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To some it's the "Boonies"

Mavis Gonshorowski
“This is the ‘Boonies’ to some, but to us it’s our backyard.”
Larry Emery was referring to a “little bit of paradise” that he and his wife, Donna are owners of.
The son of Leona (Mickey) and the late Frank Emery, Larry said he credits his Dad for the love of the great outdoors.
“I definitely give him the credit. He’s the one who got me out into this area,” commented Larry.
Appropriately given the name “Blooming Valley Outfitters”, the beautiful wooded ridge acreage of poplar and oak in northwestern Roseau County has come to serve as a haven for the hunting enthusiasts.
“We started in the early 80’s with the moose hunters. After a few years,” Larry said, “we started doing bear hunting. About 10 years ago, it just took off. The past few years have been tremendous.”
Larry is licensed to do guiding by the State of Minnesota. He belongs to the Minnesota Bear Guides Association as well.
The Emerys have invested a lot of time, hard work and money over the years and it definitely has paid off. What began as having one or two renovated buildings on the site has now escalated to an area with three different modernized cabins, that of one main cabin and two bunk houses. Another building houses shower/bathroom facilities. Crushed rock, of which Larry estimates must be at least a dozen semi-loads, keeps the main grounds in top condition even during rainy spells. Neatly manicured grass blankets the outer area. Two shelters offer perfect protection from the weather elements yet allowing one to enjoy the outdoors. An outdoor fire pit has proven to be an asset that is well used; a homemade outdoor grill stands nearby. Horse shoe pits and a volleyball area offer recreation to those who want to mix a little fun with pleasure.
Last year a new addition to the grounds was that of a swimming pool.
“Donna has been after me to make one and I finally got around to it,” Larry said. “Plans are to eventually put in a diving board and a rope swing.”
Okay...water means fish, most of the time. Any of them in there?
“No,” Larry said with a broad smile. “There’s no way Donna would allow that...it’s strictly for swimming!”
A split rail fence bordering the driveway entrance along with a variety of rocks and flowers enhance the beauty of the area.
“We spend pretty much every weekend out here. It’s such a learning experience; who knows how it’s going to end up,” Larry commented. “Wherever we see a need, that’s what we’ll try and chase. My mind spins steady.”
Business heats up out at Blooming Valley Outfitters with the arrival of fall. The bear season opens September 1, followed by the archery and firearm deer season. Bobcat season starts the Saturday following Thanksgiving and runs for about six weeks.
A three or five-day hunting package is available to hunters; this includes cabin accommodations, all the meals, along with the “extras”, such as tree stands.
Hunters come from Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Several hunters are repeats; some are new customers.
Larry said, “The Ohio thing has really done well. Word has spread. It started with one fellow coming; the next year he came back with three others. Hunters who were traveling to Maine weren’t having success, and because of referrals, they are now coming out here.
“Bear weighing over 500 pounds have been harvested. We run about an 80% success rate on deer and bear; 100% on bobcat runs.”
Other services that are offered is the retrieving, skinning, dressing-out, and quartering of the meat harvested. A walk-in refrigerator and walk-in freezer are also on the site as well as meat-smoking facilities.
“Jason Solberg, Joe Schoenfelder, Shaun Jevne, Mark Brazier, Mark Emery and several others have helped with building the place up and with the hunts,” said Larry. “They have helped us get to where we are.”
Jason wears the “chef’s hat”, doing most of the cooking.
Larry continued, “Each one of us has our area in which we ‘shine’. We’ve got an awesome crew!
“Donna helps with cooking and cleaning. I have to hand it to her...she lets me do what I want to do and helps me do it.”
The hunters’ day starts with a big breakfast, they go out in the field with a packed lunch and come back to a big supper waiting for them.
Each hunter leaves for their hunt equipped with a two-way radio.
What do the hunters enjoy the best about coming to Blooming Valley Outfitters?
“The harvest of the animal; enjoying the atmosphere and camp life,” Larry replied. “The Roseau River is just north of us a couple of miles and some hunters take time to enjoy a little fishing. The peace and quietness out here is a definite asset, something that we take for granted.”
Now, with all the goings-on at the camp there has to be at least one “I’ll never forget” hunting experience...and sure enough, there was!
Larry told of the hunter who was sitting with his trusty firearm up in an enclosed tree stand, waiting...waiting...waiting...for a big black bear to come and check out the baited area nearby. The bear came, alright, but instead of going for the bait, he started up the tree...the tree which held the hunter!
“The scent stick in the tree stand probably attracted the bear more-so than the scent from the baited spot,” Larry said.
Being in an enclosed tree stand put the hunter at a real disadvantage. How was he going to stop that bear, who was slowly making his way up, up, up? Gathering his wits, the hunter leaned out the window, pointed his rifle downward, and shot Mr. Bruin right square in the chest.
How much do you wanna bet that tree was just-a-shakin’ and so was that “treed” hunter!
The Emerys are rural Greenbush residents; they have three children: Derrick, Danielle, and the youngest, Austin, who will be a senior at the GMR school this fall.
A 1983 Greenbush High School graduate, Larry is a full-time employee of Johnson Oil, Roseau, Minnesota. He also owns a small painting business, painting primarily exteriors of buildings. A boom truck proves to be an asset when it comes to working on tall buildings.
Son Austin and Danny Wojciechowski help with the painting jobs, most recently painting the exterior of the New Salem Church located in the Stephen-Strandquist area.
Donna is employed as a registered nurse at the LifeCare Greenbush Manor.
A half-dozen or so horses can be found on the Emery farm which are used for roping and trail riding. Larry also enjoys hunting with his hounds.
If you are interested in more information on Blooming Valley Outfitters, you may go to their website: www.bloomingvalley.com or Larry may be contacted by calling 1-218-782-BEAR (2327).


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