CAMP INFORMATION
Peribonka Lodge is located 450 miles northeast of Montreal and represents one of the last untouched hunting and fishing destinations in Eastern Canada. This comfortable camp boasts hardwood floors, private rooms and a dining lounge with a spectacular view overlooking a secluded bay where bears are spotted almost every day. As the only camp on a lake that is over 40 miles long and with thousands of square miles of territory there are plenty of unwary trophy bears for any hunter. With over 400 miles of shoreline, dozens of secluded bays and countless rivers and creeks to explore there is always plenty of pike waiting to flash into action. Whether you are looking for that trophy bear or endless pike action come join us at Peribonka Lodge for the wilderness experience of a lifetime.
MISCELLANEOUS
Nearest community: Saint Ludger-de-Milot Nearest Town: Alma
Nearest Airport: Alma Hotels & restaurants: Yes
Doctor & hospitals: Yes Liquor outlet Yes
Meals: Are served in our central dinning area. Typical meals that you can expect are as follows:
breakfast: Bacon and eggs, pancakes and sausages, hot or cold cereal, toast and jam, coffee or tea.
lunch: Home made soups, fresh salads served with a variety of meals such as roast beef, pork loin, chicken, fresh baked fish, baked ham, pasta and a variety of alternatives and combinations. For dessert: fresh home made pies, cakes and other tasty treats.
diner: Since hunters will be returning to camp late in the evening after their hunt (at approximately 10:00 PM) – a late supper will be provided to include hot soups and sandwiches with a variety of cut meats and cheeses. For dessert: apples, oranges, canned fruit, puddings and other treats.
For hunters and non-hunters in camp – supper will be served in the dinning room between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM. The food that we provide in camp assures that no one goes hungry during a week’s hunt at Peribonka Lodge. We can provide alternative meals for individuals requiring a specific intake due to dietary limitations.
HUNTING INFORMATION
Permits: Bear hunting permits are not included in the package rate. The price of the permit will be added to your balance due. Permits will be pre-issued and provided on your arrival in camp. Fishing permits will be available for purchase at camp and are payable in cash or travelers’ checks in Canadian funds or US equivalent (Bear permit $150, fishing 7 days $35.00, fishing catch & release only $10.00).
Safety Obligations: Every hunter, every guide or person accompanying a hunter must wear an orange colored fluorescent garment, or display an orange colored fluorescent material that covers his/her back, shoulders and chest. This material must be at least 2,580 square cm (400-sq. in.) and must be visible from all angles at all times.
Authorized Arms and Ammunition: While rifles of 6mm (.243) caliber or greater, using center fire cartridges are permitted for bear hunting in Quebec - we strongly recommend magnum caliber’s such the .30-06 Springfield, 7mm Remington Mag. and 300 Winchester Mag. or bigger calibers loaded with 180 to 250 grain bullets. When it comes to stopping bears – bigger is definitely better!
Bears Are Tough To Knock Down: They are thick skinned, large boned and very muscular. Their dense fur and fatty flesh greatly reduces the probability of a blood trail; therefore, we recommend a 30 caliber or larger caliber rifle equipped with a low powered scope (1x to 3x power max.). A high powered scope hunting bear in close range (20 to 50 yards) in dim light is not what you want! Whatever rifle you choose to bring, it is imperative that you use a heavy weight premium bullet such as a Nosler Partition, Barnes-X, or Winchester Fail-Safe. Lastly, study the anatomy of the bear and practice at the range! These pointers will help to ensure a successful and memorable trip to the North Country.
Archery: Bows of 40 pounds or more of pull and steel-headed arrow tips with a cutting diameter of 7/8” or more are the minimum requirements to hunt black bear in Quebec. Today’s compound bows are more than capable of clean, fast kills. We recommend bows with a minimum of 55 pounds draw and aluminum arrows tipped with multi-bladed broadheads.
Game Conservation: There is someone on hand at camp that will cape and skin out your trophy. The trophies will be salted and boxed for your return home. For hunters who are driving or flying– we highly recommend bringing a cooler to facilitate the transportation of your game back home.
HUNTING BLACK BEAR
Our hunts are conducted over bait. Baiting starts in early May and will continue throughout the hunting season. We will be baiting an average of 2-3 baits for every hunter booked. Various types of bait are used such as meat, fish, grain and sweets. The selection of one type of bait to another depends on the time of the year and a particular bear's preference. Baits are initially visited and re-baited every second day to start and then every day once a bear starts feeding. Our baits are separated by a minimum of 2 to 3 miles to eliminate the possibility of a single bear using two sites.
