| Frank Greiner Wins a Bear Hunt with Bulldog Camps on Enchanted Pond in Maine |
| Chasing your dreams sometime comes to you out of no where. Imagine wanting to be a guide your whole life, from the first hunt your dad took you on. Imagine fulfilling that dream and living that life with your wife and two children in an area that is spectacularly beautiful and full of wild life and the very place you pictured yourself in, in those dreams. Imagine hunting your whole life on land that your grandfather purchased from his love of the outdoors for his two sons, only to be pasted down to share with their sons. While you appreciated all that was given to you, you still dreamed of a guided hunt with someone who truly lived the life from his passion of the outdoors on land that he too grew to know and love from his fathers |
| passion of the out doors. Imagine those dreams coming true for both people. Well dreams do come true, and I'm about to tell you of two peoples dreams and how we both met. My soon to be son-in-law, who has written for the NYOC, Ross Ireland, ask me if I would be interested in joining a club that was solely dedicated to the outdoors and purely the New York State outdoors. A club that was started by two men that had those same passions for the outdoors as did I. Of course I told him that I would check it out. I went to the NYOC web site and felt strongly that I should join. I received my hat and pins and decals along with a nice letter. The bimonthly magazine came and multiple e-mails of opportunities. All good stuff and to me a very worthwhile club. Besides we have all spent $35.00 a lot more foolishly. About a year later I got that call that would truthfully change my adult life for ever. Dan Leonard called to congratulate me on a single person bear trip to Maine to a brand new outfitter that they had just met in Syracuse and the gun show. Dan told me that it looked pretty special. That the outfitter Daren Savage, was in his thirties, married, had two kids. Dan said he seemed very knowledgeable and felt he had a very special operation going. Dan told me that it would be a single person hunt and did I have a problem going alone. I told Dan absolutely not. I had been wanting to go on a bear trip for thirty years. Having been hunting for about forty years in the Adirondacks and never seeing a bear during hunting season, I was as excited as a kid at Christmas.The name of the club was"Bulldog Camps". Dan sent me the information in a few days and told me it was a three day hunt. Dan sent me their e-mail address and told me to work out all the details with the outfitter. That night I looked up there the site on the computer and must have read it 100 times, boy was I excited. I could barely sleep. The next day I sent my e-mail off to Bull Dog Camps, telling them who I was, and that I had won this trip. It was in the spring so Daren was off to multiple Sports shows and hadn't told his wife Bobbi Jo that he had given away this trip. There was some confusion for several days until Daren filled Bobbi Jo in on what he had promised. Well much to my surprise it wasn't a three day hunt but a seven day hunt. They contacted me several times and were extremely helpful with all the details and what things I needed to bring. From the very beginning, I told them that I was never on a hunt, in fact I told them that I had only hunted in New York and primarily in the northern Adirondacks on family land. My primary contact was Bobbi Jo, and she was great. The season started the third week in May, and I booked my trip on Memorial Day Week. I left Syracuse 5am on Monday the 26Th,2008. My Volkswagen Golf was loaded to the ceiling I brought enough stuff for thirty people, I had no idea what to bring. Better safe then sorry because this place was in the middle of no where land. It took 9 hours to get there. Once you headed north off the main highway you were heading deeper into wilderness area. Many small towns along the way, gorgeous scenery. It was about two hours north off I95 on 131. I may have the routes wrong, but it was definitely north towards Canada. Once I reach my turn off point you traveled across 5 miles on a well maintained gravel road that was about five lanes wide. After that five miles, you turned left on to a very narrow two lane/one lane not so well keep-ed road. Did I forget to say I saw about 12 moose the last thirty to forty miles on the side of the road in the road, all over the road. Remember I told you I was driving a little VW Golf! Well, this road was not your typical camp road, it had more twists and turns, but I will say the directions and signage was perfect. As you got to the end of that first ten mile trek into this deep woods jungle you would make your last turn down hill, and I mean down hill entry into "BULLDOG CAMPS" Down you went, tight turns, and loose gravel,oh ya pot holes that could have eaten my Golf up. I would find out later Daren hadn't run his grader yet. On your final turn, like pulling up to "ON GOLDEN POND" was Bulldog Camp. Absolutely, breath takingly beautiful. The web site is nice but the real thing was incredible. The main house where Daren and the family stayed, And 6 or 7 cabins ranging from two people to ten person sleeping accommodations. Very clean very nice. The view from everywhere is spectacular. The lake is pristine clean and just incredible. |
