If you are an adventurous person who is looking for a truly exhilarating experience, then the black bear hunt in Canada is considered among the best anywhere in the world. With its dense forests, remote wilderness, and high populations of black bears, it is one of the prime destinations for bear hunting. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned hunter, it is easy to make common mistakes that could cost you a successful hunt. Let’s dive into the important factors you need to know to raise your chances of success and ensure an ethical and memorable experience.
The Importance of Scouting: Where to Find Black Bears
Canada’s diverse landscape is a dream for any hunter, but it also presents challenges. Black bears are highly food-motivated animals, and being so, they will cover large expanses in search of something good to eat. You’ll more than likely find them in areas with heavy berries, nuts, and roots. During spring hunts, these black bears are often found near water sources as they seek out fresh vegetation after hibernation. In the fall, they focus on fattening up before winter, so look for areas with abundant berries and acorns.
Pro Tip for Scouting Black Bear:
Spend time in the off-season scouting areas that show heavy bear activity, such as tracks, claw marks on trees, and scat. Using trail cameras will allow you to capture crucial intel on bear patterns without disrupting the area.
Timing Your Hunt: The Perfect Season
While black bear hunting in Canada takes place both in spring and fall, there is quite a difference between the two methods of hunting. During the spring season, bears will often be seen in open fields grazing as they break their winter fast on fresh greenery. It becomes more a matter of tracking them near possible areas of food such as wild berries and nuts during the fall. This Fall can be an even more excellent time because the bears are active as they prepare for hibernation.
Which is the best season? Well, that’s a question that does not have a definite answer because personal preference plays a significant part in the choice, as does what one might know about the bear’s behavioral patterns. Spring hunts often provide easier viewing in clearings, while fall hunts are all about patience and tracking.
Don’t Ignore Scent
One of the biggest mistakes hunters make is not taking wind direction into account. Black bears have an incredibly strong sense of smell and rely heavily on it for picking up threats. If the wind is in the wrong direction, they can detect your scent more than a mile away. Your scent will tip them off long before you ever spot them.
Bear Hunter’s Best Practice:
Always hunt downwind of where you expect the bears to be. Always keep checking on wind direction, as it can be very unpredictable and could change at a moment’s notice, especially in heavy forests or mountainous regions.
Patience is Key: Overhunting Your Spot in Black Bear Hunt
One of the worst things you can do, if you’ve set up a bait station, is to sit on it too frequently. Bears are very leery when coming into bait, especially in areas that have shown human activity. Going to your bait site too much can leave a lingering human scent that will keep the bear completely away from the area.
Pro Tip:
Trail cameras are one means of monitoring bear activity in an area without actually having to be there. Since most bears visit the bait station early in the morning or late in the evening, make as few visits to the site as possible to keep the area natural
Glassing and Spotting Bears: Master the Art
Not that viewing one in the Canadian wilderness is exactly as simple as it sounds. Thick forests and changing light conditions make clear viewing anything but easy, to such an extent that glassing—the technique of employing binoculars or spotting scopes to sweep the visual search over broad areas—becomes a rule, especially during these early morning hours or late evening times.
Look for:
Look for a vantage high point from where you can cover more ground; it’s ideally around known food sources or water. When you glass, do it slowly, pausing at times to focus on specific areas.
Don’t Rush the Shot: Assess Before You Shoot
One of the biggest mistakes made in a black bear hunt is when the shot is rushed. Being able to spot a bear can be a heart-pounding experience, and often that adrenaline will make a hunter rush their decisions. Bears are not as predictable, and a poor shot can result in only wounding the bear, which can be dangerous and unethical.
Stay Calm:
Take a deep breath, let awareness set in, and then wait for the right moment. Let the bear be in a position from which a clean shot can be made, and do not allow excitement to cloud judgment.
Legal and Ethical Considerations: Know Your Target
In Canada, only specific bears are to be taken. It is against the law to shoot cubs or sows that are with cubs. Also, one must be able to distinguish between a yearling and an adult bear. Incorrect identification may result in heavy fines and serious legal implications.
How to Tell the Difference:
Observe the bear’s body structure: Larger, older bears have small ears in proportion to their head, while younger bears are leaner and have much larger ears. Give yourself time to observe the bear’s behavior before pulling the trigger.
Caring for the Harvest: Meat and Pelt Preservation
One of the least discussed areas of bear hunting involves what to do after the kill. Bear meat tends to spoil very quickly especially if not handled properly and at higher temperatures. It’s extremely important to field dress and cool the meat as soon as possible to help prevent spoilage.
Pro Tip for Canadian Hunters:
If it happens to be early fall hunting, bring portable cooling gear along with you, such as ice packs, to keep the meat fresh until you can get it transported.
Final Thoughts: Prepare, Plan, and Succeed
Black Bear hunt in Canada gives you an experience unlike any other. Success would stem slowly from preparation, knowledge, and patience. Not falling prey to common pitfalls includes thoroughly scouting out the area. Respect is given to the wind, and always keeping safety in mind.
Take your tour to the next level with a guided black bear hunt tour with Garia Bay Outfitters. Book your hunt now! With seasoned guides and prime hunting locations in Newfoundland, the odds for a successful and respectful hunt just got better!