CANADA: Big Bears During The Rut In Saskatchewan

[Green Chile]

The bears in NC and some southern states can grow bigger because they don’t hibernate. They just eat all year long and they don’t have to work for it…so they are bigger.

 

[BGGMKLR]

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).

I know nothing nor have I heard of the "hormone diet" theory. The generally accepted explanation for the over-size dimensions of NC Bears is multi-faceted. When you have an abundance of high calorie nutrition available (wheat,corn,peanuts,etc) and pair that with a temporate climate, the Bears have extended access to ample food sources...for an extended period of time annually.
More food + longer chow time = Jumbo Yogi's.
I know that a lot of Bears at mid to lower elevations will at times skip hibernation here in No. California. Sows will of course den to Cub, but a lot of them just switch to the "frequent nap" program. With no snow to speak of, and the availability of substantial food sources, I would imagine that the coastal NC Bears operate similarly.
As far as Spring Bears being rubbed I can't speak with any authority on the subject as Spring Bear hunts in California were stopped 7 or 8 years ago.
Best
Spike

 

[BGGMKLR]

The bears in NC and some southern states can grow bigger because they don’t hibernate. They just eat all year long and they don’t have to work for it…so they are bigger.

Sorry...you were just a tad quicker on the draw.
Had I seen your post I would have refrained myself.

 

[davidg8480]

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.

Myself as well!

 

[Altitude sickness]

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).

Here are both the Jim Shockey and his daughters NC bears at my taxidermist years ago. They were the largest black bears I’ve ever seen. (Body wise) not sure of the skulls. These pictures are just after the hides are pulled onto the forms. And before any finish work started. These pictures don’t do the size justice.

 

[Green Chile]

Speaking of Shockey, I would love to see his top 5 or 10 black bears. I haven’t checked the record books but I’m sure he’s all over it. Vancouver Island has some awesome genetics. I think they are all black…no color phase there?

 

[OxfordTheCat]

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.

Used to be up here you'd always hang some easily accessible bait in the spring:

Bears usually taken closer ranges so when the bear stands for the bait you can tell if it's a young boar or a sow from the teats - a sow with cubs has them rubbed clear.

Don't know if it was something outfitters bothered with, or just the locals that didn't want to end up with problem bears.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

@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?

Bears need to be clear of the fat as soon as possible, else they can be very gamey: If you gut it and then decide to clean it a day later, you will have some very gamey meat that most only found suitable for jerky or ground chuck.

If you get them off the fat quickly, no issues, irrespective of diet (though I have read that 'dump' bears do have a taste, but haven't ever had the pleasure). Less of an issue in spring, but a big consideration for a fall bear.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

@Green Chile; curious as to how common the colour phase bears are with that outfitter?

No cinnamon bears in my neck of the woods, but I'd consider an outfitter for a chance at a colour phase.

 

[Green Chile]

Color phases were VERY prominent the last 2 years with this outfitter. The most prominent were chocolate…then cinnamon…then blonde. Taking a chocolate is very reasonable at this location. I took a huge cinnamon last year.

As to tricks at the bait, they like to hang a beaver carcass at or above 7 feet. That’s a great gauge for length.

 

[thoma018]

I've never see color phase bears and the color phase chart post by @Green Chile was interesting. By the way the 3 largest kills here in NC were 880#, 784#, 782#. Largest bow kill was 780#. These were all coastal bears but not all in Hyde. Our mountains have some bruisers too, I think 695# is the record for the western part of the state.

 

[BGGMKLR]

Dump Bears are bad, but fish Bears are the absolute worst. Decide what's important. The hide and skull...or the meat. If meat, and meat quality, are your preference, hunt in areas where they have limited access to animal proteins.
Dump Bears? Pretty simple. A steady diet of dirty diapers, tampons, and 2 week old potato salad doesn't make for fine dining.
I remember 2 clients who took fish Bears off of the Klamath river. Even with a cast iron stomach I was reaching as I skinned them. I told them both that I was not strapping to my packframe. I would get their hides back to the truck, but if they wanted the meat, to shove as much as possible in their pockets and follow me out.
Berry Bears?
A whole nother deal.
Regards
Spike

 

[Green Chile]

I know bears can be good to eat. I’ve just never had that experience personally. I can also tell you that their carcass will lay out there basically untouched for awhile. Other animals don’t seem to like eating them. Bears will eat them though.

 

[BGGMKLR]

I know bears can be good to eat. I’ve just never had that experience personally. I can also tell you that their carcass will lay out there basically untouched for awhile. Other animals don’t seem to like eating them. Bears will eat them though.

