Hawthorn Outfitting is family-owned and operated by Shawn Paul along with his son, Josiah, as well as his parents, Cliff and Judy.

Cliff and Judy were both born and raised on the south-western edge of Duck Mountain Provincial Park. With both coming from large families in the 1950’s, they know what is meant by “living off the land.” Within their family-line you’ll find a long list of hunters, trappers, and fishermen. With a rich deposit of history and knowledge of the area in which Hawthorn Outfitting operates, you won’t find a more kind and hospitable couple willing to host you.

Shawn, the eldest child of Cliff and Judy, is an avid hunter and hunting guide. He has guided extensively for black bear, whitetail deer, and moose, throughout Manitoba and Ontario for more than 20 years. He’s hunted with both rifle and bow, pursuing primarily whitetail deer, elk, and moose. His vast experience and success, as both a hunter and guide, provide Hawthorn Outfitting with a wealth of expertise and insight. The passion he lends in the pursuit of big-game species is both infectious and steady. His willingness to work hard, while singing a country song or whistlin’ a tune, has earned the friendship and respect of his hunters over the years.

Josiah, the youngest child of Shawn, is also an eager hunter and hunting guide. His big game guiding adventures to date include black bears, moose, and caribou. He also spends the summer months in northern Canada guiding fisherman for monster pike and tasty walleye. He is passionate in his pursuit of trophy elk and whitetail, with a 510 pound black bear already on the wall. At just 23 years old, with 5 years of guide experience, Josiah is a valuable asset to the Hawthorn team as his natural outdoor instincts and his willingness to learn have already begun to set him apart in the industry. In the off-season, he is learning the art of taxidermy. Oh, and did we mention that he can sing? He could give some of those big country stars a run for their money!!

WHAT WE DO

Hawthorn Outfitting is a big game hunting outfit providing fully guided hunts solely for black bear. With more than 20 years of experience guiding black bear hunts, we can assure you that your hunt will be filled with adventure and have the potential to yield world-class results.

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WHY WE DO IT

We live on the edge of North America’s premier black bear hunting destination - Duck Mountain Provincial Park, located in the province of Manitoba, Canada! With perfect habitat, very little hunting pressure and no natural predators, Duck Mountain bears grow with the potential to die of old age, and flourish in their numbers. If that isn’t enough, the opportunity to harvest a trophy colour phase bear doesn’t get better anywhere else in the world!

We love hunting and the outdoors! We live for the warmth of the sun’s rays, the fresh smells of the earth, the bugle of a big, raspy bull elk, and even the chattering of a curious whisky-jack. God’s creation was meant to be enjoyed and we do our best to make every moment count.

We care about people! The hunt was never established to be simply about the “kill,” instead, it’s meant to be more about the journey. In that journey, friendships are established and relationships cultivated…these are indeed, some of the finer things of life. To partner with you, in pursuit of a trophy Manitoba black bear, whether it’s the very first time we’ve met, or as a well-rooted friendship, is an opportunity that we’ll never take for granted.

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HUNTING AREA

Our hunting area dwells in, without question, one of North America’s premier black bear hunting destinations - Duck Mountain Provincial Park! Located within the province of Manitoba, Duck Mountain Provincial Park is a 1424 square kilometre part of the Manitoba Escarpment. It contains Baldy Mountain, which is Manitoba’s highest point of elevation at 2,727 feet. The park itself is a rise of thickly wooded, rolling terrain with dozens of deep, clear lakes.

Boreal and deciduous forests, as well as upland meadows support a wide variety of wildlife.  The surrounding lowlands have almost entirely been converted to cereal-grain farmland, making the park an environmental refuge for big-game species.

Black bears have flourished in number for years in Duck Mountain Provincial Park. Hunting pressure is virtually non-existent and the surrounding fields of oats, barley, and other irresistible grains, provide the bears the opportunity to grow big and healthy.  With such a massive sanctuary of forest available and an abundance of natural food sources, the end result is world class black bear hunting.