Mark, Zack, John and Jim Cunningham joined Fred Bouwman and I on a fall fishing and grouse hunting trip during the last week of September 2023. It was outstanding! 47 grouse and all the Walleyes we could ask for. Mostly great fall weather – great trip!
The trip started poorly, as I found that the wheel bearings on my big trailer were going out. So I could not bring the 6-wheeler.
Fortunately, I was able to take my son Andrew’s boat on it’s maiden voyage to Canada.
Monday, September 25, 2023
I picked up Fred at Eagle River Hospital (Thanks Kris) at 8:15 and arrived in Two Harbors MN at 12:10 just after the Cunningham trucks arrived. Put gas in the truck and we had lunch at Culvers. Cool and rainy. Bought beer at the duty free store. No problem at the border, easy to register our shotguns.
Sunny and 70 in Thunder Bay. Checked into the Airlane Hotel, a bit of a dump with no A/C in our room. Had Boston Pizza delivered.
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Up early to check out of the hotel. Breakfast at Tim Horton’s. Picked up bait at the Silver Minnow. Very little traffic on 527, just a few logging trucks. Ahead of schedule, so while John and Zack hunted, we checked out a new area. Talked to some moose hunters that were scouting the area and a father son team out grouse hunting with their side by side ATV. Found a nice boat landing and several campsites.
Sunny and 69 degrees – a beautiful fall day!
Zack shot his first grouse.
John and Zack shot 5 grouse.
John’s trailer broke down. The U bolts that hold the axle to the leaf springs had rattled loose and the axle had slipped back on one side.
The two guys on the ATV stopped and dove in to help fix the trailer. Kevin and Cole were very helpful.
Watched big beaver swim across a pond
When we got back to camp, we realized that Zack’s ATV has just a 1″ receiver, so we did not have a trailer hitch for the ATV. Mark used his truck to haul the boats down to the lake. A tight squeeze!
After getting the camp setup and the boats in the water, we enjoyed some steaks off the modified Weber grill and garlic bread.
Heard wolves howling and yipping in the distance – very cool!
Wednesday September 27, 2023
Clear morning with a heavy dew. Up early to enjoy a cup of coffee before heading out to hunt grouse.
Jim, John and I headed out in John’s truck. Zack was on his ATV. I shot my first grouse, less than a mile from camp.
I shot two more on the Italian camp loop.
Jim walked the road to the Far Back Jack Lakes and got 4 birds.
Zack found 7 birds together and got 3.
John got 2 on the Italian camp loop and the drive back to camp.
So 12 grouse – 7 Ruffed and 5 Spruce. Not bad for a morning walk in the woods!
Fred made biscuits and gravy for the hungry hunters.
Lake level is way down, tough to get into the boats.
The fuel pin on Mark’s motor broke off, so we fished 3 to a boat. River was very weedy. With 3 big men (Mark, Fred and I) in Andrew’s boat, we could not go very fast.
Fred caught a nice 18″ Walleye near Slip Bobber Point. Mark caught a lot of nice fish.
The Iowa guys had great fishing!
Zack was on fire catching nice fish!
An eagle was waiting for us on fish cleaning island. Jim got a great picture as he flew off.
12 grouse in the morning. 12 Walleyes in the afternoon!
We made it back to camp at the end of a beautiful day!
Fred put together Mark’s secret fish batter recipe. Fred and John had a nice rhythm going frying onion rings and fish in the Fire Disc. Very tasty!
John’s propane torch was just the ticket to get the campfire going.
Thursday September 28, 2023
John was up early to hunt the first old logging road at the top of the hill. The rest of us woke up to the sound of lots of shooting. He had tremendous luck!
We got up to enjoy a cup of coffee before heading out to hunt. We had a great day! 22 grouse for 4 guys in a couple hours. Wow.
Overcast skies and cooler weather. Fishing was slower. Tough to find bigger fish. we still cleaned our limit on the island.
Blackened fish tacos were a big hit.
Friday September 29, 2023
Up early, I hunted the first road were John had such good luck the day before. I picked up two birds.
The Iowa Cunningham guys also had slower hunting, but picked up 7 more birds.
Fred made eggs sandwiches with cheese and Canadian Bacon for breakfast.
We realized that we needed to be on the road early on Saturday to make it to our hotel at a decent time, so decided to forfeit our fishing to starting packing up. We pulled up my boat and Mark’s boat. We left John’s boat in the woods. We removed the axle from the trailer and left the remaining trailer parts in the woods.
I grilled brats while Jim made up a tasty batch of grouse breasts.
Despite the wet weather, we had a nice campfire. Even better after John and Jim dumped the hot oil on the fire!
A fire visible from space!
Full moon broke through the clouds.
Saturday September 30, 2023
Up very early to finish packing. Jim cooked up the leftover pork sausage and bratwurst. Fred made eggs and everyone made their own breakfast burritos.
After we packed away our shotguns, two grouse walked into camp. The rooster was strutting his stuff!
We packed quickly and we were able to take a team picture before we headed out at 9:30 am.
The skies cleared, it was a beautiful fall day as we drove out.
We saw 16 grouse on the road going out. Just taunting us!
Stopped to talk with the trapper Paul before we got on the main road. No breakdowns. An easy ride out. Made it across the border without any problems.
Traffic north of Two Harbors was backed up for miles! John stopped at Betty’s Pies, but caught up with us.
Made it through the construction in Duluth ok. Pizza delivered and a few beers to celebrate another fun trip.
Sunday October 1, 2023
Fred and I enjoyed a slice of Betty’s pies for breakfast
Steve Pelton 