2021 - Issue 2 - March/April

Cooking bear with fire

bear Grease

Clad & the Marathon bear

LIght the torch

The bear hunting authority for 21 years

NEW STICKER

Mar/Apr 2021 US $5.95 CA $7.95

Ma r/A pr

202 1

Roast Bear Leg

Hunt the Giants of Hunt the Giants of

Cell: 204-679-0735 Email: Cell:atbh@mymts.net 204-679-0735

Member of Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Assoc.

Email: atbh@mymts.net

Member of Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Assoc.

Manitoba with an Manitoba with an outfitter you can trust - Cory Grant outfitter40% youColor can Phase trust Bears - Cory Grant Multiple References Available on website

40% Color Phase Bears

Multiple References Available on website

www.atbh.ca

BOTW PRO DEALER Jeff massey

pinnacle hunting supplies WITH brian lewis of twisted horn outfitters signature series 300 PRC & HUSKEMAW 5-20X50 tac Hunter idaho Black bear - 896 yds

THEBESTOFTHEWEST.NET www.bear-hunting.com

307-587-2787

CODY, WYOMING

CHECK US OUT! Bear Hunting

3

Mar/Apr 2021 Volume 22 - Issue 2

Magazine

Cover photo by Johnny Mack

by Johnny Mack

by Tommy Dale Lane

Into Washington Backcountry 10

Clad and the Marathon Bear

18

By Darron McDougal

Light the Torch

26

Use of Leashed Tracking Dogs

By Timothy Fowler

Empty Nest

By Clay Newcomb

32

by Timothy Fowler

Roast Bear Leg for Easter

Six Categories of Outfitters

34

by Clay Newcomb

38

Bearpath Gunner

By Kolby Morehead

Making Bear Grease

By Brian Lynn

47

California SB 252 Redacted

36

54

Columns 56 Sportsman’s Alliance

Cuddeback Trail Camera Contest Winner Win a Cuddeback Camera!

58

“Dude in a Treestand” Elliot Heath Wisconsind

by Brian Lynn - Huntervationist

Beginner’s Guide to Bear Hunting

by Clay Newcomb - Bear Huntin’ Fool

60 Bowhunting Bears

To enter, submit a unique Cuddeback photo to editor@bear-hunting.com or post to our Facebook page Bear Hunting Magazine

by Bernie Barringer - Bear Guru

62

Western Bear Hunting

64

Bruin Desinations -

by Brian Strickland - Western Hunter

by Al Raychard - Bear Hunting Veteran

66 In Hot Pursuit -

Check out the Bear Hunting Magazine YOUTUBE Channel

• Black Bear spot and stalk or over bait • Option to shoot 2 Moose and 2 Black Bear • Full Service Lodge • Full kitchen, running water, hot showers • Lodge sits on a 7.5 mile long lake • Fishing includes Trout and landlocked Salmon • All inclusive hunts

March & Millco Outfitters March&Millco Outfitters

March&Millco Canada Outfitters Newfoundland,

• Trophy Caribou • PY and BC Bears taken every year in Newfoundland • 100% success rate on Caribou March&Millco • 100% shot opportunity on March&Millco Outfitters Moose Outfitters • Potential603-860-8804 at 50+ inch603-860-8804 Moose • Black Bear spot andbmarchand@marchandmillc stalk or bmarchand@marchandmillc over bait ooutfitters.com ooutfitters.com • Option to shoot 2 Moose and 2 www.Marchandmillcoo Black Bear utfitters.com www.Marchandmillcoo • Full Service Lodge utfitters.com • Full kitchen, running water, hot showers

603-860-8804 bmarchand@marchandmillcooutfitters.com 2017 Bear 429 pounds *Spring bear

Biggest Spring Bears in

Maine 603-860-8804

penobscothunter@hotmail.com March&Millco Outfitters Gavinsapp12@yahoo.com Trophy Caribou

• • PY and BC Bears taken every year in Newfoundland Outfitters rate on Caribou • 100% success March&Millco • 100% shot opportunity on Moose Caribou • Trophy • Potential at 50+ inch Moose and BC year in Newfo • PY Bear spotBears and stalktaken or overevery bait • Black to shootGuide 2 Moose and 2 Service Black Bear • Optionsuccess rate on Caribou • 100% Service Lodge • FullSpring *Offeringon black bear, shotrunning opportunity Moose • 100% 2019 water, hot showers • Full kitchen, moose and whitetail 7.5 mile longMoose lake • Lodge sits on ata50+ inch • Potential hunting in Maine • Fishing includes Trout and landlocked Salmon Bear spot and stalk or over bait • Black • All inclusive hunts

Penobscot

• Option to shoot 2 Moose and 2 Black Bear • Full Service Lodge Silent auction for moose water, hot showers • Full kitchen, running tags on tribal land Lodge sits on a 7.5 mile long lake 2018 Bear • 20 8/16” • Fishing includes Trout and landlocked Salmo 410 pounds *Spring bear• All inclusive hunts

www.penobscotguideservice.com www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting

5

Bear Grease

We appreciate Senator Scott Wiener dropping SB 252.

The Editor’s Note Clay Newcomb

@clay_newcomb

Guarding the Gate I

n late January California senator Scott Weiner — with the help of the Humane Society of the United States — put forth a bill to outright ban bear hunting in their state.

The language of the bill included buzz words like “trophy hunting” and “protecting bears.” The senator expected this is to be a “slow pitch and a home run hit” for his base, but he was met with a big surprise: Intense opposition.

In many places social media has been negative for the image of hunting.

It’s given a voice to hunting’s outliers that paint modern conservation-based hunting in a bad light. Some wish social media would go away and revel in all its ills.

However, it ain’t going anywhere. As hunters, we’ve got to adapt and use it to tell our side of the story in a classy, truthful and compelling fashion. We’ve got use it as a platform to display our positive message of conservation through hunting while boldly standing up to foolish legislation. That’s exactly what happened in this situation. On January 26th, Senator Weiner made an Instagram post about his proposed bill and in short order over 1,200 people commented on the post. Almost all of them were pro-hunting and pointed out the lack of scientific backing of the bill. To put this in context, most of the senator’s posts get less than fifty comments. In social media, the number of comments displays the level of engagement and is used as metric to analyze the content. I’m certain this was a shock to the senator. He redacted the bill within two days. Where did this organized army of conservation-minded-bear-loving hunters come from?

For several years now we’ve been using a slogan called “guard the gate.”

Guard the Gate is our rally cry to protect bear hunting. Bear hunting is an entry point for anti-hunting sentiment to enter into our sphere of North American hunting. It’s more important than ever to protect all methods of bear hunting. We’ve also worked hard to rally the support of the other hunters in this country—including the ones that don’t even bear hunt. Though bear hunters are small in number, our position on the front lines makes us an extremely important segment of the hunting world. Incredible conservation groups like the Sportsmen’s Alliance, Safari Club International, Western Bear Foundation, Michigan Bear Hunters Association, the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association and many more have all been in this fight for a long time.

There are several important keys to protecting our rights to hunt. First, we must keep hunters that aren’t bear hunters engaged in the processes to protect bear hunting. Second, we have to find clear and compelling ways to show bear hunting as sound wildlife management that helps bear populations thrive. We also have to show the world that we utilize all parts of the bear for utilitarian purpose. This may be the biggest one. We have the opportunity to utilize more of a bear than any other big game species by eating the meat, rendering the fat and tanning the hide. We’ve got to shed this idea that we’re just killing bears for fun and hides.

And finally, as Johnny Cash said, we’ve got to “walk the line.” If we’re in the cross hairs we’ve got to keep our camps clean of lawbreakers. We’ve got to actively involve new people in bear hunting. And we’ve got to live a lifestyle that displays bear hunting in the best possible light. Onward and upward folks.

new sticker at www.bearhuntingmagazine.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS: 1-Year (6 issues) subscription rate is $25.00 for U.S. address, $35.00* for Canadian address (in U.S. funds). 2-Year (12 issues) subscription rate is $45.00 for U.S. address, Bear Hunting (ISSN 1553-2488 and USPS 019-451) is published bi-monthly by Bear Hunting Media, $70.00* for Canadian address (in U.S. funds). (*rate is higher to cover extra postage) For more information, call us at: 479-839-4335, write to us at: Bear Hunting Magazine, P.O. LLC, 258 Bullard Rd., West Fork, AR 72774. Periodicals Postage Paid at West Fork, AR and additional Box 168, West Fork, Arkansas or E-mail us at: CustomerService@bear-hunting.com

mailing offices.

Copyright © 2015 Bear Hunting. All rights reserved. Articles, news items, advertisements or other print media do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Bear Hunting Media, POSTMASTER: Send address changes (form 3579) LLC is not responsible for injury/loss during the implementation of content. Bear hunting is a to Bear Hunting, P.O. Box 168, West Fork, AR 72774. potentially hazardous activity and people should take extreme caution when hunting.

Maine Maine Spring & Fall Fall Spring & BEAR HUNTS BEAR HUNTS Bait or Hounds Hounds Bait or

All inclusive, inclusive,fully fullyguided, guided,six-day six-daybear bearhunt hunt Spring Nation Territory in Maine Spring hunts huntsover overbait baiton on33,000+ 33,000+acres acresononPenobscot Penobscot Nation Territory in Maine Two of 1616 years combined experience of the the most mostexperienced experiencedtribal tribalbear bearguides guideswith with years combined experience Bear skinning & quartering Bear hunts hunts include includemeals, meals,lodging, lodging,bear beartag/license, tag/license, skinning & quartering For onon 110,000+ acres of of privately leased land For fall fall hunt, hunt,we wehave haveexclusive exclusivebear bearhunting huntingrights rights 110,000+ acres privately leased land Family guiding experience Family owned ownedbusiness businesswith withover over30+ 30+years yearsofofbear bear guiding experience Located Located 30 30 minutes minutesnorth northofofBangor Bangor

455 pounds 455 pounds

All All three threebears bearsharvested harvestedSpring Spring2020 2020 365 pounds 365 pounds

437 pounds 437 pounds

Bear | Moose | Deer | Fishing

r | MRoad o o s |eLagrange, | D e e r Maine | F i s h04453 i n g | (207) 943-2511 Mid Maine OutfittersB| e13aWhite Mid Maine Outfitters | 13 White Road | Lagrange, Maine 04453 | (207) 943-2511

www.themidmaineoutfitters.com www.themidmaineoutfitters.com

Bear Hunting 7

DOUBLE U PODCAST NEW episodes every wednesday!

PLAYING FROM PODCAST

Hound PodCast: Double U Hunting Su...

EP 17: In the Woods with Bear Hunting M...

Hound PodCast: Double U Hunting Su...

“I have really enjoyed the mix of guests and content you guys have put together.

Love the mix of Brett’s old timers and the new interviews. Keep up the great work.

Thanks.”

- Bmombert “Great Podcast, probably the best hound podcast out there and I listen to them all” - B. Sheets

FIND us on apple podcast, spotify, simplecast and at podcast.dusupply.com Amanda Clark Photography

BRAVE AND OTHER STORIES

ALPHA/ASTRO BUNDLE

By Steve Matthes

Alpha 100, Alpha 200i and Astro 430

DU APPAREL

Shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more

1-INCH SUNGLO COLLARS Available in solid, reflective and camo

TREE LEADS

Available in sunglo, beta, leather and cable

FIND us at dusupply.com and on social media @dusupply

Into the Washington

Backcountry Spring bear hunting and first timers.

by Johnny Mack

@washington_backcountry

After five years of applying for a Washington spring bear tag, the author’s plans are almost spoiled by Covid restrictions, but in the end it works out.

10 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 2021

L eading into 2020, I knew it was going to be a special year.

As we all know, it was memorable in more ways than one. As a hunter, a primary component in fulfilling one’s soul, is the adventure that goes along with the pursuit and thrill of the hunt. A major part of that adventure is the anticipation and preparation that leads into planning a hunt, especially one that you have never experienced before.

For me, this was my first attempt at hunting black bears in the spring, which is something that I have had my eye on since I bought my first hunting license six years ago.

Even though I am no stranger to hunting bruins, pursuing an animal whose food sources change with the seasons enhances and sharpens your hunting skills and overall knowledge of the woods that much more.

In my home state of Washington, you can purchase two OTC black bear tags every year. Unfortunately, to be able to hunt the marvelous beasts in the springtime requires you to be selected through special permit applications with only a minimal percentage of the state’s game management units open for the hunt.

After five long years of applying, it was time to manifest the coveted tag. Sure enough, 2020 was the year the universe delivered, not only for me but also for my hunting partner Two Shot. As I envisioned what the hunt was going to look like as we entered the planning stages, I knew we could use some guidance and mentorship. One of the benefits of hosting a podcast allows for the opportunity to talk with knowledgeable and well versed guests to offer insight and guidance. Being that I host The Soulful Hunter Podcast, I figured who better to call upon than the bear whisperer himself, Clay Newcomb of Bear Hunting Magazine (Listen to Ep. 29 for the full scoop).

After recording a great episode with Clay and grounding myself on the basics of hunting bears in the springtime, the foundation of our plan became clearer. To top it off, we were selected for our first choice which added a huge confidence boost due to the fact that I hunted the exact same unit the November prior for whitetail bucks and turkeys.

As the season drew near and opening day was just around the bend, the state of Washington decided to close all public lands to any and all recreation which included hunting.

I was shocked and in disbelief. Was this really happening?

Could this actually happen? I waited five long years to finally have the opportunity, only to be stripped away in the last moments.

Hanging on to hope that all was going to work out, while standing firm in my belief that life happens for us and not to us, I impatiently awaited any information provided by the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife. With what was supposed to be an opening day of April 1st turned into a delay until May 5th. As much as the delay was difficult to deal with along with everything else that was going on in the world, I stayed strong in my convictions and was cemented more by the advice that I received regarding bears being on the move more towards the end of May and into June.

As it turned out, the first opportunity we could make work between our schedules was Memorial weekend. With

www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 11

Washington is full of great backcountry and an estimated 25,000 black bears. They have an over-the-counter fall tag, but you have to draw a tag to hunt the spring.

Family Friendly, all ages welcome

Black Bear, Mountain Goat, Sitka Blacktail, Wolf, Trapping

WOLF David Benitz

AK Master Guide #215 davidbenitz@yahoo.com

Boat Based Alaskan Trophy Hunts

907-772-3258

www.stikineguideservice.com

12 Bear Hunting

everything dialed in and prepared for the hunt, we set out in search of the illustrious bruins. The weather did not want to cooperate as we battled heavy clouds, rain and a mix of fog. Taking all the advice we could gather and applying our own hunting knowledge, our plan was to check out a few different locations with high hopes of spotting a couple shooters. As luck would have it, we spotted the largest and only bear of the trip in our first location that we selected. But while we got ready and settled in for a shot, out popped two adorable and playful cubs.

While we were sent home empty handed on the first hunt, our hearts were still full from the adventure.

We may not have sealed the deal, but we were able to identify a lot of great ground for future hunts as well as dialed in our location for where we wanted to return.

On the following trip two weeks later and this time in the month of June, spirits were high as the weather report predicted mild temperatures and overcast skies. Packing in four miles to our destination, we had a solid game plan of glassing, waiting and watching as we reflected upon the giant sow we saw on the previous trip and the words of Clay saying that the bears will be moving more towards the tail end of May and into June.

Our location for camp that we settled on was a nice flat landing that provided 1000 yard glassing opportunities to southeast facing hillsides with a timbered draw down the center and a creek within. The location proved to be great, as we saw multiple turkeys, deer and even elk.

Knowing that bears are prone to wander and that we had an encounter with a sow on the previous hunt, we knew it was only a matter of time before we would have another opportunity.

We reached our destination with intent to set up camp, make coffee and start glassing. Our plan was abruptly interrupted when Two Shot spotted the first black bear of the morning minutes after arriving. With packs still on our back, Tony took off in pursuit only to be left disappointed and bloodied. Not only did he miss twice on the jet black bear, but he received two swift punches to the face from the scope.

As he returned back to the landing, you could see the look of disappointment and pain on his face clearly Mar/Apr 2021

After packing in four miles, they quickly spotted a bear, but “Two Shot” missed the bear and in the process his scope busted his nose (see below).

The track of young bear in a mudhole along a road. This is a good sign for spring bear hunting.

Below: Fresh bear scat is always moist. In the spring, when bears are feeding on vegetation, their scat is often green and fibrous.

visible from the blood running down his nose. As we talked about what happened with the shot, I tried my best, as a good hunting partner and friend will do, to lift his spirits and remind him that it was just the first morning of our hunt and that there would be more opportunities to come. As I spoke to Two Shot, I had to gut check myself on my own words as I was concerned about the possibility of our location being blown out from two gunshots just 30 minutes earlier.

While Tony walked off to clear his head and get his attitude and mind right, I was left pondering what our next move should be and how the rest of the day would play out. As I walked over to Tony who was standing with his back to the hillside and excited to tell me that he just spotted a couple turkeys near the edge of the timber, I glanced past his shoulder in hopes that something might appear. Within seconds, something caught my eyes and I quickly raised my binoculars to get a closer look.

As I peered through my binos with disbelief, it was hard to trust what my eyes were seeing. A gorgeous dark spot on the near side of the drainage appeared only a mere 400 yards from the landing. While the excitement in www.bear-hunting.com

my facial expressions rose, so did the tone in my voice as I cut Two Shot off from whatever he was saying and quickly raised my hand to point at what was a sudden turn of events.

As we both quickly rushed back up to the landing to get behind the rifle, I knew within my heart that this was the moment that I have been waiting and preparing for. As I ranged the bear at 377 yards, I settled in behind the rifle and dialed my elevation accordingly. Waiting for the bear to step out from behind a small sapling, I whispered to myself, “dead bear” as I applied pressure to the trigger sending my 143 grain ELD-X down range at the bear. Aiming behind the shoulder and feeling confident and comfortable from my prone position, it was as if the world went into slow motion as I watched the bullet strike the bear as it accordioned, face planted and ran off out of sight into the timbered drainage.

