Tom Beilke of Manitowoc went on a spring bear hunt in Saskatchewan, Canada, with two of his hunting companions.

This guided hunt was May 27-31 and about one hour north of Hudson Bay.

Beilke, a seasoned hunter, was looking for something special. On the last day of the hunt, he was in his blind when a very large boar came in and was checking out the camera. He kept his composure, as the bear was only 26 yards away.

At the crack of his Weatherby, chambered in .300 Win Mag, the bear took off.

Beilke said he didn’t even have a chance to reach for the bolt and the bear was out of sight.

Brush was bustling, and then all went silent.

Minutes later, the death moan was heard, so Tom knew he had the bear.

Beilke was sure of his shot, but hunters were instructed to stay in the blind until the guide came back for them.

It was about 90 minutes before dark, so the wait was on.

When the guide showed up, they took up the trail and found lots of blood, but the thickness of the brush had them crawling on their hands and knees.

The guide didn’t like that situation, so he said they were going to come back in the morning.

Around 4:30 a.m. the next day, they headed back to find the bear. In the daylight, it was easy to find — and what a bear it was!

The guide, who sees bears all the time, estimated the bear to weigh more than 500 pounds.

They got the bear quartered up and packed on ice for the happy drive home. All three hunters had scored on a bear during the trip.

Once home, after the mandatory 60-day dry down period, Beilke had Stan Zirbel measure the head. It measured at 20-8/16 inches, easily making it into the Boon and Crocket record book.

Fall fun:Plan your Manitowoc County fall: Here’s a rundown of all the festivals and parades planned for the last few months of 2024.

Senior fisheries biologist to speak at Collins Marsh Nature Center

Collins Marsh Nature Center educational speaker for September will be Jason Breegemann, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources senior fisheries biologist.

Breegemann’s talk will be in the Neustadter Nature Center, 20021 County JJ, Reedsville, at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18. Topic will be inland fisheries management in Manitowoc County.

Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

Gun Club’s Shoot for Vets is Sept. 15

Manitowoc Gun Club, 3112 Clover Road, just south of Manitowoc, will be holding its Shoot for Vets shoot Sept. 15. This 50-target, Lewis Class event will run 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The first 25 targets of the event will be from the 16-yard line. The second 25 will be handicapped, minimum from the 23-yard line.

Food and refreshments will be served throughout the day. Proceeds will benefit the Manitowoc County Veterans Council. Contact Tom Schulz at 920-973-4905 with any questions.

Snowmobile Club’s annual Bolle’s Car Show is Sept. 21

Lakeshore Snowmobile Club is holding its annual Bolle’s Car Show Sept. 21 at Bolle’s French Creek Inn in Francis Creek.

The show runs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is $5 per entry.

This is a judged show, with trophy classes for all vehicles. The day includes fun, food and refreshments, with 50/50 and bucket raffles.

‘Enchanted Forest’ set at Woodland Dunes

Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve in Two Rivers will present “Enchanted Forest” from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5.

Journey along a candlelit trail and meet some of Mother Nature’s misunderstood (costumed) animals and learn why they are important in nature.

This is an educational evening, not a scary one. Non-scary costumes and warm clothes are encouraged.

Registration is required and opens Sept. 16. Space is limited as group sizes are kept small. Timeslots start at 4:30 p.m. and are offered every 10 minutes. Call or email early to reserve a timeslot, as this event sells out.

To register, email Jess at jessicaj@woodlanddunes.org or call 920-793-4007. Cost is $5 per person for members or $7 per person for non-members with kids 3 and younger admitted free.

Hunting:Fall hunting forecasts and more outdoors news

Don’t forget the rules of tree stand safety

Archery season is here, so it’s time to brush up on tree stand safety.

Before hunting from a tree stand, review safety tips for using a tree stand to avoid accidents and ensure safe outings.

Here are the rules of tree stand safety:

• Connect your harness to your tether line and keep your tether line short.
• Maintain three points of contact while climbing in or out of your tree stand.
• Always use a haul line to raise or lower your unloaded gun or bow in and out of your stand.
• Use a lifeline while climbing up and down.
• Be sure to let someone know of your hunting plans, including where you will be and when you plan to return.
• Carry a cell phone in case you need to call for help.
• You should also inspect all of your equipment, especially straps for fraying or brittle pieces, and be mindful of the tree you are using, making sure it is sturdy enough to hold your weight and not weakened by disease.

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.