When the phone rang one March afternoon I was elated to hear the voice of Devin Beebe, Owner of Timberlost Outfitting in Leoville Saskatchewan. He called to extend an invitation to myself and The Hunting Chronicles TV Show to come out and bow hunt big Saskatchewan black bears. The Guinness Book of World Records has yet to certify my response time but apparently I set a new a new speed record with my “Hell yes!” response.
The next two months were not speed records however as they seemed the longest 60 days ever! Although I have hunted for many years and unlike most hunters actually began my hunting career with archery equipment, I have never hunted bear. Where I live it is a several hour journey to bear hunting country so to put in the huge amount of effort it takes to scout out bait locations and continue to visit them to check and re-bait the barrels is not feasible for time or finances. As such, this opportunity to hunt the massive Timberlost territory with professional guides and bear baiters was a chance at a life’s dream.
As Devin sent me photos of the types of baits and stands we’d be sitting I immediately set out to put together my needed equipment. The first call I made was to Hunter Safety System. Although Timberlost Outfitting has harnesses available for their clients use I am one of the Plus-Size hunters out there and was able to locate the appropriate sized harness for myself and my “Large-and-in-Charge” hunting brethren through the good folks at HSS through their website. If you find the fall restraint systems out there are a little light weight for you too give Hunter Safety System a call and you’ll be sent the best in the market system designed for larger hunters in no time flat.
When the day in May finally arrived I might as well have slept in my truck as I was beyond eager to drive the short 3 hours north to Edmonton in order to connect with my good friends Chris David and Don Norman of The Hunting Chronicles. Once our gear was securely stowed away in the uber cool Mossy Oak Treestand camo wrapped THC Production truck we hit the highway for an additional 3 hour drive to Lloydminster, Sk. where we’d spend a sleepless night. A rainy morning saw us up at the crack of dawn to finish our journey with a final 4 hour trip north east to Leoville, Sk.
With our adventure clearly in sight we met with Devin and his Dad Tom and set off for our final hour drive to the base camp. Or so I had hoped. In fact, our adventure was started but the destination was still a 2 hour quad ride in through some of the most beautiful forests I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing! Devin and Tom carefully loaded all of our gear and camera equipment into custom made quad trailers for the trip in. Although through constant rain our drive in on the 4-wheelers was a blast. It was safe but challenging enough to let you know you are way off the beaten path.
Stopping occasionally to check our load Tom regaled us with stories of his youth having been born and raised in the now abandoned town site of Timberlost. Once a small farming community nestled deep into the northern Saskatchewan forests Timberlost still shows amazing relics of it’s past with an overgrown cemetery, store site and various trappers cabins, etc. Tom’s heart felt recollections of this area was an amazing experience told by an expert tour guide the likes of which David Suzuki could learn from. With loads of pictures shot and stories heard we rolled into our home for the next six days.
I could not believe what I was seeing this deep into the forest. On the shores of a huge lake with no name chalk full of northern pike was a true hunter’s oasis. The camp consisted of a mechanics shed, guides cabin, hunters cabin and hunters changing cabin all powered by a diesel generator far enough away that we never heard its welcoming hum.
As if that wasn’t enough comfort the hunter’s cabin has satellite TV so we could watch The Hunting Chronicles on WildTV. Still not impressed? Well did I mention the wood fired hot tub overlooking the lake?
Once our gear was stowed away in the three bedrooms of the hunter’s cabin Devin’s Mom Barb set forth a feast in front of us that would satisfy any food critic. This camera shy angel of the woods is an absolute magician in the kitchen. We stuffed ourselves on the best meals I have ever tucked into on any trip. Let’s just say after 6 days of Barb’s cooking I was clearly going to put the Hunters Safety System fall restraint to the ultimate test if I fell out of my stand!
Each day we road our quads to any number of stands that Devin has expertly laid out over his huge 88,000 acre spread. His tree stands are custom welded to his own specifications and are roomy enough for even the largest outdoor writer amongst us. With a full 22’ high reach each stand had a clear view of the action and wide open shooting lanes.
Day one I found myself in a stand overlooking a gorgeous beaver dam choked pond. The shear number of bears that hit this stand within mere moments of climbing up into it set my hands to shaking. An adrenaline filled emotion I hoped would not hinder my shot when I chose to take it.
