CANADA: Big Bears During The Rut In Saskatchewan

[Muskox]

I showed that exact image to my family last night. The one with all the different colors of black bears.

I have seen a Kermode in a zoo type thing in British Columbia, never seen a Glacier bear.

Seen the rest in the wild in the west.

Saw a very small honey bear in Yellowstone about 20 years ago. He was very obviously a black bear, and not a grizzly bear.

 

[Green Chile]

It’s been an interesting back half of the hunt for sure. As suspected, the hotter weather has probably had an effect on productivity. There haven’t been any bears shot since day 2. We have 3 hunters left including my friend to fill their tags. The problem has also been worsened by the Province banning the use of all ATVs on public or govt land due to the fires in Manitoba. It’s bright green here…not dry at all and the outfitter’s equipment is in great condition but the Correctional Officer showed up today to say no exceptions!

So we are getting creative and getting guys to baits they can walk into. There are bears on bait and activity around the cameras even with the hotter weather of 90 degrees and a lot of smoke in the air from the Manitoba fire. You would think it would turn off the bears but they are still active, even in the middle of the day. We have multiple large bears on camera so we will see how the last night goes. If one gets killed, we will have to skin it in the bush and pack it out on foot.

 

[BGGMKLR]

It’s been an interesting back half of the hunt for sure. As suspected, the hotter weather has probably had an effect on productivity. There haven’t been any bears shot since day 2. We have 3 hunters left including my friend to fill their tags. The problem has also been worsened by the Province banning the use of all ATVs on public or govt land due to the fires in Manitoba. It’s bright green here…not dry at all and the outfitter’s equipment is in great condition but the Correctional Officer showed up today to say no exceptions!

So we are getting creative and getting guys to baits they can walk into. There are bears on bait and activity around the cameras even with the hotter weather of 90 degrees and a lot of smoke in the air from the Manitoba fire. You would think it would turn off the bears but they are still active, even in the middle of the day. We have multiple large bears on camera so we will see how the last night goes. If one gets killed, we will have to skin it in the bush and pack it out on foot.

First valid reason I've ever heard to wait on a small one.
Buena Suerte

Spike

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Nice videos and of course bear you took @Green Chile. For those not so bear hunting experienced, I count myself in this as I've only got one, watch the videos of the sow closely a few times. You'll notice how the front end of a sow is quite a bit smaller than a boar. It's almost as if the sow's backside is out of proportion to the large side in comparison to the front. This is one way to eliminate a sow from consideration when one comes in without cubs.

 

[Green Chile]

Philip you’re right about that and it makes a good point. I’m learning everything I can on any of these hunts about the behavior, body language, how to judge/score them, etc etc. and I like to share those observations with others.

One commonly quoted thing is that big bears look like they have small ears. That’s not a hard and fast rule. Plenty of big bears have big ears but they will be spaced out further on the sides than up on top like a hat. To Philip’s point, I also look at the lines on a bear…do they get blocky and square on the front end and nose? That’s a characteristic of a mature boar. Do they get angled and pointy almost like a triangle or wedge? That’s a sign of a female. So males are more squared off in their face and chest and females are more angular and pointy. When you see them together it gets obvious. Also big bears swagger and are more bow-legged but that’s true for big sows and big boars.

 

[Green Chile]

Here is why you never give up until the hunt is really over…not almost over. 3 guys went back out in the smoke and heat for one more sit. We couldn’t use the ATVs so they had to get to a bait they could walk to. A boar followed a sow into the bait and Shazam…a legit 400# bear with a bow that will probably exceed B&C minimums and certainly P&Y by several inches. Also, it was the hunter’s FIRST bear hunt! Fantastic.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Nice!! Big and a color phase too.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

@Green Chile, one thing I don't think you've addressed, maybe I missed it, is table fare of these Canadian bears. My one and only black bear was from Hyde County, NC. Those bears were nice and fat on peanuts and were excellent eating. How about these ones?

 

[Green Chile]

Nice!! Big and a color phase too.

Yes it was a chocolate with some cinnamon highlights. Perfect hide. Perfect bear. Possibly 21” plus with an arrow. Also approximate age of 12-13 as they have been trying to take this bear for about 8 years.

