Region 6 Black Bears

[urban_coyote]

I'm in the Smithers area, and I haven't seen any awake yet.... Little surprised too as its been quite warm for the last few weeks. I've been travelling quite a bit throughout the region and, no sign yet.

Anyone else in the region seen one this year?

Thanks,

J.

[Wild one]

Too early most bears are not up and moving yet is the report I am getting

[Wild one]

To give you an idea the areas I bear hunt in 6 don't start getting good till mid to late May most years. Yes, it is warm this spring but in my opinion we might be 2 weeks earlier for good bear hunting at best across BC.

Some areas of 6 may have had a warm spring/winter but there was still a good dump of snow

[urban_coyote]

Thanks Wild one. I was hoping maybe it was just me that wasn't seeing them!

Cheers,

J

[NorBC]

How's the snowpack looking around morice lake, and Nadine?

[Wild one]

How's the snowpack looking around morice lake, and Nadine?

I will assume still sometime to go since there was still snow in town in Burns and it snowed a little last weekend.

[NorBC]

I will assume still sometime to go since there was still snow in town in Burns and it snowed a little last weekend.

ugh I'm getting eager! Might as well make the trip and scout some terrain! You never know when something might fall in your lap :)

[Wild one]

ugh I'm getting eager! Might as well make the trip and scout some terrain! You never know when something might fall in your lap :)

On the phone with local logger and he says still has not seen a bear yet and lots of areas still have snow but some areas are melting

With his time in the bush he usually can tell me when to start hunt up there

[Wild one]

Says he would not waste his time right now and wait 2 weeks at least :mrgreen:

[NorBC]

Alright I guess no opener for me.. Thanks for the heads up

[kilometers]

Was out on the weekend checking on my moose swamps/ dog walk. Very minimal greenery coming up. I was quite surprised for the weather we have been having I thought their would be more. Small buds and leaves on the trees but not enough for a bear. I suspect in the next two weeks they will be out.

[Caribou_lou]

Not much sense going out around Smithers prior to May 1st. May 10th is very productive.

[NorBC]

I have a week booked off for my hunt on may long. Was hoping to get out for a few weekends before that. Sorry to the OP for running away with your thread!

[urban_coyote]

No worries NorBC! I'm happy to get all this info!

Thanks everyone!

J

[madtrapper85]

Saw a young 3-4 foot chocolate bear outside of gitsegukla so here's hoping in the next week or so it should start happening to see more.

[two-feet]

I have seen 3 bears between PG and Smithers so far, the first one almost a month ago. But they are few and far between. I just got in the door from a hunt and there was almost no green except in the very bottom of the valley, up even a little and pretty brown still.

I wont go out again for a couple of weeks and a guy can see 4 or 5 in an outing.

[NorBC]

Thanks for the updates gents. It's hard to not be eager to get out there while grizzly draws are only good for 2 months!

[Caribou_lou]

Before May 1st your just burning gas. Around Smithers anyways. Im sure its earlier closer to Terrace and Rupert.

[two-feet]

ya I have been waiting to see when one of the terrace guys get a bear....

[madtrapper85]

Any one seen any bears up hwy 37.

I agree that were pretty much burning gas right now but don't tell the wife that ;)

[BromBones]

Checked out a couple areas this evening. Little bits of green coming through in some places, fresh sign from at least one bear.

Next sunny day we get will be a good evening to head out.

[Brno22F]

Saw a young 3-4 foot chocolate bear outside of gitsegukla so here's hoping in the next week or so it should start happening to see more.
Drove from Hazelton to Terrace early on Friday April 10. Saw a decent size black between Carnaby and Kitseguecla about 6:30 am. They are out but in another week or 2 there will be way more activity.

[Caribou_lou]

I've heard of a few around trout creek and one up tatlow. Lots of snow up high. It's going to be an interesting Spring.

[kilometers]

Seen pics of a kermodie at lava lake and a nice sized blackey location undisclosed from this weekend They starting to move now

[NorBC]

Seen pics of a kermodie at lava lake and a nice sized blackey location undisclosed from this weekend They starting to move now

Are you going out with your bow this spring kilometres?

