First bear hunt tips for Brit!

[Muntjachunter]

Hi all!

I am a UK deer stalker with a passion for all things hunting and shooting. And a goal of mine for a long time has been to shoot a bear in North America. I am now hopefully going to realise that dream because I have booked a 5 day black bear hunt over bait with La Griffe d’Ours in Quebec in June!

I’m very keen to get as stuck in as possible and to listen and learn lots from my guide and just to enjoy the new hunting experience, I’ve done lots of research already but does anybody have any tips for me to increase my chances of success and to get the most out of my first black bear hunt?

I have attached a photo below from one of my recent Muntjac stalks here in the UK. As you can see they aren’t quite as big as what I’ll be hoping to shoot in Quebec this spring!

 

[Luke S]

I image you'll have a blast. Bear bait lacks the excitement of chasing your bear up and over mountains but you'll probably see more bears. Pretty exciting when they pop out close by! Couple times I've seen them very close (walking under the stand, or popping up feet away while I didn't have a rifle ready).

Advice from Alaska (for what it's worth).
Bugs can vary from annoying to totally maddening. At one point we wore our rain pants because the mosquitoes were biting through our pants, gloves and head nets. We even had balaclavas and baseball caps on under the head net because we got bit in the ears, neck and anywhere else the bug nets touched skin directly. The bill of the cap keeps the bug net off your face. A balaclava or hood keeps the off the kneck and ears. It's not always that bad but I'd be ready for that level just in case. 100% DEET helps and the smell didn't seem to keep bears away. I think 30% is the strongest you can get in Canada. It's nice when you're skinning bears.

I really like suppressors but I don't believe they are allowed in Canada. A few years back we had good success with Walker Razer electric ear muffs. I think they are like $40 US. You can get better but those worked fine for sitting on a stand. We could hear bears coming in but the rifle shot didn't deafen us. I lost enough hearing without ear pro that it's annoying so now I'm pretty careful about such things.

Good luck! If you have a Gopro you can wear it on your head and get a fun video.

 

[Muntjachunter]

I image you'll have a blast. Bear bait lacks the excitement of chasing your bear up and over mountains but you'll probably see more bears. Pretty exciting when they pop out close by! Couple times I've seen them very close (walking under the stand, or popping up feet away while I didn't have a rifle ready).

Advice from Alaska (for what it's worth).
Bugs can vary from annoying to totally maddening. At one point we wore our rain pants because the mosquitoes were biting through our pants, gloves and head nets. We even had balaclavas and baseball caps on under the head net because we got bit in the ears, neck and anywhere else the bug nets touched skin directly. The bill of the cap keeps the bug net off your face. A balaclava or hood keeps the off the kneck and ears. It's not always that bad but I'd be ready for that level just in case. 100% DEET helps and the smell didn't seem to keep bears away. I think 30% is the strongest you can get in Canada. It's nice when you're skinning bears.

I really like suppressors but I don't believe they are allowed in Canada. A few years back we had good success with Walker Razer electric ear muffs. I think they are like $40 US. You can get better but those worked fine for sitting on a stand. We could hear bears coming in but the rifle shot didn't deafen us. I lost enough hearing without ear pro that it's annoying so now I'm pretty careful about such things.

Good luck! If you have a Gopro you can wear it on your head and get a fun video.

I have heard the bugs can be a pain!
hopefully they won’t be too bad when I go but I will try and get some sort of insect repellent.

Here in the UK 99% of people use hunting rifles with a moderator. I will certainly be bringing my electronic ear defenders that I normally wear shotgun shooting to block out the noise of the rifle.

I’ll be renting a 30.06 from the outfitter when out there which should do the job. Here in the UK I use .308 as a great all rounder for all our 6 deer species

Thanks for all the tips!

 

[RADunfee]

I image you'll have a blast. Bear bait lacks the excitement of chasing your bear up and over mountains but you'll probably see more bears. Pretty exciting when they pop out close by! Couple times I've seen them very close (walking under the stand, or popping up feet away while I didn't have a rifle ready).

Advice from Alaska (for what it's worth).
Bugs can vary from annoying to totally maddening. At one point we wore our rain pants because the mosquitoes were biting through our pants, gloves and head nets. We even had balaclavas and baseball caps on under the head net because we got bit in the ears, neck and anywhere else the bug nets touched skin directly. The bill of the cap keeps the bug net off your face. A balaclava or hood keeps the off the kneck and ears. It's not always that bad but I'd be ready for that level just in case. 100% DEET helps and the smell didn't seem to keep bears away. I think 30% is the strongest you can get in Canada. It's nice when you're skinning bears.

I really like suppressors but I don't believe they are allowed in Canada. A few years back we had good success with Walker Razer electric ear muffs. I think they are like $40 US. You can get better but those worked fine for sitting on a stand. We could hear bears coming in but the rifle shot didn't deafen us. I lost enough hearing without ear pro that it's annoying so now I'm pretty careful about such things.

Good luck! If you have a Gopro you can wear it on your head and get a fun video.

Excellent advice!

 

[Luke S]

Sounds like you have a good plan. I sometimes forget how cold it gets sitting still for a couple hours. Bring layers.
That 30/06 will work fine. We actually have killed a bunch with a 308 but you probably don't want to bother with the paperwork. Enjoy your adventure. Should be a neat all around experience. I've enjoyed Canada a lot (just the other side). Nice people.