With Devin by my side running camera we filmed some sort of odd love dance between a very large sow and a love struck boar with romance on his mind. Undeterred by the feeding sow’s huffs and jaw snaps the boar continued in to the bait barrel to feed next to his new girlfriend. Quickly her mood shifted from agitation to intrigue and she began a playful pushing match with the hungry Casanova. However after an entertaining 15 minutes of this pushing and literally dancing on hind legs the fickle sow suddenly turned evil and beat up the smaller boar and chased him off into the bush. Frighteningly similar to some first dates I’ve had.
With a mixture of driving rain and snow day two was a wash out. But Barb, knowing how to pamper anxious hunters made us feel better by expanding our mid sections an extra size with her culinary artistry. Sitting around the wood burning stove swapping hunting stories and telling lies life long bonds were solidified amongst friends both old and new.
Day three dawned with a welcomed break in the weather. We caught a few pike during the afternoon and the evening sit was incredible and resulted in a dozen bears hitting our bait but not the one for me. Chris and Don were sitting another stand approx. 1 hour from ours and reported similar non-stop action. With Don filming Chris passed on each opportunity instead favoring to wait and see what tomorrow would bring.
During days 4 & 5 I sat another 7 hours each and I was beginning to question my choosy ways. Lots of bears were hitting the stands but not one I wanted to hang my tag on as my first bear ever. You only get to shoot your first bear once, right? My resolve to arrow a respectable bear was now becoming my Achilles heal. After all “respectable” is a relative term and beauty is in the eye of the tag holder… but still I chose not to release an arrow.
My anxiety grew when Chris and Donny came back to camp with Don’s first ever bow killed bear. A real nice bear with an odd almost bald head that reminded him of a buddy back home. Names have been with-held to protect the innocent. When the boys arrived at their stand they found 3 bears already at the barrel feeding and one up in their stand waiting for them! With results like this the mood was that tonight was going to prove to be a great hunt. While Chris chose to pass on the bear he and Don switched roles and the camera was quickly passed to Chris who shot some amazing footage of Donny expertly placing his arrow completely through both lungs and buried it solidly into a log on the far side of the bear. The APA Innovations Pit Viper bow had done it again. With the stories and footage shared I settled into a long and sleepless night.
Our last day of the hunt was upon us. Chris, being the seasoned pro that he is, simply relaxed and waited for the evening hunt ahead of us. I however busied myself by throwing some arrows down range at the camp’s rifle range. Don Norman, being the good friend and gentleman that he is aided me by accompanying me and boosting my confidence with welcomed lies of how good my shooting form was. Don is an amazing archer and an even better liar.
When 2PM rolled around and Devin gave the order to mount our Kawasaki steeds for our last ride to the stands my stomach was in knots. Was this going to be it, or was I coming home empty handed with a tag sandwich in my future? Either way, I intended to enjoy my last hunt in this hunter’s paradise. After arriving at Chris’ last stand for the hunt both he and Donny patted me on the back and assured me my night had come and I was destined to arrow my first bear today. A well known fact within the hunting industry is that Chris David and Don Norman are not only wonderful examples of sportsmanship they are also true gentlemen who I am fortunate to call my friends.
Up in the stand and waiting for “my bear” to show up Devin, looking around the camera winked my way and whispered “Good luck Bud”! Now the butterflies in my stomach were full grown pterodactyls. Not only did this whole week culminate to these short remaining hours but, I have never been comfortable with heights. A fact, I had been desperately trying to suppress, only find out later that Devin, was not fooled one bit. Let’s face facts if a man my size falls from a tree 22’ in the air there is a good chance I will be striking oil!.
A couple hours into our sit we had a huge thick and shinny coated sow come into our bait with two large cubs from the previous season. Although legal to kill I instantly considered this sow off limits. She was easily 300+ lbs but I decided at the beginning of the week not to kill any sow with cubs of any age. This is a personal decision each hunter must make when faced with this choice. I don’t judge anyone on how they side on an ethical or moral hunting decision as long as they stay within the laws of the zone in which they are hunting. In the end we all govern ourselves and must set our own ethical limits.
I enjoyed watching the antics of the giant sow and her cubs feeding and playing at our stand for at least an hour but, could not help but wish she’d hurry up and get out of town so other bears could come in to feed that I could hopeful launch an arrow on. With my wish granted the cubs and their protective matriarch finally ambled off into the thick brush… and 3 more hours passed with nothing more then some squirrels to look at! Was I going home empty handed on my first bear hunt? Did I make a mistake being so choosy? As I looked at my watch I figured I had about 3 more hours to think about it.