As I turned around to look at Tony, he quickly grabbed me and gave me a giant bear hug in celebration.

Stunned and in disbelief at the events that just unfolded, all prior to having our traditional cup of coffee, Two Shot Bear Hunting 13

The author and his partners packed the bear out of the backcountry in backpacks.

See the sidebar for the details.

Understanding a Good Backpack A good backpack can be the difference maker on

a hunt when you are carrying all of your supplies plus the chance of adding meat and the hide. If your backpack does not fit properly, it will only increase the suck factor of the pack out resulting in agonizing pain. When shopping for a backpack, you get what you pay for and higher end backpacks are sized and adjustable to fit just like a tailored suit. Depending upon how long of a hunt you are planning, the carrying capacity of your pack is important. For a hunt lasting three to five days, a pack with a minimum of 3500 cubic inches will suffice, while a 5000 cubic inch pack will be the bare minimum needed for a hunt lasting a week or longer.

Hunting specific packs are made to carry and handle a tremendous amount of weight and are built accordingly. The last thing you want is your pack frame to snap on you when you are miles deep on a hunt and for all of the weight being carried to sink to the bottom of the bag. That is why I prefer a pack with a large lumbar support pad. This allows the frame to sit high on your rump creating a comfortable ride with the weight evenly distributed and closer to your spine. Another feature that I look for when shopping for backpacks is a meat shelf. Having one allows users to sandwich the quarters and loose meat between the frame and the bag while steadying the load and keeping the weight closer to your back.

Since the hunt last year, I have moved on from my previous backpack and now use an Initial Ascent IA4K (4000 cu. in.) pack system. Initial Ascent backpacks are 100% made in America and have a lifetime warranty. Their frame and suspension are the only pack that I have comfortably and pain free used since hunting and now look forward to the heaviest of pack outs.

14 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 2021

The author with his first Washington spring bear - a beautiful color phase! The author is passionate about introducing new hunters to the outdoors through intentional mentorship.

Check out Washington Backcountry on social media and The Soulful Hunter Podcast to learn more about what they do.

said “Dude nice shot! That was the perfect pick me up after missing on both my shots.”

While the gravity of the situation set in and we discussed the shot and the events that took place that morning, my concern turned towards the recovery of the bear. From previous experiences with bruins, I have learned that you never want to rush in after shooting one as they are tough animals and will travel a long ways if the shot isn’t perfect. Feeling confident about my shot but still with a full pack of gear, we unloaded and set up camp as time passed before we set off in search of the bear.

I allowed fear and worry to get the best of me as my mind wandered at the distance the bear ran after being shot, I was suddenly comforted as the cinnamon brown fur was spotted piled up at the base of a tree well before entering into the thick dark timber of the creek drainage. Walking up on the bear, I was stunned to see the beauty of the animal as I thanked God for the opportunity and the life that was just taken. As we field dressed the boar and admired the gorgeous animal, we reflected upon the morning.

With a few days left of the hunt and plenty of time for Two Shot to fill his tag, we made our way back to camp and celebrated the momentous occasion. We ended up seeing eight bears on that hunt all within the same hillside and drainage. Tony ended up redeeming his missed shots as he filled his tag the next day. Packing out heavy with full hearts and two notched tags, we knew this was a learning experience we would not soon forget.

Spring Bear Hunting “How To”

The author with a momento from the hunt. He killed this bear with a 6.5 Creedmoor. www.bear-hunting.com

- When scouting for spring bears, focus on south/east/west facing hillsides. These locations receive sun the most and provide opportunities for fresh growth to occur first in spring.

- As bears come out of their dens they like to eat grasses and fresh sprouts to get their digestive systems working.

- Black bears love creeks and drainages as travel corridors. All of the bears we spotted on our hunt were within 500 yards of a creek that offered a water source and heavy cover.

- Glass carefully and patiently. Bears rarely stop moving. When glassing, look for dark spots that move within 10 seconds.

- Where you see one bear, you will find more. A bear’s movement in spring is spent searching for food and the opposite sex.

- Be prepared for longer shots.

Bear Hunting 15

The author cooked some bear backstrap over open coals in the backcountry - a treat for any hunter. Bear meat offers some incredible eating. Part of the bear hunting narrative that we need to strengthen is how we utilize the meat. How well we portray this to the public will be an important piece of bear hunting’s future. Most non-hunters think we don’t eat bear meat!

16 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 2021

Cooking bear with fire A

fter a successful hunt, one of my favorite ways to celebrate is to cook the tenderloins and back straps over an open fire. When cooking bear meat, it is paramount to cook it thoroughly and to make sure there is no red or raw meat visible otherwise you run the risk of contracting trichinosis. When cooking over an open fire, I love to season the meat with a mix of salt and pepper or Montreal seasoning, cut it into small chunks and skewer them on a stick. This allows the meat to thoroughly cook without being charred. A helpful hint is to cook it similar to how you would a marshmallow when it is soft and gooey inside while brown on the outside. Direct fire burns the outside without heating the meat to an internal temperature of 160* F. Instead slow cook the meat towards the side of the fire maintaining constant attention while rotating the skewer. The smoke and seasonings added to the fresh meat is the most rewarding and delicious meal you will ever have. www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 17

Clad and the Marathon Bear

by Tommy Dale Lane

My family and I all share a kindred passion for a lot of things in this life, but one thing we all can wrap our united noggins around is anything hunting or fishing. It’s a burnin’ that’s in us that’s gonna

come out no matter what is going on in this crazy, messed up world around us. Be it timely or not, the hunt is gonna show up and rearrange our calendars whether we want it to or we don’t!

This is a common passion we share with many folks all over this floating rock we all call home. One common denominator we have with the folks in our close proximity is that we track wounded game animals that have befuddled their pursuant and gotten away undetected. You see, we have a fortyfive-pound half bloodhound half red bone un-befuddler named Cladrastus (Clad) that would rather follow a leaky four-legged sack of groceries through the woods as put his snout down in a warm bowl of bacon grease gravy!

My three boys and I take calls from folks that have been dealt the misfortune of a bad shot or a lost track. We simply bring Clad in, harness’em up, and just kinda hang onto’em and get pulled through briars and thorns and stuff until we’re looking at our quarry right in the eyeballs. And here’s where my story begins.

We were about a week into the Arkansas black bear season and not one of us had the opportunity to toss any pointy sticks at a big black fuzzys. We were just getting home from our morning of sittin’ and staring at barrels when we got the call.

One of our friends had been fortunate enough to not only see a bear on public land, but got the chance to send an arrow down range and through an Arkansas bruin as well!! No light feat in just seeing one in the wild in our neck of the woods. Although he got a pass through, he felt like he may have hit it a little bit too far back behind the good stuff and needed our assistance in finding said bear.

Now, this ain’t our first trip to the principal’s office and we know the ins and outs of tracking a disgruntled, injured, meat grinder through adverse terrain and thick cover. So we were not ill prepared to handle whatever might be laid before us on our newly accepted mission. We was sittin’ on go and Clad was jacked up like a kindergartener chowing down on a stolen bag of jolly ranchers.

18 Bear Hunting

The author, his son Cory, and Clad the blood trailing dog took off to help a friend trail a bear. They ended up getting more than they bargained for....so did some runners in a marathon.

Us Trackers One of the first things we do as trackers is gather as much information about a track as we possibly can before we even bring the dog on site, you know, so everything goes smooth and exactly like we need and want it to. We got all the inquiries taken care of and headed to the shot site. We got there and the hunter was giving us the low down when Clad got his first whiff of his next assignment. Boy was he excited, just bouncing at the end of his lead rope! We keep Clad on lead and right in front of us while tracking, some folks track without a lead with their dog working the track sometimes at a dead run, any you keep up with their whereabouts with a tracking collar.

Mar/Apr 2021

Tracking a wounded bear through a marathon and into a cave makes for quite an adventure.

We gathered ourselves and prepared and Cory gave the command that starts Clad to set into beast mode, “Hunt em up Clad!” Head down, nose to the ground, ears alert, and tail a pointin’ at the clouds, “We huntin’ now boys!!”

We were all but a few feet into the track when ole Clad turned and looked over his left shoulder at Cory as to say, “Y’all do know this ain’t no deer we’re follerin right?” Cory just looked back down at’em and told’em again, “Get’em up Clad!” It was on, and the adventure had commenced!

I don’t know if any of you have ever had the distinct pleasure of being attached to a forty-five-pound, red bulldozer who has no concept whatsoever on the identification of a green briar or blackberry bush at a festive pace www.bear-hunting.com

or not, but I do not recommend it. Oh, and did I mention the sweltering 85-degree day we were having? You know, just a typical Arkansas weather day, went hunting in an insulated jacket and by nine o’clock we were wearing short sleeves.

By this time Clad was fired up and we had already covered about a hundred and twenty yards or so straight down the bench we started on. The track made a little juke and then turned a ninety straight up the mountain.

Mind you, we are on the side of big mountain, just right under switchbacks on a country highway. So, as we got there and the whole time, we’re tracking we can hear vehicles in the distance above us. You can imagine my disdain and concern when Clad insisted that the bear had decided to make “up” his direction of choice. My disdain simply comes from, I don’t like to go up, and my concern came from a couple Bear Hunting 19

Cory (left) and the author with Clad the tracking dog not far from where the fiasco took place.

Below: The cave the bear went into and then came back out of.

reasons. Number one, bears that are fatally wounded usually don’t set their compass to North if ya know what I mean, and two, up is where all the cars are! Neither one of them things will do us any favors.

We are steadily climbing, I’m steadily falling further behind because, fat! I’m holding my own though, as best I can, as I watch my son and the hunter slowly take a lead up ahead of me. As we get closer and the highway noise becomes more distinct, I thought for a second that I heard voices. Not too much to be all up in the air about, people usually are what’s drivin’ vehicles, and a good portion of most folks got voices, and most of’em use their voice when they’re talkin’, so I figured no big deal.

We take in another hundred foot straight up and much to my delight the boys decide to stop and take a breather. This is where the fun part starts. As we are all standing around with our hands on our knees, come to think about it, maybe that was just me bent over dying. Anywho, we start hearing the voices a little clearer now. The voices sound like maybe there’s a party goin’ on or maybe somebody is screamin’ at somebody else cause they was stomping their kitty cat or something like that.

Then it dawns on us about the third time we heard somebody scream, “BEAR!” We all just kinda looked at each other for a second and the lights started coming on. Cory asked, “Did they just say bear?” That’s it, break times over! It is at this point where 20 Bear Hunting

the story switches from firsthand to second hand information because all I could see was a whirlwind of boot soles, oak leaves, and little red dog sprinting up the side of the mountain leaving me in disbelief.

They go on ahead and I catch up as quickly as I can, which really, looking back, wasn’t all that quick.

When I finally make it to the highway the first thing I see is a feller standing beside a table full of water bottles and a sign on the front of it saying something about a marathon or something like that.

The fella, even though he seemed quite concerned about the condition in which his world had just been in, looked at me and pointed straight up the highway and said, “It went that way, and so did those two guys and that dog! Wait, are y’all following that bear?” I just took a breath looked at him and grinned and said, “Yep!” As I turned to start my new trajectory, I could see a few folks with big numbers strapped to their backs all scattered along the road ahead of me.

They all had a few more things in common that I had at first missed like, none of them were doing whatever marathoners do, they were all to the far-right side of the road, and they were all looking in the same direction. Now, I’m no Sherlock Holmes but it didn’t take me a millisecond to paint a picture in my cranial cortex of the matters at hand in which these folks had just witnessed.

As I walked up the road, I began to think about the conversations I was hearing as I was climbing the cow’s face I just traversed, and it dawned on me, these people were talking to that bear as it ran by them. I’m not talkin’

Photo by www.shutterstock.com

Mar/Apr 20210

about, “Hey bear, I like what you’ve done with your hair,” or, “Oh, I didn’t know you was in our marathon today?” No, I was hearing people screaming and yelling all kinds of stuff!

“Get to the side, get to the side!”

“Don’t run from it, just scoot over!”

And my favorite, “No bear, no bear!”

Not really sure what that one was gonna accomplish or prevent but I’m pretty sure I picked that lady out as I walked by her, you know with her newly found PTSD and what not, she was pretty easy to dial in on.

In all the ruckus and commotion Clad had lost where the bear turned and headed back off the mountain. There I found Cory and Daniel, the hunter, trying to get lined back out. Well with all the eyewitnesses, the ones that we’re left anyway, we began to get all CSI asking questions and relocating and positioning to get things figured out. Sure enough, Waterboy had’em pegged and all we had to do was get Clad back on the spot and we were off again. Except this time, it was straight down.

I’m no stranger to mountain life nor am I a stranger to the effects straight down has on a fat man, so I just told’em to go get’em and not worry about me. Off they went, slowly fading into the brush below me, every once in a while giving me a glimpse as they would top and go over the edge of the unending benches. Every once in a while, I was hearing ole Clad telling em, “Hurry up we’re gettin’ closer!”

As a kid growing up, I was absorbed in a family with dog culture, not just owning pets, but true dog culture. My Dad was one of the best coon houndsmen around for most of my life and he would often tell me that listening to a hound in the distance was like readin’ a book.

He would teach me about the relationship you could have with a hound and how that relationship would grow into something special if you let it reach its full potential. He would tell me that you have to become that dog’s world, and time is the only thing that can pull it out of’em. Time with that dog right by your side; whatever you are doing, that dog is right there. I listened and have applied that philosophy to many breeds serving many purposes over the years. I’ve had many best friends that would never leave my side in the course of a day on the farm. From www.bear-hunting.com

licking my hand, to waking me up as I rolled over with my arm hanging off the bed, to laying in front of my recliner at night as I rubbed their bellies with my bare feet. Time!

Clad is one of those dogs that I don’t have to be the one attached to that lead rope to understand what’s going through his mind, time has made that come natural. And as I sat on the bench above the action taking place below me a half a mile away, I was hearing Clad read the story out loud with every bark. I knew that ole bear better get ready to first,

Bear Hunting 21

Big province.

Big game.

Saskatchewan, Canada produces more record-breaking white-tailed deer than anywhere in North America and bears up to 500 lb. appear in a wide range of colour phases. When the time is right, our outfitters will be ready to welcome you. Add a Saskatchewan hunt to your bucket list.

HuntFishSask.com

22 Bear Hunting

Jan/Feb 2021

The hunter, Daniel Apple with a great public land, Arkansas bear. The recovery got a little tricky, but it worked out.

meet Clad, and next, meet that curly blonde headed hunter that was quickly approaching his very last living location, and last, meet his Maker because game, set, match you goin’ home to live with somebody new today!

It wasn’t long ‘til I knew the ending, but the ending in itself was a whole other story. I tell the rest of this story through the eyes of my son, as I wasn’t there to witness first hand.

“We headed off down them benches one after another and I was able to look down and get a glimpse of blood every once in a while as Clad was trying to pull my arms off. We got down close to where the feeling changed and Clad got quiet and started walking real slow and his tail was straight up looking for airplanes, no wiggle at all. Every once in a while Clad would turn and look at me like, ‘You still sure about this, cause I’m thinking this thing is still alive!’” On a bear, when it’s getting’ down to the nitty-gritty, ole Clad will pick one foot up at a time in almost slow motion and slowly set it down as the next one comes up. He kinda reminds me of a spider kinda creepin along.

“We was gettin close to a cliff face and a big rock outcropping, places bears like. We started down a steep grade through big huge boulders, and over the tops of em at this point was an only option. We just got most of the way down when we hit a tree branch and a buncha flies came swarmin out of a hole, a cave, in the rocks. (Cory) I turned and told Daniel, ‘I think we just found your bear.’”

“I got a little closer and Clad was stretched out like a bird dog in a chicken pen, just creeping towards that hole. We got close enough to peer in and sure enough something was a peerin back! Without delay, we sent a projectile in the cave to dispatch the bear. I turned around to congratulate Daniel and looked down and Clad was headed South at a very rapid rate of speed. I turned around just in time to see that bear grow big enough to fill the entrance of that hole as it was making its last exodus. I decided real quick-like that all those calculus and geometry classes were fixin’ to come in real handy, as I made a bee-line away from the quickly approaching bear. All the while I was configuring the angle of the hypotenuse of the triangle my arm holding my forty-five, the bear’s noggin, and the ground we’re all makin!”

“Then I decided, naw, I’ll just wing it, I turned and took off runnin’! I turned back towards Daniel, up on the cliff above me then back towards the now retreating bear. It made www.bear-hunting.com

Daniel and Cory Lane (dog handler) with the hard earned bear.

its way another thirty or forty yards and Daniel delivered the final blow with his bow. Ole Clad was nowhere in sight.”

“MEANWHILE,” in my best justice league announcer dude voice, back up on the side of the mountain: Back to my perspective a few minutes earlier. It wasn’t long till I knew the ending, but I was hearing the book Clad was readin, chapter and verse.

I’m a lot of things to a bunch of folks on this old earth but one of my favorites is Daddy, and I know my boy is in some kinda major confrontation with a very upset large black carnivore at some distance outta my reach. I’m not the least bit harboring them feel goods I was talkin about a minute ago, I am now terrified, playing out the scenarios that coulda just taken place! I just hit my knees and didn’t waste time with a bunch of words I just said, “Jesus let’em be ok!”

I’ve got AT&T and round here you’re better off most of the time picking up a rock or a couple sticks and trying to call somebody. But you know what, it was just a couple seconds and it got quiet that my phone rang, I was so happy when I answered and heard the words I’ve heard all my boys say many times over the years, “We got em!”

