I just got my award,clock and certificate from the Manitoba Biggame trophy assoc.
I'm happy and wanted to share the news. My bear was the largest taken by an MLOA outfitter in 2004

Hey, don't stop there, tell us the whole story, with pictures. Good shooting

Yeah Carl, You seem to be a bit short in the "details" about the actual hunt.

Well. I don't how to post a picture, but if one of you would e-mail me I could send one and perhaps you could post it for me.
As to the actual hunt, it was kind of an accident. I've hunted every spring since 1968 and have taken many bears some in the 20" + class. Last Spring we had horrible weather . My friends had hunted the same place for 3 weeks before I got there, no bears, When I got ther June 1st, it was still raining and blowing but caught an hour break the first evening, I said lets go, I sat untill the rain and fog made it too dark to see well. I climbed out of the stand walked to the old trail to go out and ther was a bear in the trail about 70 yds. Considering the weather and my friends luck, I decided to shoot. The bear fell in the middle of the trail in a water filled rut, couldn't tell what I had, the guide and I couldn't budge the bear. Went to get a heighbor with a front loader and he and his sons rolled it into the loader and put it in the back of mt truck, tried to take a picture of a black bear in my trucks black bed liner in the mist and it just didn't turn out too go. But you can see it at www.pinelakeoutfitters.com Didn't really know what I had untill the taxidermist called me when I got home and told me unstreached it sq. 7' 4" had a green score of 22" and weighed 556 lbs. I shot it with my BLR 81 in .358 win. with .250 speer handloads 53/748/vel 2370(Ive shot 17 bear with that little rifle)but have killed manyothers with other calibers.

Congrats on the great bear. I was hunting north of you this past fall. Got a good bear, but nothing like that monster! Really well done.

Hey Carl, GREAT story! Thanks for the update and congratulations again.

Carl,
Congratulations! Glad to see the .358 is still working for you.-Joe

.358

great bear, I went to the outfitters web site, excellent bear, excellent job!!!

Congrats!!!

Is this him?







Nice bear.

From http://pinelakeoutfitters.com/_wsn/page5.html

Yep that's the one and the outfitter said he had another that big on the bait but I'm not going this year. Hope someelse gets him.

Based on your luck, I called Al today. He's selling out. Said the new guy will probably raise rates. Bummer. I was interested in something in "the lower half" of Manitoba that produced quality bears. My buddy and I were on the phone with Al for a few minutes; nice guy, but selling out. Said to check back in 10 days to see if the deal fell through... which it probably won't. I've done The Pas and Thompson; dang, I hate those two-day drives each way.

Russ

Send me an e-mail I know another guy in the same area, talked with him yesterday, weather is bad right now he has several openings, is only 5-10 miles from Al's and very reasonable, a friend will be ther on the 22nd and the price he got was 1300. He found some 6" tracks around one of his bait a few days ago(thats a big one) I also know an excellent outfit SE of Winnipeg that takes big bears but they are a little pricey for me. I also know a great outfit around the park, saw 8 bears on a bait last night(lots of colored ones) You should see the blond I got there. He advertises with it on his brochures. clcbears@hotmail.com

Almost forgot, the outfitter I mentioned near Riding mt. Park has a bear twice as big as the one I shot and I have hunted him for four years but he seems to lead a charmed life. I have him on video and still pictures. He is still there as I talked with the outfitter this morning, the bear usually shows up around the first week of June. Something to think about.

Sent you a message... thanks a bunch.

Russ

great bear, congratulations.

.358: Congratulations on your bear...that must be one big black bear! It sounds like you have a lot of experience black bear hunting...good work!

It must be a Canadian tradition for the provinces to collect data on wildlife that hunters take and then reward them with a nice certificate, and/or patch...and in your case, a great clock, for providing them the information. I had the same experience in Alberta with a moose. I think it is great that they recognize your achievement.

Your bear is huge and exceptional and so deserves special recognition. Congratulations again.