Hunting in grizzly country!

[sinawalli]

#5117

How many folks here hunt in grizzly country? How do your tactics change as opposed to non griz country? What about when you get a animal down? Protection? I have hunted in griz country for a few years, and never really worried about it. Never packed a animal out in the dark, that would be scary if alone. Usually have a short shotgun with me in camp, and my wits when in the bush. So far so good…knocking on wood!!

[wildschwein]

#37304

I hunt in Grizz country year round, and my main tactic is to try and force myself to forget they are out there lol.

I don’t run into them that often (twice a year, sometimes more), but when I do it makes me wish our province would allow us to carry sidearms.

[sinawalli]

#37324

wildschwein wrote: I hunt in Grizz country year round, and my main tactic is to try and force myself to forget they are out there lol.

I don’t run into them that often (twice a year, sometimes more), but when I do it makes me wish our province would allow us to carry sidearms.

ahh fellow Albertan!! I read the atricle in this months Alberta Outdoorsman about Robert Bennett. That’s what prompted this thread!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#37454

All of my elk, and a lot of my mule deer hunting happens in grizz country. The fact is never lost on me that when bowhunting, I’m basically doing everything the exact opposite of what is recommended – moving as quietly as possible, working the wind, etc. I simply try to always maintain a high degree of situational awareness, particularly in areas of limited visibility, and I keep the pepper spray handy. So far, that’s worked (knock on wood).

That said, few things put me on edge like hiking out in the dark, solo, in grizz country, at the end of a day of hunting. I’m always amazed at how bears can just materialize out of nowhere…

[wildschwein]

#53422

Its good to see another Albertan enjoying this forum!

I too read the Robert Bennett story in this months Alberta Outdoorsmen and it certainly gives a person pause. Especially after what happened to me this last Sunday while hunting Black Bear. To make a long story short I managed to kill a nice little golden brown boar, but had to give it up to the 250-300 pound sow (and her two cubs) who snuck up behind me! She was less than thirty feet away by the time I noticed her, and no amount of hooting and hollering would change her mind. So I backed out and let her have, before she decided to have a go at me as well. Bought a canister or Bear spray the next day. A case of to little to late in my case though.

[strait-aero]

#54506

Justin,glad to hear you made it out unscathed! Too bad you lost your bear to the momma griz… Did you lose your tag too,or hadn’t you put it on yet? Do you have to report it to the game warden? Just wonderin’…. Wayne

[wildschwein]

#54745

We get two bear tags per year in Alberta, so while I lost the one I attached to the little Boar, I still have the second. And it wasn’t a momma Grizz, but a sow Blackie.

I suppose I could report the “theft” to F&W and maybe get the tag reprinted, but since I still have a tag left and I had killed a Bear I am not terribly concerned. Actually I worry more about the sow, her opportunistic behaviour will bring her to a bad end if she runs into a hunter who is a little less bear friendly than I am. I hope for her sake that doesn’t happen.

[strait-aero]

#55598

Okay,I see now. Thought it was a Grizzly sow;my mistake! I just thought because the thread was about Grizzlies…well you understand.:roll:

Know what you mean about the sow’s behavior. I learned that a sow was nothing to mess with when she has cubs. I’ve hunted twice in Quebec years ago and was told not to get between a mother and her kids.

We ate bear on the grill there and I found it very tasty!

Wayne

[Etter1]

#55831

Strait-Aero wrote: Okay,I see now. Thought it was a Grizzly sow;my mistake! I just thought because the thread was about Grizzlies…well you understand.:roll:

Know what you mean about the sow’s behavior. I learned that a sow was nothing to mess with when she has cubs. I’ve hunted twice in Quebec years ago and was told not to get between a mother and her kids.

We ate bear on the grill there and I found it very tasty!

Wayne

Bear backstrap is probably the best wild game around!

[Goraidh]

#55861

Have any of you folks had to use bear spray? Does it work well? What’s the effective range on one of those cans?

[mikelee]

#55991

We seem to see most Grizz (and black) sign in spring and then in fall during the salmon runs . Can be a little spooky along the rivers during the spawn , lots of willow and alder cover and noisy water . Had a fisherman mauled real bad here on the Morice river last year when he suprised a big sow with cubs ! Dont think a firearm or bear spray would have helped in a situation like that !Still have the same can of bear spray I bought almost 30 years ago ! Ha. Beast defence is to move slow and pay attention . Im afraid Im not very good at either . Lol

[rollingrock]

#61366

Don’t laugh…I always carry a little rifle even when I bowhunt. 😆

[sinawalli]

#63520

rollingrock wrote: Don’t laugh…I always carry a little rifle even when I bowhunt. 😆

Define “a little rifle”. Do you mean like a mare’s leg?

[Author]

Posts