Well, feeling relieved from the happenings that had all taken place, I finally made it back to the truck when the reality of the task at hand set in. We now have to get this bear out of here and the boys are still half a mile below me and a mile and a half behind a locked forest service gate. One of them ‘well hmmm’ moments! I immediately remembered that one of my game warden buddies was working a youth hunt that afternoon and I knew with it being so hot, how slow and boring his task at hand had to be progressing. A few short moments later we were in his truck be-boppin’ down an old trenched out logging trail headed towards a happy ending.

Clad finally showed back up, dragging his lead rope, as we were loading the bear in the back of my buddy’s truck. As he was slowly ascending the last bit to where we were, he was staring at that bear and then back at us. The whole time I could almost hear him saying, “Y’all have got to quit this mess; y’all know what’s lying in the back of that truck?”

Just one of many outdoor adventures me and my family has been blessed by the Good Lord with over the years to be a part of. And I’m sure he’s got many more in store for us! All I can say is come quickly Jesus, and if it’s gonna be a little bit, line us up another one, I’m always game for excitement!

Bear Hunting 23

NEW Guard the gate stickers

from Bear Hunting Magazine

“Guard the Gate is our rally cry to protect bear hunting. Bear hunting is an entry point for anti-hunting sentiment to enter into North American hunting. It’s more important than ever to protect all methods of bear hunting.”

- Clay Newcomb

Only at www.bearhuntingmagazine.com #guardthegate

Book Review: Life of the Greatest guide

by Robert Mccurty Book review by Kolby Morehead Dale Lee has been regarded as the greatest guide of all time. He was

an incredible houndsman that that has chased critters all over North America. All houndsmen owe him a hat tip as he was the first one to dream up the electronic shock collar we use to safely train hounds today.

Dale started professionally chasing lions with hounds in New Mexico in 1926 at 18 years of age just after graduating from high school and would later guide hunts. He hunted over 8000 days in the field running his dogs. The Lee brothers caught over one thousand mountain lions, over one thousand bears, and one hundred and twenty-four jaguars, as well as bobcats, ocelots, and a jaguarundi. On one trip to South America, their dogs treed an onza, a type of cat that was thought to only be a legend at the time.

This book is a collection of interesting stories as remembered

by Dale Lee himself. Dale and his brother Clell shared many campfires with some memorable characters along their regular pursuits of game.

The stories in the book cover a small portion of the most memorable hunts he ever had. You can’t help but read this book and think, man things sure were different back then especially when you hear the casual nature that things were shared.

The book is difficult to find; however, you can find audio recordings on YouTube of Dale talking about them almost word for word with the book.

www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 25

Light the Torch Bear hunting is an excellent medium for introducing new folks to the hunting world

T he evening was eerily still underneath

by Darron McDougal The Call to Action

The world is filled with harmful diversions. Most susthe yellow and orange ceptible are youths, because October canopy. The sithey’re incredibly mold-able lence suddenly broke as two and influenceable, often yearling cubs emerged from grabbing at anything within the understory, followed reach. As hunters, we can by an enormous sow. Her provide a healthy alternative instincts were keen — she through mentored hunting. pawed at the ground for morMost young folks won’t hunt sels while keeping a vigil as otherwise for lack of opportuthe clueless cubs dug into the nity. bakery cache 15 yards away.

The black bear is practiThings intensified when the cally designed for mentored big sow wandered directly hunting. The greatest mentors beneath our platforms. We involve their mentees in all practically held our breath aspects of the hunt, not just for minutes, fearing she’d pulling the trigger. Black detect our humanly presencbear hunting over bait allows es. the mentor to take his or her Mentored hunting is a vital tool hunters can use to Eventually, my mentee along to set up bait show young folks a different and better way of life mother and I watched the sites, hang trail cameras and than the harmful alternatives that unfortunately loom. trio disappear. We couldn’t accompany on subsequent (Photo courtesy of Austin Siewert) help but remember that we’d baiting missions. This one-onhave to climb down and exit one time allows the mentee to on their level when darkness fell following our hunt. Then, learn as much as possible and ask questions. splashing in the nearby river caught our attention.

If you love to bear hunt, then maybe it’s time My binoculars revealed a quality bear. I instructyou take someone bear hunting who wouldn’t othered my mother to get ready. The splashing eventually wise get to. The experience will change lives, including sub-sided, and that bear never approached the bait. But, yours, as it did for mentors Abbi Burke, Chad Dutton when I scanned in the opposite direction on our side of and the young folks they’ve been mentoring. the river, a dark figure was ambling toward the bait. Once the bruin reached the bait, my mother was already at full Answering the Call draw. However, the bear continued moving until it laid down amongst the scattered logs. My mother let down; Abbi Burke of Onalaska, Wisconsin, is affiliatshe couldn’t distinguish the bear’s features relative to its ed with Kicking Bear Foundation (see sidebar for more kill zone. info) as an adult mentor. She mentors two young girls Legal shooting light was fading fast — maybe on a reciprocating basis, and she recently took them two minutes remained. I was sure our hunt was over. bear hunting. Let’s review Burke’s testimony.

But, I noticed that Mom was reaching full draw again, “Three years ago,” Burke started, “a friend who was so I retrained my focus in my camcorder’s viewfinder. already involved with Kicking Bear asked if I was Suddenly, her arrow completely passed through behind in-terested in mentoring a couple of girls for an upcomthe bear’s shoulder. The bruin exploded from the bait area ing deer hunt. I’ve been deer hunting my whole life and and expired within seconds. An eery death moan followed. agreed to try it.”

That bear was my mother’s first bow-kill, and it was an “At that time, Kaylie Bass and Trinaty Greene incredible experience to mentor her through the ins and were only 10 years old,” Burke continued. “I really outs of all things related to the hunt. enjoyed getting to know them during the hunt. It was invigorating to get them outdoors, and both deeply 26 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 2021

Alli Burke (left) and Austin Siewert (right) took young Kaylie Bass on her first bear hunt. Despite a slightly difficult shot opportunity, Bass anchored this nice bear with a well-placed shot.

(Photo courtesy of Austin Siewert)

enjoyed it — without mentoring, they wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to hunt because their families don’t hunt.

Both girls harvested deer and were able to take the meat home to their families.”

In 2020, Kaylie and Trinaty were 13 years old, and Burke took them on their first bear hunts. Two Zone A Wisconsin bear tags were donated to the girls.

“My sister, Alli, and another friend came along so that the girls could hunt separately under mentors to increase their odds,” Burke explained. “The girls were very excited to try bear hunting. We hunted for four days at Big Bear Ranch.”

“Trinaty and I had some quality time talking, laughing and playing games in the elevated blind while we were waiting for a bear,” she continued. “We didn’t see any bears, but we did have some on the trail camera every night. Trinaty had a great experience. We even made raw applesauce for the bears, hoping the scent would draw bears in. We made memories.

Kaylie Bass is flanked by Trinaty Greene (left) and Abbi Burke (right) who were hunting else-where when Bass took this black bear under the mentorship of Alli Burke and Austin Siewert. (Photo courtesy of Austin Siewert) www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 27

As a mentor, you’re not only taking a kid hunting, but you’re possibly changing their life for the better.

And, it often comes full circle and makes a positive impact on you too. (Photo courtesy of Austin Siewert)

“Kaylie had a nice bear come in at her location,” Burke said. “In order to get a shot, she had to stand half-way up off her chair in a half-squatting position. Despite the awkward position, she made a perfect shot and lost her composure afterward! We gave the bear a few minutes to expire, then called a gentleman from Big Bear Ranch and asked him to come and help us track the bear. We found it quickly and the celebration began.”

Burke reflected on the impact that the bear hunt had on her and her mentees.

“It was really neat to help Kaylie out with her bear hunt,” she told. “I know that I’ve changed her life in many ways. And the impact goes full circle. Kaylie and Trinaty also have changed my life. I get many opportunities to do things I wouldn’t otherwise do apart from Kicking Bear Foundation.”

Burke concluded that bear hunting is a great mentoring vehicle for a few reasons. “First,” she said, “bear hunting is pretty exciting, and not many younger kids can say they’ve done it.

Further, the fundamentals of bear hunting create opportunities for the mentees to explore and learn, from teaching them to shoot, to how to be quiet and track game. They’ll never forget these skills, and I hope they’ll one day teach them to their own kids.”

Chad Dutton is also a mentor through Kicking Bear Foundation and recently took young Gary Mobley on his first bear hunt, which yielded a nice bear. Dutton’s wife, Tammy, mentors Gary’s sister, Catherine Mobley, through Kicking Bear.

Recently, Dutton shared how he and his wife got into mentoring.

“Tammy and I are avid hunters and own property near LaCrosse, Wisconsin,” he began. “We have no children, so we started taking some of our friends and their children hunting. Most of those kids are grown up now, so in August 2019, Tammy and I connected with Kicking Bear and have been mentoring ever since.”

At a Kicking Bear Adventure Day, Chad and Tammy were introduced to their mentees, and they took the kids deer hunting a couple of months later.

“Gary and I have also done turkey hunts together in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and Tammy and I have taken the kids bowfishing, too,” he shared. “Mentoring is a great tool because it puts you in a one-on-one or two-on-two environment where the mentor has to listen to the mentee and the mentee must listen to the mentor. It’s a great context for teaching and learning. While waiting in a tree stand or ground 28 Bear Hunting

blind, you get hours to discuss all sorts of things and really cultivate a friendship. There are no screens or phones to compete with. I often talk with Gary about Jesus, and it has had a positive impact on him.”

Last fall, Dutton took Mobley on his first bear hunt.

“What’s neat is that some folks who draw bear tags donate their tags to Kicking Bear mentees,” he said. “It gives us opportunities to take kids bear hunting. I jumped at the chance to take Gary bear hunting.

“I try to involve Gary in all aspects of the hunt,” he continued. “I don’t want it to be just pulling the trigger. Gary and I were connected with a gentleman named Sarge who started some baits on public land.

Gary and I went baiting a couple of times with Sarge, which provided opportunities for Gary to learn. Plus, he got to experience the work involved. We also found that Gary likes circus peanuts (laughs), which were part of the bait mixture.

“One day after baiting, we brought Gary to our cabin and let him shoot a rifle and a crossbow,” Dutton shared. “I knew that he was ready to hunt after seeing his accuracy.”

Dutton provided a little index card showing bear anatomy. Mobley studied the card throughout the hunt so that he knew right where to aim if a bear appeared. They spent about five hours in the blind the first day without seeing a bear.

“I just gave it to God and made the hunt all about showing Gary a fun time, regardless if he was successful or not,” Dutton said. “Usually, I pray with Gary while we’re in the blind and before meals, but Gary asked if he could pray a few different times during the hunt. I was thrilled to have him do that.

“We left the truck at about 2:30 p.m. that second afternoon,” Dutton recalled. “While approaching the blind, we heard a bear run away. We pressed on and baited, and Gary dug out some circus peanuts for himself.

After filling up the bait, we pulled the trail camera card so we could identify what we had spooked from the bait.

There had been two bears on the bait. So, we crawled into the blind, and Gary prayed for a successful hunt.”

Chad would occasionally say, “Hey! There’s a bear!” just to gauge Gary’s reaction. Of course, it was all in fun, but when a bear actually appeared, Gary and Scott (an accompanying cameraman), both with their backs to the bear trail, didn’t believe Chad. Gary was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and Chad was instructing him to put down the sandwich and get ready to shoot the bear.

“I threw my sandwich onto the ground, and said ‘Gary, there’s a bear!’” Dutton recalled. “He didn’t believe me because I’d joked with him earlier. I grabbed his sandwich and threw it down next to mine and told him to get ready. He looked at me and pointed down Mar/Apr 2021

Mobley got to learn about all aspects of bear hunting. From baiting to retrieving his bear from the woods, he got to experience the work involved and the satisfaction of working to succeed. (Photo courtesy of Chad Dutton)

Under Chad Dutton’s (right) mentorship, young Gary Mobley put this bear down with a perfect hit on the second afternoon of his first bear hunt.

(Photo courtesy of Chad Dutton)

Nictau Lodge

www.nictaulodge.com 860-463-6699 nictaulodge@hotmail.com

Nictau, New Brunswick Canada - 300,000 acre private lease - 1st-class lodging & gourmet home-cooked meals - $2950 (All inclusive)

Both in 2017:

20 3/16” and a

416 pounder *Second bear tag available www.bear-hunting.com

Trail cameras at every site

Bear Hunting 29

at his sandwich and said, “I want the sandwich!” This continued for a few moments. Finally, he saw the bear and forgot about his sandwich.

“As the bear walked to the bait, we got Gary’s gun positioned,” Dutton continued. “The bear was probably at the bait for five minutes. Gary got to see the bear stand on its hind legs. It was a cool encounter. While waiting for the perfect shot, Gary continued studying the bear vitals on the index card. He’d look at the bear through the scope, then he’d study the index card.”

Eventually, the bear offered a perfect broadside shot, so Dutton flicked off the safety and instructed Gary to take the shot whenever. Gary said that a leaf was in the way, but with a .300 WSM, the leaf wasn’t an issue. Chad told him to aim right at the leaf and shoot. The bear snapped back at where the bullet had impacted, and all was silent within five seconds. The bear did not death moan, but cameraman Scott assured that the shot had been perfect.

“After all the celebrating and everything, Gary looked at me and asked, ‘Can I have my sandwich now?’

I told him he could. And after waiting a few minutes, we followed the blood trail. As the mentor, I carried the gun. The bear had gone only 30 yards, so we found it right away. After making sure the bear was expired, Gary stood about ten feet away. Finally, I coaxed him over and he touched the bear’s bloody side. That’s all it took. He was on top of the bear and poking at its ears and eyes. He even pulled the mouth open to look at the sharp teeth. He was hooked.”

Dutton took it a step further and gave Gary a bit of an anatomy lesson while field-dressing the bear.

While doing so, Dutton revealed that Gary’s bullet had centered the bear’s heart. It was the first time Gary had seen anything like it. Being an inner-city kid, he doesn’t get many chances to get out and do stuff like that. All in all, the experience was a great one for both the mentor and mentee.

Finishing Touches If you’re a hunter and are serious about mentoring a young hunter or even your mother, there are opportunities to do it. It all begins with having a desire to show someone something positive. No, killing an animal isn’t for everyone, but when folks make the time-honored connection that hunting is a conservation tool and a way to sustain human life through protein, few can deny that hunting is a great alternative to the many diversions that unfortunately loom in our midst.

To that end, I say, take a kid hunting. It will change their life forever, and it will change yours, too.

Bear hunting is a great tool mentors can use to introduce young folks to hunting and the outdoors. (Photo by Chad Dutton)

Kicking Bear Foundation Kicking Bear Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization that makes kids’ dreams reality. The ministry holds camps across the nation where youths are given the times of their lives and introduced to archery and the Lord. Kicking Bear’s mission is to “Put a bow in a kid’s hand and lead their family to the Lord — one-onone.” Kicking Bear also offers mentored hunting opportunities for youths who’re interested in pursuing the outdoors on a higher level. All camps and hunts are offered free to participants, which eliminates barriers to entry. It’s a great organization to support, and one that changes lives daily. Learn more at www. kickingbear.org.

30 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 2021

www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 31

Empty Nest?

Why Not Hunt?

by Timothy Fowler

@timothydfowler

Tina Carter’s youngest son handed her a

shotgun and insisted, “Mom, you’ve got to learn how to hunt.” This declaration was made

just when he was on his way out the door, leaving home for college. The oldest son was getting married, and Tina Carter was facing an empty nest for the first time in decades. She had never hunted. That was 2008.

By 2020, Tina Carter has been on 15 bear hunts in five provinces and a number of states. She has tagged nine bears including an Alaskan brown bear. I caught up with

her the night before she and a couple of girlfriends were heading out for a pre-Christmas bear hunt in North Carolina, an 11-hour drive from her home. (You might want to read that last line again.)

Carter explained, “I was a stay-at-home mom for years––I have three kids who are all grown adults now. When my youngest son gave me the shotgun, I honestly had no interest in it. I had never shot a gun. We have 28 acres, and the guys were always deer hunting on the property. My son was so excited about giving me the gun, so I decided I’d have to use it. I figured I would hunt in the backyard a couple of times––that was my intention––but when I got out there and climbed into a tree stand, I thought it was so cool. I hadn’t done that since I was a little girl. And I love being outside. Throughout the years, my children used to try to get me to hunt. Really? I have to grocery shop, cook dinner. I’ve got to make sure your uniforms are ready. I couldn’t hunt and enjoy it. But that’s how I got started––my son bought me a shotgun.”

Getting Started on Bears Tina Carter hunted their own acreage for a couple of years, but when her husband bid and won a couple of Canadian Bear Hunts at an SCI Action, Tina and her husband were off to Saskatchewan for a spring bear hunt in 2010 and a fall bear hunt in Newfoundland that same year.

“At an S.C.I. (Safari Club International) auction (there may have been drinks involved) my husband ended up with two bear hunts: a spring 2010 bear hunt in Saskatchewan and a fall 2010 hunt in Newfoundland. My husband, me and a friend drove to Saskatchewan––a 35-hour drive. I would love to hunt bears in every Canadian province.”

Carter watched a small bear come into the bait only to be chased off by a larger bear. Even experienced hunters have difficulty judging bear size. She let the bigger bear walk. And instantly regretted it. That big bear came back, offered a perfect broadside opportunity and Carter took it.

“Can we carry it?” the outfitter asked Tina when he reached her stand. It became instantly clear that the bear was a trophy bear and there was no way they were going to be able to carry its 600-pound body. It turns out that the bear was a 20 and 5/16” skulled bear and now is a full-sized mount in a prominent place in the Team Carter assortment of taxidermy.

Tina reminisced, “that got me hooked on bear hunting right there.”

Later that fall Carter took at 350-pound 19 and 13/16th black bear in Newfoundland. That bear became a shoulder mount.

“My first big bear was a full mount, the second was a shoulder mount and the third was a shoulder mount. I’ve got bear rugs, and I still have stacks of hides downstairs,” said Carter.