Respectful pro tip.
Pot roast.
I've never once, in over 40 years, had a bite of a Bear steak or backstrap that could be bragged about.
I've served this countless times with nary a complaint...often to folks who would never have a bite if they knew what it was:
Bear pot roast:
Rear hams are best.
Trim off every bit of fat.
Not good enough.
Par-boil for a few minutes to any remaining bits.
Lightly wipe down with olive oil (binder), and coat thoroughly with a couple of packets of French onion soup/dip mix (varies according to roast size...never less than 2 packs)
Wrap in foil and go low and slow.
At 150 degrees or so open foil and add 2-3 quartered onions, spuds, and carrots
Leave open and finish to 160-165 degrees...(very very important).
Best pot roast on the rock in my view.
Cheers
Spike

 

[davidg8480]

Berry Bears?
A whole nother deal.
Regards
Spike

Good old Main North Woods bears... Tasty !
Coastal bears not so much.

@thoma018
By the way are NC bears in Hyde/Dare County considered to be costal bears such as Vancouver Island or interior bears?

 

[thoma018]

We refer to costal bears as those in any of the 9 counties from the Virginia to South Carolina line. The 880 pounder was killed “down east”, (the Eastern Part of the state) in the Coastal Plain but not in a coastal county.

 

[davidg8480]

What a Beast!

 

[Green Chile]

Just got home last night from traveling back from Canada. Started moving at 4am and got back to house in TX at 10pm. Long day...but it gave me several more thoughts on the hunt. I always learn as I look back at things...like an after action review (AAR).

One thing that was new on this trip was coming back through Calgary, Alberta. For some reason, they did CBP Customs in Calgary before we flew to Atlanta. Normally I do Customs when I get back to US. This time, we had the typical long lines...I showed my passport...and that was it. It took almost 2 hours to do THAT but there was no discussion of guns, no showing my 4457, etc. My bags had been checked from my first of 4 flights, straight through to Texas. When I got to TX, my bags and rifle came out and I picked them up and went home. I had all the paperwork ready but was not asked for them. Keep that in mind if you go home through Calgary.

 

[Green Chile]

Another bit of travel advice, do NOT route through Toronto to go bear hunting. It's very common to have trouble with your bags and particularly your gun case. A friend coming back yesterday on this trip went through Toronto and the agents opened his case, asked a lot of questions, took photos of his paperwork and generally were a hassle. The guides tell me that a lot of hunters have problems if they transit through Toronto so heads up...avoid Toronto and save yourself some headaches.

 

[Green Chile]

Something that often becomes a factor on these hunts is someone's patience level. That might be stressed during the travel or some other part of the trip. It was evident on this trip with 12 hunters as we sat on stands for long periods of time, watching for target bears. Target bears were ID'd on game camera as being large enough to be a possible target to take. Sometimes it was really specific to say that chocolate bear with the torn ear is your target...watch for him! Now of course, there is always a random element where an unknown bear can come in and change everything...but often we are trying to take a target bear that is known to the guides. Patience is often key to the success...but then there is luck to consider.

I will use myself and 2 other examples to show what I mean. In my case, I've taken multiple bears and had some good success taking trophy quality bears. I had some ideas on what was in the area and know how to judge bears (but I'm always learning). Last year, I focused all week on one bear and took him at the end of the week. That was perfect. This year, I saw a LOT more bears and was turning down bears on a regular basis. I kept looking for that target bear and then one came in and ran off the sow with cubs...well, the cubs went up a tree and the sow fought the other bear...but the larger bear stayed and I ended up taking it. It was NOT the target bear and in some ways, I had settled for something less than what was possible. I was a little concerned about the coming heat wave and we ended up having a fire a few hours away and no one took bears for 3 days after I took mine. Ok, it is what it is but I did settle instead of being stubborn on waiting for that target bear to show up. Maybe I would have gotten him or maybe not...we will never know. I did take an adult bear cleanly and that's important but I might have gotten a bigger bear with patience and luck...or maybe not.

Then there is the first time bear hunter that saw very little all week...then because of the ATV ban, he was moved to another stand that we weren't considering before that. He had the good fortune of having a great bear show up and he made a great shot. He was prepared when luck came his way on the LAST day.

Then my friend who hunted (also his first bear hunt) and he stuck it out the whole time no matter what happened. He saw lots of bears but only saw the target bear once briefly and it left before presenting any shot. He stayed with it...consistently...and in the end did not get a chance. However, as soon as the hunt was done, he said we are coming back next year!

Just some things to think about as you work on being patient and look for luck on your next hunt.