100% Chilakoots

by Marlene Odahlen-Hinz

Chilakoot members have a long history of being some of the areas most committed bear hunters and this year was no different.

The 2005 bear hunting season began August 15 for 4 members-John & Jack Tinucci and Marlene Odahlen- & Jerry Hinz. They had made the same trip to The Bear Camp located near Armstrong, Ontario, two years earlier but only one bear came back to the USA that time. In spite of the 25% success rate, these 4 bear hunters knew this was a good camp and made plans to return.

This year things were different. The weather cooled and the blueberries crop was past its peak. Camp owners Duane & Barry Boucher helped the Tinucci’s set up their bait sites in what they call the “Valley of the Bears” and Ed Tulin assisted Marlene & Jerry in a spot they felt color-phased bears were coming in.

The first night Jerry Hinz and Jack Tinucci (a junior in high school) each brought back a bear with Jack earning bragging rights since his went 250.1 lbs. It was Jack’s first bear so you can imagine how proud his father, John was not only of the size but of the perfect “vital” shot his son had made. In fact, both Jack and Jerry’s bears went down within 20 yards.

The following afternoon was quiet but John and Marlene had lots of activity at the stand sites. Both of them knew that the posture and behavior of the bears that came in were an indication of something bigger waiting in the bush.

Day 3 John arrived back at camp at 6:30 pm wanting assistance to help bring his bear in that ended up weighing 180 pounds. In the Armstrong area, sunset isn’t until after 9 PM giving hunters lots of tree time.

Marlene saved the biggest for last. At 9 PM she radioed camp asking how much “young muscle” there was available because her bear only went 13 yards and she knew it would take more than 2 people to pull it out. It took 6 and tipped the scale at 340 lbs.

Once all the bears were processed, we all went fishing for walleyes and trout and we even had time to pick the wild blueberries the bears had missed. In 2 years we all plan to back-I think we’ve found a The BEST Bear Camp.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: All hunters use Rocky Mountain broadheads and shoot either Hoyt or Reflex bows. I prefer the Beman 500 Hunters as does my husband Jerry. Not one of the 4 bears taken by our group went over 20 yards.

THE BEAR CAMP is definitely worth a try for quality and quantity of Canadian bears. 807/475-6928. They may be already booked for 2006!

To see some images from the hunt, click on the "Pictures" link on the Home Page !