Bear hide projects

Tina with her bear mitts she made from one of the many bears she’s taken.

32 Bear Hunting

Beyond the shelf of bear skulls in the family room and the spectacular collection of taxidermy, Carter has tackled a number of made-from-bear-hide projects. For example, her husband asked her to Mar/Apr 20210

make him a pair of mittens from a bear hide. Carter was doubtful that she’d be able to do it. But after thinking about it, Carter watched some Youtube videos and tackled the project. She found a guy in Saskatchewan who made a how-to video for making bear mitts. She found and purchased a speedy hand stitcher and figured it out.

“I bought an old sheepskin coat from a thrift clothing store that was suede with a sheepskin lining.” Carter sewed the sheepskin fleece into the lining of the bear mitts. They turned out great. And since then, she has made a pair of mittens and a hand warmer to contribute to an S.C.I. auction. “I made a bear-hide hand warmer for one of my guides in Ontario. He went above and beyond. He ice fishes so I knew I wanted to make him one.” Carter has made several hand warmers. Her current project is a leather bear hide-covered bench cushion.

Equipment Tina Carter is a lefty, so after borrowing a gun long enough to find out she was serious about hunting, she acquired a couple of Weatherby Rifles.

“I have favorite rifles: a Weatherby 270 and Weatherby 300 and I love them both. They are dead on and I shoot well with them; they’re good guns and my go-to’s. Both are proprietary Weatherby cartridges.”

Plans for the future Through hunting, Tina has experienced the “I lose my mind and find myself” feeling. She said, “that’s exactly how I feel when I get out there hunting. If you like being outside you should try it [hunting]. Just go sit with somebody and see what it’s like.”

Tina Carter has plans for the future: “When I’m 70, I want to have had over 30 bears.”

She is well on the way to her future.

Tina with her big Saskatchewan bear and the Boone and Crockett award it earned.

How to Make Hand Muffs

by Tina Carter

1. Cut a piece of bear hide approximately 14x16 (size depends on who I’m making it for) 2. Get some scrap leather (Can be purchased at a craft store or use an old leather coat/garment, or use your own tanned deer/elk/moose hides.) Cut two about 4”x14” pieces of leather to sew on to the ends where the hands go in. (place good side of the leather to fur side of hide, hold in place with paper clamps). Sew with Speedy Stitcher, fold leather down onto the inside of hide and glue down with Barges Cement.

3. After that has dried, I take belt strapping (from fabric store) glue to inner hide then glue sheepskin (from an old coat or I find remnant pieces on eBay) again use Barges Cement to attach sheepskin to inside of the hide and use some kind of weight to secure. After drying 24 hours I sew both ends together then turn right side out.

4. Attach strap adjuster buckles, give to a friend and watch their face light up!

I ordered a piece of custom foam for my knotty pine bench and I am using the hide from a 2019 fall hunt in Hornpayne Ontario. After Cutting the hide to size I will then use the speedy stitcher to sew leather to the hide for the bottom of the cushion. I will tweak it as I go since this is my first time doing this project. www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 33

6

Categories Of Outfitters

A successful spring bear hunter from Riverside Lodge in Manitoba. Gil Paradis offers a lodge-based hunt in some great bear country.

challenging hunts are some of my favorite and offer high trophy potential. Adventure and opportunity for trophy bears are the main benefits.

2. Lodge-Based Bait Hunts: Lodge-based hunts over bait can be an excellent way to hunt black bear. Some of our outfitters have tremendous bear areas with relatively easy access and can offer better amenities than a wilderness hunt. Lodge-based hunts are often a bit cheaper than the wilderness hunts while still providing homecooked meals, electricity, running water and some of the comforts of home. Camps usually take numerous hunters per week and can be great for corporate hunts or large groups of friends or families. Depending upon the outfitter, these can be “trophy bear” camps or simply areas that you’ll see lots of bears and have a great chance of success. Lodge-based hunts can be found all over Canada in every province and the northern United States. Maine is famous for its lodges and bear hunting. These hunts usually run between $1,800 and $3,500 per hunter. Great hunting and more comfort are the benefits of this type of hunt.

3. Hound Hunts:

When it comes to bear hunting outfitters, not all are created equal. Comparing outfitters can be difficult, because you often aren’t comparing apples to apples. Different types of hunts are designed

for different types of hunters. People often call and ask me to give them a blanket referral to a single outfitter, however, without some more information this can difficult. Are they looking for a trophy-class bear or just a rug for the floor? Do they have $6,000 to spend or $1,500? Do they want a wilderness adventure in a tent camp or a relaxing hunt based out of a lodge? Do you want to hunt over bait, spot and stalk or chase them with hounds? Here is a simple break down of the different types of hunts and some suggestions for each category.

1. Wilderness Bait Hunts: Wilderness hunts for black bear are usually top-end bear hunts that take place in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Alaska or Idaho in the spring or fall. These hunts usually require extensive travel after you’ve hit the ground in your airplane and offer a classic, northern bear camp environment. Camps are usually tent based and boat or ATV’s provide transportation. Most camps will run generators for electricity, sleep in wall tents and have hot cooked meals everyday.

Often camps are located on river systems that provide access into remote areas. Many areas of the Canadian North are basically unhunted for bear providing great opportunity. Wilderness bait hunts are usually trophy-class hunts costing in the $3,500-$6,000 range. These exciting,

34 Bear Hunting

Hunting bears with hounds is something that every hunter should do in their lifetime. You’ll learn quickly that it’s not about the “killing,” but rather the excitement of the chase. However, killing a trophy-class bear is a real possibility. If you’ve never been around hounds, it won’t take you long to see the value of this type of hunting and the strong culture of the houndsmen. Expect to try to strike bears around baits early in the morning or “rig” bears from the truck. “Rigging” involves driving the backroads trying to strike a hot bear track from the road. A good hound will bark from the dog box when he smells a bear. Hound hunting outfitters are typically in Maine, North Carolina, Idaho and British Columbia. Hound hunting is legal in numerous other states, but this is where the bulk of the outfitters are for various reasons. Hound hunts can take place in the spring or fall and usually run between $2,000 and $3,000.

They usually require a hunter to be in good physical condition. Excitement, camaraderie and watching the hounds are the benefits of a hound hunt.

4. Spot-and-Stalk Hunts: Spot and stalk bear hunts can be very challenging and exciting hunts. Some provinces and states don’t allow baiting or hound hunting, so this leaves it to the stalkers. Bears are great animals for stalking and the West offers some great opportunity for longrange glassing. Stalk hunts can either be a long-range rifle hunts or up-close bow hunts. You’ll usually be in some beautiful and exciting country on this type of hunt. Outfitted hunts typically take place in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, British Columbia and Alberta. It involves some physical stamina and patience for long days of glassing. Depending upon the outfitter, you may be based out of a tent camp or traveling from a lodge everyday. Considered by many to be the

Mar/Apr 2021

“purest” form of bear hunting, a spot-and-stalk western bear hunt is a must for every hunter. Spot and stalk hunts can be all over the board in terms of price, typically you can expect between $3,000 and $6,000. In these types of hunts the outfitter is usually heavily involved in each hunt and takes smaller numbers of hunters. Testing your stalking skills and getting to cover lots of terrain are the benefits of this type of hunt.

5. Boat-Based Hunts: Boat-based black bear hunts typically take place in coastal Alaska. These top-end bear hunts offer spectacular scenery, a very unique water-based experience, fishing, seafood cuisine and an excellent opportunity for giant coastal black bears. The hunts are conducted from “hunting yachts’” that act as base camp. You live on the boat for the majority of the hunt. The hunter and guide glass from the boat watching the coastline for bear feeding along the waters edge. When a shooter bear is spotted, using a smaller boat, you’ll motor to the shore and stalk the bear. This type of hunt offers something very different for the bear hunter. The beauty of the coast, marine life, fishing and an opportunity for trophy bear are the benefits. Typically, numerous bears are seen every day and the strenuousness of the hunt is minimal. This is a mustdo for the bear hunter that has been everywhere.

6. Economy Hunts: There are many outfitters that have found ways to cut costs and offer some very inexpensive bear hunts. Many don’t offer lodging and the hunts aren’t fully guided. Some just give the hunter a couple of active baits and let them hunt however they want. This is very popular for people on a budget that are just wanting to kill a bear. Most of these outfitters have good success rates and keep their hunters coming back. I actually killed my largest bear on what I would call an “economy hunt”. However, some guides are able to keep their price down even while offering lodging and food. I would call an “economy hunt” between $600 and $1,500 per hunter.

These categories won’t fit all outfitters, but they will give you a general understanding of the different types of bear hunts available. When talking to outfitters this spring ask them what kind of hunt they offer. Everybody is different and looking for something unique in their bear hunting experience. Bear Hunting Magazine represents the best outfitters in North America and we are bound to have one that will suit your needs and put you on a bear.

A successful youth hunter from Stikine Outfitters in coastal Alaska. David Benitz offers a first-class boat based hunt for black bear.

Riverside Lodge Manitoba, Canada

Over 50 years of Proven Success * Canada’s Finest Spring and Fall Hunts Over Bait * Exclusive 3000 sq.

Miles of the Best Bear Habitat on the Planet * Ask About booking our Exclusive Trips * Fully Guided all services included * WORLD-CLASS Walleye Fishing

Excellent Color Phase and Trophy Bear Area

Included *WO

* Wolf Tag with Fall Bear and Deer Hunts For More Information

A big color phase bear from All Terrain Bear Hunts in Manitoba. Cory Grant offers a lodge-based, wilderness bait hunt.

www.bear-hunting.com

lodge@huntriverside.com Toll Free 866-214-8402

www.huntriverside.com

Bear Hunting 35

Makin’ Bear Grease Photos by Kolby Morehead Bear Rendering by Clay Newcomb

1. cut frozen bear fat into cubes 36 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 2021

A Few Things About Bear Grease - Bear grease can be stored at room temperature for over a year and can be used in all types of cooking in substitution for any type of oil.

- It’s best to render bear fat soon after harvesting the animal. On this batch, the author rendered some fat that had been in the freezer for over a year and it had a strong, unpleasant flavor. Bear fat rendered within three months of harvest (frozen of course) will yield incredible oil.

Lesson learned on this one!

3. Cook the fat to 210-225 degrees for 12 to 18 minutes. Pour into mason jars.

2. Grind the fat to get the most yield www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 37

Making bear leg is simply tasty. Just because we can’t be together doesn’t mean we can’t eat together.

by Timothy Fowler @timothydfowler

Why not cook a whole bone-in bear

leg for Easter Dinner? Share it with family and friends if you can, or book a virtual dinner and deliver hot meals in advance. We did. Here is how we did it.

Roast Meat Celebration My childhood Sunday mornings smelled like roast beef. There were four of us kids with big appetites and our Sunday favorite was roast beef.

A healthy hunk of roast was searing on the stove when I rolled out of bed to a row of Saturday-night freshly polished shoes. The whole family dressed in shiny shoes for church Sunday and my wizard-cooking-mother set dinner up on the oven timer, so everything was ready to set on the Country Roses China-ladened linen tablecloth as soon as the gravy was made. The whole crew was digging into dinner within 15 minutes of arriving home. My father carved. Mom served gravy. There was usually apple

pie. We ate like kings.

At least half of the time there were guests, maybe grandpa and grandma, a traveling speaker, or some interesting character at loose ends for dinner.

(Dinner was the noon meal when I was a kid.)

Plan Dinner We’re a bit more than a year into Covid and recently with our local lockdown, I am missing the family Sunday dinners. Kate, my dear wife, and I have boys who married lovely sisters. Between them, they have produced five grandkids. We live near enough to share dinners regularly. Fed up with my not being able to be together on our own china-laden table, we called a virtual Easter Sunday dinner.

I have been working my way through our inventory of wild protein and came across a bonein bear leg from a couple of fall seasons ago. It is a small bear leg with a nice fat cap and promising to be delicious. (I find that a bit of fat on either bear, deer, or elk is delicious when allowed to roast slowly and drip over the meat. This is a stark contrast to all

Roast Bear Leg

for Easter 38 Bear Hunting

virtual

Mar/Apr 20210

A bone-in whole bear leg cooked in a pellet smoker is hard to beat. The author’s kids refer to it as “Dad’s Tender Bear.” It’s mouth-watering good.

www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 39

Upper Left: bear quarters hang after a spring hunt in the author’s home province of Alberta.

Upper Right: This is what the right amount of salt looks like for the roast bear leg.

Lower Left: The meat on the bone is the most tender! Cook it right and it will almost fall off the bone.

Lower Right: Tim’s wife loves to cook with cranberries. See the next page for a recipe.

40 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 2021

The author uses a Camp Chef pellet grill to cook his bear meat.

It’s got a phone ap where you can adjust the temperature remotely - pretty swanky for an old bear hunter.

of the get-rid-of-all-the-fat advice. Try it and decide for yourself.) We booked a Zoom hosted dinner at 6:00 p.m. and fired up the Camp Chef pellet smoker.

This recipe and process outlines what I did with the Camp Chef, but one could easily skip the smoker and switch to a regular household oven at 350F and proceed like you were roasting a good-sized roast of beef.

Hunt big Hunt color Hunt here

Dad’s “Tender” Bear This is what my boys refer to as Dad’s tender bear. They note we often have “tender” whole legs of venison and bear smoked or roasted on our table. I live in a geography that allows two bears a year, depending on your luck. With the addition of special draws and bow-only zones, three or more deer tags are available, so I am thrilled to tag a younger animal from time to time. Have no fear, I would happily harvest a beast of a bear or whitetail, but for me, the table is always the first thing on my mind when hunting, www.bear-hunting.com

1-431-205-2503 www.baldymountainoutfitters.ca todd@baldymountainoutfitters.ca Bear Hunting 41

A speciality rub from a friend was perfect for the bear leg. Pork rubs usually work well with bear meat.

Covid-19 has kept some familes apart, but it can’t keep us from eating together with a little help from technology. Hopefully, we’ll be out of all this mess soon.

so, often there are younger animals featured on our table. This bear was probably a two-year-old fall bear.

Bear Leg Prep After thawing the bear leg in the fridge for two days, I rinsed it in cold water, dried it with paper towels, and gave the bone-in bear leg a good sprinkling of Malden Flaked Salt and let it sit an hour on the counter while the smoker heated. Then once some of that salt was absorbed, I gave it a good sprinkle with what we call Chef Willie’s rub. It’s the closest thing we can come to unraveling a local chef’s secret mix for the grilled pork and lamb featured on his menu. That recipe follows.

Smoke or Roast Preheat the smoker to 225F while the bear roast is resting on the counter. Once the salt and rub are applied and an hour passes, smoke for two hours giving the roast a spritz of water every 30 minutes or so. Crank up the temperature to 275F. Continue to spritz every 30 minutes, insert the temperature probe, or start testing the temperature with an instant-read portable probe thermometer.

When the internal temperature of the leg hit 155F I dialed back the heat to 225F and watched the temperature come up to 162F. The target temperature for safe cooking of bear is 160F. I held the temperature there for an hour while we prepped the rest of the dishes: gravy made with bear stock, maple glazed carrots, and mashed potatoes. Nothing particularly fancy, everything particularly delicious––sort of what you would expect of dinner at Mom’s.

Turn this year’s bear into something special with a company you can trust.

*Starting at $175/ft *Six month turn around on most rugs *Industries first free embroidery *Proffesionally tanned and machine sewn.

NO GLUING! Free personalized embroidery on the back of your rug!

616-835-7227 rugsbynancy@yahoo.com

2113 E. Sessions Rd Sheridan, MI 48884

Since 1995

Cranberries?

Kathy loves cranberry sauce on wild meat and so do the rest of us. Her simple sauce is made with fresh or frozen cranberries depending on the season and goes well with everything from roast bear leg to moose shank, and pan-fried ruffed grouse to seared goose breasts. Check out her simple orange rind flavored cranberry sauce. Simple to make. Delicious addition to whatever is for dinner.

42 Bear Hunting

*Ship your hide from out of state, no problem!

www.rugsbynancy.com

Mar/Apr 2021

If this doesn’t make your mouth water you aren’t hungry. The author’s kids call this dish “Dad’s Tender Bear.” With classic side dishes, this is hard to beat.

Bear Leg Rub for a Smoker (Or Oven) • 5 Tablespoons whole mustard seed (I prefer brown) • 1 Tablespoon whole fennel seed • 1 Tablespoon whole cumin • 1 Tablespoon black peppercorns • 2 Tablespoons ancho chili powder preferable ground from freshly roasted chilies • Chili flakes to taste (if you like a bit more heat) Toast the first four whole spices in a small cast iron pan over medium heat until the mustard starts to color.

If you get smoke immediately remove the spices from the heat. Cool a bit and grind. I use a coffee grinder reserved for spices, but a mortar and pestle will do the same work.

Toast the whole ancho chili until it crisps and then grind in the same grinder. You will note there is no salt in this mix, this allows me to have full control over how much salt is added. www.bear-hunting.com

Kathy’s Cranberry Sauce 3 cups of frozen cranberries 2 cups of white sugar 1 medium orange, rind finely grated 1 cup water Grate one medium orange. Bring water to a boil, add rind and sugar, dissolve by stirring and add cranberries. Simmer just until the berry skins break.

Cool and store in the fridge. This will be safe in the fridge for a week or two but unlikely to last that long.

Celebrate Celebrate Easter with a whole muscle roast––or even better––a whole bone-in leg if you still have one in the freezer. Get together with family and friends in any way that suits you and is safe. Rollick in the blessing of a good roast taken with friends and family.