[showtimebc]

Caribou Lou knows his region 6 bears

[kilometers]

Are you going out with your bow this spring kilometres?

That is the plan!! I'm not goin to lie, It will probly turn into a road hunt ending with a kaabbooomm. But I really want one with the bow. Mmm bear sausage.
Im all about the moose gotta save my time for September. Sweeten the wife up now. Haha.

[sawmill]

Hunt the Kispiox valley,it should be greening up there by now.I hunted there for 16 years.Some evenings we would see 20 or more.Try left at the Mitten Lake road just past the village,bear poop every 100 feet when you get near the lake. It hooks back up to the Kispiox road too. Nice loop.

[madtrapper85]

Went up kispiox valley last weekend no signs of any bears yet.

[Quesnel Kid]

Grizzlies cubs seen yesterday up the north Kitimat FSR, no signs of blackies. Veg is still a week or so out it is just starting to green up in the valley bottoms.

[two-feet]

Question for rg6 bear hunters: have you ever shot a spring bear that was still fat? I read about the guys down south getting bears that still have 1 1/2" of fat but have never seen it up here, due to the longer and colder hibernation I was thinking. Anybody ever see this?

[Quesnel Kid]

I have never seen that much. The spring Bears I have harvested had a little bit of fat left on em. Not that I have a wealth of experience I have killed 2 :grin:

[NorBC]

Nope I havent, but I'm sure there are a few around.

[kilometers]

My buddies girlfriend took this pic yesterday near lava lake. What a brute

http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/ag117/Kilometers123456/Mobile%20Uploads/D171C719-CE97-4637-957A-6F185FAFF74D_zpsmvcteadl.png (http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/Kilometers123456/media/Mobile%20Uploads/D171C719-CE97-4637-957A-6F185FAFF74D_zpsmvcteadl.png.html)

[two-feet]

My buddies girlfriend took this pic yesterday near lava lake. What a brute

http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/ag117/Kilometers123456/Mobile%20Uploads/D171C719-CE97-4637-957A-6F185FAFF74D_zpsmvcteadl.png (http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/Kilometers123456/media/Mobile%20Uploads/D171C719-CE97-4637-957A-6F185FAFF74D_zpsmvcteadl.png.html)
looks like a friggin hippo

[GROOTSKY]

A trucker was in shop today said he seen a couple up highway 37 earlier this week

[Avalanche123]

Definitely out on hwy 16W towards Rupert too.

[Caribou_lou]

Question for rg6 bear hunters: have you ever shot a spring that was still fat? I read about the guys down south getting bears that still have 1 1/2" of fat but have never seen it up here, due to the longer and colder hibernation I was thinking. Anybody ever see this?

Never much on them. Especially the bigger older bears. The big ones up here in early spring will tipically be tall long lanky. But they don't take long to get fat!

[Telkwa Hunter]

Counted 3 this week between Hungry Hill and 6 Mile Hill.

[Alfonz]

Use to start hunting them down the Gardner canal in mid April. I was pretty slim pickens until May. The first two weeks of May was solid gold!

[Caribou_lou]

Any other sightings out there? Today is the first day that I thought about going out. Grass is growing here in Smithers and the sun was giving off some decent heat! But I'm still going to wait until May 1st.

Guess I should dust the bow off!

[two-feet]

I drove smithers to hazelton x2, smithers to houston x2 in the last week and have not spotted any. Just bad luck me thinks

[Quesnel Kid]

Saw one young lanky fella this weekend on the drive from Hazelton to Terrace.

[Caribou_lou]

Lakes should be thawing off early this year. Hoping to get out to Babine ( 6-08 )and find a Grizzly for my Mom. Usually ice is still on until May 8th or so. Should be off before May first this year.

[GROOTSKY]

Seen one crossing the highway near the Suskwa turnoff Saturday afternoon. Still alot of snow just outside the valley bottom in the Smithers/Telkwa area tho.

