Cygnet Lake Camp, Ontario, Canada
During this unique expedition we explore traditional bowhunting for black bear, geese, and ducks—animals that each teach something different.
The bear teaches patience, intuition, and deep listening.
It is a meeting with presence itself—powerful, aware, and never to be taken lightly.
The waterfowl teach rhythm, movement, and timing.
They demand calm precision and respect for migration, weather, and the cycles of flight.
Every hunt is guided by principles of ethics, conservation, and full-use processing. We only hunt in regions that are government-regulated for wildlife population management, ensuring our harvest supports a healthy ecosystem.
Reading wind, tracks, and animal behaviour
Bowhunting technique and instinctive shooting
Stalking and camouflage
Field dressing and full-use processing
Foraging for wild foods (rice, mushrooms, berries, greens)
Cultural and spiritual context of traditional hunting
What we practice is more than taking an animal.
It is learning to stand still in a world that always rushes.
It is remembering that hunting—when done with care—is not an act of dominance, but of relationship.
We take only what is needed, and we give back through awareness, gratitude, and respect for everything the land provides.
We eat what we harvest, preparing and sharing the meat together in camp.
When participants cannot bring meat home, all remaining meat is carefully packaged and donated to local families or Native communities.
This way, every part of the animal continues its purpose—to nourish, to teach, and to give back.
We guide all participants through the necessary paperwork.
No European license required
Experience with traditional or instinctive bow shooting is mandatory
Firearms can be supplied upon request
We are strict regarding proficiency and ethics: every shot must be responsible and must never lead to unnecessary suffering.
This expedition is led by experienced professionals with deep knowledge of ethical harvesting and wildlife behaviour:
Thijmen Apswoude
Founder of Living by Nature, with over a decade of guiding experience in Europe and North America and extensive collaboration with Native hunters and Elders in Canada.
Chuck Schafer
Professional outfitter and guide with over 10 years of hunting and fishing experience across Ontario, ensuring responsible learning and official conservation alignment.
Dave MacDonald
Founder of ICSOS, with 19 years as an RCAF Search and Rescue Technician. His background in remote safety and preventing unnecessary suffering forms the foundation of the program.
Duration: 7–10 days
Location: Ontario, Canada
Focus: Traditional bowhunting for black bear and waterfowl
Group size: Maximum 6
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced
Camp is simple but complete: canvas tents, open fire, and the quiet rhythm of dawn and dusk.
Proposed dates: September 5–18, 2026
Arrival Saturday (5th), departure Friday (18th)
Location: Cygnet Lake Camp + remote wilderness
Group: max. 6 participants, option to bring a non-hunting plus-one
This expedition combines traditional hunting with certified wilderness safety training.
WSS Levels 2 & 3 (in person)
WSS1 online (required, included)
Wildlife Awareness & Predator Safety
Remote First Aid (20 hours)
Land Navigation
Survival & emergency preparedness
By the end, participants have a solid foundation in remote safety and personal risk management.
Mornings: WSS training
Afternoons/evenings: bear hunting from blinds
Optional fishing from boat or shore
Remote camp via canoe, boat, or quad
Hunting at dawn and dusk
Survival training between hunts
Solo hunter:
$7,000 CAD (approximately €4,340)
Two people with one bear tag:
$10,000 CAD (approximately €6,200)
Prices are in Canadian Dollars. EUR values are approximate and may vary with exchange rates.
Winnipeg airport pick-up & drop-off
All food
Lodging
Hunting & fishing licenses
Boats, quads, canoes
Backcountry gear
Duck & goose decoys
Fuel
A complete breakdown will be sent by email.
For those who want to reconnect with the origins of hunting.
For those who seek meaning, humility, and skill—not adrenaline.
For those ready to stand in the forest and listen again.
“The bow teaches patience.
The land teaches respect.
The hunt teaches gratitude.”
Let op 10% aanbetaling voor plek reservering.
ook mogelijkheid Zonder jacht , of met een gast
Prijsklasse: €217,00 tot €620,00
During this unique expedition we explore traditional bowhunting for black bear, geese, and ducks—animals that each teach something different.
The bear teaches patience, intuition, and deep listening.
It is a meeting with presence itself—powerful, aware, and never to be taken lightly.
The waterfowl teach rhythm, movement, and timing.
They demand calm precision and respect for migration, weather, and the cycles of flight.
Every hunt is guided by principles of ethics, conservation, and full-use processing. We only hunt in regions that are government-regulated for wildlife population management, ensuring our harvest supports a healthy ecosystem.
This expedition is fully inclusive — except for your flight.
All food, lodging, hunting & fishing licenses, transport, gear, boats, quads, canoes and backcountry equipment are included.
The only thing you arrange yourself is your flight to Winnipeg.
This expedition takes place in the remote wilderness of Northwestern Ontario, surrounded by lakes, boreal forest, and abundant wildlife. Cygnet Lake Camp offers quiet, untouched nature—ideal terrain for traditional hunting, tracking, and immersion in the land.
We move between a lake-based basecamp and a deeper backcountry camp, giving you a true wilderness experience far away from roads, noise, and modern distractions.
This expedition takes place from September 5th to September 18th, 2026 — a full 14-day journey into the Canadian wilderness (13 nights in total). Throughout these two weeks, we move from our base at Cygnet Lake into deeper backcountry, following the rhythms of the land, the animals, and the northern season.
Fourteen days gives enough time to slow down, learn deeply, and become part of the landscape rather than simply passing through it.
