OHEC President and Founder, Mark LaBarbera recounts Calin’s Bear Hunt.
Calin Volsencek, in between chemo treatment weeks, fulfilled his final wish to hunt black bears in northern Wisconsin. The Lake Mills brain cancer patient with Astrocytoma Grade 4 was in rare form as he sighted in his rifle the morning of his first day of bear hunting near Saxon. His enthusiasm grew with each cellular trail cam photo shared as bears hit multiple bait sites and Calin helped decide which one he wanted to hunt. He also joked around by sampling some of the candy in the bait mix.
In the blind on Day 1, he shared CT and MRI images of what was growing inside him. He talked about his girlfriend and health insurance and, in his own way, the sanctity of life. A sow and three cubs interrupted our whispered discussions in the blind, and they put on a show at the station that Calin had helped me and guide Mike Fuge bait.
When Calin was forging ahead of us back to the truck, Guide Mike Fuge turned to me, smiled and said, “This is where we all need to be this week!” He explained that, sure, it was good for Calin’s mind and body, but it was also good for the souls of everyone who pitched in to fulfill Calin’s Wish. It was a reminder of what’s important in life: Faith, Family, Friends.
On Day 2, we might have been joking and laughing too much about me eating everyone’s chocolate chip cookies and other treats because no bear came in. Calin told us that his doctor commented the prior week about what great spirits Calin was in. Calin told me that he simply explained to the doctor, “I’m going bear hunting!”
On Day 3, Calin and Mike left the Italian Cookie Monster behind and, sure enough, watched a bear come in early and feed on the bait until a bigger bear scared it off. The big bear at one point walked 10 feet behind Calin on its way to the bait. Once the bear was focused on the bait, Calin was in position to shoot.
Then it became Calin’s time to be focused.
When he pulled the trigger and made a perfect shot, the bear didn’t go more than 20 feet, staying within sight of the comfortable Hjort Hunting Blind, and making for an easy recovery.
Special thank you goes to friends of Big Al’s fundraising event at Wern Valley Sportsmen’s Club and SCI WI Chapter!
Wish everyone could have felt the love and excitement throughout all of Mike and Angela Fuge’s long trips up north for baiting and stand prep, especially those when Calin’s mom, sister, and girlfriend joined them and added other fun activities outdoors. The meat is at the processor with the hide that will soon go to Troy Piotrowski’s New Life Taxidermy for full mount on a Rinehart form. Calin asked if he could have a full body mount.
He is still on Cloud 9 from the bear camp experience with loved ones and new friends, and we want to thank everyone for making Calin’s Wish come true.
Please consider helping OHEC so that we can fully cover expenses from Calin’s September 2025 bear hunt. Thank you.
Read this article online in the SCI HUNTERs magazine at: https://sciwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SeptOct_Proof_D.pdf
Thank you to the following for your donations in helping OHEC fulfill Calin’s wish.
- Safari Club International – Wisconsin Chapter; Big Al Fund!
- NWTF Tri-State Chapter, Brian Dalsing and friends!
- Guide services 100 % generously donated by Mike and Angela Fuge!
- Safari Club International – NE WI Chapter!
