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Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
How early is too early?
I have a new born (well okay 2 months old but still..) so I'm not going to get out a whole lot this year, want to make as much of it as i can in the days the wifey lets me out! Mostly looking for suggestions of timing to head out, general areas to focus on, and any tips from long time bear hunters!
plus i figured why not get folks excited about it too, so feel free to post pics of ur bears from years gone by!
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
I’m not positive about the coastal bears but as soon as you go east of hope, don’t even waste your time until May.
this coming from an avid bear hunter. If you want to go for a walk in April you might as well go shed hunting and bring a gun just in case lol
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RyoTHC
I’m not positive about the coastal bears but as soon as you go east of hope, don’t even waste your time until May.
this coming from an avid bear hunter. If you want to go for a walk in April you might as well go shed hunting and bring a gun just in case lol
Yep, i used to get out as soon as i could, learned quickly to save the gas til may
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Season opens April 1, but up north here, I don't bother till end of April, beginning of May. Bought a quad on tracks to get back, to the back ends of the valleys, before others. Might find some moose sheds too?!!! Moosin
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
May is the ticket unless we get an early spring. April the bears are generally hanging around their winter dens yet still somewhat drowsy. Opportunity can be few and far between. May and September best bear hunting months .
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Not necessary to scout for bears it’s more about finding feed when the time comes. But nothing wrong with going in the bush anyway. But if you’re asking if it’s necessary then I’d say no
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RyoTHC
I’m not positive about the coastal bears but as soon as you go east of hope, don’t even waste your time until May.
this coming from an avid bear hunter. If you want to go for a walk in April you might as well go shed hunting and bring a gun just in case lol
True story.....as soon as they get rid of their fecal plug their metabolism changes, and the clock is ticking for them to start finding calories....you will still see them occasionally in April but far more likely in May...
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Lol, people scout for b bears? We're tripping over good sized ones here in the spring.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Hunting mid-late april on coastal estuaries can be very productive for big boars. Less bears out but if you are after quality, not quantity then fill your boots. Can be touchy with weather however, their metabolism seems to be tied to the thermometer.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Really depends on the area. If you are new to bear hunting and limited on time, wait until the second week of May when you know the bears are out. But no harm in taking a drive in April and looking. In my area, local bears can be seen in farm fields in April long before you'll ever cut a track up in the hills.
you've got my blood pumping. Still moping because duck season is over. Here's a few pics from past years
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/943.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/4131.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/bear119.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/...ium/2016_2.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/...um/BEAR211.jpg
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
nice bears! How big's that bottom one? Looks like a good size melon head on him.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
This is exactly what i was hoping to see!! Some great photos looking like a great time out!!
Thanks for all the tips! Keep em coming!
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Do a lot of turkey hunting from the Okanagan to Kootenays every April. Usually lots of bears out and about by mid month. Anywhere there's fresh green up like right-of-ways, avalanche chutes, south slopes etc. you will find bears working the hills.
As for the title of the thread - time spent scouting is never wasted. Worst case is you cull some areas from the inventory you thought might have been good.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Wes,
Wait or a nice day. Pack a bunch of snacks, food water and diapers..... Grab the kid and the wife and go for a drive. Stop a lot and get the kid out. The first few times is rough while you dial in the "how to keep everyone happy" but after a while it all comes together..... Bears are a road hunters dream... Mine is 6 and she loves to go for drives and hunts.... we have taken her all over. I "Missed" a lot of hunting, but now she is old enough I think I can keep her quiet... And get a decent hike in.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
How far are you willing to travel for bear?
if you want to make 1 trip and get it done. Head last week of may, bring gas and explore/road hunt from wells to PG, you will be swatting the bears away.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Hahaha i like that idea 835!!! PG might be a little far but i’ll see how far i get!
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
IslandWanderer
Lol, people scout for b bears? We're tripping over good sized ones here in the spring.
Are you finding them behind locked gates perhaps!!
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Great to see you back here posting WesHarm!
As others mentioned, timing is important if you have limited time.
My guesswork of timing/conditions is often way off. It doesn't really matter to me, as camping with my emotional support boom stick is always a good time and sometimes more enjoyable than hunting.
Usually when I see green up and some dandelions popping in Langley, I figure those first shoots of grass are sprouting on the south facing exposures, 300 maybe even 700M elevation. Then I show up and it's a foot of snow. Go figure.
Sometimes early to mid April is very productive for Region 2, other times not.
You will need some local intel if you want to make sure conditions are favorable.
You might know a local who can look up at the nearest mountain and estimate the snow line... check local weather reports and assume 6-9C temperature drop for every 1000M elevation... minus -5 is ok at night but you want positive temps during the day. Paying attention to this in the days/weeks leading up to the season can help. You could also ask for road reports in 4x4 or hiking forums, even hunting forums (not a bad idea anyway as you will find our about washouts too) once you know where those snow lines are on the south slopes, odds are viable grass growing places 200M below.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Big trips can be a bit much,,, I guess what I'm saying is if you want to get out more don't be afraid to go for a rip up the Cochahalla ( sp lol ) day tripping
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
some buddys and i shot 4 in region two first week of april and they all tasted like shit...better to let them get the grass flowing through them first...after mothers day is good and dont go bear hunting take the family for a picknick and bring your gun..