 

[Green Chile]

@Green Chile, one thing I don't think you've addressed, maybe I missed it, is table fare of these Canadian bears. My one and only black bear was from Hyde County, NC. Those bears were nice and fat on peanuts and were excellent eating. How about these ones?

Table fare is a great subject and somewhat divisive. Yes some of the bears can be excellent eating. If they are on berries and grass…or agriculture of some kind like peanuts, they can be excellent. If they are on fish or carrion, they are inedible. Of course you have to cook them well due to trichinosis (like pork). Steven Rinella can tell you how rough that is to get it wrong!

These particular bears here are not good eating. They are often full of worms and the locals won’t eat them. Some have taken a bit home to try it but I get a real negative culinary review on bears from this area. Mostly they are not eaten from this area. Other places, they are commonly eaten.

 

[BGGMKLR]

Here is why you never give up until the hunt is really over…not almost over. 3 guys went back out in the smoke and heat for one more sit. We couldn’t use the ATVs so they had to get to a bait they could walk to. A boar followed a sow into the bait and Shazam…a legit 400# bear with a bow that will probably exceed B&C minimums and certainly P&Y by several inches. Also, it was the hunter’s FIRST bear hunt! Fantastic.

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Gorgeous chocolate...while the fat lady sings the final stanza.
Congrats...we'll done.
Spike

 

[BGGMKLR]

@Green Chile, one thing I don't think you've addressed, maybe I missed it, is table fare of these Canadian bears. My one and only black bear was from Hyde County, NC. Those bears were nice and fat on peanuts and were excellent eating. How about these ones?

Curious Phil,
were you hunting with Dare to Hyde?
They're taking some if the biggest Blackies in the game these days.
Best
Spike

 

[davidg8480]

Great bear, what a tank !
Kinda qurious, how did they get that 400# fatboy back to the skinning hoist in camp? Deer cart ?
No fibbing now!

 

[Green Chile]

There are a handful of stands that can be driven to in a truck. The guides were able to get a truck close and get enough hands on it.

That was the irony of the ban yesterday…it forced us to look at stand accessibility. So we picked a different stand and this hunter got a shot at a lifetime bear on the last day of his first bear hunt…pure luck. Sometimes with all of the prep that you do, it comes down to luck in the end.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Curious Phil,
were you hunting with Dare to Hyde?
They're taking some if the biggest Blackies in the game these days.
Best
Spike

No, the outfitter was Lily Pond Creek Outfitters.

 

[Green Chile]

Curious Phil,
were you hunting with Dare to Hyde?
They're taking some if the biggest Blackies in the game these days.
Best
Spike

For those who have hunted Hyde County in NC…what outfitters did you use? I have reached out to more than one and gotten no responses. I wonder if they are booked solid with repeat business. Still, they could reply to interested parties.

 

[BGGMKLR]

For those who have hunted Hyde County in NC…what outfitters did you use? I have reached out to more than one and gotten no responses. I wonder if they are booked solid with repeat business. Still, they could reply to interested parties.

I have not hunted with them... yet.
The reason I asked is an amigo I've hunted Mexico with is married into the family that owns Dare to Hyde. In our discussions and during research I have been absolutely astonished by the size...and numbers...of the true giants they seem to harvest on the regular.
Regards
Spike

 

[Green Chile]

I have not hunted with them... yet.
The reason I asked is an amigo I've hunted Mexico with is married into the family that owns Dare to Hyde. In our discussions and during research I have been absolutely astonished by the size...and numbers...of the true giants they seem to harvest on the regular.
Regards
Spike

I would be interested to visit with you offline about your research, etc. Are you considering a hunt in Hyde county? It’s kind of a bucket list hunt for me.

 

[BGGMKLR]

I would be interested to visit with you offline about your research, etc. Are you considering a hunt in Hyde county? It’s kind of a bucket list hunt for me.

Sending pm

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I have not hunted with them... yet.
The reason I asked is an amigo I've hunted Mexico with is married into the family that owns Dare to Hyde. In our discussions and during research I have been absolutely astonished by the size...and numbers...of the true giants they seem to harvest on the regular.
Regards
Spike

I researched this a few years ago. Jim Shockey and his daughter both harvested 600+ lbs bears in North Carolina. What people told me was some of the various growth hormone feed for hogs and cattle was going to the bears, making them bigger. I was also told that most spring bears in the lower 48 and even Vancouver Island have issues with the hides (rubbed).