Bear Hunting 43

Legendary Bear Hounds: part 36 Bearpath Gunner Article by Clay Newcomb Article first published in Mar/apr 2015 as our inaugural Legendary bear hound column

A litter of eleven Plott puppies were born in Protection,

Kansas on October 17th, 1975. Every time hounds are bred the anticipation of what the cross will yield is exciting. De Wayne Herd and his son Steve, who got started in Plotts in 1952, crossed

their male, ‘PR’ Bluff Creek Bouncer to a female, originally out of Wyoming, known as ‘PR’ Bluff Creek Donna. Dwayne and Steve knew the bloodlines of the two dogs and thought it would produce some good hounds. Little did they know how right they were. Out of the cross came several very great hounds, three of which would be killed by bears in the next several years, but from a young age one stood out above the rest. They called him Bearpath Gunner.

Plotts are known for their grit, drive and bold trailing instinct. The Plott breed is truly American, conceived in the Smoky Mountains of Bute County, North Carolina. The hounds are decedents of German Hanoverian hounds, brought over by Johannes George Plott in 1750. Plott was only 16-years old when he traversed the Atlantic with the dogs that would be the foundation of a powerful, big-game-hunting breed. Like many other things, the New World was a breeding ground of innovation that would become the bedrock of American identity. The Plott hound breed was just that.

Mike Rychlock with Gunner and a 620-pound Wisconsin bear in the early 1980s. It was killed the day after the 590-pound bear on opposite page.

44 Bear Hunting

Plotts were originally used in North Carolina as bear dogs and for catching feral hogs. Their strong treeing instinct, however, caught the attention of coon hunters as the popularity of the breed grew. They are the only breed of tree dogs that didn’t descend from European fox hounds, thus the brindle, unique look. Plotts are known for their distinctive, loud chop on the tree.

Bearpath Gunner Dwayne had a large whelping pen, still in the same spot today, where they let the young dogs learn to become hounds. Steve remembers, “One day my father put a cat in the pen with the pups and he had to get in there and rescue the cat from Bearpath.” Later, when he was only three months old, Bearpath trailed and treed that cat, staying on tree for a long time. At this point they knew the dog was special and their expectations about Bouncer and Donna were spot on.

Dwayne got a call from Willard Woodby in Idaho who was looking for some pups from the Bluff Creek line to add to his pack.

He told him that they had a “litter that was special” and that he should give them a try. Willard, also known as “Woody,” drove 19 hours to pick up a pair of pups in south-central Kansas. A male and a female, he named them Bearpath Gunner and Betty. Putting these hounds in the hands of someone that loved to hunt and lived in a prime bear hunting locale was critical for their development. At that time in Idaho in the 1970s, bears were relatively unpressured and numerous. It was a great place and time to make a good bear hound.

Willard never penned or chained Gunner for the Mar/Apr 20210

Bearpath Gunner Gunner showing some excitement after the hunt. The bear weighed 590 pounds. Left, Mike Rychlock, Dave Rychlock and Jim Bowman in the early 1980s in Wisconsin.

whole time he owned him. Gunner rode in the cab of Willard’s truck and slept in the house every single night. This is very unusual for a hunting hound. The dog had extreme intelligence and according to Steve Herd, “He never knew he was a dog, he thought he was a human.” Certainly Gunner’s raising helped make him an easy dog to handle.

Mike Rychlock, who would later own Gunner, said, “When I went to pick up the dog in Idaho, he was like a darn Labrador. He would roll over and he slept in the house!”

By the time Bearpath Gunner was 11 months old he was running and treeing bear in Idaho by himself. It was said that there weren’t many hounds in the state that could out-tree, Gunner, even before he was one year old.

Betty was also an exceptional dog, but was tragically killed before she was one year old when a dead bear fell out of a tree on top of her, killing her instantly.

Gunner continued to develop and his reputation spread throughout the hound circles. He was a good-sized Plott, weighing over 60 pounds. What made Gunner special was his speed on track and ability to trail with his head up. Steve said, “He had a great ability to tree a cold track quick.” He continued, “If you were chasing someone on a motorcycle in a field you wouldn’t run the exact path they drove, but you would cut across in a direct line to them – you would cut them off. Gunner had an uncanny ability to cut off a bear, to wind him. His nose and winding ability weren’t anything less than a freak of nature.”

Woodby trained and raised Gunner in Idaho www.bear-hunting.com

until the hound was around five years old. In 1979, Mike Rychlock began searching for the top hound in the country to breed his Plott female. He had heard about Gunner and contacted Willard. “I drove from Wisconsin to Idaho to have my female bred by Gunner. Willard and I just hit it off,” Mike said. Mike and Willard developed a friendship and began hunting together. Long story short, in late 1980 Mike purchased Gunner. By the age of five, Gunner had been involved in over 250 treed bears. Mike recalled, “We

Bear Hunting 45

Bearpath Gunner didn’t rig bears in Wisconsin like they did in Idaho.

When I hunted with Gunner I was impressed by how he worked.” Gunner would rig off the hood of the pickup. To this day Mike is a serious houndsman who lives and breathes bear hunting. Mike says, “Gunner had the whole package.”

In the 1981 National Plott Hound Association Yearbook, Willard Woodby wrote in ad offering Gunner for stud, “Lee Medlock and myself have lost 11 good dogs to mean bears in the last 5 years. Two of these dogs were Gunner’s littermates, and each time when we got to the dogs, Gunner was there, eithering baying or treeing the bear. I will compare this dog’s battle scars with any bear dog alive.” Willard ended the ad by saying that he didn’t want money for the stud fee, but rather pups “from the right female.” By the time the ad came out Mike owned Gunner.

Willard also wrote in the ad, “Bear hunters who have been hunting for 40 years have told me that Gunner has the coldest nose they have ever seen on a Plott hound. I have seen this dog trail bear that good dogs couldn’t smell at all.”

Many people across the country hunted with Gunner. Mike hunted Gunner in Wisconsin, Michigan and Idaho in the five years before Gunner’s death on June 4th, 1985. According to Steve, “Many people considered Gunner to one of the best strike dogs of all time.”

Gunner’s intelligence was notable. Mike remembered, “The whole time I owned Gunner he slept in the house and we wouldn’t let him get on the couch. I remember lying down and pretending to snore. When I did, Gunner would slip over like a snake and get on the couch. I would jump up and get on to him! In over 250 hounds I’ve owned, he was the only house dog.”

Gunner seemed to prefer to run bear but he was also an excellent cougar and bobcat dog. By the time of his death, Gunner was credited as being involved in over 500 treed bears.

According to Mike, “In the 1970s there weren’t as many top bear dogs as we have now. Lots of people have top dogs these days. Technology has increased our ability to train them. Out in Idaho in those days the bears were like squirrels and it made it easier to make a great dog.

Gunner was no doubt a great dog, but we’re still making great ones today.”

Bearpath Gunner was a legendary hound whose bloodlines are still strong in the Plott breed. Certainly, there are many unknown hounds that have had the raw ability to be great dogs, but didn’t have the context, training or opportunity to fully be developed. From Gunner’s breeding, to his training and finishing, he reached his full potential from all sides of the equation.

Above: This full page ad ran in the 1981 National Plott Hound Association Yearbook. The ad gave an honest appeal of Gunner’s ability and wasn’t asking for cash for a stud fee but rather “pups from the right female.” Ad used courtesy of Steve Herd. www.nationalplotthoundassociation.org

Special thanks to Steve Herd, Mike Rychlock, Tim Dusterwinkle and Mark Dufresne for help on this article.

Right: Gunner wasn’t just a bear dog, but he was an excellent cougar and bobcat dog. From left to right in this photo: Brad Dammerman, Willard ‘Woody’ Woodby and Mike Rychlock. Gunner treed this cougar in Idaho in the early 1980s.

46 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 20210

Professional tanning through our modern commercial process

1495 Carlisle Rd

Aspers, Pennslyvania

Bear Hide tanning Services

Ship the hide to us from anywhere in the country (or Canada) frozen or salted. We use two types of tans, including our “wet tan” which can be used for taxidermy at a later time. We’ll even ship directly to your taxidermist.

Call for shipping instructions!

717-677-4553 www.keystonefurdressing.com

Hunt Wyoming for Spring Bear

Wyoming High Country Trophy Hunts Bob Barlow, Outfitter

307-413-0726

On our baited horseback hunts we get into remote country to find big bears. Up to four active baits per hunter. Color bears are the rule, not the exeception in Wyoming.

www.barlowoutfitting.com WY-BG#279 www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 47

Bear hunter & Bear Grease Hats in FIrst LIte FUsion only at www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Guns 7mm-08

By Kolby Morehead

I

@kolby_morehead

remember the way I felt when my dad got a Ruger model 1 chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum. I liked it. The only other lever action breach loading rifle I had ever seen was the custom Sharps rifle on the movie Quigley Down Under so yeah…. This rifle got an instant cool vote from childhood me. I learned later that this rifle had an artistic flare as it would color my shoulder black and blue. I also learned that the only time I wanted to shoot this rifle was when using it as a tool tasked with knocking down a critter while fueled by adrenaline. Over time, I did knock down a few and I still think fondly of that rifle.

The 7mm bullet it a great projectile for most any big game in North America. While the 7mm Rem Mag has found success with the masses and has good ballistics, it requires a heavier long magnum action and kicks like mule. There has to be something better.

Enter the 7mm-08, designed in 1980 by Remington, it is a commercialized wildcat caliber that uses a .308 casing necked down to seat the 7mm bullet.

So, what are the benefits? Why would I use this for a bear hunt? We would all agree that a 7mm Rem Mag will take down a black bear with a less than perfect shot. The 7mm-08 is not far behind the big magnum in any of the stats. Since the 7mm-08 uses the same bullet, it will have the same section density as the 7mm Rem Mag. It only trails the full magnum by 300 fps in velocity which it achieves with a lot less powder and a standard action rifle. So why not tote the lighter rifle? At this very moment you’re probably thinking of your friend’s wife or kid that shoots one of these. I would suggest thinking of this as an option for yourself. It’s a hidden gem of a caliber. For you 6.5 Creedmoor guys, here is a surprising fact; the 7mm-08 actually has a faster velocity than the 6.5. For practical 48 Bear Hunting

Vanguard Sporter

Price: $799.00 Weight: 7.5 pounds Overall Length: 44” Barrel Length: 24” Twist Rate: 1-9.5” Mag Capacity: 5+1 Hinged Floorplate Raised comb, Monte Carlo “A” grade Turkish walnut

Caliber Summary:

Good for all North American Big Game up to elk.

Bullets: 120gr – 160gr Sectional Density: 140gr (Penetration): .248 Velocity 140 gr: 2,800 fps Energy 140 gr: 2,437 lbf Ammo: Available in retailers but not a big variety of options.

Range: 400+ Yards hunting distances would you want a smaller bullet with a lower velocity or a larger projectile at a higher velocity?

The 6.5 will be better at longer shots past 500 yards; however, many of us wouldn’t take a shot that far at game.

With the right bullet, you can take the high shoulder shot if that is your thing or you could get a bullet that will get you a through and through middle shot and get you two holes.

If you are reloading, you can be very selective on what bullet you use and can even use higher grain bullets. Since this caliber carries lighter recoil, it would make for a good choice in a mountain rifle. You can also look into more compact sporter rifles that would be easier for a youth hunter to manage.

Mar/Apr 20210

Custom, excellent-quality wildlife taxidermy We are a custom taxidermy studio operating in northwest Montana creating one-of-a-kind wildlife mounts that are hand-crafted works of art. We are not a production shop. Taxidermist John Hayes has more than 20 years experience in the profession and prides himself on fine craftsmanship. We do North American big game, African exotics, small mammals, birds and water fowl, fish, and even some reptile taxidermy. We specialize in bears, too. For hunters, we can do everything from standard head to full-body mounts to preserve your prize. All work is guaranteed. References are available upon request.

John Hayes 406-293-6776 www.hayestaxidermy.com

www.bear-hunting.com

We ship all over North America.

Call Us for a custom quote.

Bear Hunting 49

Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association Inc. Mar/Apr 2021

57th Annual Convention March 26 – March 27, 2021 10101 Market Street, Rothschild, WI 54474

WBHA Annual Raffle: You NEED NOT BE a WBHA member in order to purchase Annual Raffle tickets and you need not be present to win. Grand Prize- 2021 Yamaha Viking UTV or $10,000.00 cash. 50 additional prizes to win. Ticket inquires: Jim Hamilton, Ph: 715-460-3033, Email: jimscat1977@gmail.com

BIG FRIG Coolers WBHA SPONSOR

WBHA Member Raffle Info - If you purchased tickets for the 2020 raffle and you still have ticket money on file, they will be waiting for you at the convention. You MUST BE a WBHA member in order to purchase Member Raffle tickets. Pre-purchased raffle ticket packages will be available for pick-up during regular convention hours. Pre-purchased ticket packages come pre-labeled with member’s ID# on each ticket. Ticket package increments include 200 for $200, 75 for $100, 25 for $50, & 10 for $25 (Single tickets will be available at the Annual Convention) All pre-purchased packages must be picked up no later than 10am on Saturday, March 27th, 2021. WBHA Member Raffle will close at 1:30pm. WBHA Member Raffle drawings will be held and announced intermittently during the SOS Auction beginning at 1:45pm. Winners will have 10 minutes from drawing to claim prize. If you are not able to claim prize within 10 minutes, you will forfeit your prize and an alternate will be awarded the prize. Order tickets either on the website or mail in the order form below.

Friday Night Banquet Canceled – Our venue has canceled our Friday Night Banquet. If you purchased tickets for the 2020 banquet and you still have ticket money on file, you have 3 options: You can donate your banquet ticket money to the WBHA, convert your banquet ticket money into Member Raffle Tickets at a rate of $1.00/1 ticket, i.e.- 2 Adult banquet tickets= $60 for 60 Member Raffle tickets and they will be waiting for you at the convention, or you can take a refund for your banquet tickets.

Please contact John Trochinski, his address, phone number and email address is at the bottom of the page.

Governor’s Bear Tag Raffle - Tickets for a chance to win a 2021 Bear harvest tag. Only 500 tickets will be sold. Drawing

will be held at the Convention on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 4:00 PM. The winner must choose Zone of Harvest at the time of issue. Tickets can be purchased at the convention or purchased ahead of time using the form below.

Save Our Sport (SOS) Auction - A huge number of items as well as many puppies will be auctioned off on Saturday. All proceeds from this auction will be used to aid in the advancement and protection of our sport. We are in need of your donations please help save our sport! Contact: Carl Schoettel 414-531-2296 or Eric Tuckner 651-775-7296.

Vendor Information: Any business or organization wishing to attend as a vendor can contact me by e-mail or phone and I will get you on the contract list. Contact: Jacob Trochinski, Ph: 920-203-3725, Email: jacob.trochinski@gmail.com Our Convention is a closed to the public! Become a member at the door and join the WBHA for 2 days of fun, entertainment, education, and a chance to win many great prizes. For a complete Convention schedule and more information, including WBHA clothing, visit our website or find us on Facebook.

Convention Member Check-In: To expedite the member check-in at the convention have your valid membership card ready at the door. A worker will check your card, if valid, you will be given your wristband(s) and you will be able to enter the convention. Those that need to renew their membership or are new members wishing to join, you will be directed to a membership table. Check your expiration date and renew ahead of time to speed up your check-in time. Yearbooks will be mailed again this year to your residence.

Save the date - ALL TOWN HALL MEETINGS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

WBHA MEMBERS ONLY TICKET PREORDER FORM COPY OR CLIP & SUBMIT WITH PAYMENT

NAME _____________________________________________MEMBER #__________ ADDRESS___________________________________CITY_______________STATE____ZIP__________ GOVERNORS TAG RAFFLE QTY _____ X $ 20.00 TOTAL __________ MEMBER 200 TKT PKG QTY _____ X $200.00 TOTAL __________ RAFFLE 75 TKT PKG QTY _____ X $100.00 TOTAL __________ TICKETS 25 TKT PKG QTY _____ X $ 50.00 TOTAL __________ 10 TKT PKG QTY _____ X $ 25.00 TOTAL __________

GRAND TOTAL __________

Mail to: WBHA, 594 Rural St, Berlin, WI 54923 Call John Trochinski 920-229-0365 or email at bigjohntro@gmail.com 50 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 2021

Michigan Bear Hunters Association Defenders of our wildlife heritage www.mibearhunters.org

New Wolf Advisory Council in Michigan

By Victor Skinner

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is col-

lecting applications for a new Wolf Management Advisory Council to help guide decisions regarding the state’s gray wolf population, the first step since regaining management authority last year.

The Michigan Bear Hunters Association and affiliated groups, including the Michigan Hunting Dog Federation and the Upper Peninsula Bear Houndsmen Association, are working to ensure bear and hound hunting interests are well represented.

MHDF’s Mike Thorman, MBHA President Tim Dusterwinkle, former MBHA President Troy Huff, and other members of the organizations are submitting their applications and credentials in hopes of securing one of the limited seats at the table.

Previous iterations of the group included conservation and hunting interests, animal rights and agricultural stakes, as well as officials from tribal and state or federal government.

When the last meeting convened in 2013, it included folks from the Upper Peninsula Sportsmen’s Alliance, the state’s Indian tribes, the Michigan Humane Society, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association, Farm Bureau and the National Wolf Watchers Coalition.

Mike Thorman - who represents the MBHA, MHDF and UP Bear Houndsmen at the statehouse – said he believes the new group will be similar, though he’s hopeful to have a stronger voice for hunters this time around.

“I’ve been on it since the beginning, like 14 years ago,” Thorman said. “Before now, I was the only representative for the bear hunters or the hound groups.

“We’re hoping to get more representation this time,” he said, adding “if it was like it was before, there will be about 20 people at the table” with roughly half supporting lethal management and the other half opposed.

The use of lethal force is the most controversial aspect of the group’s work, and though the council will have no authority to make regulations, its recommendations to the state’s Natural Resources Commission weigh heavily.

“The key thing is they don’t get to make decisions, they make recommendations,” said Amy Trotter, executive director for Michigan United Conservation Clubs.

