonny Petrowske.
- 6)Comfortable ladder stands set for the archer, muzzleloader or rifle hunter on active, proven baits. some remote locations we are using X-Large platform stands
- 7)…and the most important of all is hunting with an outfitter that has been working in the Upper Red Lake area for four generations.
This year we will be charging the same amount as before at $1,000 per hunt per hunter with seven consecutive days of hunting allowed if needed. This is a semi-guided hunt; basically we do everything but sit in the stand with you. Once you have been shown your stand it is in your hands whether you use a bow, muzzleloader or rifle. No need to worry as we are normally posted within a few minutes of your location for any assistance that may be needed. This does allow you to go to your stand early or later if you chose and you are not restricted to a “drop and hunt” method that we feel is very impersonal and ineffective. Once you take a shot we are on the scene in full force with you tracking, retrieving and taking numerous photos of you and your trophy before we haul it to our Bear Center for after kill care.
Lodging and meals are not include with the hunt but both Beacon Harbor Resort and Westwind Resort offer great lodging opportunities. I also higly recomend both places not only for the great facilites but also the opprtunity to dock your boat or rent a boat and take in some fishing during the AM hours. You will be staying on the shores of Upper Red Lake one of the best walleye fisheries in the state and one of the top trophy pike waters in the nation. Not to mention hunters often find themselves looking for something to do as I tend baits and gather trail cam pics in the morning.
Westwind Resort- http://www.westwindwaskish.com
Beacon Harbor Resort- http://www.beaconharborwaskish.com
A few things that we would like to recommend too enhance your hunt and help make for an outstanding experience.
- 1)If you have an ATV or can borrow one I highly recommend you bring it. The more mobile you are the deeper into big boar country we can place you hence the bigger bear.
- 2)All guns/bows should be open sights with sights that excel in low light conditions. You will be hunting in some of the deepest darkest areas you have ever seen. Low light conditions come long before legal shooting hours end. This is not a place for scopes or peep sights.
- 3)Fixed blade broadheads typically out perform mechanical blades when it comes to the thick skinned and heavy boned black bear. We have had some great success with the Rage Broadheads®.
- 4)NO ThermaCells® . I don’t care if they advertise as scent free, natural scent or even if they smell like a Hawaiian flower in an ocean breeze I do not want them around the baits or hunters. If I can smell them the bear can smell them ten times better. Hunters using them last year where also hunters we had a hard time keeping bear around verses first and second day kills with hunters not using them. Bring a bug suit and leave the ThermaCell at home.
- 5)Practice shooting your weapon at the end of legal shooting hours, many hunters are surprised how sight pictures and point of aim changes in poor light conditions or when wearing a bug suit.
The season starts September 1st this year and we will concentrate
on the first three weeks of season to put our clients in close range
of the big boars. According to the State of Minnesota applications
will become available towards the end of March and will be due no
later then May 1st.
If you are interested in hunting the 2011 Black bear season with
the Petrowske family please contact Jonny P
at outdoors@paulbunyan.net and I will place you on the
application reminder list that will be sent out at the end of
March. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have concerning the 2011 black bear season.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Jonny P
Fred Petrowske, Jonny P's Great Grandfather standing at one of his line shacks, otherwise known as trapping cabins. Over four generations the Petrowske family have been sharing the deep northwoods of the Upper Red Lake area with the Black Bear.
