You
need an outfitter to harvest a huge
black bear with a bow, right? Wrong! Here’s how.
Finding good bear country is the key to success and must be
done well ahead of the opening date of the season. Start with a game guide
for the area you are planning to hunt. If there is a season in that area,
you are on your way.
Once you have decided on the zone, or general location, it
is time to make some phone calls. Place a call to the nearest
conservation detachment (DNR or Fish & Game
office). They will be able to tell you if they have had any complaints about
bear in that area.
Always keep your eyes and ears open. When attending fundraisers, meetings or
any other functions that other hunters attend, eavesdrop on other conversations.
If someone mentions the word “bear,” include yourself in the conversation.
Try to find out specific locations. Most, if not all, successful hunters like
to talk about their successes, more so if it included taking a huge bruin. While
not giving away their exact location, they may offer vague hints: south of Porcupine,
just across that old bridge on the logging road off highway 55, along the North
Saskatchewan River, the Provincial Forest, etc. and often this is enough.
Study topographical maps of the region. Identify water sources, rivers, creeks,
lakes or swamps. Bear like all of these places, especially if there are beaver
to be had. Also, find out if there has been any recent logging in the area.
While hunting for other big game, watch for bear sign. I first found the area
I now hunt years ago while doing an early season muzzleloader hunt for whitetail
deer. While conducting a drive on a small bush, no deer were produced, but three
good bears were flushed out. Look for tracks at water holes and beaver dams.
When near berry patches, look for both tracks and scat. The size of the scat
pile can indicate the size of the bear. In thick vegetation you may find paths
or even tracks. A bear will often step in the same track each time, wearing footprints
deep into the undergrowth. You can determine the size of the bear by the size
and depth of these depressions.