Trotter served on the previous groups and applied for a seat at the table this year, as well.

“I suspect we’ll have multiple people in our membership apply,” she said, though she noted the state selected applicants from six distinct “buckets” for the prior groups.

“I would suspect it will be diverse and balanced, hunting groups and conservation groups and animal rights perspectives.”

It’s unclear whether the group will be facilitated

by DNR staff or someone from another agency, but the focus will be on updating the state’s wolf management plan.

The plan covers everything from education and nonlethal measures for mitigating problems, to the conditions for lethal force, considerations for any potential hunting season, and other higher level issues.

Those recommendations will guide the NRC’s decisions on more specific wolf management decisions, such as www.bear-hunting.com

when or how to conduct a hunting season, or how the state deals with wolves that attack livestock, pets or hunting hounds.

“I think the issues are where wolves are causing trouble, whether it’s livestock or pets or hunting dogs,” Thorman said. “We need to be able to have the department use lethal control where necessary.”

Hound hunters will be watching closely how the state decides to deal with packs that repeatedly kill dogs, as the state opted to remove wolves in those situations in the past.

DNR bear, wolf and cougar specialist Cody Norton laid out the timeline for reviewing the state’s wolf management plan at the January Natural Resources Commission meeting.

Norton said officials will conduct a public attitude survey over the next nine months, and it will be targeted to ensure folks impacted by wolves – farmers, Upper Peninsula residents, hunters and others - are well represented. The last such survey was conducted in 2005.

State officials also plan to spend about nine months collecting and reviewing all scientific data on the Michigan wolf population. They’ll spend about three months collecting public comments and feedback from the Wolf Management Advisory Council on the current wolf management plan, then spend about two to four months incorporating it all into a draft updated plan.

The Wolf Management Advisory Council and tribal officials will have a few months to review the changes and provide more feedback before it heads to the NRC, likely in June 2022, Norton said.

In the meantime, lawsuits are pending from anti-hunters challenging the U.S. Wildlife Service’s decision. President Joe Biden also issued an executive order on his first day in office requiring a review of the delisting decision, though the USFWS has publicly defended the move.

“Our delisting action recognizes the successful recovery of one of the most iconic species,” USFWS wrote in the letter to Earthjustice, the Center for Biological Diversity and other groups in response to a January letter of an intent to sue.

Regardless of the outcome, Dusterwinkle is urging hunters to get engaged.

“It’s critical that Michigan bear hunters and houndsmen have a strong voice at the table when discussing wolf issues, because hound hunters are one of the few groups of people who deal with these cunning creatures on a daily basis,” Dusterwinkle said.

“Anti-hunters work hard to perpetuate the myth that we’re bloodthirsty animals who kill wolf pups for fun, but the reality is the exact opposite. The MBHA, like most hunters, aims to ensure state officials balance wildlife populations based on science, not misleading emotional advertising.

“Michigan’s wolf population surpassed established recovery goals by every measure well over decade ago, and it’s well past time that we manage these animals like all other wildlife in the state.”

Join MBHA to make our voice stronger, and receive our association’s 16-page publication, The Bear Facts, four times a year, plus Bear Hunting Magazine, with its MBHA column, six times a year.

To get your membership (worth $20) and magazine (worth $25 more), send only a $20 check, made out to MBHA, to Phil Hewitt, and his address is 7796 Ainsworth Road, Lake Odessa, MI, 48849. Please include your name, address, email address and phone number.

Bear Hunting 51

Matt Taylor Arkansas Fall 2020

Matthew Bussman First Bear Washington Good Job, Matt!

Jaret Carbone North Carolina w/ hounds 543 pounds Betty Black First Bear!

Minnesota Great Work, BETTY!

Fred Spencer DIY Prince of Wales Alaska

52 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 2021

William Wallace North Carolina First Bear Over bait

Zac Drake North Carolina 399 pounds

Maddy Dull Wisconsin 320 pounds GOOD JOB, MADDY!

Blair Mitchell Saskatchewan Spring 2020 532 pounds!

Tyler Hoshaw-Weller First Bear!

Oregon Spring 2020

Find us on

Magazine Photo Gallery

Check out the Bear Hunting Magazine YOUTUBE Channel & our PODCAST

Email your high resolution bear photos to info@bear-hunting.com or mail a copy to PO Box 168, West Fork, Arkansas 72774. We reserve the right to not publish photos based on image and photographic quality. www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 53

California bill sb 252 redacted This is a notable victory, but we’ll need more

by Brian Lynn of Sportsman’s Alliance

By now you’ve undoubtedly heard about

California Senate Bill 252, also known as “The Bear Protection Act,” which would have completely ended black bear hunting in the state. Thankfully, and surprisingly, San Francisco

Sen. Scott Wiener pulled the proposed legislation just a week after introducing it, citing vague, yet more pressing, concerns like COVID-19.

Sen. Wiener introduced SB 252, with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) listed as a sponsor and supporter in his official press release, citing the need to protect the state’s vulnerable black bear population from inhumane hunters and habitat loss due to the destructive and recurring forest fires in California, as well as global warming.

With the introduction, the Sportsmen’s Alliance, many of our national and state partners, as well as a myriad of other sportsmen’s groups, located both in and out of the state, flooded Sen. Wiener’s office with calls and emails. A petition was started that garnered more than 22,000 signatures. The press seized upon the backlash, covering it, the history black bear hunting in the state and official statistics showing a marked increase in population levels over the last 40 years.

And just like that, the HSUS-Wiener lovefest went flaccid as the senator withdrew the legislation.

It was a glorious victory!

But what, exactly, turned Sen. Wiener on to bear hunting to begin with? And what turned him off enough to end the affair?

We might not ever know what precisely caused him to pull the legislation as many variables play into these scenarios. Perhaps it was being confronted with the facts that the bear population has increased to nearly 40,000 from 15,000 in the early 80s, or that the loss of bear hunting would cost the state approximately $1.39 million just in tag sales. That could have played a factor but, realistically, probably not. More likely, the flood of calls, emails and press coverage pushed Wiener’s political motivations into unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory.

Until this point, Sen. Wiener’s legislation has rightfully focused on issues pertinent to his San Francisco constituents – accessible DJ permits and extending alcohol sales until 4 a.m. for nightclubs; bike lanes for green-energy sensitive urbanites; access to HIV medications and other LGBTQ issues; sanctuary city protection; and, of course, gun control. Nary a wildlife-issue bill in his history.

But now, suddenly, Sen. Wiener introduces a bill that just doesn’t flirt with anti-hunting, but one that goes full predatory stalker. As for what likely encouraged him to do so, look no further than bill’s sponsor and supporter, HSUS. This has been their plan since at least 1990, when their former CEO, Wayne Pacelle, stated in Full Cry Magazine: “We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States … We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we will take it state by state.”

While Pacelle resigned from HSUS in 2018 amid 54 Bear Hunting

a plethora of sexual misconduct accusations and investigations, his blueprint for assaulting hunting continues to be employed by the organization. Senate Bill 252 was merely a continued trajectory of that plan.

In 1990, mountain lions became a protected species in California by ballot initiative, ending all hunting of the big cats (but not the killing, as the state continues to do so). Since then, animal-rights activists and organizations have successfully used the legislature or ballot box to end the use of hounds and bait for predators, all recreational trapping, as well as all hunting or trapping of bobcats.

Not only have they made good on their promise to end hunting species by species, method by method in California, they’ve made good on taking it to other states.

The use of bait for bears is prohibited in neighboring Oregon and Washington, as well as Colorado. Likewise, the two Pacific Northwest states banned the use of hounds for lions and bears, and Colorado did away with them for bears. Trapping, always a favored victim, was banned in Washington and Colorado, and continues to be relentlessly attacked by HSUS-backed legislation nationwide.

This piecemeal approach to destroying hunting is as simple as it is effective. By selecting methods that have lower participation, or for those species whose table fare is often questioned, or practices that are seemingly unethical (to the uninitiated), the science goes out the window and the arguments among the masses (even among some hunters) becomes moot. It’s reduced to a public relations campaign and advertising buys. Worse, hunters often perpetuate the same thoughts, going so far as to give quotes in mainstream media that back oversimplified claims or promote personal preferences.

It’s great that we defeated Senate Bill 252 so resoundingly, but undoubtedly it will return, if not under Sen. Wiener’s sponsorship then under another urban politico. Unfortunately, it’s just a matter of time. Hopefully, when that time comes, the hunting community will rally in the same way; quickly, fiercely and vocally.

However, if we hope to save hunting, we need to rally to the methods targeted early on – hounds, bait and trapping. As Bear Hunting Magazine editor Clay Newcomb says, we must guard the gate, and that gate isn’t just bear hunting in general, but all the methods that comprise various forms of bear hunting, as well as lion, coyote, wolf or other predators and furbearers, and we must do so in every state. If Senate Bill 252 has shown us anything, it’s that our voice, when coordinated and focused, can make a difference. If it can make a difference in California, it can make a difference anywhere.

Mar/Apr 2021

Join Sportsman’s Alliance at www.sportsmansalliance.org

“Every hunter in North America should be a member of Sportsmen’s Alliance. They ought to have as many members as the NRA.” Clay Newcomb

Bear Hunting Magazine Publisher & MeatEater Team Member

www.sportsmensalliance.org www.bear-hunting.com

www.shutterstock.com saulty72

Bear Hunting 55

@clay.newcomb

How to Become

A Bear Hunter

How to bait a spring black bear Baiting bears isn’t as easy as it might seem.

These pros give some insight into how to do it.

by Clay Newcomb

Beginner’s guide to becoming a woodsman, renaissance man & bear hunter

Baiting bears is more complex than the non-

bear hunting community might think. It isn’t as

simple as leaving a pile of glazed donuts and a jar of open honey on the ground. Like most endeavors in life, people access different levels of insight through decades of experience while gaining knowledge through trial and error. Some scratch the surface while others dig deeper. Baiting spring bears is simple in some regards. However, there is always more to learn. We’ve interviewed a few bear hunters that have a lot of experience and have had a lot of success baiting spring bears.

Bear Outfitter | Rick Liske Rick Liske of Agassiz Outfitters in the Interlake region of Manitoba knows that it’s important to understand the biology of bears when they come out of the dens in the spring. Rick said, “Our bears den up for three to five months – usually five. They den from mid-November through mid-April. In the den they use up a lot of the stored energy they’ve gathered in the growing season, so we give them what they need – protein and carbohydrates.” He went on to say, “Bears are omnivorous and in the early spring eat roots and grass when available. If they can find a winter wolf kill in the early spring they’ll eat that, but they typically lack protein.” This is part one of the key components of Rick’s early baiting – protein.

“Using beaver meat is key to getting big bears on the baits quickly in the spring. It’s natural and it’s readily available.

Beavers are the number one natural protein source for black bears in our area. We find a lot of evidence that bears predate on beavers.

It’s nothing for a black bear to get a beaver when they’re on land.”

Some have questioned how much bears actually catch and eat beavers in the wild. He went on to say, “We’ve seen a bear crossing the road with a beaver hanging out of its mouth. We are overrun with beavers in the Interlake region of Manitoba.” Using beaver protein is the number one ingredient in his spring baiting recipe. This may not be a big secret, but the beaver theme is consistent for a reason.

The second component of his strategy is to give the bears carbohydrates. He provides this by using oats covered in fryer grease. Rick likes to use “roll barrels” with small holes cut into the plastic sides of the barrel. He attaches the barrels to a tree using a six-foot cable, allowing the bears to roll it around. He fills them with chopped up beaver chunks, oats, and fryer grease. It usually takes the bears several days to empty the barrel. Rick went on to say, “We start taking hunters around May 10th. In the early spring, bears drink a lot of water, eat a lot of buds and grass. They seem to not hit the baits hard until after the first week of May after they lose their fecal plug.”

Bear Bait Guru | Floyd Gasser Floyd Gasser of Bigwoods Big Bear Scents has been a part of baiting spring bears in Canada for many years. He says, “Fat and protein are key in the spring. Any kind of frosting that is high in fat content is going to be good. Along with trail mixes because of the high fat content of the nuts.” He went on to describe, “These ingre56 Bear Hunting

dients are a part of well-balanced routine in the springtime.”

Floyd believes that the flavoring of bear baits is just a carrier for the fat and caloric content. Sometimes humans focus on the flavors, but the bears just want the nutrients and energy from the food. Floyd is also a big proponent of using fryer grease, but he made a warning. “A lot of modern frying oil these days is low-trans fat oil. People used to use mostly vegetable or corn oil.

Now many places use heart-healthy, low trans fat oil like canola oil. The high-fat oil is better for baiting bears.”

When starting baits, Floyd buys vegetable and corn oil for starting the baits. He mixes the oil using Bigwoods Bear Scents Ultra-Red 8 fryer grease additive. He then pours this oil all over his bait.

When asked what his favorite combination of spring bear bait was, Floyd quickly replied, “Trail mix, buttercream frosting that is high in fat, and popcorn with our Bear Crack sweetener on it. This is what I have in my truck when I head to bait in the spring.” He also added, “A lot of people use meat, and it can be really productive, but it depends on the wolf problem in the area. Butcher trimmings or beavers in the spring are excellent.”

Bear Outfitter | Gil Pardis Gil Pardis of Riverside Lodge in Manitoba has been producing big-beared results for many years. He said, “We don’t start baiting too early. Season starts at the end of April, and I believe the big bears have to get some greens before their digestive systems to get going. They eat green buds at the tops of poplar trees (which come out first). I start baiting at the end of April, about three weeks before first hunter arrive.”

Gil’s has a “secret sauce” for spring baiting that works for him. “Good quality oats and restaurant grease are key.” He said. “I leave the barrels wide open and let the bears eat all they want. I feed about 65,000 pounds of bait each year.” The bulk of this is oats. He doesn’t believe in being cheap when baiting bears and he feeds them as much as they’ll eat. He believes this is key to success in holding large bears. The food has got to be there to make them want to keep coming back on regular basis.

One of the most unique strategies that Gil uses revolves around how he utilizes beaver meat. The secret is so good, he was a little reluctant to share it – however he did. Gil said, “I always keep a freezer full of beavers. We used to chop them up with an ax and attach the chunks to trees, but the bears would run off with the chunks and eat them away from the bait.” When hanging beavers from trees, he also had trouble with people taking standing shots on bears chewing on elevated beavers. Gil said, “A bear’s anatomy changes when they are standing and most people shoot them too far forward.”

Gil went on to describe his strategy, “Take your frozen beaver and send it through a wood chipper to make Mar/Apr 20210

ground beaver.” You’ve got to do it when the beaver is frozen or it will bind up the machine. Gil then uses the “beaver hamburger” strategically at the baits. There are multiple benefits to using the hamburger rather than chunks. Gil said, “They can’t bugger off with it. They’ve got stand there and eat it.

I put it on the ground in a zigzag pattern giving my hunters great broadside shots while the bear’s nose is to the ground.”

Additionally, the meat gets pushed down into the mud and they can’t get it out, creating a great beaver smell at the baits.

He also uses the beaver scent from the hamburger by pulling the tops of the small trees and letting the leaves touch the meat. Gil said, “I always use rubber gloves because you don’t want to get that stuff on you.” Another important benefit is that this method keeps all the food at the bait site, as opposed to a bear dragging beaver parts in the bush and eating them. This keeps all the bait at the bait site and may even keep hunters from shooting sows with cubs. Gil believes that sometimes cubs go to the bones of the beavers he drug in the bush away from the bait while the sow comes into the bait.

Gil also went on to say, “I use some local bakery day old stuff, too. They like a lot of variety in the spring!”

Use these tips to add to your success in spring bear baiting. Good luck this spring. www.bear-hunting.com

Most Canadian bear outfitters will tell you that beaver meat is the best spring bear attractant. However, they’ll need protein and fat if you want them to stick around - and a lot of it.

Bear Hunting 57

The Strategic Bear Hunter

by Bernie Barringer

The things you don’t need anymore Bear hunting has changed a lot in the last 15 years. Here are some things you don’t need anymore.

The sport of bear hunting has changed so much

in the past two decades; it’s hard for people who are fairly new to the sport to imagine what it was like even a dozen years ago. There are many things we

once did that sound downright silly these days. There are many things that have gone the way of the dinosaur and the phone booth. Here’s a rundown that will take you back if you’re an old timer like me, or enlighten you if you’re new to bear hunting.

Spoiler alert to the newbies: You don’t know how good you have it!

Trail Timers These are devices with a little clock attached to a spool of black thread. You would put the thread across a trail.

When something walked into the thread, it would pull it out of the clock, which would kill the power on the little device. So, the clock would stop when something came down the trail. In theory, it would help you pattern the bears using that trail. If you used them a lot, you could get an idea how high to put the string so it wasn’t tripped by a raccoon or a rabbit. But of course, you didn’t know if it was tripped by a bear or a deer or a wolf or a trespasser, or the game warden for that matter.

A Bucket of Sand or a Bag of Flour Savvy bear hunters could get pretty creative trying to learn about the bears which were hitting the baits. One way was to carry a bucket of fine sand to the bait and spread it evenly in an area the bears were likely to step. This would help offer some insight into the size of the bears by providing a better look at their tracks.

A bag of flour helped serve the same purpose. Spread a generous amount of flour around and the bears would hopefully leave nice white tracks that would indicate their size and to the really experienced hunter, even their sex. If you wanted to learn what color the bear was, you had to look at all the tree bark around the bait and try to find a hair.

I can tell you from personal experience that a bucket of sand is really heavy, and a bag of flour is really messy.

knew if they were actually working or not—but the sensors were pretty poor. Many times I would find the bait cleaned out and then discover the camera had not taken a single photo. I am convinced that some bears move so slowly and stealthy that they never triggered the camera.

Today’s cameras are amazing in their ability to provide information that we could never learn just a decade ago.

