Sam returns in 2019 for his fourth year at MRL. Sam has made himself an invaluable part of the MRL team, working tirelessly to study and learn our waters, hunt down new fishing holes, tracking fish behavior and marking structures in order to optimize guests’ productivity for every trip. He never tiers of fishing and is always looking for ways to change the game and improve results. It’s his passion.

Equally enthusiastic about our bear hunt program, Sam yearns for every minute he can spend in the bush. Weather its building new stands or repairing others, brushing new and existing trails, studying game trails and bear behavior or rethinking baiting strategies… he plays to win every time. Sam oversees and maintains a rigorous baiting protocol that produces high activity rates each season.

Two things we’ve learned about Sam – his passion for the outdoors is limitless and, don’t give him a challenge unless you’re prepared to see it through with him! 

Sam grew up in Gananoque, Ontario and was introduced to the outdoors at a very young age. He spent many years fishing local waters chasing large and smallmouth bass, pike and walleye becoming a proficient and avid angler. His intrigue and passion for the outdoors led him to also take up hunting in his youth, pursuing both large and small game including waterfowl and upland birds, deer and moose. Today he is a knowledgeable outdoorsman, equally comfortable in the bush and on the water and eager to share his experience helping others enjoy, learn and succeed in their wilderness pursuits.

Prior to joining MRL, Sam also guided successful whitetail deer and black bear hunts in northern Saskatchewan. There he attended to all aspects of hunt operations including clearing and brushing, sighting reports, baiting, transportation, tracking and retrieval and processing of game. He worked closely with hunter guests ensuring their safety, providing guidance and advice and ultimately meeting their needs for optimizing their experience and success. 

Sam has also trained and worked in the resort hospitality industry in various roles including maintenance, grounds keeping and food preparation. He possesses a strong work ethic, positive demeanor and commitment to customer service.

Needless to say, we are thrilled to have Sam back for 2018. We love him and our guests love him. Welcome back Sammy!

Sean joins MRL for the 2018 season and we are excited to welcome him to the team. Having grown up in North Bay and area, Sean has spent most of his life in the bush and on the water…fishing and hunting many species of wildlife and developing a remarkable knowledge of the outdoors.

A true northerner at heart, Sean exudes deep passion and a feverish enthusiasm for all things outdoors. He holds nothing back and is eager to share his insights and experiences with our guests. He brings his lifetime of local, in-field expertise on area lakes and waterways, and practical awareness of the bush, wildlife and real-life accounts of northern living.

Sean’s connection with the outdoors is an honest one. Raised and tutored by his father and a close network of friends and family members with ties to the outdoors in government and the outfitting industry, he has a genuine respect for the environment and an intimate understanding of the laws and regulations that govern and protect our natural resources. He has hunted and guided large game hunts in the Koko Lake and Nipissing regions of northern Ontario, the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia and Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. Sean’s fishing experience is equally diverse, gained over a decade of guiding and putting people on many species of fish in all seasons. 

“It’s not about taking a record or who caught the largest fish or who harvests the biggest bear. It’s the friendships we make; the memories we share that last. That is priceless and what spending time outdoors is really about”, says Sean.  

Throughout his professional career, Sean has worked in various industry sectors in Ontario and Western Canada including utilities, firefighting, iron works, property management and railroad operations. He is proficient and certified in a broad range of skills from heavy equipment operation and maintenance, welding and steel fabrication, communications and transportation, to systems management. 

Combined, Sean’s skills assets and outdoors life experiences complement the high service level standards we strive to uphold at MRL in providing our guests with The Ultimate Outdoor Adventures we so proudly deliver. He joins a dedicated team committed to guests who come to MRL from around the globe to build lasting memories and experience northern Ontario the way it is meant to be lived.

Welcome to the team Sean!

Brian Dougall