| You were greeted by his son who helped stowed your gear away. I was in a cabin that sleeps 8 or more. Each location was stocked with firewood, dishes, refrigerator,hot water, shower and all the bedding and comfort's of home. Gas lights, just great.There was only one hunter from the first week who saw bear almost everyday. He left on Sunday. There was a husband and wife who were on their honey moon from South Carolina, both hunters, two guys from Mass. Mike and Bob, Mate from Vermont and myself, six of us. We all met for dinner Monday night in the mess hall. Very nice cabin converted to their dinning center. The food I will tell you was out of this world better than five star quality. Fresh home made breads and rolls everyday. Rib eye steaks, home made jelly, lasagna, moose meat that was incredible. I just can't say enough a bout Your dinner was a great bagged lunch that you usually ate on your way home around 10 to 12 pm. Did I tell you how good the meals were. Bobbi Jo is an incredible cook. Breakfasts were blue berry pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, ham, coffee, milk, juices, or tea. Just incredible. Home made soups, salads, more food than you should ever eat. Home made cookies, cakes and pies. I repeat, it was just incredible. |
| Tuesday the 27Th we ate at 7am, and you could go fishing on their private lake that had some tremendous native trout in it. That was your daily routine. At noon we all loaded onto the "SHORT BUS" for your 1 1/2 hour drive from Bulldog Camps to the Reservation that Daren had rented for the season. We had our bagged lunch's, Daren's tracking dog, his son, and the six hunters. Oh I almost forgot. We had an Indian guide named George that was in training with Daren . George was 6' 3" and a great help. On your daily trip, you would see moose fox coyotes, and very few people other the Rangers from the Indian reservation. Once you got to the hunt sites George would take two hunters and Daren would take the rest. We all were put in our stands by George or Daren, and you would be at least a mile and a half from |
| the next hunter. In the tree by three o'clock and picked up at between nine pm and ten pm. It was dark at ten pm too I will tell you that. We got two nice bear and everyone got shots. I have booked my trip for next year. It wasn't a bear shoot at the dump kind of program. This land we hunted has not had any bear hunting on it in over thirty years. The bear are sharp and not easily fooled. Daren and his family are the perfect hosts, his helper George and his son were very accommodating. The tribal wardens were wonderful and always ready to help. Each day was very organized, and they gave you all your moneys worth. Everyone in our group re booked for next year. It's a wilderness that is only used by the tribe and Daren, No Outsiders are allowed. |
| They frown on poor marksmen. If Daren has doubts about your shooting ability you will audition for him before your put in the woods. It's a great place for fishing, their coyote hunting is out of this world, snow mobiling is second to none. Two guys from Mass. that were in our group have been snowmobiling there and give it a 10 rating. I can't thanks Daren And Bobbi Jo and Dan and Jim enough for this experience, and I will be going back as a hunter and a camper for many years to come. |
| Traditional Maine Camps Bulldog Camps are located in a remote wilderness area in the western part of the state surrounded by Maine's beautiful mountains and woods. Situated on the pond's northern end, the camps offer panoramic view of Enchanted Pond and of the mountains that rise abruptly from its shores. Complete privacy is assured Bulldog's guests, as the camps are the only ones on the lake. Learn more about our traditional Maine camps Click here>> |
| Maine Black Bear Spring Hunts Maine has not had a Spring Bear hunt in over 25 years. For those that had the opportunity to hunt in the spring, most will agree that it was a great hunt. Thanks to the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe, Bulldog Camps is able to offer a Maine Spring Bear Hunt in the Western Mountains of Maine. Learn more about our Maine Spring Bear Hunting Click here>> |
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