Bug Jackets and Head Nets If scouting cameras have changed bear hunting more than anything, a close second would be the ThermaCELL. It’s amazing the effect this little device has had on the sport. I remember the first time I used one on a spring hunt in Canada. I was a little skeptical of these things, but I decided to give it a whirl.

The second evening of running the device, I was enjoying a peaceful afternoon on stand, thinking I didn’t need the darn thing on burning through butane canisters and pads. There was hardly a mosquito in sight. A little later, the mosquitoes started moving in. Within 20 minutes they were unbearable. I picked up the ThermaCELL to check it and discovered it had run out of gas. I put a new canister in it and restarted it. The next 15 minutes waiting for the thing to get warm enough to drive the pesky bugs away was the moment I decided I would never go on a bear hunt without one again. Today I have them with me even when I am just baiting or hanging stands.

The Honey Burn I realize some people will get their hackles up about what I am about to say, but I’m sticking with it.

Honey burns (or bacon burns or caramel burns or whatever burns) mean hauling a lot of stuff into the woods,

Film cameras Trail cameras put an end to carrying sand and flour, and pretty well bankrupted the Trail Timer. But the first trail cameras where very rudimentary and unreliable. They used film. You remember film? It had to be developed. That means you had to send it away, or if you’re lucky, you had a one-hour developer nearby.

The cameras of course did not take video and were limited to the number of photos on the film you put in them. The maximum was 36 exposures. So they really had to be replaced every day. There were times I went to Walmart and dropped off the film, then hung around for an hour while they were developed, only to learn that I had 36 photos of raccoons and crows.

The film was full before the bears showed up.

Not only were the cameras unreliable—you never 58 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 20210

Sometimes we go backwards on purpose for the sake of a greater challenge. Other times technology just makes things a lot better and there is no need to go back. Do you remember some of these things?

hanging around a bait site, leaving lots of extra scent in the area, and the danger of starting a fire. The value they offer in bringing in a bear is questionable to begin with, and the scent from all this exercise is dissipated so quickly that it needs to be done every day to have any real affect. Okay there I said it.

Today’s spray scents are so much more effective and so much more convenient. Send your honey burn back to the 1980’s where it belongs. The products like Gold Rush that you mix with fryer oil are simply amazing in their ability to last for days and bring the bears in from distance.

Every time you visit the bait site, you spray the scent on the surroundings - with this you’re way ahead of starting a fire and sitting there leaving your scent around the area while you wait for it to heat up. There are much more effective things to do with your time.

www.bear-hunting.com

Lumber and Tools It wasn’t too far in the past that hanging tree stands looked a lot different than they do today. I spent a lot of time with nails in my pocket, hanging from a tree like a monkey with one arm, while trying to hammer a 2x4 onto a tree 20 feet up. Safety harness? Ha! Hanging tree stands was done with an armload of boards, a saw, a hammer, a rope and some big nails.

Plus, a lack of even a healthy dose of fear.

So that’s my list of things we don’t need any more. Some of the people reading this are chuckling and nodding. Younger people who didn’t experience it are hopefully gaining an understanding of how good they have it. I’m not ready to go back to those times, are you?

Bear Hunting 59

@backcountrybrian

Western Bear Top Spots for western DIY spring hunts Hunting with Brian Strickland

Four best picks for the do-it-yourself spring bear hunter.

It was about this time last year when many of

us learned that our spring bear hunting plans had come to an abrupt halt. For me, it involved a trip north to

the Duck Mountains of Manitoba, as well as a hidden waypoint in north-central Idaho that has produced its share of successful baited black bear hunts over the years. Needless to say, I was both disappointed by my limited spring prospects, as well as gripped by the rumors of a little known but potentially deadly virus that was projected to sweep across this country like a tsunami. Within weeks, much of the country was told to “shelter in place” by federal and state governments in what now seems to have been a futile attempt to “slow the spread.” Hopefully, this “new normal” will eventually settle into the old one and we can hit the bear woods again.

With that said, spring bear season is fast approaching, and while potential hunts north of the border are still on hold until Canadian officials can develop a plan to raise the gates once again, the western United States ap-pears to be open for business…at least for now. For the hunters desiring to stretch their legs in the coming weeks in search of Ursus americanus, now is the time to put a plan together. Luckily for us, there are unlimited opportunities across this vast region. If you’re willing to develop a plan and put in the time and effort necessary, hanging your tag on this North American icon is certainly doable.

Here’s an overview to get you started in that direction.

The Gem State No other state offers the opportunity for the DIY bear hunter than does Idaho. Hunting over bait is the most popular method hunters employ, but hounds can be used in many areas as well. I’ve successfully baited bears there multiple times. Not only does Idaho offer the highest hunter success rates among western destinations at roughly 2,000-plus annually, but bear densities are also some of the highest in the Lower 48. Access is exceptional with over 60 percent of the Gem State providing the willing DIY bear hunter public access.

Black bears are largely found across the upper twothirds of the state with the majority of units offering over-thecounter opportunities. At just $231.75 for a bear tag, and some northern units offering a second tag for just $41.75, Idaho is an absolute bargain for the non-resident looking to embark on a DIY adventure. Although it’s not known to produce B&C pumpkin heads, it still produces its share. What it lacks in trophy quality more than makes up in overall opportunity.

For the ultimate adventure, chartering a flight into the remote Frank Church Wilderness and striking out to parts unknown is also an option for the thrill-seeker. Needless to say, if you’re looking for a top spot to sink your bear hunting teeth in, Idaho should be at the top of your list.

Big Sky Country Montana has clearly become a hotspot for the DIY hunters looking to stretch their legs, as well as their lungs in

60 Bear Hunting

search of black bears. Unlike its neighbors to the north, west and south, baiting is off-limits, as well as the use of hounds, so matching wits with Montana bruins requires lots of time behind the glass, hiking deep into the backcountry and the ability to shoot long distances. Although bowhunters enjoy marginal success, most successful hunters hit pay-dirt with modern ballistics.

Montana FWP estimates that approximately 15,000-plus black bears roam across its pine-studded hills, with the vast majority living in the northwestern and western regions. Although it’s not known to produce giant bears, there are some toads if you’re willing to dig deep and hold out for a mature boar. Annually, hunters harvest around 1,500 bears, and the key to adding your name to that list is diligently working lots of real estate with good optics while eliminating bad areas and finding those isolated pots of gold. Concentrate your efforts on south facing slopes where green-up dominates, closed logging roads leading to clear-cuts and recent wildfire areas, which are easy to find after the 2020 wildfire season. And for the first-timer who is starting the planning process, spend lots of time locating possible access points with the help of online mapping systems like OnX Maps and Base Maps, while also seeking advice from locals.

The Last Frontier For any serious western bear hunter, Alaska should certainly be on your shortlist. Although most hunters find success in the fall as an add-on species while hunting caribou, moose and brown bears, spring opportunities abound for the non-resident willing to pursue them.

Willingness is an understatement when it comes to hunting Alaska. The process of simply planning such a spring adventure seems overwhelming. However, with over 100,000 black bears inhabiting most of Alaska’s vast and remote landscape, and some units offering bag limits of five bears, picking an area to hunt is the first step in the process.

Like any place in the Lower 48, with a little research and planning logistical support once you get there, and with the sheer numbers of black bears Alaska offers, finding one to kill will be the easiest part of the process.

Although most units offer general over-the-counter tags, the best hunting is found along the southeastern tip of the state where tags are obtained in the annual draw. Bears tend to grow exceptionally large skulls and plump bodies in these areas and are highly sought after by non-residents.

The annual draw takes place in December, but keep in mind that the spring hunt you’re applying for is nearly 18 months away. For example, I applied for my spring 2021 Prince of Wales bear tag in December of 2019. Needless to say, planning for a hunt like this is a process.

Alaska also offers every style of hunting possible from spot-and-stalk, baiting, calling and even the use of hounds. However, regulations vary from unit to unit so know the dos and don’ts when planning a trip.

Mar/Apr 2021

The Cowboy State Although Wyoming often gets a pass from the non-resident DIY bear hunter, it is also worthy of your shortlist if you’re looking for fewer crowds and good opportunities. Licenses are sold over-the-counter so getting one isn’t an issue. However, because its bear season is based on a female harvest quota system, units can close early once that quota is reached, which it often is.

In 2019 the highest success rates for non-residents came from the Burgess Junction, Laramie Peak and Sierra Madre regions. Other honorable mentions are Star Valley, North Absaroka, Darby Creek and Conant Basin. Many hunters prefer baiting black bears in Wyoming but it also offers good spot-and-stalk opportunities in the high country regions of the Wind River Range. However, with Wyoming’s grizzly bear populations expanding across the Great Yellowstone Eco System, baiting is not allowed in most units in the northwest, as well as in wilderness areas across the state.

The spring is a great time for a bear hunting adventure. With the uncertainity around traveling to Canada this spring you might consider one of these locations. www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 61

y

Great Hunts

Bruin

Destinations

Wisconsin - Badger state bruins A bear population of over 20,000 animals and a high demand for tags make Wisconsin a bucket-list destination for bears.

by Al Raychard A little bit of history here.

Wisconsin is known as the Badger State, but it is not because the state is over run with badgers. It never was and though there’s no official count I am aware of, it’s safe to say Wisconsin today is home to no more badgers than its neighboring states. History tells us the name dates back to the 1820s when mining lead was a major industry. The story goes that miners dug temporary homes by digging caves similar to those badgers dig for shelter and they became known as “badger boys.” The name stuck. In 1957 the badger was officially dubbed Wisconsin’s state animal and is featured on the state’s coat of arms, state flag and state seal.

Personally, I’ve got nothing against badgers, the animal, other than pound for pound they can be one mean critter and are better left alone. I don’t live in Wisconsin and have no say in the matter but considering the state’s thriving bruin population, Wisconsin might be better called “the bear state” or “the black bear state.”

And thanks to excellent management practices and highly controlled hunting mechanisms, Wisconsin does have its share of black bear. Back in 1989 Wisconsin’s bear population was estimated at 9,000 animals. Today Wisconsin is home to over 24,000. That’s one of the highest in the Lower 48 and may soon change. In 2019 wildlife biologists with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources initiated a new research technique for estimating the states bear population that relied on preseason hair snares and premolar teeth submitted by hunters to bring the estimate up to date.

Black bears are also expanding their range in Wisconsin. In a survey of eastern states and Canadian provinces back in 2008, 75-percent of the jurisdictions reported an increase in bear range. Wisconsin was one of them. Since 1983 Wisconsin’s forest lands have increased by some 640,000 acres, largely due to marginal agricultural land converging back to forests. About 46-percent of Wisconsin is now forested. As a result, Wisconsin’s primary and historical bear range covering the mixed hardwoods and coniferous forests in the northern third of the state now includes occupied range across much of the state’s central region, eastern ridges and western uplands, thanks in part to the forest convergence.

As might be expected, bear hunting is quite popular in the Badger State and demand for bear permits is high. Since 2011 at least 100,000 hunters have applied for bear tags reaching a high of 124,053 in 2018. Just over 120,920 applied in 2019 and 119,436 in 2020. During those same three years 3,717 bears were killed in 2018, 3,679 in 2019 and a preliminary 4,129 in 2020. Between 2009 and 2020 over 4,000 bears have been killed eight years out of twelve reaching an all-time high of 5,133 in 2010.

Resident and non-resident Class A bear hunting permits in Wisconsin are issued through a preference point lottery system. Hunters have the option of applying for entry into that year’s draw or request just a preference point. For each year a hunter applies and is not drawn, he or she receives a preference point. The number of points required to be a drawing winner

62 Bear Hunting

varies depending on number of permits being allotted, the number of applicants and the bear zone a hunter wants to hunt. In 2020 Wisconsin was broken into four bear zones.

In the northern higher density bear Zones A and B it took 9 and 11 points, respectively to draw a permit but just one point in the southern Zone C. In Zone D in the northwest corner a hunter had to amass five points to draw a permit.

In 2020 the overall success rate was 36% but in the northernmost zones (A, B & D) the success rate varied between 63% and 69%.

This is rather impressive considering the number of bear permits has steadily increased from 7,310 in 2009 to a high of 12,970 in 2018. Some 12,850 permits were allotted in 2017, 11,595 in 2019 and 11,535 in 2020.

Despite the delay of obtaining a bear permit, it is well worth the wait. Practically every year, Wisconsin seems to produce some monster bruins in the 600- and 700-pound class. In 2020 a 733-pounder was taken in Armstrong Creek not far from the popular bear hunting area of Iron Mountain. According to the Boone & Crockett Club, Wisconsin has produced more record book bears than any other state. On the Pope & Young list of Top 10 Bears of All Time, Wisconsin has four. If you want a chance at a trophy black bear and are in no hurry, the Badger State is a good place to look.

Fortunately, Wisconsin offers plenty of places to hunt. The Department of Natural Resources manages well over one million acres of land open to hunting including wildlife management areas, state forests and state parks.

Wisconsin is also home to the 1.5 million -acre Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest which is located in some of the top bear-producing counties in the state. Information and maps for purchase or download is available on the WDNR web site.

In May of 2019 the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved a new Black Bear Management Plan for the ten year period 2019-2029 that calls for some changes concerning bear management zones that take effect in 2021. The northern zones will stay the same but Zone C which traditionally covered the southern portion of the state will be divided into a smaller Zone C and the new Zones E in the southwest corner and Zone F in the southeast corner. Hunters should be aware of these changes since the new designation may alter in which zone they choose to apply for a bear permit and actually hunt.

The new Wisconsin Black Bear Management Plan 20192029 is available for review on the WDNR web site.

Mar/Apr 20210

Wisconsin OVERVIEW

Wisconsin Overview

Estimated Black Bear Population: 24,000 +/-.

Areas Open to Bear Hunting: State wide in Zone A, B, C, D and new Zones E and F. Spring Bear Season: No. Fall Bear Season/Date: Yes. For 2021, October 8-14, September 15-October 5, October 6-12 and September 8-October 12, depending on zone and method.

Annual Limit: 1 bear per permit.

Baiting Allowed: Yes. Dogs Allowed: Yes. Legal Weapons: Vertical archery gear with at 30 pound pull, crossbows with at least 100 pound draw, no caliber less than .22 or shotguns smaller than .410 and smoothbore muzzleloaders of at least 45 caliber and rifled muzzleloaders of at least 40 caliber loaded with projectiles at least 138 grains.

Class A Bear License Fees/Availability: Residents-$49, Non-residents $251. Bear licenses available through an application/draw system. Application deadline is December 10 of each year. Applications available on line at www.dnrwi.gov through “Go Wild” and at license agents statewide. Hunters must apply at least once every three years to retain preference points.

Located in Wisconsin but can ship anywhere in the country!

Trail Mix, cookies, ice cream cones, candy, pie filling, poptarts and granola.

We sell by barrels, totes, pails, bags and semi-loads.

715-289-3320 Locations in Cadott, Abbotsford WI 501 West Front St. Cadott, WI 54727

www.bigbeardown.com www.bear-hunting.com

Great Bear products at great prices!

Bear Hunting 63

@timothydfowler

Fleshing it Out with Timothy Fowler

a grizzly ate my moose A year’s worth of lunch disappears overnight.

This is why bear hunters need to be cautious.

Every time I flesh a hide, I try to enjoy the process. Picking, pulling, cutting, and scraping away fat,

membrane, and flesh to leave a perfectly white interior of a bear, moose or elk hide for the tanners to get a jump-start on their work is rewarding. But this column, Fleshing It Out, is almost the opposite. We will be fleshing out characters, concepts, and methods. We will be putting some meat, muscle, fat, and bones on these topics: we will be Fleshing It Out. We hope you like the addition.

Welcome to Fleshing It Out. Let’s start with keeping your hard-hunted prize safe in the bear woods. Spring bear season is upon us. May you all be successful this season! It is worthwhile paying attention to what Paul Frame, Alberta’s Large Carnivore Specialist has to say about keeping clear of grizzlies and other large carnivores that can mess up your hunt. As grizzly populations recover in Alberta and expand in other jurisdictions, the risk of a hungry bear stealing your cooling animal quarters increases. There are plenty hunters can do to keep meat harvested safe.

Grizzly Ate My Lunch Kyle is my neighbor and hunts with his extended family every year. Nearly every year they tag and share a moose.

They have been hunting a remote area of Alberta for more than a decade and have never seen a grizzly. Until this year.

“Our moose quarters were gone and we saw what was taking it. Everybody was a bit rattled. 100 yards from camp, where the moose was hanging, there was a big grizzly bear that was coming in and out a couple of nights in a row. You don’t want to be the last guy turning the generator off. Knowing there’s a big grizzly in the area changes your mindset. We’ve hunted here for ten years and heard people talk about how there were grizzly bears in the area––but we didn’t really think about it–– we’ve never actually seen one,” described Kyle.

Be Prepared to be Surprised Kyle reminisced, “We’ve never had a problem with bears and never had a problem with a bear in camp.

We’ve seen fewer than ten bears in 11 years of hunting. We raised the meat up further to prevent it from being taken, but we set up a game camera in case the animal came back. We thought maybe a black bear or even a cougar was taking the meat. The next day we checked on the meat at 11:00 a.m. and the remaining two moose quarters were gone. We all circled around the game cam––that’s when we got the shock––it was a great big grizzly bear. It was a weird situation. Our collective winter moose meat supply just disappeared. It felt like the whole thing was wasted. I know animals die all the time, but you put in a lot of work obviously: going back there ten miles from the road, getting your moose, quartering it, hang it, and then it is just gone.

It was shocking for everybody at camp. We were very upset to lose our moose and I’m still upset about it because of my strong preference for moose meat.”

When I got home from my own hunting and camping trip, Kyle popped over to chat and I asked how they fared with the moose. “It’s gone,” he said. “A grizzly took it.” He showed me a few photos from the trail cam.

