Coastal black bear hunt.

[Jared8054]

A buddy and I are looking to do a coastal black bear hunt. We have been looking at Vancouver island does anyone have any experience or guide suggestions. Would be open to other islands such as POW, kuiu, etc.

 

[Coveyleader]

I have experience on POW, and VI.

Couple things to note.

POW

- Tough draw unless you go guided, you could skip the draw process. Internet blew this place up.

- Huge bears, ugly as they come. Hides are normally garbage but the skulls are usually 19 or above pretty consistently.

-Fishing is good, can be really good.

- Remote feeling once you get out there.

- No meat salvage requirement after June

- No bugs


VI

- Fishing is great

- Bear hides are great

- Sizeable bears, but not on the POW level from what I've seen.

- Not as a remote feeling as Alaska. Every bay seems to have some infrastructure from logging or first nations.

- Warmer weather i.e. not as cold but more bugs

- Meat salvage requirements are very strict



No experience with guides in either place, but there is a possibility you could run into them. After years of hunting DIY, when all said an done, your DIY costs in those places will be right there if you went guided, nor not far off.

 

[Jared8054]

I have experience on POW, and VI.

Couple things to note.

POW

- Tough draw unless you go guided, you could skip the draw process. Internet blew this place up.

- Huge bears, ugly as they come. Hides are normally garbage but the skulls are usually 19 or above pretty consistently.

-Fishing is good, can be really good.

- Remote feeling once you get out there.

- No meat salvage requirement after June

- No bugs


VI

- Fishing is great

- Bear hides are great

- Sizeable bears, but not on the POW level from what I've seen.

- Not as a remote feeling as Alaska. Every bay seems to have some infrastructure from logging or first nations.

- Warmer weather i.e. not as cold but more bugs

- Meat salvage requirements are very strict



No experience with guides in either place, but there is a possibility you could run into them. After years of hunting DIY, when all said an done, your DIY costs in those places will be right there if you went guided, nor not far off.

I have experience on POW, and VI.

Couple things to note.

POW

- Tough draw unless you go guided, you could skip the draw process. Internet blew this place up.

- Huge bears, ugly as they come. Hides are normally garbage but the skulls are usually 19 or above pretty consistently.

-Fishing is good, can be really good.

- Remote feeling once you get out there.

- No meat salvage requirement after June

- No bugs


VI

- Fishing is great

- Bear hides are great

- Sizeable bears, but not on the POW level from what I've seen.

- Not as a remote feeling as Alaska. Every bay seems to have some infrastructure from logging or first nations.

- Warmer weather i.e. not as cold but more bugs

- Meat salvage requirements are very strict



No experience with guides in either place, but there is a possibility you could run into them. After years of hunting DIY, when all said an done, your DIY costs in those places will be right there if you went guided, nor not far off.

Was it a fall or spring hunt you went on? Looking to go mid to late October.

 

[Coveyleader]

I've been on POW in the fall, September, and it was the wettest I've ever been. Great trip, but I can't put to words how wet it was. I've been to VI spring hunting only in the spring, but have been there mid to late October for other things and you're getting into the transition down there as well.


If there is one word that best describes "Coastal" it's rain and there is nothing you can do about it. The worst is if you get a week of weather based on a storm or big front. Straight down rain in my experience is actually ok. The ocean is usually calm, and there is no wind.

Example........... glassing for bears in this spot for hours. Just make sure you have some great rain gear. A tarp isn't bad either if you're camping out on spots for hours and hours. This is "straight down rain" no wind........ see clouds just hanging there. This to me, is classic coastal hunting.

 

[Jared8054]

I've been on POW in the fall, September, and it was the wettest I've ever been. Great trip, but I can't put to words how wet it was. I've been to VI spring hunting only in the spring, but have been there mid to late October for other things and you're getting into the transition down there as well.


If there is one word that best describes "Coastal" it's rain and there is nothing you can do about it. The worst is if you get a week of weather based on a storm or big front. Straight down rain in my experience is actually ok. The ocean is usually calm, and there is no wind.

Example........... glassing for bears in this spot for hours. Just make sure you have some great rain gear. A tarp isn't bad either if you're camping out on spots for hours and hours. This is "straight down rain" no wind........ see clouds just hanging there. This to me, is classic coastal hunting.

I’m headed to the Alaska peninsula for a brown bear this fall so I should get an introduction to the coastal environment. I’ve got one black bear in Saskatchewan but sitting in a tree stand looking 20 yards wasn’t the right hunt for me. Got a really nice 340# 19.5” skull but not many hunting memories out of the trip. to be able to glass and spot and stalk is what has drawn me to the island hunts. Hoping it’s the adventure I think it could be.