 

[medvedyt]

as said by others bring layers the wind can be cold and do not forget tape to close any holes in your clothing and add head net as the bugs will be in full throttle for sure in june.
one thing that always worked when i guided in the spring for bear in quebec was the thermacell.

another advice do not shoot the first bear unless it is the giant of the place most of the time smaller ones will come first the big one will come later one. try to avoid any noises or movement.

enjoy the good time.

 

[406life]

Where in the UK? I'll be back over there twice this year, Dorset and Scotland.

Can you shoot two bears?
Headnet for the the bugs would be handy. Learn the history and ecology of the area, will make for more complete experience. Bring a book/phone for the long sit.

 

[Muntjachunter]

Where in the UK? I'll be back over there twice this year, Dorset and Scotland.

Can you shoot two bears?
Headnet for the the bugs would be handy. Learn the history and ecology of the area, will make for more complete experience. Bring a book/phone for the long sit.

I’m from Hampshire, probably only a 2hr drive from Dorset!

Will just be one bear.
Although there’s the risk I could tag out on the 1st day I’ll be happy with any bear!

 

[PathFinder]

My advice, depending on what the outfitter tells you to expect for bear numbers, is to be patient and take some time watching bears before shooting one. If they've got a lot coming in, the perk of baiting is that you get to see the bears and their behavior up close. Take some time to enjoy that and maybe be just a little picky.

 

[Muntjachunter]

My advice, depending on what the outfitter tells you to expect for bear numbers, is to be patient and take some time watching bears before shooting one. If they've got a lot coming in, the perk of baiting is that you get to see the bears and their behavior up close. Take some time to enjoy that and maybe be just a little picky.

That seems very sensible. My fears are I wouldn’t want to risk turning down something half decent on the first day in hope of seeing something even better and then never seeing another bear!

 

[medvedyt]

That seems very sensible. My fears are I wouldn’t want to risk turning down something half decent on the first day in hope of seeing something even better and then never seeing another bear!

unless you have a bad weather change like a cold frond coming to you that might reduce bear activity you should be good.

remember one tip if the ears are big that means most of the time really a young bear if they are smalls or look small and far spread there is a good chance it is an older one.

if it is the boss of the place the other bears will look nervous around the bait and not very calm. listen noises as well in the forest.

and most important enjoy the good time.

 

[Muntjachunter]

Is there much risk of seeing Sow’s with cubs in June? as the last thing I want to do is break the law and shoot a sow with cubs, and from what I’ve read sometimes the sow and cubs are together and other times you can watch a sow on her own for 30 minutes before her cubs appear!

 

[medvedyt]

Is there much risk of seeing Sow’s with cubs in June? as the last thing I want to do is break the law and shoot a sow with cubs, and from what I’ve read sometimes the sow and cubs are together and other times you can watch a sow on her own for 30 minutes before her cubs appear!

sows can be with cubs the younger ones of course as the heat/rut period will start in june and she will remove the ones that can/ should live on their own thus taking your time to not shoot too young unless you have two tags and can use the younger one for bbq ...
otherwise as i said take your time listen the noises including cub ones so not hearing/wearing ears buds or listening music .... look up on youtube you will hear the noise of cubs and mom will push them in trees as well ...

if you have few bears on your bait you will notice the interaction, the body language and noises made by different bears.

i never had a sow coming with the yearly cubs on the baits i used in quebec while guiding during day but at dark they will come (more safe due to boar predation on cubs) but it will really depend again on the weather and the bear population and the food available and how is experienced the sow is.

if you have time take a fishing license and check with the outfitter if they will provide you a fishing rod and tackles or if you need to purchase those but worth it as you will not seat for the whole day lol

 

[Honyock]

Aim for the middle of the middle and a few inches forward is the best advice I can give you.

 

[medvedyt]

hard to find a better image for the inside and anatomy that this one:

https://forums.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small39613976.JPG

 

[2buffalo]

Hi all!

I am a UK deer stalker with a passion for all things hunting and shooting. And a goal of mine for a long time has been to shoot a bear in North America. I am now hopefully going to realise that dream because I have booked a 5 day black bear hunt over bait with La Griffe d’Ours in Quebec in June!

I’m very keen to get as stuck in as possible and to listen and learn lots from my guide and just to enjoy the new hunting experience, I’ve done lots of research already but does anybody have any tips for me to increase my chances of success and to get the most out of my first black bear hunt?

I have attached a photo below from one of my recent Muntjac stalks here in the UK. As you can see they aren’t quite as big as what I’ll be hoping to shoot in Quebec this spring!

Bears are hard to judge their size. If you're not used to seeing bears watch for a day or two before you pull the trigger. Baited bear hunts are typically close range. Shoot them in the neck and they will drop where they are standing.

 

[Honyock]

Bears are hard to judge their size. If you're not used to seeing bears watch for a day or two before you pull the trigger. Baited bear hunts are typically close range. Shoot them in the neck and they will drop where they are standing.

Judging size was the hardest part for me. Your guide/outfitter should be able to help you. If his bait is in a barrel on a tree or hung up, you might be able to use the height of the barrel to judge size. If on all fours his back comes up to the bottom of the barrel he's probably X feet tall, etc.

 

[okie john]

Study bear anatomy so you know where the vitals are. Visit a zoo and watch the bears move--it helps you visualize where the vitals are. The first bear you see should not be the one you're about to shoot.


Okie John

 

[medvedyt]

we are in june @Muntjachunter are you already there? any luck or good time?