This story prompted me to connect with Paul Frame, Large Carnivore Specialist with Alberta Parks and Environment to check in on grizzly recovery and to see what advice Frame has for big game hunters in expanding grizzly country. It turns out Alberta already has a great online resource for hunter advice in bear country. (Check out https://www. alberta.ca/bears-and-hunters.aspx for expert advice.) Alberta is 13 years into the grizzly recovery plan, and it seems to be working well. Early data collection indicates that grizzly bear populations are coming along nicely.

Grizzly Populations Doing Well Paul Frame explained, “The Grizzly bear population in Alberta is doing well based on our data. That could mean that you might encounter grizzly bears on the landscape where you haven’t in the past or where you might not think you would. People should be anticipating that happening. Even when you’re out hunting with a rifle, a can of bear spray strapped to your hip is a smart thing to do. A bolt action is not as fast as a grizzly bear.”

Kyle Martin and his extended hunting party had a tough lesson this year which cost the crew a moose.

The truth is, as difficult as that is, it could be worse. Frame’s clear advice to hunters and all people on how

64 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 2021

to enjoy the backcountry is that grizzly bears are about. The goal of grizzly bear recovery was to increase the number of grizzlies on the landscape. The summary is that this plan is working. And now we must expect to find grizzlies on that landscape, and we must prepare for this and behave accordingly.

Carry Bear Spray and Be Prepared to Use It As Paul Frame and I wrapped up our interview, he said, “We’re going out to cut a Christmas tree soon and I’m taking bear spray, even though it’s December 5. You never know (when you might bump a grizzly bear). It’s the smart thing to do.”

When the province’s top large carnivore specialist takes bear spray on a Christmas tree hunting excursion, we should all take a cue from that. I will be buying fresh batteries for my temporary electric fence for my outfitter tent in advance of spring bear season, and I will be checking the expiration dates on my magnum bear spray.

Good and safe hunting in 2021.

Link to advice for meat storage in the backcountry.

Check out https://www.alberta.ca/bears-and-hunters.aspx for expert advice

www.bear-hunting.com

An Alberta grizzly took the meat from this moose and left a dent in Kyle’s yearly meat supply. Learn how to avoid this in this article.

Grandview Outfitters Over 1,600 acres of private land 130”-180” Whitetail Six-day Hunt

$3,000 USD

Includes tags, lodging, meals

Manitoba, Canada September - November

2018 bucks

Canadian Whitetail Hunting www.grandviewoutfitters.ca Email: gvoutfitters@xplornet.com

Tom & Debbie Ainsworth 204-546-2751

Bear Hunting 65

@j.lesperance

{Hounds and Bears} Column

IN Hot PUrsuit

By Travis Reggear

(originally published in 2011)

When most people talk about style, they

are referring to the latest fashion in dress, you know skinny jeans and dark framed glasses.

When a houndsman is referring to style, they are usually speaking about how a dog performs one of the several tasks that it does while hunting, such as striking, baying, and treeing. Here are the four categories that build the overall style of dog.

Striking is where a dog lets you know when it smells scent. Whether it is off the top of a truck driving down the road or when they find the track as they come to it while hunting in the woods, most dogs strike a track in one way or another, but some are much better at it than others. Some dogs have the desire to look for the scent, whether it is off the rig (back of truck) or on the ground.

Dogs that are searching the wind currents for scent while they are being rigged or casting wide circles on the ground, usually find scent before dogs that don’t.

The dog that rides the box asleep, or shuffles around on the ground waiting for the right scent to slap them in the face, usually does not make the caliber of strike dog that most hunters are looking for.

Some dogs, after they strike a track, have a better ability to find and line the track out the right way. For example, if a dog is rigging or casting and smells scent that is drifting down the hill on wind currents, it must be able to go to the origin of the scent. Maybe it’s the bear itself that the dog struck or just the scent from out of its track that was left behind. Either way, opening on the scent and being able to go to it and start it the right way is huge. It is the difference between having a fine-tuned piece of radar searching the atmosphere and landscape or a spin the bottle approach to finding and starting your quarry’s track. I myself hunt dogs both ways, off the rig and walking. I can tell you that having a good strike dog is one of the most important parts of a dog’s style because if you can’t start it, you can’t catch a bear.

Trailing or running a track is probably one of the most talked about characteristics when looking at a dog’s style. You always hear hunters talking about a dog’s track style and a dog’s speed while running a track. Many hunters look at a dog’s physical make up on how they are built to decide if they are fast or not. Now for the record, a dog having a good physical build is important for how fast it is but not nearly as important as what kind of track style the dog has. I was once told by houndsman, George Duncan, that “The speed of a dog is determined from the collar forward not the collar back.” Over the years I have found this to be very true.

It is all about how the dog handles the track when 66 Bear Hunting

Bear hound style When a bear houndsman talks about style, he ain’t talking about skinny jeans. running. Some dogs straddle a track when running. These are dogs that want to smell every track left behind by their quarry. This track style usually yields a slower speed of dog. They fall into the category that I refer to as “the man trackers.” There are the ones, when you are listening to them go through the woods, you think they are dragging their house behind them.

Another type of track style that some dogs have is what I refer to as a drifting or running style. These are the types of dogs that are usually at the top end of the speed chart. These dogs tend to hunt the wind currents a lot with their heads high. When trailing a track they take to drifting approach on moving the track. Instead of trailing track-to-track they cast and slash the countryside apart hitting the track here and there skipping many bends and twists that the animal made. This track style is one that you see most running dogs possess, and for good reason.

This style means speed and no matter what anyone says, it’s lethal. Simply put, “speed kills.”

Baying is a quality that not all hunters look at in their dogs because they may or may not be necessary for what game they are hunting. It is though, a trait that most dogs have that describes their style. When talking about the style of bay dog, it usually leans toward big game hunting, like bear hunting. Dogs have different styles of baying. Some dogs when baying put a lot of pressure on their quarry. They work their animal with aggression and vigor. These types of dogs are the kind that are always trying to make something happen. They will take a bear that doesn’t want to tree and make them tree or just the opposite, take a bear that wants to climb a tree and not let it. Either way they are always pressing the issue. When several of these dogs are lumped into a pack, vet bills are inevitable.

Some dogs are the type to stand back and bark at their quarry. Their style of baying is more bark than bite.

In most cases these dogs make pretty good bear dogs and are a lot cheaper to hunt (less vet bills). These dogs can go hunting more days out of the year than the other more aggressive types. Not as many sick days for them. Besides it is up to the hunter to kill the bear, not the dogs. Then there is the “me too” type of bay dog. These are not really bay dogs at all. If they are not in good company when the going gets tough, they get going. These are the type of dogs that you don’t usually have to find, they will find you.

Lastly, we have treeing. A dog only has two different styles of treeing. Either the dog trees or it doesn’t.

The dog that trees might tree hard, barking several times a minute or maybe just enough for the hunter to go to them.

Many hunters prefer a dog that barks several times a minute; something that a deaf person could walk to. Although it’s nice having a trip hammer tree dog, it’s a quality that Mar/Apr 20210

Hound traits are diverse and our dogs have many ways of getting the job done. Style is a matter of preference, but it’s still important to us all.

an average tree dog versus an exceptional tree dog still yields the same outcome. As long as the dog’s style of treeing is to locate the right tree and stay treed until you get there, all is good. For the dog whose style is not to tree, well, that speaks for itself.

When talking about hounds and their styles describing them, one thing is for sure. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The only person that the hound has to impress or make happy is the one person that feeds and cares for them daily. End of discussion. www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting 67

NEW Guard the gate shirts

from Bear Hunting Magazine

“Guard the Gate is our rally cry to protect bear hunting. Bear hunting is an entry point for anti-hunting sentiment to enter into North American hunting. It’s more important than ever to protect all methods of bear hunting.”

- Clay Newcomb

Only at www.bearhuntingmagazine.com #guardthegate Bear Questions/Answers With Al Raychard

Q - Why do black bears seem to wobble when they walk?

A - Dogs, cats and other mammals have digitigrade locomotion, meaning they walk on their toes. Weight has something to do with it but bears have plantigrade locomotion, meaning they walk on their paws, the same as raccoons, weasels and other relatives. This bestows an odd-looking gait, sometime referred to as “shuffling.”

Q - I understand bears experience some major body changes during winter denning. Could you explain some what some of the changes are?

A - The bodily changes in black bears during its winter torpor (state of inactivity and not true hibernation) are truly amazing and scientists are studying it to see how it might someday benefit humans. Bears consume up to 4,000 calories mostly from body fat during the winter sleep and reduce oxygen consumption and metabolic rate to about 25 percent of summer rates. Breathing can be reduced to once per 15-to-45 seconds. Heart rates can drop periodically to 8-to-21 beats per minute and blood flow to muscle tissue, especially in the legs can be reduced by 45 percent or more. To prevent dehydration, bears rely on water produced via the metabolism of fat to maintain water balance.

The prolonged inactivity during the winter generally causes bone loss in animals, but bears recycle calcium to maintain

68 Bear Hunting

bone density and strength.

Q - Do all black bears become sexually active at the same age? If not what factors can influence reproduction?

A - Generally speaking black bears are considered sexually mature at 3.5 years of age, but it can vary from region-to-region. In places like Wisconsin and parts of Michigan, for example sows generally don’t successfully produce cubs until 4.5-to-5.5 years of age. Food availability can greatly effect a sow’s productivity, especially age of first litter, number of years between litters and litter size.

Submit your questions to alraychard@sacoriver.net Mar/Apr 20210

New Subscription or

Renewal Combo

Big Bear Combo (new Subscription) = $48.99 (Your choice of Hat/DVD/One Year subscription) Grizzly Combo (Renewal) = $45.99 (Your choice of Hat/Dvd/Renewal) Combos come in One, two and three year subcription options. Call office at 479-839-4335 M-F 1-5 pm or www.bear-hunting.com

Bear Hunting Magazine PO Box 168 West Fork, AR 72774

(1-year renewal $22, 2-year renewal $42, 3-year renewal $52) Six issues per year. You can subscribe online at www.bear-hunting.com or call 1-866-861-2327 Promote Bear Hunting! Share with a hunting friend!

Name:

Bear Oil

Address: City:

Not a subscriber or need to renew?

Cut this out and send it in!

Apt # State:

Crust

Thunder Utah

Scouting Tips For fall

550 Pounds

Oklahoma 20 19

Please mail card to:

One-Year Subscription $25 ($35 USD Canadian) Two-Year Subscription $45 ($70 USD Canadian) Three-Year Subscription $60 If this is a renewal please check here

Zip:

The bear hunting authority for 20 years

Se pt/O ct

The Bear Hunting Authority Magazine

California

Email:

dreaming

with ed Vance

Phone: Please enclose card and payment in envelope and mail to address above: My check is enclosed My Money Order is enclosed

Card#: Expiration Date: Signature (for credit card): www.bear-hunting.com

have you heard it?

V-Code:

(3 digits on back of card) Sept/Oct 2019 US $5.95

Bear Hunting 69

Support those that support bear hunting

NORTHERN ALBERTA SPRING BLACK BEAR HUNTS Chris & Sharron McKinnon

2 bear area 780-331-2440 color-phase bears chris@huntmco.com

www.huntmco.com

Airport pickup in Minnesota Available

Satisfaction Guaranteed New Modern Outfit All INCLUSIVE NO HIDDEN COSTS

Fort Frances, Ontario

Exclusive Black Bear, Whitetail & Wolf Hunting

www.rainylakeoutfitters.com 1-807-275-7096

www.huntmco.com Russell Pond & Bar C Outfitters Idaho and Maine’s Premiere Outfitter “Joe & Inga Cabral, one of the USA’s Best Outfitters”

Spring and Fall TWO bear Options Elk & Deer backcountry combo hunts, guaranteed limited Elk tags, Mountain Lion Specialist, Family pack trips, fishing, Moose and Grouse Hunting, Guide School East or West - Stay in the USA & Choose the Best

866-552-2038 or 208-245-2458

www.russellpond.com

British Columbia Black Bear Hunts

(403) 993-8171 www.ambushoutdooradventures.ca 70 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 20210

Support our Outfitters

Come and Experience the

HUNT OF A LIFETIME!

357-pounds Dressed!

- Record Book Bears Taken Every Year - Spring & Fall Hunts - Moose/Bear/Wolf Combo Hunts -

Maine Bear Hunts - Spring and Fall All inclusive, fully guided, six day bear hunt Includes meals, lodging, bear tag/license, skinning & quartering Spring hunts over bait on Penobscot Nation Territory Fall hunts over bait or with hounds on 110,000 acres of private leased land Over 30+ years of bear guiding experience 450 pound and 437 pound bears harvested in spring 2020

Mid-Maine Outfitters

207-943-2511 - Troy@themidmaineoutfitters.com www.themidmaineoutfitters.com

Canadian Wilderness

Outfitters Manitoba

BLACK BEAR ADVENTURE 1st Class Bear Hunts in Ontario Canada - Color Phase

- 1.6 Million Acres Exclusive Bear Hunting Area - Over 100 Active Bait Sites

-5 Star Log Cabin Accommodations

-Book Bears Taken Every Year

- All Inclusive Rates

-Owner Guide

www.blackbearadventure.com 1-800-466-0918

North Road Outfitters

“We consistently harvest large bears.”

HUNT MAINE WITH US - Specializing in 5-day bear hunts over bait.

- Small number of hunters each week.

- Fully guided hunt (lodging, meals and guiding).

- nordoutfitters@gmail.com

Tim & Libby Nilsen- Reg Maine Guides

- Hunt the big bears of the Duck Mountain Region - 5-day hunt & accommodations - Spring/Fall - Waterfowl hunts,too!

Outfitter, Richard Geres 306-743-5299

www.easternskyguiding.com www.bear-hunting.com

207-729-6337 or 207-777-0152

Fall Whitetail Hunts

Saskatchewan

Brunswick, Maine

www.silvercreekoutfitting.ca - 204-638-0307 bobbalak@mts.net - 50% Color Phase in 2018 Bear Hunting 71

Support our Outfitters Wilderness-boat based hunts in Saskatchewan for world class bears

403-793-1780 Specialty Bear Hunts - Over Bait or with Hounds Bill Finney, Registered Maine GUide Po Box 234, Patten, ME 04765

www.bearprosafaris.com

Maine

www.pattenhuntinglodge.com | phl234@yahoo.com Cell 207-504-2886 | Lodge 207-528-2886

Northwestern Ontario

ALERT!

Spring Black Bear Now open after 17 years!

Package #1 All inclusive hunt with Limited Tags highly experienced guide (25 years)

AlaskaN Outfitter

Grizzly, brown and black bear, dall sheep, mtn. goat, caribou, moose, Matt Moskiewicz trapping, predator High Country Guide Service calling, wingshooting

* Outdoor Educational 907-250-0768 Hunting School Wasilla, Alaska

www.highcountryguideservicellc.com | moskieakfish@gmail.com

Package #2 Primitive World-Class

hunt in a remote location

BOOK NOW!

90 % Success

Call of the North P.O. Box 697 Geraldton, Ontario, Canada P0T 1M0

Photos and info @ www.callofthenorth.com

Toll Free: 1-800-801-4080

Elk, whitetail, mule deer, Spring 2020 Hound Hunt bear , lion, wolf & moose

Idaho plottpower@gmail.com

Combo Hunts Available 208-266-0795

www.clarkforkoutfitters.com

Bear grease & bear hunter hats in First Lite fusion only www.bear-hunting.com

72 Bear Hunting

Mar/Apr 20210

{ Adventure } Established 1990 - Trusted for over 25 years

True Alaskan

Alaska Coastal Guiding

*High Success Rates *High Concentration of Bears *Comfortable 48’ Vessel

-

Mike Sofoulis - Registered Guide 907-209-0068 email: mike.sofoulis@gmail.com

Boat-based Brown Bear Hunting

on ABC Islands of Southeast Alaska

www.akcoastalguiding.com www.bear-hunting.com

DOA Outfitters Email: darrylkantimer@gmail.com

Call 204-746-5652 “Come as a client, leave as a friend”

www.doaoutfitters.ca Giant Manitoba Bears

Saskatchewan Waterfowl

* 100% opportunity * Over 25 years experience & some clients/friends coming for 20-plus years * Some of Canada’s finest bear hunting * Exclusive 2000 sq. mile bear outfitting area * Saskatchewan’s Finest Waterfowling * Follow us on Intagram & Facebookok

DOA Outfitters are proud sponsors of:

Donate today to the Outdoor Adventure Foundation and help make dreams come true.

The Outdoor Adventure Foundation is a 501C3 nonprofit that helps to make outdoor dreams come true for children and young adults with life-threatening illness, as well as for combat-disabled veterans. In addition to hunting and fishing adventures, OAF also takes groups to sporting events and sends recipients to Disney World and more.

www.outdooradventurefoundation.org

Killer Bear

Products Ready for 2021

One Quart Spray Bottle 16 Flavors Retail $18.95

Cherry, Blueberry & Gold Dust Powder 8oz Powder Retail $13.95

Gold Rush Fryer Grease additive 8oz Concentrate Retail $26.95

www.northwoodsbearproducts.net

608-341-8987

Affordable & Innovative

Whether you want one cell trail camera, or a dozen or more, Cuddeback leads the way...

Saves you hundreds vs other brands

Patented CuddeLink technology allows you to connect up to 24 cameras, yet requires only one cell plan. Delivering the lowest cost-percamera cellular service.

CuddeLink works where other brands don’t CuddeLink Cell is the only camera in the network that requires cellular connectivity.

Allowing users to put remote cameras in LTE dead zones and still get the advantage of cell.

Plus the performance and durability Cuddeback is known for. For affordable cell service, the choice is obvious.

1 CuddeLink Cell emails images from all your CuddeLink cameras

Up to 23 CuddeLink cameras send

images to 1 CuddeLink Cell

Learn more at Cuddeback.com CuddeLink Cell plans start at $10 per month for 750 images.

Additional images are only $5 per 1000. Other plans available.