With approximately an hour and a half of legal shooting light left in my hunt Devin suddenly whispered an alert and pointed to a black shadow slowly moving in the brush. With ever step the bear took my heart pounded louder and louder into my throat. Was this “my first bear”? I noticed behind the first shadow there were more shadows moving cautiously toward the barrels. Had my time finally come? Was my patience about to pay off? Just then the moving shadows broke into the quickly fading light, we were about to see what might be our last bears of the hunt. When the familiar face of the giant sow and her two cubs came into view my heart sank to the bottom of my stand. Now my thoughts really started to race. Did I make a mistake not taking the big sow? Was fate trying to telling me to get off my moral high horse? We’ve all had to make this decision before and my answer was still NO. This sow was not “my bear”.
Resolved to the fact that my week was coming to an end and I was about to return home without my first bear I remembered that the hunt is not about the kill but about the adventure and the camaraderie. I knew I was going to be able to hold my head up high and pen an article on how hunting is more about fun with good friends and getting out into the outdoors then about killing. I decided my article could speak more about the decision we make on an ethical level that define who we are as hunters. I started to think of titles for my article like “Getting lost at Timberlost” or “Finding yourself at Timberlost”. Suddenly my resignation was interrupted by the sounds of loud huffing coming not 20 yards from the feeding sow and her cubs. Unable to make out the source of the commotion the sow reared up on her hide legs to take a better look while her cubs bawled and scurried up nearby trees. With the determination made that the new comer was of no consequence to the safety of her cubs she resumed feeding.
With the light diming I wondered if there was enough time for the big sow to vacate the bait barrels and allow “my bear” to come in for a shot. With a full belly and her cubs brave enough to return to the ground the sow waddled off into the rapidly darkening brush. Quickly looking over our new visitor I determined this bear was respectable and worthy of my tag. Attaching my release just the way I practiced so many times before I quietly and slowly drew my bow. With the picture of my prize within my sights I felt adrenaline course through my veins once again. Fighting the jitters I released my arrow only to see it explode into sparks as it struck the bait barrel just above the bears head. Did I seriously just do that? After decades of hunting did I just get the fever? The nerve gremlin just bit me!
As my emotional rollercoaster hit yet another low I was beside myself to see that the bear spun back around and looked in to the brush where the big sow had left moments before. Satisfied that the coast was clear the bear resumed feeding without ever looking our way. I couldn’t believe I was going to get another shot at this bear! With his hands busy running the camera I whispered to Devin “As soon as that front leg steps forward I’m gonna ventilate her!” As though following a script the bear stepped forward, I released my arrow and the Rage 2-blade broadhead found its mark sailing through both lungs and exiting the far side. Within seconds we heard the tell tale death moan. My first bear was on the ground!
I spent 6 days fearful of falling from the tree but I don’t recall climbing out it this time. Perhaps I floated to the earth, who knows, I just remember picking up Devin in a bear hung and getting a big high five from the well accomplished outfitter. We found the bear piled up 15 yards from the tree. The massive blood trail left on the ground was not needed.
With my bear loaded up into the quad trailer we headed off to pick up Don and Chris who were lazing by the fire they had built. Scratching my head wondering what this was all about I saw a huge wide eared 300+ lbs bear with a giant creased head lying on the ground with Chris’ APA Innovations Hunting Chronicles edition bow sitting on top of it. Chris had filled his tag several hours ago and they were simply waiting for us. Now we were 3 up 3 down on our trip and I could not wait to get back to camp to compare stories and view all of the footage from both of us and of course to see what wondrous meal Barb had waiting for us!
This experience was one of a life time. I hunted some of the most amazing history rich territory I will ever be lucky enough to encounter. I hunted with old friends and made new ones who I will remain close with for the rest of my days. I passed on a huge sow but stayed true to my personal hunting morals a fact I shared with my young sons enabling me to hold my head high.
With over 88,000 acres of hunting land Devin Beebe will get you on to quality bears each time. Hunters at Timberlost Outfitting also kill massive whitetail deer each fall in similar custom stands. Devin now even offers wing shooters a chance to knock down some of Saskatchewan’s well known population of ducks and geese.
Timberlost is truly a unique and treasured place and Devin Beebe’s Timberlost Outfitting is a Hunter’s Paradise Found. Hey, that might just be my title…
Scott Pulvermacher is a passionate outdoorsman and freelance writer. He is a proud Pro-Staffer of The Hunting Chronicles TV Show.
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