Anybody Heard From Steve or Topgun Yet?

Has anyone heard how the bear trip went yet?

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

I have been wondering that myself for days now.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

just waiting....hoping for their success!

I'm thinking they should be home today or tomorrow right?

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

we know they were taking phone cards - ya think they'd care enough to call!

Patience guys!
I'm sure when they get back and done tellin everyone in their family
they will be posting pics and tellin us all about the trip.

Hunt Hard, Hunt Safe and enjoy what you got in life
Paul Snyder
LM NAHC,NRA,SCI,DU

ORIGINAL: duckwild

Patience guys!
I'm sure when they get back and done tellin everyone in their family
they will be posting pics and tellin us all about the trip.

I know - I was just kidding around!

ya I know. I can't wait to see pics and hear all the stories too!!

Hunt Hard, Hunt Safe and enjoy what you got in life
Paul Snyder
LM NAHC,NRA,SCI,DU

ORIGINAL: orduckhunter

we know they were taking phone cards - ya think they'd care enough to call!

Hey, your right!!....THATS IT!!!! THEIR GROUNDED...

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

I just got back late this evening guys and I thought a quick synopsis was in order, with pictures and more to come in the next couple days.  Yes, they did allow me back across the border, but it was touch and go there for awhile, LOL!!!  We flew in at noon on Sun, the 24th, and back out yesterday, the 31st, at noon.  During that time all we had was a satellite phone for emergency use and thank God we didn't need it.  The flights in and out were absolutely fantastic, as was the wilderness adventure the entire week, with only the faint sound of an airplane engine several times the entire week!!!  I just found out my Wings are up 2-0 in the Stanley Cup finals and the Tigers are up by 4 games in BB when I got the computer fired up a few minutes ago!  Up there I really didn't care who was doing what, but it's nice to know my teams are right up there!!  
Our days were long with bait checking and fishing starting around 7AM each day and we were able to hunt until after 10PM with supper following the hunt.  Bedtime most nights was between  midnight and 1AM.  Full light that far north was around 4AM and the days will be even longer for the next several weeks until things start reversing towards winter.  The weather was still below normal for late May with ice in the bottom of the boats several mornings.  In fact, six inches of snow fell a few days before our week started, but was gone when we arrived.  The late Spring hampered bear movement with only two sightings, one by a guide and one that came into my stand and left just as quickly the middle of the week.  Fishing was also slowed by the cold Spring, but we caught quite a few pike for meals, as well as the occasional walleye.  Monty was absolutely great and tried his best under the weather conditions he has now faced two years in a row.  I'm off to bed and will try to start posting some pictures and giving a better description of the week as it unfolded sometime tomorrow.

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

DANG!

Sorry it werked out the way it did for y'all, top' ... but ... we all know that's one of the pitfalls of enjoyin' Mother Nature ... sumtimes she's cranky, and it doesn't help our efforts ...

(I've had plans for several seasons that were altered significantly by weather conditions ... some to the point of not even leavin' home, and missin' the hunt entirely ... but it sounds as if y'all had a good time, as much as wuz possible ... )

Lookin' forward to fotos ...

All of life is six-to-five against, just enough to keep you interested. (Damon Runyan)

Gravity makes all the important decisions ... (John R. Powers)

NRA, REMF, PF, NAHC-L, NAFC-L, KC, NPPA

Welcome home Top,sounds like you had a good time in spite of the weather and bear not doing their part to make it better. Looking forward to pics and a few stories. Sleep well.
Steve Albers

Glad to have you guys back man. Sorry about the bruins but all else sounds fantastic, despite the weather.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

I know that feeling - it's great to get out and experience nature, but a bummer when you don't get a shot!

Glad you made it back safe. Long way from home.
 
My outfitter said with it being late this year that I should be in real good shape next week. Lets hope someone tells the bear to be there lol.

I got back home last night -- Monday -- around 10:30 p.m. after amassing over 3400 miles on my truck between Springfield, Missouri, Carrot River, Saskatchewan and Bissett, Manitoba and back home to Springfield, and hunting bear in two provinces.  Needless to say I am not quite recovered from the trip home just yet.  I still feel a little punchy and I am trying to shake a moderate cobweb affliction at the moment. 
 
It was great meeting and hunting with the winner of our Free Manitoba Bear Hunt/Fishing Adventure, Mike Stephenson "Topgun 3006".  I had an overall blast despite the weather and the lack of bear activity.  Monty is always an awesome host and he tried as hard as he could to get the bears active, but Mother Nature won out again.  The interesting note is that the weather was just as bad in Saskatchewan as it was in Manitoba this spring even though each hunt took place a week apart.  
 
When the cobwebs completely clear I'll post more.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve  

Welcome back guys. Hope you had a good time. I understand the bear problem. Been having a few myself. See the bear. See the bear run. See Rick cry. It's all good. Now I move into the work on the house phase for a few weeks. Then it is Prairie dogs and rancher butt kissing {so to speak} and scouting. Got a whole lot of new ground to cover this summer. Plus I just talked to another bud back home in Wis. and he is planning on coming out for pronghorn and buying an over the counter cow tag for elk. Lots of scouting to do. Can't wait. Gives me more excuses to go out into the woods. As if I couldn't come up with an excuse at any time.

Only reason I ever needed to get in the woods was  when my wife saod, You aint gone yet, or don't you need to go hunting somewhere.  LOL   Glad to have y'all back safe and sound. Well, maybe safe anyways.  LMAO

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Welcome back guys.
Sorry to hear that the weather and bears didn't co-operate, but hey
I always said it's not about always taking game, it's the time spent in the woods and with friends that
make it memerable.

Hunt Hard, Hunt Safe and enjoy what you got in life
Paul Snyder
LM NAHC,NRA,SCI,DU

Thanks to you all for wishing us a safe return and for welcoming us back home.
 
I am feeling a little more normal today as the effects of being away from home for two weeks, sitting on stand for hours on end and driving what amounts to be a trip across the country from LA to New York -- 2787 miles -- and then another 647 miles to boot from Springfield, Missouri to Carrot River, Saskatchewan to Bissett, Manitoba and back home to Springfield, Missouri (my total: 3434 miles)! 
 
Although the hunt didn't turn out the way we had hoped I had a lot of fun with "Topgun" and the rest of our crew.  We'll pool our photos and stories and share them with you once we have them all gathered up. 
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve