What's with all the Grizzly just north of Kamloops Lately

[tipper]

Anybody else seeing the grizz moving in up around Jaimeson creek-Bonaparte way the last few years? Have had a place on the plateau since 1950 and never recall seeing one or hearing about anyone else seeing one either.
Times are changing and makes you a little bit more cautious going out for that middle of the night leak.

[marcus44]

Yeah they are definitely moving into more areas. I've seen/heard of quite a few in the Kelowna area as well. Only going to be more with no season for them

[jlirot]

This is the first I've heard of them being that close to Kamloops. I used to live in AK where there were a lot. Different way of looking at things for sure...

I hope they don't make it south of 'Loops.

Guess I gotta get that bear spray after all. Sure wish I could carry my 44 mag... :-)

[RyoTHC]

This is the first I've heard of them being that close to Kamloops. I used to live in AK where there were a lot. Different way of looking at things for sure...

I hope they don't make it south of 'Loops.

Guess I gotta get that bear spray after all. Sure wish I could carry my 44 mag... :-)

I have personally witnessed them on 3 different occasions within a 60 minute drive of Kamloops.

[bc8x8]

Seen one by Stump lake a few years ago and another last spring north of Chase.

[lovemywinchester]

There was one hanging around Tunkwa 10 or so years ago. Maybe the lack of moose is getting them wandering for food.

[srupp]

Hmmm lack of much reduction in numbers, or hunting pressure..means numbers are up more bears mean smaller younger bears get pressured by larger older bears...moving into new areas with less confrontation..less chance of mortality..
how humans interact with bears has changed..now leaf lickers with cameras present much different than hunting encounters....bears pick up on this....
Choice between apex mature grizzlies or soft target human areas...choice is obvious..and instant.
Only going to get worse...more bears need larger areas of home range..they will continue to push into areas that historically have not seen much grizzly activity.
Lets be safe out there..
Steven

[northof49]

Sh_t will start to hit the fan once a few non-hunter types start getting munched closer to the typical rec areas and urban centres....sad it will take that for people to begin to understand what those that know have been saying. Even then the seed eaters will still blame it on human encroachment.

[Bugle M In]

You mean I have to pay attention now around there with just carrying my BBear tag!:mrgreen:.
Damn, funny how you expect to only see creatures you have seen for 50 years in the same areas.
Now, we get Gbear and Wolves in places they have never been.

Didn't they get the memo!.
They are supposed to be both near "extinction"!!!

[guest]

Just saying........the SSS rule will likely play a role with some nearby ranches 1st.

Stupid Non science based decisions by our Political Shills will be responsible for the attacks when it happens near urban centers.

Way to Go Suzuki and followers.

[250 sav]

2 years ago there was a sow and Cubs on the west side of the Deadman, a boar near Hammer Lake, a boar around porcupine meadow, a one near inskip from the info I got from reliable hunters I know.

[Bugle M In]

Just saying........the SSS rule will likely play a role with some nearby ranches 1st.

Stupid Non science based decisions by our Political Shills will be responsible for the attacks when it happens near urban centers.

Way to Go Suzuki and followers.

I think after that one video from that one fellow from Bella Coola (or Bella Bella??) and all the media attention, that most of us have learned
to just keep it on the "down low".

[butcher]

We see them here all the time lately. Like, all the time.

[browningboy]

2 years ago there was a sow and Cubs on the west side of the Deadman, a boar near Hammer Lake, a boar around porcupine meadow, a one near inskip from the info I got from reliable hunters I know.


Wow, I haven’t seen any yet up there but I was told by Spruce Wilderness Lodge they have them on their trail cams, I’ve been all over the Boneparte Plateau and never seen a grizzly track yet, but not saying they are there.

[xcaribooer]

a few sightings of them between clinton and the fraser lately as well..

[gmachine19]

Ive seen tracks just 30 minute hike from our camp in deadman in cache creek 2 weeks ago. I slept with a loaded 45-70 that night lol

[russm86]

This is the first I've heard of them being that close to Kamloops. I used to live in AK where there were a lot. Different way of looking at things for sure...

I hope they don't make it south of 'Loops.

Guess I gotta get that bear spray after all. Sure wish I could carry my 44 mag... :-)

I have them on trail cam in the Sawmill/Red Lake area, so within a 45 minute drive of Kamloops, and that's taking the road which isn't a direct route as up and over the hills so as the crow flies it's probably closer. There have been reports of them up O'Connor even which is lower and south from Jamieson.

[Bugle M In]

I have them on trail cam in the Sawmill/Red Lake area, so within a 45 minute drive of Kamloops, and that's taking the road which isn't a direct route as up and over the hills so as the crow flies it's probably closer. There have been reports of them up O'Connor even which is lower and south from Jamieson.

Guess I will be keeping my eyes open and camera ready as well then.

[jlirot]

I have them on trail cam in the Sawmill/Red Lake area, so within a 45 minute drive of Kamloops, and that's taking the road which isn't a direct route as up and over the hills so as the crow flies it's probably closer. There have been reports of them up O'Connor even which is lower and south from Jamieson.
I’m in Lac Le Jeune. Have scouted (and hunted) O’Connor. I don’t go there much because it’s too accessible and too damn many people. I didn’t realize they were that close.

sure could get exciting if I’m out hunting grouse with the dog and all I have with me is 20ga #6’s. ��

[mpotzold]

I’m in Lac Le Jeune. Have scouted (and hunted) O’Connor. I don’t go there much because it’s too accessible and too damn many people. I didn’t realize they were that close.

sure could get exciting if I’m out hunting grouse with the dog and all I have with me is 20ga #6’s. 😜

Carry a few non soft slugs along just in case.
Using birdshot you'd have to wait till the grizz is only feet away & aim at the nose/eye area.
Still way better than spray!:mrgreen:

[Mosin]

I saw one few years ago up toward the end of mamquam fsr in squamish, I found a bunch of scat in Pemberton last year. They can pop up anywhere, there was one last year at the squamish estuary and hanging out behind the dog pound there.

[Trav]

I also had one on trail cam in this area two years ago.

[tipper]

The biologist said that he figured there was only about 8 of them close to Kamloops but I don't know about that. Everyone has been seeing them from low elevation to BeaverHut, Joe Ross, Bonaparte lake etc. The last one I saw was just above Bonaparte. Any members here the ones that were fishing on a small lake off beaverhut a couple weeks ago when one of the buggers jumped into the lake for a swim at them?

[Arctic Lake]

Not sure about this at all but a couple of years ago I heard they wanted to reintroduce them into the Cascades . Manning Park . anyone know of this ?
Arctic Lake

[andrew5]

They are apparently already in Manning Park. I was fishing the Skagit and met a guy as we were wading in opposite directions. He said he saw one down near Ross lake a few weeks prior. this was a few years ago, and I don't know how the fire in that valley would have affected any Grizz in the area after it.

[Quiet Hunter]

There numbers are rising. Not allowed to hunt them and this is what will happen. I'm all about there numbers going up but its definitely scary. At what point (numbers) will they allow us to hunt them again?

[tipper]

There numbers are rising. Not allowed to hunt them and this is what will happen. I'm all about there numbers going up but its definitely scary. At what point (numbers) will they allow us to hunt them again?
some us can hunt them with the gold card and I wish more would.

[6.5x55mm]

Yes there are three that I know off on the Bonaparte. 1 big male and two sows.
https://i.imgur.com/BNDq3zx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lJtfAvo.jpg

[Buckzilla]

I saw one few years ago up toward the end of mamquam fsr in squamish, I found a bunch of scat in Pemberton last year. They can pop up anywhere, there was one last year at the squamish estuary and hanging out behind the dog pound there.

there is a healthy population of grizzlies in the upper lillooet watershed in Pemberton.
60 + according to provincial biologist that studies them...
more if you include the bears off hurley pass

[tipper]

Nice pics 6.5x55! Also saw a nice bull last week that wasn't a moose. Times are changing!

[Darksith]

I have them on trail cam in the Sawmill/Red Lake area, so within a 45 minute drive of Kamloops, and that's taking the road which isn't a direct route as up and over the hills so as the crow flies it's probably closer. There have been reports of them up O'Connor even which is lower and south from Jamieson.

are you the guy that popped into my camp on May long and showed me pics of a beautiful bear 500m from my camp and told me the story of the crew in the wall tent moose hunting last fall that was having problems with this bear? I keep an eye out for him now, but still no sighting...didn't get a black bear that weekend either unfortunately.

[RosscoP]

Yes, this is absolutely true. F&W talked about doing this 30 years ago. BTW I saw my first grizzly in 11 mile creek (11 miles east of Hope) in 1971. When you've been around for awhile you can see that all animal populations and location concentrations ebb and flow over time, with the most obvious influences being logging (and access) and forest fires.

[Bugle M In]

there is a healthy population of grizzlies in the upper lillooet watershed in Pemberton.
60 + according to provincial biologist that studies them...
more if you include the bears off hurley pass
here used to be a old timers photo of a bear sitting up against a tree with the logger/hunter who shot the bear back then (early 1900's?)
Anyways, that GBear was rumored to have been taken inside 100 miles of Vancouver, so GBears have been around many parts before
settlers showed up.

Had a trust worthy friend say they saw a Gbear in the early 90's around Merritt.

[russm86]

are you the guy that popped into my camp on May long and showed me pics of a beautiful bear 500m from my camp and told me the story of the crew in the wall tent moose hunting last fall that was having problems with this bear? I keep an eye out for him now, but still no sighting...didn't get a black bear that weekend either unfortunately.

No, wasn't I, sorry.

[russm86]

I’m in Lac Le Jeune. Have scouted (and hunted) O’Connor. I don’t go there much because it’s too accessible and too damn many people. I didn’t realize they were that close.

sure could get exciting if I’m out hunting grouse with the dog and all I have with me is 20ga #6’s. 😜

If you're in Lac Le Jeune you might be thinking of McConnell Lake? O'Connor Lake is a man made lake out of Westsyde (North end of town) and is all "private property" (grazing lease BS).

[jlirot]

If you're in Lac Le Jeune you might be thinking of McConnell Lake? O'Connor Lake is a man made lake out of Westsyde (North end of town) and is all "private property" (grazing lease BS).

Yep you're correct. There's a lot of land around here that's grazing lease that I can't get on. Kinda sucks.

[4 point]

My hunting partner & I saw some big griz tracks while out walking in 3-28A late last fall. Never saw the bear.

[RandyC]

There was a big billboard back around 2005-2007 near the end of Tulameen River Rd, saying they were re-introduced to the Cascade/Manning area. I have never spotted one back there, but did see one by Sunday Summit on the Hope/Princeton Hwy about 7-8 years ago.