How Do You Find/Look For the BIG BOARS?

[Drillbit]

I find water/wet areas the best too. Skunk cabbage is also good to see

[srupp]

I find water/wet areas the best too. Skunk cabbage is also good to see

Hmm mm yes skunk cabbage shows wet saturated semi shady area..but I always found grizzlies preferred them more than blacks..fiddle heads too.
I'm sure black bear eat skunk cabbage however grizzlies have a tendency to aggressively defend food sources hence black bears may not challenge..
Srupp

[walks with deer]

I think we all want that one epic story, right? To hike, find a brute, stalk close, pack him out fighting fatigue, mosquitos and terrain. I mean it's a pretty common thing, right? I see it on hunting shows all the time. I love hunting in all honesty and I love finding game. I've done a pretty good job of that because I am not a road hunter, but I haven't been able to find that big boar yet and I thought I might get a tip or two. Srupp of course comes through, but the fsr blaring classic rock was a tip I hadn't heard before!

Epic stories are for sheep,goats,caribou,elk...moose and bear are uphill on fsr hunts lol.same with most mule deer...lol not kidding i wont even shoot a bear downhill anymore.

So hike a old fsr shoot bear drive in and load.

[GEF]

Biggest black bears are off of costal salmon river drainages and streams .Vancouver Island and such .Farther inland you the smaller the bears .Like the greened up slide chutes in the high county and spot and stalk .Pack a lunch find a good vantage point to view a number of slide chutes and glass and glass some more ,makes for a pleasant day until you shoot one 😁.Need two guys .One swatting mosquitos and the other guy skinning and butchering.

[Blockcaver]

Steve gives excellent advice. Follow it and get your boar! And I find them just about the perfect archery animal readily available in BC....so fun to stalk up close to a big bear!

[Harvest the Land]

Hmm get in to within 75 ..100 yards..watch the wind..some evenings wind is wrong..playes cards at camp or different location.
Buy a GOOD bee keepers head gear..constant bugs will cause you to swat,,hands are so noticeable when moved.
Use camo.
Moving around will disperse your scent..you may be in a great location but movement and scent..you will never see the BIG OLD BOARS..they have scoped out the opening from inside the tree line and if your visible or moving or stinking up the area..it will be a no show for big bears.
The biggest bears are found by searching for these honey holes..food/water combos remote at dusk.
Oh yes check your rifle is sighted in WINK.
Srupp

Stellar advice from the expert - thank you Mr Rupp. Could you please indulge us all and elaborate a little more on a couple things?

1) What is your preferred method for hunting these old timers? By the sounds of it, it doesn't seem like you're getting up to a high vantage point from a km or more away, spotting bears and then making a stalk on them. Are you hiking through the timber into these secluded meadows or smaller openings or power/gas lines and ambushing them? Or just waiting inside the timber for one to pop out into the opening? (i.e. close quarters)

2) In terms of spring bear hunting when the bears are feeding on grass and dandelions, if/when free range grazing cattle move into the same areas as the bears in the spring and they eat the same grass and dandelions as the bears, have you ever noticed if those cows push the bears out of the area (because they're out competing them for the same food)?

Thanks again for all the fantastic tips - they're pure gold as always.

[whognu]

Hmm after hunting bears for 45 years hope I learned something..lol
I can look at a place and these years very quickly tell me a lot..even changes year to year or day to day..it's sometime difficult to try and share everything pertinent. .one takes so much information in looking around and can make changes to plans.
Only one thing will trump experience..that is hard work..ever notice the luckiest individuals are the hardest working..
And yes experience..hard work and luck.
Privilege to try and share and try and help.
Srupp

i tell you steven:

i have zero interest in hunting bruins, yet reading your stories and your generous imparting of knowledge over the years is truly amazing

you certainly are 'that guy'..............kind and generous with your knowledge

thanks, from a non bear hunter

chris

[srupp]

Hmm I do like getting up on a hill and using binoculars and if needed spotting scope however my most used strategy is to travel and find where the food is..green grass..the lighter colored grass is higher in nutrients..other times it is just quantity.
I hunt areas I know intimately..I know where there are open sky with grass on the ground..I travel to these spots and look for tracks and poop..I Always Drive over bear poop..know if it's not squashed it is freshey dropped.
I find these far back isolated spots which will ALWAYS hold standing water or small flowing water.
Then I settle down and wait for dark..watching the opening/ food quietly carefully..I use total camo..Bee keepers head gear gloves hoping the wind does not shift.. if it does shift I will slowly head home slowly and watch for moving feeding bears along skidder trails off main FSR roads.
Each day I hit a completely different food source.
The place I usually hunt had 30 feeding locations I knew always hold bears.
The new place has 30 separate locations.
After a long hibernation it's about the food..earlier when fresh out of hibernation the food is sketchy so bears feed longer and need to move..before the alders and willows leaf out.
Cows do not chase out bears..I've seen bears feeding close to grazing cows..nervous cows.
I do lIke GEF idea.,it does work island bears are separate species and watching along the ocean on low tide for foraging bears ..moving rocks for shellfish ..or salmon streams however I enjoy bear meat..Bears eating dead salmon is not my Forte.
Notes where there is no wind is great bears move more..feed more confidently able to use their ears.
On first day of a bear hunt I hit Most all feeding areas..finding fresh sign let's me know where I will start the next day/evening
Remote greened up hidey holes in late after noon is where I expect and find big bears.
Black colored I won't shoot if under 6 feet
Colored phase bears need to be over 5 1/2 feet.
Every single year I find 7 footer bears..last year 1 in the spring..Tyler's And 1 in the fall 40 kilometers away.
Srupp

[srupp]

Hmm close quarters..most always 100 yards or less..
It's amazing even after 45 years...finding sign..coming back sitting ..nothing for hours then suddenly there is a bear..right there
When your waiting ready..no movement the elementime of surprise is on your side..I do not sneak through the woods..I use trails,fsr,skidder trails..quiet..stealth..
Most big bears are old..they require solitude..you may indeed see a big Bear on a major fsr,however they more likely will be found 500 yards off the major rds and on secondary tersarary.trails never seen..which is fine by them.
Cheers
Srupp

[srupp]

Hmm one last tip to try..
Whenever you find anything to do with any animal your seeking..ask yourself OUT LOUD....WHY .
why did I find bear poop here ? Why?
Then talk to yourself answer your question..throw out there all the possibilites...slow it down..you probably Do Already know the awnswer.
Srupp