[NorBC]

Getting very itchy.. Might make the trip to 6-09 this weekend. Close enough to May 1st :) I shoot usually every night after work if any of you bow hunters are eager to shoot more often. Quesnel kid is always down. Sucks that the weekend indoor shoots are now done for the year.

[urban_coyote]

Thanks for all the replies gents!

I still havent seen one yet, but I think I'm gonna take a drive this weekend and have a look-see... If I dont see any bears, I can always get more firewood!

Cheers,

J

[two-feet]

Lakes should be thawing off early this year. Hoping to get out to Babine ( 6-08 )and find a Grizzly for my Mom. Usually ice is still on until May 8th or so. Should be off before May first this year.

The majority of the ice is off at Smithers landing now, it all blew to the north side of the lake.

[Good Old Outdoors]

I am going to head out in 6-09 this week and take a look, going to walk an old overgrown road I've wanted to try for the last year. Its worth a look at least. Going to take both my bow and rifle to see what opportunity presents itself.

[GROOTSKY]

There were 7 along highway 37 yesterday afternoon should be seeing them in the Smithers area shortly

[Good Old Outdoors]

Ok so yesterday I saw a bear out along Kalum lake, just a little guy with a dark brown coat and a white patch on its chest. Today I went out again and didn't see any bears but I did see 3 moose and a big billy goat from a long ways away

[urban_coyote]

They're up! My wife just saw one on the way into town!

Happy hunting gents,

j

[Skull Hunter]

Saw one yesterday. Decent looking bear but still pretty groggy he must have just woken up.

[NorBC]

Yup I've seen two go down now

[Good Old Outdoors]

I'm obviously not covering enough ground to find the honey holes.

[40incher]

Saw three different boars on Friday and another on Saturday. Might give one a closer look in a day or two.

[NorBC]

Heading deep into 6-09 tomorrow. 2 guys, 2 bows, 2 bb tags, and a grizz tag. Wish us luck, stoked to finally get out!

[decker9]

Hey good luck to ya both!! Looking forward to hearing on your hunt. ��

[madtrapper85]

Good luck!

[urban_coyote]

Good luck Decker9.... Let us know how it goes!

Cheers,

J

[NorBC]

Well just got off the morice FSR. Was snowed out at 48.5 km do I hit other spots. Lots of snow still everywhere. The only green is thin strips on the side of the main. It snowed on me as I was setting up my tent.. I'm thinking at least 2 weeks minimum before any of the old burn greens up. There is a washed out road on the main to the lake, but there was two planks to cross it. When I came back down the planks were gone, and there was a fire pit in front of the wash.. Had to chop some logs to fill the voids around the culvert. Didn't think the dirty max was gonna make it. After I crossed that I had to put out the rest of the idiots fire. Then I saw several of their beer cans starting there all the way back down to the fsr. I hate people!

[decker9]

Good luck Decker9.... Let us know how it goes!

Cheers,

J

Lol, Nor is the lucky guy with the 6-09 draw, I gotta hold out till the end of may, then north bound to tutshi lk in search of a bruin.

[decker9]

Well just got off the morice FSR. Was snowed out at 48.5 km do I hit other spots. Lots of snow still everywhere. The only green is thin strips on the side of the main. It snowed on me as I was setting up my tent.. I'm thinking at least 2 weeks minimum before any of the old burn greens up. There is a washed out road on the main to the lake, but there was two planks to cross it. When I came back down the planks were gone, and there was a fire pit in front of the wash.. Had to chop some logs to fill the voids around the culvert. Didn't think the dirty max was gonna make it. After I crossed that I had to put out the rest of the idiots fire. Then I saw several of their beer cans starting there all the way back down to the fsr. I hate people!

That sucks bud, down low here things are greening up nice, that country may be running a couple weeks behind. -8 this am at the house, but shaping up to be a beauty day...... Noting worse then f faces tossing cans and garbage, good on ya for cleaning up they'r mess tho nor, what goes around comes around (meaning you will be provided a monster G bear soon!!) cheers!