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During the spring we mainly attract the larger boars to bait. Females with cubs will generally stay clear of the males due to their aggressiveness in the spring towards the cubs, which they will kill on sight. Occasionally females with cubs will visit a bait site - so hunters should be careful. While it is legal to shoot females in Quebec, we prefer that females with cubs not be killed, if at all possible. Once the bear have discovered the baits, they will generally stay within a mile or two of the bait and sometimes much closer. Hunters must approach their bait stands carefully and try to remain as quiet as possible during their evening hunt.
Black bears have one thing in mind and that is to get to the food at the bait. They will generally start approaching late in the afternoon and may be as close as 100 yards in the early evening just waiting for that preferred cover of darkness. A bear might be spotted early and give the impression that he has been scared off. This is generally his reaction to the remaining light still apparent in the clearing where most baits are placed. He might do this two or three times before he feels comfortable and starts feeding at the bait. This is the only time that a shot should be considered. Hunters must be patient and be assured that the bear gets a taste of what is at the bait and let him come out when he is good and ready. Impatient hunters shooting too quickly and not waiting for the perfect shot wound many good bears every year.
While we are aware, understand and will accept certain conditions that may on occasion produce a wounded bear – we reserve the right to terminate the hunt at anytime with no refund if we feel that irresponsible hunting practices are the cause for a wounded bear.
THE CLIMATE
The weather in central Quebec in the Spring is generally stable with good reasonably weather. Rain is normally of short duration so hunters should come prepared for sunshine and/or rain. The layered concept works well here. Start with light loose fitting pants, undershirt and loose fitting long sleeve shirt. A medium weight wool jacket or down vest can be used during the early evening when the temperature is cooler. Hunters can expect colder weather during our early season hunts of late May and early June and should bring additional warm clothing.
TEMPERATURE Late May & June - Low: 34 / High: 78 Fahrenheit
WHAT ABOUT THE FLIES?
Our region and much of the country where you will be hunting bear will be swamp and muskeg, which produces black flies and mosquitoes. The solution to this part of bear hunting is being prepared! Clothing should be loose fitting but snug around ankles and wrists. In addition, clothing is taped around these areas of the body with duck tape. A fully enclosed zipped bug jacket that can be worn loose fitting over an outback hat is strongly recommended. If you have problems locating a fully enclosed type fly jacket – please contact our office and we can make arrangements to secure a jacket for you (approximately $75). For the protection of hands – we suggest snug fitting latex disposable gloves that offer full use of your fingers. The above will eliminate any and all insect bites but it will not eliminate the insects and this is something that at times bothers some individuals and it should not. Keep in mind that normally the insects are at their lowest activity during the cooler temperatures of late evening when most bear are sighted and the face netting can easily be removed prior to the shot. The recent gadget on the market called the “Therma Cell” which uses cartridges of butane is by far the greatest invention we have ever seen in the North Country – one of these units set close to a hunter in a stand will keep away 99% of the bugs and it doesn’t seem to disturb the bear. They sell for approximately $30 plus the replaceable cartridges that last up to 4 to 5 hours. Definitely an asset on a Spring bear hunt!
FISHING
While this trip is predominantly a bear hunt when hunting is conducted over bait in late afternoon to late evening, our guests will be offered the opportunity to do some fishing in the earlier part of the day depending on the availability and workload of the guides. Lake Peribonka is an immense body of water that offers good fishing for northern pike. Boats, motors and fuel will be provided.
Spin fishing: For Northern Pike we recommend a medium stiff action spinning or bait casting rod loaded with 10 to 12 pound test monofilament line. Due to the teeth on Pike – wire leaders of 6” to 8” will be required. The most popular lures for Pike would be as follows: Rapalas both floating and sinking in the 4” to 4 ¾ ” length: Rebels jointed floating and sinking minnows in 4” size: Daredevil spoons size 3 ½” to 4 ½” in the following colors - red/white strips, yellow/black strips and yellow/red diamonds. Pike are not the most difficult fish to attract. Many of the standard bass lures & jigs that you may already have in your tackle box will take pike – so don’t go out and spend a fortune on pike lures. Fishing equipment will be available for rent at camp at a nominal fee and some of the basic popular lures for Pike will be made available for sale at the lodge.
Fly fishing: Fly-fishing for Pike can be very effective casting from shore in the numerous shallow bays. We recommend an 8’ to 9’ rod for a # 8 or # 9 floating line. Leader material should be in the 10 to 12 pound test range and a short wire shook leader tip of 12” or so will be required due to the teeth on the Pike. Pike are not very difficult and will take just about any semi-floating heavy haired fly. Pike flies are generally available at just about every good fly shop. If you have any problems locating pike flies – let us know and we would be glad to recommend a fly shop in Montreal that can provide you with some. A selection of Pike flies will be made available for sale at the lodge.