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Walkswithdeer is a born and bred hunter. I wouldn’t question that. From what I’ve read bears aren’t very tasty until after they get rid of their winter butt plug. So I would wait till the last week of April to really start looking at filling the freezer. I’m still new to bear hunting but that’s my opinion. Scout earlier if you’d like but chances of sightings are slim unless your in region 2.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Awesome tips for timing guys!! And i guess road ways, Fields and Garbage Dumps are the bear “haunts” of choice ;) but now u got ur bear home.... what are you doing with it? Burger, sausage, pepperoni, hams, all of the above? Recipies highly appreciated ;)
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
For me with bears I mostly burger it or do fresh sausage. You gotta cook that stuff good to kill trichinosis.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Region 5 I start to get serious around mid May. My kids love bear hunting, last year I gave my 4 year old a predator call when I spotted a distant bear and let him call the bear in from his car seat with the truck window down. Good times!
Also like hunting them in June with the kids because of all wild raspberries and strawberries to snack on. Can’t wait until May.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Hmmm dont usually do a scouting trip..last 2 weeks of april start to see black bears here near Williams lake..if starting low elevation..grass is greening..but say Horsefly mountain..start climbing grass gets shorter..then sparse then none..and keep climbing..snow and grizzlies tracks heading down .
over 45 years..IMO I have shot more black bears on or around Mothers day..and its still my favorite black bear time of year.find elevation changes...to find that perfect elevation that holds new grass that holds the most nutrients..
Find 3 things..bright new grass..with nearby water.a must...and the 3rd..isolation..may only be couple hundred yards down a skidder trail away from the main forestry service road..out of view.
bears desire require a bit of solitude..hence why they show up at dusk..comfort zone to eat in solitude and not be disrupted.cut blocks..the back skidder trail furthest away from the road holds the bears..and at last low light..the bigger bears.
Wells...over the Cunningham forest service road still holds tons of bears. .best day 40 black bears in 8 hours..harvested a beautiful blond black bear that day...that area still holds great amounts of black bears AND grizzlies.
However due to high elevation and tremendous snow loads..getting through to likely is often not possible till June.
Already planned a spring black bear hunt in the Horsefly..Quesnel lake area..first week of may .
dont scout due to enough time spent..to know why an area is holding bears already.what to look for..tells me why..and when.doesnt change much year over year..
This year is sausage making bear year...adult boar 6 feet..
Cheers and good luck
Srupp
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
WesHarm
Awesome tips for timing guys!! And i guess road ways, Fields and Garbage Dumps are the bear “haunts” of choice ;) but now u got ur bear home.... what are you doing with it? Burger, sausage, pepperoni, hams, all of the above? Recipies highly appreciated ;)
I do roasts and grind the rest keep some for sweet and sour. Key is to thaw it slowly in the fridge slowly over 4 days to get the blood out I do this with all my game. Put in a colander on a bowl let it do its thing. Requires planning your meal four days in advance but the results are worth it. Plus I make bear cheese smokies. Pepperoni is riskier because of the temp thing
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Hmmm have done the bear cheese smokies..however never ever considered your colander trick..very clever rabitt..thank you for sharing.
cheers
Srupp
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
srupp
Hmmm have done the bear cheese smokies..however never ever considered your colander trick..very clever rabitt..thank you for sharing.
cheers
Srupp
Yeah it’s the only way to go. A friend turned me onto the method years ago because I always found wild game ... well gamier thawing like this took care of that problem now I enjoy all my wild game. Couldn’t believe it worked so well
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
in southern region 4 april is a little slow for bears, may seems to be prime time, and if your lucky to find them in early june they will be plump and healthy with a good coat. if you’re too early the coat might not be in the best condition.
with butchering i do a few roasts and the rest into burger. always great to add to chili, tacos, pasta sauce, shepherds pie, burgers, etc.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
The question was for help making a decision, not the beginning of an argument. Play nice, no further warnings!
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
One thing to consider is the bugs are absolutely brutal by the end of May and they're even worse beginning of June. I really try hard mid-May just before the bugs come out in full force. Look for overturned logs and overturned smaller boulders - they look hard for critters under those things when they just start roaming around before there's much green up. April is better for fishing or scouting and dealing with trail cams
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rayne
Walkswithdeer is a born and bred hunter. I wouldn’t question that. From what I’ve read bears aren’t very tasty until after they get rid of their winter butt plug. So I would wait till the last week of April to really start looking at filling the freezer. I’m still new to bear hunting but that’s my opinion. Scout earlier if you’d like but chances of sightings are slim unless your in region 2.
I've taken bears in Region 2 first week or April. No issues with taste. But a lot of Region 2 bears are up before the season opens in many cases, weather dependent.
I've only ever had one nasty tasting bear and that was back in 2017. I shot it on mothers day. Second I walked up to the bear... I thought what the heck? I'm like 100-200km inland how does this thing smell like seaweed?
Anyway, the bear didn't taste like seaweed (that might have been better?) It tasted like "what a wet dog smells like" if you can imagine that. Really gross. I choked it down, but I was really turned off bear until I was well into the next one, which was a small/young boar shot first week of May.
Last year I think it was sometime in the first 10 days of April we took down an older bear that I thought was going to be absolutely nasty, but turned out to be delicious.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
I like late May and go high up to the snow line .Big boars and they are staring to rut.Glassing and spotting scope time required
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Mid to late May up here. Never shot one earlier than May 8th. I really enjoy making my own bear ham....seriously, give it a try sometime!
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
I have had good luck going out for bear in mid to late May.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Hey Ron, great pics, what is the open sight rifle in the last pic?
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Looks like a Savage Model99.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
weatherby_man
Hey Ron, great pics, what is the open sight rifle in the last pic?
My grandpa's .303 Savage.
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ron.C
My grandpa's .303 Savage.
Nice! It looks like a real beauty!
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Re: Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?
Has anyone ever sent in their bear tung to be tested by moe for trichinosis ? I’ve never bothered but am curious as to the process... how long for results and do you have to drop it off at a specific place.