[two-feet]

Well just got off the morice FSR. Was snowed out at 48.5 km do I hit other spots. Lots of snow still everywhere. The only green is thin strips on the side of the main. It snowed on me as I was setting up my tent.. I'm thinking at least 2 weeks minimum before any of the old burn greens up. There is a washed out road on the main to the lake, but there was two planks to cross it. When I came back down the planks were gone, and there was a fire pit in front of the wash.. Had to chop some logs to fill the voids around the culvert. Didn't think the dirty max was gonna make it. After I crossed that I had to put out the rest of the idiots fire. Then I saw several of their beer cans starting there all the way back down to the fsr. I hate people!

i heard of a big grizz spotted on the owen north road about a week ago.

[NorBC]

i heard of a big grizz spotted on the owen north road about a week ago.


is that the main pass the lake? Or a marked spur?

I can not wait to get out there once it's green. All that burn every where is exactly The landscape I would like for a good bow stalk.

[two-feet]

I said to my buddy: lets head up Telkwa River and we will get a bear at Jonas Creek. So we drove up and there he was exactly as predicted, right beside the creek.

He was starting to walk into the bush so I gave some calf type squalks and he turned back just enough to give me an acute angle far side shoulder shot, I took my first shot at game with my new-to-me JC Higgins .270 win. The bear dropped like a sack of potatoes. As we Hi fived and discussed how it was too easy the bear jumped to his feet and went into the bush.

We loaded up and went to check out the sign. Plenty of blood. It was of course super thick bush and 8pm. The blood trail was quite obvious as we went along but started to peter out the further we went. After a while I was down on my hands and knees following the odd drop or smear. Then it quit altogether and getting quite dusky. We decided to just do a general walkabout with the last light.

I went one way and my buddy another. About 15 minutes later I heard BOOM, then BOOM, BOOM!

We were in thick alder tangle right by the creek and I guess the bear stood up about 15 yrds from him so he put one in its neck with the .308, and when it kept wiggling a couple more for good measure. I showed up and we got to work.

http://i1365.photobucket.com/albums/r748/two-feet1/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsklsrvir8.jpg (http://s1365.photobucket.com/user/two-feet1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsklsrvir8.jpg.html)

My first shot had taken out a shoulder, lung, and came out its neck. Don't really understand why he decided to go another 200 yds into the jungle.

http://i1365.photobucket.com/albums/r748/two-feet1/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpshsqy6zeq.jpg (http://s1365.photobucket.com/user/two-feet1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpshsqy6zeq.jpg.html)
http://i1365.photobucket.com/albums/r748/two-feet1/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsfuqftvqp.jpg (http://s1365.photobucket.com/user/two-feet1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsfuqftvqp.jpg.html)

He was 200-250lbs I guess, I brought 72lbs to the butcher today, and there was much of a front shoulder that did not make the cut. Smoked hams, breakfast sausage, bratwurst.

I gave my boy a butter knife to "help" with the cutting

[two-feet]

Any guesses to the age from the teeth pic?

[Caribou_lou]

Looks like an older bear for sure. Teeth worn down a bit. Probably still had many years left in him. He won't be killing any moose calves now!

You should start a new thread with your story. More guys will see it. All they do is complain about how nobody posts stories these days.

[two-feet]

Looks like an older bear for sure. Teeth worn down a bit. Probably still had many years left in him. He won't be killing any moose calves now!

You should start a new thread with your story. More guys will see it. All they do is complain about how nobody posts stories these days.

did it, posted up a fresh thread

[urban_coyote]

Thanks two-feet!

I was up the coalmine yesterday and was wondering why I didnt see anything. Figured it was all the quad-riders!

I saw eight bears on saturday up towards babine lake, 2 of them were shooters. Tried to put the sneak on one but he busted me and took off. The other I lost track of in some thick bush. Looks like its time to start trying the distress call!

Cheers,
J

[Caribou_lou]

I saw a good Boar with a Sow on the 4000 road Sunday. If you see a small bear that you suspect is a female I'd suggest watching her for a bit. Chances are he won't be far. This goes for Grizz also. Hunting lake shores can be good also. The moose with often have calves by the water and you'll find bears walking the shore line.